Red Wings sank on two controversial plays in Anaheim

The Detroit Red Wings suffered a crushing 5-2 road defeat at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks on Halloween night. The Wings did not get a treat as two controversial calls sunk the squad.

Roughly five minutes into the second period, the Red Wings had a goal disallowed on a highly controversial play. With the score 2-1, defenseman Moritz Seider took a cross-ice feed and nailed it past Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal to tie the game.

Well, at least that’s what the Red Wings thought. Here’s a look at the play:

The review took the goal off the board as the play was determined to have a kicking motion. The call was bogus as Seider clearly kicked the puck up to his stick and then used his stick to direct the puck into the net.

The officials in the review booth didn’t see it that way. The call on the ice was overturned, and the Red Wings remained down a goal.

To compound the matter, Mason McTavish scored about a minute and a half later. The Ducks cycled in the Red Wings’ zone, eventually getting the tally to take a two-goal lead.

Unfortunately, that would not be the only controversial play on the night. One other play would seal the Red Wings’ fate on Halloween.

Gibson at the center of another controversial Red Wings’ play

The Red Wings got one crucial back, as Alex DeBrincat scored a nifty power play marker to make the game 3-2 late in the second period.

But it was early in the third that the Red Wings faced curtains. Less than a minute into the final frame, a scramble in front of Detroit’s goal allowed Ducks forward Chris Kreider to backhand the puck past a stumbling John Gibson.

The call on the ice was a goal. However, controversy ensued as it appeared that the net had been dislodged before the puck crossed the line. The play went back to the review booth, with the goal being confirmed.

Here’s a look at the play:

The argument was that it would have been a goal anyway, regardless of Gibson stumbling and knocking the net off the moorings. There could even be an argument made that Gibson intentionally knocked the net off.

What was evident was that Gibson was in no position to make the save. There was no goalie interference to discuss. So, the goal stood. The play could be argued either way. But the reality was that the Red Wings had two controversial calls go against them.

If you do the math, the Seider goal minus the Kreider tally would have made the game 3-2 in favor of the Red Wings. Alas, that was not the case, and the decision went to the Ducks.

As a final note, it’s worth pointing out that Lukas Dostal stole the game for the Ducks. He made several brilliant saves in close during multiple Detroit power play opportunities.

The only thing that matters now is the Red Wings’ next game against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday night at the SAP Center.