According to officials on the ice, the Washington Capitals scored a goal. The problem is, they most likely have a camera angle that we'll never get to see that 100 percent confirms it.
Here are the facts. The Capitals were down by a pair at home to the Rangers. On a scramble in front of New York goaltender Antti Raanta, Washington almost scored but was stopped by the timely stick of Kevin Klein.
Dernit pic.twitter.com/iDJouOiErB
— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) March 5, 2016
Then in the same sequence, the Capitals believed they had put the puck in over the goal line and demanded a review. It was determined they did score, on this play:
Beagle scores on this #CapsNYR 1-2 pic.twitter.com/o0M3RLxdvw
— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) March 5, 2016
However, not one camera angle shown in the arena or on NHL Network had the ability to determine with absolute certainty that it crossed the line.
Why was it called a goal then? The officials, when they go to review, have access to certain camera angles the broadcasts do not have, like ones stationed in the goal posts. Clearly they were able to say the puck crossed the line without a doubt.
Without a proper angle to call it a goal, Twitter reacted how you'd expect they would.
I want a picture of the puck over the line. Show it to me because it doesn't exist
— Joe Fortunato (@BlueshirtBanter) March 5, 2016
Even better, the Rangers followed up the already lengthy review of the Capitals with one of their own. In total, there was over 10 minutes of review time, all the while Twitter went all X-Files on trying to find a good angle to determine a goal.
Thankfully, if you look really closely at the grainy broadcast footage, it seems as if it really did cross the line.
The best angle of that Beagle goal #CapsNYR pic.twitter.com/Vfwynj9BoP
— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) March 5, 2016
Puck goes in as seen in these grainy pics pic.twitter.com/HttBbg3CkW
— CAPITALS HILL (@CapitalsHill) March 5, 2016
Those refs definitely have better eyes than me, to say the least.