TAMPA, Fla. — While the Avalanche are on the verge of winning their first Stanley Cup in over 20 years, the story of Game 4 Wednesday night was a possible missed call that led to Colorado’s win. 

Lightning coach Jon Cooper made it a point Wednesday to mention he felt officials had missed a “too many men on the ice” call right before Nazem Kadri scored the game-winner in overtime. The video replay did show the Avalanche had six players on the ice, as they were changing shifts seconds before the goal. 

On Thursday, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was asked about the no-call. 

“I thought it was nothing, honestly. I thought that happens every second shift in the entire game,” Bednar said. “That’s part of the game. It’s a fluid game. You’re changing on the fly, everything happens. You look at that clip, you back that clip up — and I did multiple times already to see what exactly what they were talking about — and Tampa’s got two guys jumping on with their D coming off the ice from a zone away. I count 7-6 at one point. So that is what it is.

“That’s the way the game is played. I don’t see it as a break or a non-break. I actually see it as nothing.” 

PHOTOS: Colorado Avalanche vs. Tampa Bay Lightning, Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final

For Cooper, who was so emotional about the missed call that he abruptly ended his postgame press conference, said Thursday it was a tough break and that the Lightning have moved on. 

Lightning’s Jon Cooper talks about the too many men on the ice no-call. Says he’s moved onto Game 5 and that his emotions got the best of him last night. #Avs pic.twitter.com/SW8GSpNCdr

— Summer of George (@GeorgeStoia) June 23, 2022

“I apologize for last night because that’s what you get when you have to speak to the media right away,” Cooper said. “What’s great about today is that it’s not yesterday, and now I got some excitement for Game 5 and that’s where like now my mind’s turning on how to win that. Not anything we can do to turn back. They missed it. It’s unfortunate, but it’s water under the bridge now.

“That happens like all the time in line changes. It’s an inexact science. But the purpose of the rule is not to gain an advantage. So it’s too bad.”

UPDATE: The NHL is now saying that Erik Johnson was not on the ice when the winning goal was scored. However this picture, courtesy of @faiello_mari, still shows six Avalanche players on the ice at the time of the goal. https://t.co/Uh685EndxV pic.twitter.com/CUwJPVdDi6

— Mike Stephens (@mikeystephens81) June 23, 2022

Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh echoed Cooper’s statement, adding that “it probably happens a million more times a game more than we think.” 

As for the rest of the officiating, neither side had any issues. There were zero penalties given in the third period and overtime, as the officials let the game play out without interfering. 

“I thought they called it fine,” Bednar said. “I’m sure each coach can go through it and say, ‘That’s a penalty, that’s a penalty.’ But that’s the way it goes. They’re letting us play. O.C. (Logan O’Connor) breaks in all alone on Hedman in overtime and he gets a stick in on his hands. It is what it is, man. You’ve got to fight through it. It’s playoff hockey. Stanley Cup Finals. You’re expected as players to fight through a certain amount of stuff, because it’s the most competitive time of the year.

“The refs aren’t going to call the ticky-tack stuff that puts teams down and gives them the other team an advantage. They’re going to let the players settle the game. That’s the way it should be.”

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