NHL fans couldn’t believe refs allowed Blues goal after Stars’ goalie was down with injury

The St. Louis Blues opened up a close Game 6 in Dallas on Sunday with a goal that had many fans scratching their heads while wondering how the play wasn’t whistled dead.

Moments before the goal Dallas Stars goalie Ben Bishop was hit in the collarbone by a shot and was writhing around in obvious pain, not paying attention to the game.

The refs allowed the play to continue and the Blues quickly fired the puck into the net to take a 3-1 lead in the third period.

The Blues went on to win the game 4-1 and force a Game 7. Bishop left after the fourth goal, which happened a less than a minute after the third, and had x-rays on his collarbone, which came back negative.

NHL refs have had a rough postseason, and we can add this moment to the list of strange calls:

Jaden Schwartz redirected Alexander Steen's shot. Unbelievable! #stlblues #WeAllBleedBlue pic.twitter.com/hi8uj8IIyX

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) May 5, 2019

Ben Bishop takes a slapper to the collarbone and the Blues score while he’s down pic.twitter.com/AFVhPPUCcE

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) May 5, 2019

Fans sounded off:

Honestly, this wasn’t a Bang-Bang play on shot & rebound into the net when Bishop hit on collarbone. Ref’s discretion, based on seriousness of potential injury could have killed the play when puck was loose up high until STL regained possession. With Bishop still down; whistle?

— Kerry Fraser (@kfraserthecall) May 5, 2019

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Rule 8.1 I have highlighted the important part but “obvious that a player has sustained a serious injury the referee or linesman may stop the play immediately” Ben Bishop goes down instantly the referee goes to blow his whistle but the shot is in before he can this should have been reviewed the @nhl ruined a great game

A post shared by Patrick Bielss (@paddybielss) on May 5, 2019 at 2:57pm PDT

I understand the rule but I don't like it. Ben Bishop was injured and couldn't do anything in net. That play should've been blown dead.

Granted, if that rule was changed, players could purposely flop, so it's a double edged sword.

— Chris (@TweetTheEars) May 5, 2019

The referees had three seconds to blow the whistle after Ben Bishop was clearly in distress.

If the puck's in the crease, then I could see play continuing more easily in light of a scoring chance.

I would have blown the whistle with the puck out to the circle.#StanleyCup https://t.co/jsvoFpPAW5

— #CincoDeBusko (@NikolaiBusko) May 5, 2019

The moment Ben Bishop took that putt to the neck, they should’ve stopped play. No way St. Louis should be up 3-1.

— Armando (@Mandoman12) May 5, 2019

Absolutely pathetic by the NHL and the Blues to not stop play when Ben Bishop went down. Could cost the Stars their season. #StanleyCup #GoStars

— Jason Ence (@jasonuk17) May 5, 2019

You're not alone. They admittedly want goalies to be protected, but that was bad. The problem was St. Louis was Johnny on the spot on the rebound, and before the ref could make a determination, the puck was in the net.

— Richard Lee (@SuzakutwoLee) May 5, 2019

So Ben Bishop is getting an x-ray but while laying there defenseless the refs can’t blow the whistle to stop play? That’s BS #gostars

— Chris Salazar (@Christoph_Salaz) May 5, 2019

Wow, no whistle there? St. Louis scores with Ben Bishop lying on the ice after taking a puck to the neck. NBC commentators acting like it’s no big deal.

— Brent Craswell (@brent_craswell) May 5, 2019

Ben Bishop just died, play continued, puck went in the net, and it counted. God hockey is awesome. #StanleyCupPlayoffs

— Eric Dondarrion (@EricBalcik) May 5, 2019

Ben Bishop just got SHOT BY PUCK

— Gerard Pitt (@GerardPitti) May 5, 2019