NHL Rules Out Montreal Goal Against San Jose After Whistle

Montreal was denied a goal against San Jose during the first period of their NHL game after an official review determined that the referee had blown the whistle before the puck entered the net. The league confirmed the decision in a video review published on October 20, 2026, citing the NHL rule governing play stopped before an apparent goal. The incident occurred at 2:05 of the first period in the game between the San Jose Sharks and Montreal Canadiens.

The review focused on whether the puck crossed the goal line before play was stopped, with the NHL ruling that Montreal's apparent goal did not count. According to the NHL's official video review explanation, the referee informed the league's Situation Room that he had blown his whistle to stop play before the puck entered the San Jose net. The review therefore upheld the no-goal decision for Montreal.

The NHL cited Rule 78.5 (xii), which addresses situations in which an apparent goal must be disallowed because the referee considers play stopped, even if the whistle has not yet been physically blown.

The rule states that apparent goals shall be disallowed "when the Referee deems the play has been stopped, even if he had not physically had the opportunity to stop play by blowing his whistle." The ruling classified the incident as a puck-over-goal-line review. Despite the puck's apparent entry into the San Jose net, the referee's determination that play had already stopped meant the goal could not be awarded.