Predators Controversial Loss Angers Kiefer Sutherland

SUNRISE, FL — The Nashville Predators entered Tuesday's game against the Florida Panthers with a chance to wrap up the Central Division and Western Conference regular season titles. Simply put, a win and the Preds could count on the home ice boost from the Bridgestone Arena faithful until at least the Western Conference Final.

It was bound to be a tough test, as the Panthers are basically in a must-win situation for the balance of the regular season to have a shot at the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

After the Panthers jumped to a 2-0 lead through two periods, the Preds battled back, with captain Roman Josi halving the lead with six minutes left. Then, with goalie Pekka Rinne pulled for the extra attacker, Nashville survived a near-miss by Alexander Barkov, who rattled the would-be dagger off the post.

The Preds, as the team has done so many times in the historic 2017-18 season, appeared to have made a dramatic comeback, when Filip Forsberg tucked a puck behind Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo with just 0.4 seconds left on the clock, apparently tying the game.

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But the officials received that dreaded alert from the NHL office in Toronto indicating the play was under review. And indeed, the league ruled that...someone, presumably Victor Arvidsson, interfered with Luongo, negating the goal, giving the Panthers a 2-1 win and delaying Nashville’s celebration of a first-ever division another day.

The decision from the league office is the first major, game-deciding review of goaltender interference which, following a meeting of the league’s general managers in March, is now decided out of Toronto rather than by the on-ice crew, a change meant to provide some consistency and clarity to what has been a process fraught with inconsistencies.

The decision in the Nashville-Florida game was met with nearly universal derision and social-media reaction largely unsuitable for a family website.

As ever, though, Jack Bauer is here to save the day. Yes, even Kiefer Sutherland was mad about the call.

Nashville has another chance to clinch the division and conference Thursday against the Capitals in Washington. The game airs at 6 p.m. Central on NBCSN. The Preds wrap the regular season at home Saturday night at home against Columbus.