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SHL official says Malmö's winning goal was offside

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Key Points
  • Malmö won 2-1 against Djurgården with a goal by William von Barnekow late in the game.
  • SHL's head of referees says the goal was offside and should not have been allowed.
  • The series is tied 1-1, with the third game set for Saturday in Malmö.

In Malmö, Sweden, a playoff hockey game between Malmö and Djurgården ended with a controversial goal. With about four minutes left in the third period, William von Barnekow scored to give Malmö a 2-1 victory, tying the best-of-three series at 1-1. According to SHL's head of referees Tomas Thorsbrink, speaking to media outlets, the goal should not have been allowed because it was offside.

He reportedly said that TV images clearly show it was offside, but the referees made a different decision. The referees involved were Marcus Linde and David Laksola, with linesmen Ludvig Lundgren and Rasmus Strömberg. Thorsbrink also mentioned that there is no way for the situation room to intervene in such cases, and the only solution would be to introduce a coach challenge system, which clubs reportedly do not want.

the goal should not have been allowed because it was offside

Tomas Thorsbrink, SHL's head of referees

In the first game of the series, Djurgården's winning goal was also reportedly incorrect, as SHL later stated it should not have been approved by the referees. The decisive third game is scheduled to be played in Malmö on Saturday.

the referees made a different decision, and he is convinced they realized it afterward

Tomas Thorsbrink, SHL's head of referees

introducing a coach challenge system could address this

Tomas Thorsbrink, SHL's head of referees

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