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Paul Bissonnette blasts controversial no-goal call in Vegas’ Game 2 loss to Hurricanes
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- Paul Bissonnette blasts controversial no-goal call in Vegas’ Game 2 loss to Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes evened the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at one game apiece with a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday. However, the biggest talking point from Game 2 was a controversial third-period no-goal ruling that led to strong criticism from former NHL players and analysts.
With the game tied 2-2 and five minutes remaining in regulation, Vegas forward Ivan Barbashev jammed at a loose puck during a crease scramble following a wraparound attempt against Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen . The puck crossed the goal line, but referee Jean Hebert immediately waved off the goal for goaltender interference.
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Vegas head coach John Tortorella challenged the ruling, arguing the puck remained loose throughout the sequence. After review, the NHL Situation Room upheld the on-ice decision, keeping the score tied.
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Former NHL forward and analyst Paul Bissonnette strongly disagreed with the ruling.
"I think that Vegas got hosed here," Bissonnette said on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast. "It was never frozen for one second. And when Barbashev made contact, there was no sign of him freezing it there."
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Bissonnette then explained how the situation unfolded, and the call stood, saying, "I think it goes back to the referee on the ice who, when he lost contact of it, the ref can't see that pop when Barbashev comes around the net. He tries to stuff it. The puck is still moving around."
Bissnotte believes the referee lost sight of the puck and intended to stop play prematurely. He added that video review could not overturn the ruling because "the people up top in Toronto can't change that ref's opinion on the fact that he wanted it blown when he wanted it blown and that was communicated."
Additionally, the video evidence was not conclusive or irrefutable enough to overturn Hebert's initial live call.
However, Bissonnette disagrees, saying, "It's clearly blown too early. There's no goalie interference whatsoever, but he thinks [it is] because it is frozen and that his stick goes underneath and pokes at it, that that is the goalie interference."
The disallowed goal changed the game for Vegas
Vegas Golden Knights left wing Ivan Barbashev (49) shoots the puck against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen (31) during the third period in game two of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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The failed challenge proved costly. Under NHL rules, Vegas received a delay-of-game penalty, and Carolina capitalized just 25 seconds later when Jordan Staal redirected a point shot to give the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead.
Bissonnette maintained that officials incorrectly interpreted the play.
"There was no interference there whatsoever. I think this is a botched call," he said.
Ryan Whitney , who initially disagreed, later changed his position after reviewing the replay.
"Now I'm on your side," Whitney said. "So I'm saying the same thing that goes to the league that goes up top. How do they get that one wrong?"
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Keith Yandle also questioned the interference ruling, noting that players are permitted to poke at a visible loose puck.
"They didn't call it a no goal. They called it the interference," Yandle said. "If that's free and loose and you can see it, you're allowed to poke at that."
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The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a resilient Carolina comeback. The Hurricanes remained structurally sound despite trailing 2-0, generating pressure late and forcing Vegas into mistakes.
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The Golden Knights, meanwhile, were undone by special teams and discipline. Whether the ruling was correct or not, the sequence shifted momentum completely, and Carolina took full advantage, turning a potential Vegas lead into a series-changing road victory.
