Tarasov Rips NHL Situation Room Over Controversial Sabres Goal

Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov publicly questioned the judgment of the NHL’s Situation Room following his team’s 3-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night, February 28, 2026.

Tarasov expressed his frustration with a ruling that upheld a Sabres goal scored by Beck Malenstyn in the third period. The Panthers challenged the goal, arguing that Buffalo’s Mattias Samuelsson interfered with Tarasov’s ability to make a save. Still, after video review, the on-ice call stood.

“I don’t know what these guys are smoking,” Tarasov said after the game. He continued, suggesting a possible bias, “Or they’ve been disappointed about yesterday’s loss, I don’t know,” referencing the Panthers’ 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, February 27, 2026.

According to the NHL, the Situation Room determined that “the incidental contact between Buffalo’s Mattias Samuelsson and Florida’s goaltender Daniil Tarasov occurred in the white ice and, did not constitute goaltender interference.”

The ruling drew visible frustration from Panthers head coach Paul Maurice, who reacted demonstratively on the bench after the unsuccessful challenge resulted in a two-minute minor penalty against his team. Maurice declined to elaborate on his disagreement with the call during his post-game press conference.

“I think Terry [Tarasov] gave you probably the best answer — just write what he said,” Maurice stated.

Tarasov was acquired by the Florida Panthers in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 26, 2025, for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He previously backstopped the Panthers to a win in Chicago on January 25, 2026.