In a thrilling twist, Batherson’s tying goal left fans and players alike in suspense. With the team on a power play, it seemed Fowler had managed a crucial stop on a puck hovering in the crease.
Batherson, unsure of the outcome, held back his celebration. But the officials, taking no chances, called for a review.
After a thorough look, the verdict was in: the puck had indeed crossed the goal line, knotting the game at 1-1 with just over three minutes left in the first period. Batherson admitted, “I had no idea it was in.
I didn’t think I scored. When I got to the bench, the guys knew it barely crossed the line.”
The game’s intensity was evident from the start. Dylan Cozens found himself in the penalty box early, called for interference against Fowler.
This opened the door for Juraj Slafkovsky, who capitalized on the power play just 1:14 into the game. Positioned perfectly, Slafkovsky redirected a pass past Ullmark on the stick side, setting the tone with an early lead.
Green’s frustration with the call on Cozens was palpable, adding another layer of drama to an already charged matchup.