Follow Paul on Twitter: @paulstewart22

I have received a flood of reader questions regarding the reversed penalty call on Sidney Crosby in yesterday's Pittsburgh-Chicago game. Tomorrow's blog will discuss what happened.

For today, I want to look at something officials deal with that are even more important than penalty/ no penalty decisions on the ice. What are the single most important -- and often controversial -- calls in hockey? Calls around the net, especially ones that involve would-be goals and potential video reviews. This is true of all leagues, although different circuits have different video review procedures.

Plain and simple, folks are more likely to forgive a missed penalty than a missed goal ruling or misapplied procedure. That is for good reason, of course. As I have stated many times, it is my belief that the NHL does itself no favors with the way officials are coached to position themselves in the corners. I'm also no fan of the Situation Room video replay system the NHL uses. I believe we do both crucial component better in the ECAC than the NHL does theirs.

In order to give HockeyBuzz readers a better sense of how leagues direct officials in such matters, I am sharing a memo that I recently circulated to officials and coaches alike in the ECAC. In the past few weeks, we've had several issues regarding replay procedures and protocols. In response, I took the opportunity to review exactly what the League policy is, our teachings on these issues and what the NCAA Rule Book allows.

Keeping in mind that goal/ no goal calls, especially this time of the year, are the most critical rullings, I urged everyone to use every tool in the book to make the right call. It is vital to read the rule book for the officiating team to be certain they know what they are doing is correct and in accordance with the dictates of the rule book (in our case, the NCAA Book).

Here are examples of replay situations in recent games.

Situation 1: Referee R1 views a play 20 feet from the net that has slight contact with the goalie. The goalie recovers but immediately a goal is scored in OT. The Coach of the losing team does not see the goal, players are up on the bench and the press box coach does not signal that there should be a review, that coach was not looking at the net.

What as an officiating team should you do? Get together and as a group and confirm that the goal was good and clean. If there is the slightest doubt and your antenna come up, go to replay as described below. Officials are mandated to use the System especially if there is the slightest doubt.

This also depends on the Officiating team having fantastic position as we coach you to have. R1 within arm’s length of the crease. R2 at the near blue line looking for fouls away from R1's sight line. Linesmen, be there to help looking for hand passes, net displacement, kicked pucks, high stick etc.

As always, positioning is the key. Be in great position and then the toughest calls made much, much easier to get correct.

Situation 2: Team A scored in OT to win the game. Both benches emptied and the teams lined up for the handshake. As the teams were moving through the handshake, the coach of the losing team informs the officials they are challenging the goal using their timeout as they believed the puck was kicked into the net.

Should you begin the review process? The review process must be initiated before the handshake. The handshake is the signal that the game is over. Thus, no replay will be initiated. Coaches should hold their team at the bench until certainty is assured.

Situation 3: Team B has already used its timeout and in OT request a replay.

What should the officials do? By NCAA rule, they are not granted that replay. However, this appear to be a situation that will put the Officiating crew in a position where they are being denied a tool to assist them in confirming their call or overturning their call.

My suggestion is that if there is the slightest hint of a reason to overturn the goal even if the losing coach has not requested a replay, the on-ice officials should go to replay of their initiative. Confirm your decision and then have that announced or have the decision, should it overturn your call, announced. Get the teams back on their benches and drop the puck.

Situation 4: The referee on the goal line was circling the net to get a better sight line just as the player in the slot was about to shoot the puck. The referee ducked and did not see the puck being batted by hand in the slot as arms, sticks and puck were all in the air and being swatted at by the players.

Simultaneously, R1 signaled goal and R2 signaled a wash out for a "No High Stick". The two linesmen judged that the puck had been hand passed and informed R2 of that fact. As this discussion was taking place, R1 signaled goal and reported the goal to the scorer’s and it was announced to the crowd. After R1 reported the goal, the other officials told R1 they should review the goal.

What should have occurred? Prior to reporting goals, officials should make eye contact with each other and use this time to communicate nonverbally. On this play, nonverbal communication would have informed R1 that a discussion was needed. There is no rush to report goals. Communicate!

There are three signals at the net for referees:

1. Point to the net and if necessary, blow the whistle to stop all play. Look to your Officiating teammates for any signal or word from them that might confirm the goal or make you think to review.

2. Washout signal - no goal for the reasons as described in the rule.

3) Whistle, hands high over your head, stand still and do not washout or point to goal. Immediately visually communicate with the officiating team to determine the on ice call, go to review as necessary.

Call on the ice before going to replay

Before the referees go to replay we MUST make sure the captains/coaches are fully aware of what the on ice call is (goal or no goal). The announcer should also make the announcement that the play is under review.

If the review is inconclusive or the equipment malfunctions you have a call on the ice and you have the ability to speak with your partners to make the best decision possible.

Once a final decision is made blow the whistle and give a signal. You may need to communicate with the coach or captain regarding the decision. This is not the time for the coach to argue but to listen to the reasons for the decision. If a coach wants to argue what the video shows, the discussion is over.

Points of Clarification

1. With an OT goal how long does the coach have to challenge the goal using their timeout? Prior to the teams lining up for the handshake. Make the teams go back to their benches and conduct the review as per normal policy.

2. Does the League have a guideline for the length of time the replay must remain on following an OT goal? Operators must keep the system on until the teams have shaken hands and are 100% certain that the game has concluded.

3. If it is turned off for any reason, how long do we allow the operator to restore the system? You must use your judgment, we want to get the call correct and if progress is being made to getting the system back online we will provide this time. If there is no progress being made after a few minutes of time then the on ice call will stand. Use feel and patience in these situations.

NCAA Video Replay Criteria

The following are the criteria listed in Rule 93 on page 78 in the 2014-16 NCAA Ice Hockey Rulebook. Under Rule 93.4 (Video Replay Criteria), the following criteria are subject to the use of video replay:

• A puck crossing the goal line.
• A puck entering the net before the goal frame is dislodged.
• A puck entering the net before or after expiration of time at the end of a period, a whistle, or referee’s determination that play has stopped.
• A puck directed into the net by a hand or a distinct kicking motion.
• A puck deflected into the net by an official.
• A puck directed or deflected into the net by a high stick.
• To correctly identify individuals who participated in a fight or committed an infraction.
• To establish the correct time on the clock, or to determine the correct location of a faceoff.
• To determine if an attacking player was illegally in the goal crease and physically or visually prevented the goalkeeper from defending the goal when the puck entered the goal cage.
• To determine if a goal was scored as the direct result of a hand pass or high stick by an attacking player to a teammate or deflection off of the goalkeeper.
• To determine if a goal was scored, as a direct result of the puck deflecting off of the protective netting above the glass, by the first team to gain possession of the deflected puck.
• To determine if a goal was scored as a result of an offside play. The opportunity for review exists during the time the puck entered the attacking zone illegally as a result of the offside infraction and until the puck leaves the offending team’s attacking zone.
• To determine if a goal was scored as a result of an undetected too many attacking team players on the ice infraction. The opportunity for review exists until the puck leaves the offending team’s attacking zone.
• To determine if a goal was scored before a penalty infraction occurred.

************

Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.

Today, Stewart is an officiating and league discipline consultant for the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and serves as director of hockey officiating for the ECAC.

The longtime referee heads Officiating by Stewart, a consulting, training and evaluation service for officials. Stewart also maintains a busy schedule as a public speaker, fund raiser and master-of-ceremonies for a host of private, corporate and public events. As a non-hockey venture, he is the owner of Lest We Forget.

In addition to his blogs for HockeyBuzz every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Stewart writes a hockey column every Wednesday for the Huffington Post.