I was a fairly high level hockey referee for many years. I officiated over 1,300 games at all levels in the US below professional and NCAA Div I. I was an instructor official and paid for a couple years of college from officiating.
The rules were applied properly on the waved off Preds goal.
HOWEVER, the ref made a serious mistake. He was way out of position as
@Scuba_ref said. It is a very basic concept and taught to beginning referees:
1) during normal play deep in the zone, the ref down deep is to set up position along the goal line or slightly toward the end boards from the goal line, a few feet away from the side boards, keeping a clear view of the entire zone to his/her front, and staying out of the way should play move along the boards into the corner behind him/her
2) when play in the zone moves toward the net, particularly from the high slot or from the point on the ref's side, the ref must immediately move toward the net and (usually, depending on evolving player positioning) slide a couple feet toward the end boards side of the goal line for THE EXACT PURPOSE OF GAINING THE BEST PERSPECTIVE TO SEE THE GOALIE POTENTIALLY MAKING A SAVE, TO SEE IF THE PUCK CROSSES COMPLETELY OVER THE GOAL LINE,
AND TO SEE IF THE PUCK SQUIRTS INTO THE OPEN BEHIND THE GOALIE. (Note the AND - this is not an OR)
This was absolutely a HUGE officiating mistake, and the Preds got hosed in this case. Inexcusable for a professional referee in the Stanley Cup Final to be so far out of position.
Note the Preds also had a goal overturned on an offside challenge in Game 1. And the game winning & Cup clinching goal in Game 6 certainly might have been goaltender interference. Three goal flip opportunities, two determined by the home office via replay. All three fell in the Penguins favor. Curious.
