Derek Stepan, Alain Vigneault support video challenge system

New York Rangers' Derek Stepan celebrates his goal during the third period of a first-round NHL playoff hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, April 13, 2016. Credit: AP / Gene J. Puskar
The coaches’ challenge for goaltender interference and offside on goals continues to be a topic. “It was able to, at times, save some goals that maybe were offside or had goaltender interference,” said Derek Stepan on Tuesday. “I certainly wouldn’t want to see a goal that’s offside decide a series and not be able to have that ability to challenge it. I personally like the challenge. It’s more important to get the call right than it is to worry about the time that it takes to get it right.”
The Penguins successfully challenged Chris Kreider’s first-period goal last night when the officials reviewed the play and ruled that the Rangers were offside.
Said coach Alain Vigneault: “Sometimes different people have different opinions on what goaltender interference is. It’s not clear cut, but I think what the league is trying to do is the right thing. They’re trying to get it right and hopefully, we can all make it clear for everybody so it doesn’t seem like, sometimes, that some people might say they [the NHL] make it up as they go along.”
McIlrath, Diaz are defensive scratches
With captain Ryan McDonagh back in the lineup, both Dylan McIlrath and Raphael Diaz, the other two healthy defensemen, were scratched Tuesday night.
Left-handed rookie Brady Skjei was moved to the right side, where he had played at times in Hartford, and was paired with McDonagh, who also can play the right side, as his did for the U.S. Olympic team. Marc Staal was paired with Kevin Klein and Keith Yandle with Dan Boyle.
Either McIlrath, who played in Game 2, or Diaz, called up from Hartford on Monday, would have played if McDonagh wasn’t ready. Dan Girardi, who practiced with the extras Tuesday morning, missed his third game with an undisclosed injury.
Ice chips
By playing his 83rd playoff game for the Rangers, Stepan passed Brian Leetch, who was at the Garden, for sixth place on the Rangers all-time playoff games list . . . Henrik Lundqvist’s 114th playoff start tied him with Patrick Roy for fourth place among NHL goalies who played with one franchise . . . Oscar Lindberg, Marek Hrivik and Magnus Hellberg were the other Rangers scratches.
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