15.02 Disputed Goal Against US Splits Russian Olympic Hockey Stars

SOCHI, February 15 (R-Sport) – It was the key moment of Saturday’s tense US-Russia hockey game at the Olympics, a goal ruled out for a tiny infringement. But should it have counted? Even the Russians aren’t sure.

With five minutes to go before the final buzzer at the Bolshoi Ice Dome and the score at 2-2, Russian defenseman Fedor Tyutin thumped a slapshot from near the boards that flew into the net. However, the officials ruled it out because the net had been moved off its moorings by around one centimeter in a previous attack.

The US went on to win the preliminary round game 3-2 in a shootout, sparking claims of a conspiracy among many Russian fans, who pointed out that one of the two referees came from the US.

The players themselves were undecided.

“I don't know what happened there but it was definitely a goal,” forward Alex Ovechkin said.  “The goalie touched the net so that the net moved. The referee had to see it. He should have given him two [penalty] minutes.”

Fellow star Ilya Kovalchuk, however, was more conciliatory. “It is common sense. There are rules and everyone has to follow them,” he said of the goal being chalked off. “It wasn't something very bad and I hope we will get a chance to play against [the US] again."

As for the would-be goalscorer, Tyutin, he said he had more important matters to concentrate on.

“The referees said the goal had been moved,” he said. “There was no time to worry about it because there were still five minutes to play.”

The host nation is not eliminated as a result of the defeat, although it may face a slightly harder path in the playoffs as a result.