Controversial goal caps Red Wings' comeback on historic night

The Detroit Red Wings got a big W over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night. The win seemed fitting as the club honored legend Sergei Fedorov. But the thrilling overtime win also catapulted the Wings to a share of first-place in the Eastern Conference.

As exciting as that sounds, Detroit barely squeaked out the win. The Red Wings survived a massive third-period collapse, blowing a 3-0 lead. Detroit surrendered two power play goals and a shorthanded tally to allow the Hurricanes to pick up a point in the game.

The Red Wings could not get themselves out of the penalty trouble they got themselves into. Detroit faced a 5-on-3 power play late in the game that culminated with former Red Wing Shayne Gostisbehere tying the game.

The goal capped off a sloppy third period in which the Wings failed to capitalize on a late power play opportunity of their own.

Controversial goal caps Red Wings' OT win

The game headed into the extra frame with both teams trading scoring opportunities. In the end, Andrew Copp ended the game with the game-winner at the 3:27 mark. However, the goal did not come without a good dose of controversy.

Immediately following the goal, the Hurricanes players on the ice signaled that there had been a cross-check on the play. Indeed, the replay showed that Copp hit Gostisbehere right in the numbers, tumbling him to the ice.

Then, Alex DeBrincat’s pass hit Copp’s stick and slid through Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen’s legs. There was no penalty called on the play. While it seemed like the Hurricanes wanted to challenge the goal, they refrained from doing so.

Here’s an interesting angle of the goal, as shown on the Red Wings’ official X account:

If the refs actually missed the call, that’s something that the league’s officiating review unit must determine. But as the Red Wings’ broadcast crew admitted, the Wings got away with one.

Of course, you can’t blame Copp for the play. If he had committed a penalty, it would have been called. Since it wasn’t, the goal stood as the game-winner.

The Red Wings, ultimately, survived an epic third-period collapse to salvage a W. But the game should serve as a cautionary tale. The Wings won’t always be so lucky.