In the high-stakes, high-speed world of professional hockey, a single goal can change the course of a game, a series, or an entire season. For the NHL, where playoff margins are razor-thin and momentum is everything, getting video reviews right isn’t just important — it’s essential. Yet despite advances in sports technology elsewhere, the league still relies heavily on the human eye and conventional video review, even when the margin for error is as small as a three-inch puck crossing a thin red line.
Unlike some penalty calls that remain subjective — such as downgrading a five-minute major for boarding to a two-minute minor — goal reviews should be definitive. Either the puck fully crosses the line, or it doesn’t. Either a player is onside, or he isn’t. But with current methods, those absolutes often become gray areas. As seen in the recent playoff matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues, Cole Perfetti’s shot created a controversy when Blues goalie Jordan Binnington gloved the puck near the goal line. The question of whether the puck fully crossed the line couldn’t be conclusively answered, even with multiple camera angles and input from the NHL Situation Room. The result? A no-goal call stood — not because it was confirmed, but because it couldn’t be overturned.
Meanwhile, other sports have already embraced technology to solve similar problems with clarity and speed. The Premier League implemented Hawk-Eye goal-line technology in 2013, providing officials with instant confirmation of whether the ball fully crossed the line. In tennis, Hawk-Eye has become an integral part of officiating, offering 3D tracking to resolve in/out disputes with high accuracy and almost no controversy.
Why hasn’t the NHL followed suit? Hockey’s challenge lies in the puck’s small size, its rapid movement, and the obstruction caused by players’ bodies, equipment, and goalies’ gloves. But that’s not an excuse — it’s a reason to innovate. Puck-tracking and goal-line technology could eliminate doubt in crucial moments and restore confidence in the review process. While current systems rely on subjective interpretation, advanced solutions could deliver instant, objective answers.
The league has already tested puck and player tracking technology through its NHL EDGE system, which records skating speeds and puck possession data. The next step is simple but crucial: expand this to include puck location relative to the goal line and integrate real-time alerts for officials.
The NHL owes it to players, coaches, and fans to adopt the tools that bring fairness and accuracy to every critical moment. It’s no longer enough to say, “There wasn’t conclusive evidence.” With the technology available, the league can — and should — provide it.
