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I think the answer is in this: SECTION 7 – RESTRAINING FOULS NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE OFFICIAL RULES 2018-2019 A “pick” is the action of a player who checks an opponent who is not in possession of the puck and is unaware of the impending check/hit. A player who is aware of an impending hit, not deemed to be a legal “battle for the puck,” may not be interfered with by a player or goalkeeper delivering a “pick.” A player delivering a “pick” is one who moves into an opponent’s path without initially having body position, thereby taking him out of the play. When this is done, an interference penalty shall be assessed. So, this would have been a legal "battle for the puck" .

PA's point is that if the Shark who was hit did not touch the puck he, technically, is not in possession and that the hit, technically, is interference. It definitely is a gray area because while the video shows the player moving his stick over the puck, he doesn't appear to touch it before being hit. Technically, it should have been a penalty, but the gray area is whether he could have possessed or controlled the puck before being hit. He certainly could have and he was most likely intending to until he noticed McNabb bearing down on him. As I pointed out, there were weird gray-area calls about possession and off-sides throughout the season where a player "with" the puck entered the zone although they hadn't touched it, one leg was on one side of the line, etc. etc. You can also call goalie possession of the puck and whistles to stop play a pretty gray area, too.

He "has" the puck. As we know with the NHL, touching the puck isn't necessarily a prerequisite for possessing the puck. As an example, you don't need to physically push the puck with the stick over the blue line to enter the zone legally, so long as you are "in possession".

My wife pointed out last night that the playoff beard was no where as prolific as in past years. She's right, there are even some clean-shaved players on the benches.

Video of it is just a few posts back. He clearly has the puck. Clean and legal hit.

Just lost some respect for "Doc" with that homer commentary.

Pretty one-sided officiating.

So, what pick are we looking at?

Took me 2 minutes to copy the bloody link in here on my phone.

Then my instincts are good.

It's always something. Cool, feature, though. Thanks for adding it. ?

Finding myself not pleased when the Blues score, so I must prefer the Jets for some reason. And that goal was far more worth a review than the first one. Too bad they wasted it.

Missed that. I am on mobile right now after all. Wait. Having that issue right here, right now. Is this thread pinned? All the pre-selected GIFs show up at the end of the thread.

Can use it fine here but no go in the Playoffs thread.

This St. Louis game is great. Test. Nope, not working here.

Okay, so in the First Round thread it wouldn't work. Here, I can select from whatever is offered, but can't search. Let's see... Weird Now here I can search. Going to the Playoffs thread to test again.

Not able to search or select GIFs on Android mobile.

This St. Louis game is great.

Who ever on the Jets' staff made the call to waste a time out on that challenge needs to be let go.

"One of the great traditions of this sport..." they say it every time.