The Kings' Jonathan Quick wasn't sure if his glove prevented the puck from crossing the line with 5.2 seconds to play. So, like any forward-thinking goalie, he was preparing for the prospect of overtime during a lengthy video review of McDavid's shot.
Finally, it was announced that the initial call on the ice of no-goal would stand, and the Kings came away with a 3-2 victory over the Oilers on Sunday night, their fifth consecutive win.
The game-winning goal came from Kings left wing Tanner Pearson on the power play at 16:34 of the third period.
As much as the night was about the perseverance of Pearson, who scored his first goal since Jan. 8, it was also about the non-goal and a night of high drama at Rexall Place.
Quick dived to his left to make a glove save on McDavid's shot. Part of Quick's glove clearly crossed the goal line. But the puck inside the glove was not visible, and replay officials in Toronto were unable to determine if it crossed the line.
The official word from the NHL situation room: “Video review was inconclusive in determining if Connor McDavid's shot completely crossed the goal line. Therefore the referee's call on the ice stands — no-goal Edmonton.”
“I knew I didn't see it go in,” Quick said. “But you never know. It's just a quick bang-bang play. You're hoping you get the call you want.
“We're fortunate we did.”
Said McDavid: “He made a good save. I thought it could have gone in. Obviously it's tough to see with his glove covering it up.”
Kings center Anze Kopitar, who scored his third goal of the season at 13:36 of the second period to give the Kings 2-1 lead, said it wasn't easy waiting during the long video review.
“Not the best feeling,” he said. “It's a good one when there's no goal. Just a desperation world-class save by a world-class goaltender.”
Oilers Coach Todd McLellan was philosophical about the controversial call.
“We were told it was ruled a non-goal on the ice and that it wasn't definitive enough to overturn,” McLellan said. “Those are the rules. We're at the mercy of the referee and the league and they're doing their best to make the right call.
“I guess we don't have to agree, but it's made and we have to move on.”
McDavid, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft, did not take long to introduce himself to the Kings in the teams' first meeting, using his vaunted speed to go around defenseman Jake Muzzin and help set up the Oilers' first goal.
“He comes exactly as advertised,” Kings Coach Darryl Sutter said after the morning skate. “He's going to be a great player.”
Quick was duly impressed by the Oilers and McDavid.
“They've got a great team over there,” he said. “They're a lot better than they were last year. They're fast. So it's tough. He's a good player. There's a reason he went No.1. It'll be fun playing against him over the next however many years.”
Pearson's goal came a little more than three minutes after Taylor Hall had tied it, 2-2, on a power play at 13:56 of the third after Kings defenseman Brayden McNabb went off for tripping.
Pearson capitalized on a power play after the Oilers' Lauri Korpikoski went off for hooking at 15:05.
“It felt pretty good to get one in the back of the net,” Pearson said. “Hopefully it's the start of a couple more.”
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