It's official: No one understands goaltender interference.
The NHL's general managers met earlier this week in Boca Raton, Fla., with a primary mandate of figuring out what currently constitutes goaltender interference. And amid all kinds of denials that there was any problem in the first place -- if so, why discuss or debate it? -- they finally resolved to ... do nothing. They basically decided that Colin Campbell, one of the league's most Mesozoic figures, and four other permanent relics in the Toronto replay room would simply take more control.
The reasoning: The refs can't figure it out, so at least this way there will be fewer people trying to figure it out.
This was Evgeni Malkin's 41st goal, midway through the first period:
Based on every precedent that's been put forth all season, that's goaltender interference. Malkin slides into a fallen Price before the puck crosses the goal line and, thus, affects his ability to make a save. Never mind that Malkin wasn't pushed, as intent is never weighed anymore. Never mind whether Price had a prayer at the puck, as that's never weighed, either.
The referee on the scene, Ian Walsh, made no signal regarding goaltender interference and, per the Boca Raton edict, passed the buck to the Toronto crew after Claude Julien used his coach's challenge. The ruling came back that the goal was good.
Who knows why?
For sure, Julien didn't, judging by how he huffed when I brought it up:
For what it's worth, Price himself expressed that he didn't feel there was any interference, though he might have just been keeping competitive.
Here's what I think: Jesse James of the Steelers deserves an assist. Because this is exactly how the NFL handled the no-catch confusion after that mess, by simply calling everything a catch the rest of the regular season and right through the Super Bowl.
I'm being completely serious. It's called crisis management.
2. Backup goaltending duel?
"Their goalie made some big saves," the Canadiens' Brendan Gallagher said of Casey DeSmith, and he undoubtedly was including DeSmith coolly stabbing his first-period penalty shot with the glove ...
... then confidently spitting the puck forward and following Gallagher into the corner.
Oh, my.
"He just came and tried to go glove-side high and I read him," DeSmith said before a small laugh and adding, "You don't really see two penalty shots in a game."
Right. Derick Brassard was given one earlier in the period, and Carey Price, just as coolly, put down the blocker to beat him.
DeSmith was solid through the evening, validating for now management's decision to keep him in Pittsburgh rather than Tristan Jarry. The broader thinking isn't wholly clear, but I've been told the DeSmith/Jarry tale has been scripted to an extent, meaning it's been planned for a while that they'd alternate NHL and AHL to ensure staying busy.
But one can't help but wonder if DeSmith's history as a backup in the minors -- seriously, the guy wasn't able to nail down the No. 1 job in Wheeling -- might somehow help him. If he's better able to perform well after sitting for long periods than the 22-year-old rookie, that's a legit edge.
More on this through the spoken word:
3. More ice time for Brassard!
Without solicitation, Mike Sullivan in his postgame press conference absorbed some of the blame for Brassard's slow start by pointing out that his ice time had been cut since the trade from Ottawa. And it's true: He was averaging 18:21 with the Senators, and he's at 15:29 with the Penguins, a drop of nearly three minutes per night.
There's a logical explanation: In Ottawa, Brassard was a mainstay on the top two lines and on the top power-play unit. Here, he's neither. And since he's barely killed penalties all season -- only the occasional shift under Sullivan -- that hasn't afforded additional ice, either.
Still ...
"Quite honestly, I'd like to find him more minutes in the game," Sullivan said, "just because I think he's that good of a player. When he's playing in that third-line center role, it's hard to get him more minutes unless I use him on the penalty kill. We've used him sparingly there. But moving forward, I'd just like to try to find a way to get him more minutes because I think he's a valuable player."
After four consecutive games without a point, Brassard's got one in each of the past four.
"I said at the very beginning it was going to be an adjustment to a very different system," Brassard reiterated after scoring the winner in this one. "I'm getting more comfortable."
TAP ABOVE FOR BOXSCORE, STANDINGS, VIDEO4. Try this against the Devils.
Just try it, and see what happens. Because this kind of sloppy start won't cut it against a crazy-young, crazier-fast New Jersey team that'll arrive here Friday for the finish to a six-game, continent-wide trip that included impressive victories over the Predators, Golden Knights and Kings.
I picked up some sentiment in the Penguins' room that, after four straight games against the lowly likes of the Rangers, Islanders and Canadiens, all concerned might benefit from the big weekend that's shaping up here with the Devils, then the Flyers for the Sunday matinee.
Focus can't be manufactured.
5. Someone will sit soon.
It won't be Friday, because Zach Aston-Reese was still skating on his own Wednesday. But it'll happen once he's ready.
In case anyone was wondering how much Sullivan values Aston-Reese, check out his response a couple hours before faceoff when asked if he expects to have the kid back for playoffs: "Zach's a guy we're excited about getting healthy because we think he can help us win. He's a good 200-foot player. We can utilize him in a lot of situations. We thought he was really improving with each game that he played. It was unfortunate that he got hurt when he did because we thought his game was really coming. So we'll make decisions accordingly when he's healthy, but he's a guy we're excited about."
I know Sully-speak, and I'd heard it myself from the man on the recent New York/Montreal trip: That kid's playing when he's ready, and he'll bounce someone else.
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Penguins vs. Canadiens, PPG Paints Arena, March 21, 2018. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS