NHL: No-goal call was right

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The NHL said replay officials and Denis Morel, a supervisor of officials, made the correct call Saturday when they disallowed an apparent Lightning goal against the Bruins.

Director of officiating Andy Van Hellemond said Tuesday that he reviewed the play and determined left wing Andre Roy kicked the puck into the net. Roy said he used his skate to gain control of the puck and his stick to score.

The goal would have given Tampa Bay a 3-1 second-period lead. Instead, the game went into overtime tied at 2 and the Bruins won 3-2.

"The Tampa Bay player extends his foot and makes the puck going east-west go north-south," Van Hellemond said. "He attempted to get the stick on the puck before it went into the net, and that could not be determined. There was no evidence there to verify that he touched it, and we definitely had verification that he propelled the puck with a kicking motion of his leg."

Lightning general manager Jay Feaster said if the video was inconclusive as to whether Roy got his stick on the puck, why not go with the decision of referee Paul Stewart, who stood behind the net and called a goal?

"My point of contention is not whether it was a goal, but if the replays available constituted conclusive evidence that rises to the level necessary to overturn the decision of the official who made the call," Feaster said.

Said Van Hellemond: "We had conclusiveness that it was kicked. It was never inconclusive on that fact."

HOLZINGER TO MINORS: Center Brian Holzinger will report to Springfield of the American Hockey League for a six-game conditioning assignment that begins Friday. He will return to the Lightning on Dec. 22.

With Vinny Lecavalier, Brad Richards and Tim Taylor entrenched at center, and Tampa Bay committed to developing rookie center Alexander Svitov, Holzinger has been scratched for six consecutive games.

Holzinger has played three games with one assist after recovering from a broken leg sustained before training camp, and averaged 7:43 of ice time. Svitov is averaging 7:27. Svitov scored his second goal of the season with 4.9 seconds left Tuesday.

"He's frustrated and wants to play. I understand that and appreciate that," Feaster said of Holzinger. "My perspective is, if one of them is going to play eight minutes a game, Alex brings so much because of his size."

Holzinger, who missed 59 games last season because of shoulder injuries, was disappointed.

"Why should I have to go play somewhere else when I think I can play here? That's all it is," he said. "I'm going down there to play hockey. I haven't played hockey in a long time. It's just a matter of going down there, but this is where I want to play."

ODDS AND ENDS: Defenseman Nolan Pratt played after missing a game with dizziness from being hit in the nose with a puck against the Bruins. He wore a visor in the morning skate but took it off for the game. ... Right wing Ben Clymer, from nearby Bloomington, had at least 12 friends and family at the game. ... The Wild has sold out all 98 home games. ... Right wing Jimmie Olvestad and defenseman Darren Rumble were scratched.