Oh that Pronger

It didn't take long for Pronger do be in the middle of controversy again.

In OT with the Flyers on the PP, Pronger is playing the front of the net to screen the goalie. The Flyers score, and the goal is shockingly waived off.

Flyers broadcast version LINK

The first sign of a bad call is that announcers on both broadcasts were totally miffed at first, thinking high stick or goalie interference, only to have both theories easily discarded by replay.

Turns out the call was unsportsmanlike conduct under the "Sean Avery rule". This rule was created a few years ago to directly address a unique play;

Soon thereafter, the NHL created this rule;

An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty (Rule 75) will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play.

I am not aware of this penalty ever actually being called until now.

After extra viewings, I do believe Pronger's intent was to raise his arms to block Kiprusoff's view. Some Flyers have said they thought he was motioning to direct the play, but I disagree. Pronger himself conceded nothing;

Either way, Pronger's intent is irrelevant. Clearly, he didn't violate the rule as written. He doesn't turn to face the goalie, but is facing the play the entire time and only briefly glances back. Pronger's actions come nowhere close to Avery's blatant and prolonged arm waving, for which the rule was written. Pronger's longest look back actually comes after Kiprusoff slashes him, who clearly wasn't happy with the Pronger's obstruction. Of course the same slash causes Kiprusoff to lose focus and let in an easy shot seconds thereafter.

The officials completely botched this call for two reasons. First, as stated above, Pronger didn't violate the rule. Period. There is no grey area. Second, if the officials thought what Pronger was doing was a violation of the Avery rule, it should have been an immediate penalty. The referee should've raised his arm and blown the play dead long before the shot came in.

Rarely do you see a call so obviously incorrect so directly affect the result of a game. Now the Flyers didn't complain too much after the game (other than Pronger's belligerence), but I think that was more driven by not wanting to whine after an admittedly mediocre performance regardless of the goal call.

Either the NHL owes the Flyers an apology, or the NHL needs to clarify the rule and explain how the written rule isn't accurate. That being said, what is most likely to occur is the NHL will pretend nothing happened, and no attacker will raise his arms to block the goalie's eyes again for fear of another baffling call.