VIDEO: ECHL Officiating Gaffe Makes Us Appreciate NHL Referees

NHL fans have grown increasingly frustrated with the inconsistent nature of the quality of officiating in hockey over the years. With a sport that is moving faster and faster with bigger hits and more brutal plays, it's understandable that officiating would be tough at the highest level of hockey in the world. Combine that with the Internet and HD feeds, with constant replays and each and every decision made by on-ice (and off-ice), officials are scrutinized and judged.

Perhaps, despite some obvious issues, we should give NHL officials a break. After all, they tend to understand that a goal cannot be scored if the goal itself isn't there. This concept, supposedly an obvious one, escaped the officials in an ECHL game earlier this week. Video after the jump.