‘I Wanted More Time’: Glen Gulutzan Explains Dallas Stars’ Timeout Before Offside Challenge Against Columbus Blue Jackets
DALLAS — The Dallas Stars called a timeout early in the third period Saturday night to give their video staff more time with a replay, then won an offside challenge that took a Columbus Blue Jackets goal off the board in a 3-1 win at American Airlines Center. The goal would have cut the Dallas lead to 2-1.
Valeri Nichushkin scored from the slot at 2:23 of the third period. Stars coach Glen Gulutzan called a timeout before the Stars challenged, and video review determined Columbus was offside on its zone entry at 2:11.
“It was taking a little long to actually see it,” Gulutzan said. “I wanted more time. You’re trying to look for a stick deflection. If there’s no stick touch there, then they’re going to call that. You want to make sure, and you hope at that point you don’t need your timeout.”
Glen Gulutzan On The 60-Second Window
Under NHL rules, a team has a limited window after a goal to decide whether to issue a coach’s challenge. A failed offside challenge results in a minor penalty for delay of game.
“Yeah, it’s quick. It’s every video coach’s beef with the league, right? They can take 10 minutes, we got 60 seconds, probably 50 seconds,” Gulutzan said. “But Patty [Dolan] and Chucky [Chris Demczuk] do a good job, and we looked at it and looked at it, and took the time out just to make sure we were right.”
Nichushkin was the 10th overall pick by Dallas in 2013. He has one goal and five assists in 12 games this season.
The overturned goal kept Jake Oettinger’s shutout intact into the middle of the third period. Oettinger finished with 24 saves on 25 shots.
Columbus Scores Four Minutes Later
The Blue Jackets got their goal at 6:21. Zach Werenski carried the puck low after a faceoff win and fed Damon Severson, who beat Mikko Rantanen to the far post for a tap-in.
Columbus outshot Dallas 25-17 for the game. The Stars blocked 14 shots, three of them by Tyler Myers.
“I thought we defended too much,” Gulutzan said. “We defended hard and blocked shots, but we shouldn’t have been in that position. I thought we could have pushed a little bit more. I liked the way we defended. But our best defender was Jake.”
Arttu Hyry put it away with an empty-net goal with 0.3 seconds left. Rantanen and Thomas Harley scored in the first period.
The win snapped a two-game skid and left Dallas 4-2-0 on its six-game homestand. The Stars are 8-5-1.
Dallas plays at the Washington Capitals on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT and at Columbus on Thursday at 6 p.m. CT.
