RALEIGH – The question was obvious. 

The challenge wasn’t.

What did John Tortorella see that made him issue a coach’s challenge in a 2-2 game with five minutes left? 

“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddy (Andersen), our player stabbed it, didn't move the goalie, and it goes through and went to the other side,” said the Vegas Golden Knights coach, who was disinterested as always in elaborating further.

“I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”

He’d probably be wrong all ten then, as this league has made it patently clear it takes crystal clear video evidence to overturn no-goal calls, as this one was ruled on and off the ice.

The disputed goal came after Ivan Barbashev’s wraparound attempt was stopped by a sprawling Andersen, who lay prone on the ice as Barbashev poked at the puck, which was underneath the goalie. 

The puck wound up squirting under the netminder and crossing the goal line, but was immediately waved off by the official, who was standing right behind the net.

“The ruling on the play was goaltender interference,” explained the NHL’s director of officiating, Stephen Walkom.

“He waved it (off) immediately. He believed that it was under the goalie and the Vegas player went after the puck........

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