Arturs Silovs calls out NHL after controversial Claude Giroux winner

PUBLICATION

Daniel Lucente
February 3, 2026 (9:14)

SHARE THIS STORY

Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Arturs Silovs heard “Claude Giroux” and “goalie interference” and still watched the refs wave it through, and you could feel the anger.

Monday in Pittsburgh turned on one ruling, and the goalie was not buying it.

Giroux drove the crease late in the third, got tangled with Erik Karlsson, and crashed hard into the post.

The net popped off, but the review said the puck had already crossed the line.

Pittsburgh also challenged for goalie interference, and that got shut down too.

Afterward, Silovs’ message was clear.

"I don’t understand how they think whether they’re protecting players or not. Especially goalies."

- Arturs Silovs

-

When a goalie says that out loud, it’s not about one goal. It’s about the stuff that keeps happening in the blue paint.

Giroux is still living around the crease this season, and he enters Tuesday with 11-28-39.

Pens fans are tired of hearing "the call on the ice stands" when the guy between the pipes is the one taking the hit.

Silovs is 24, drafted in 2019, Round 6, 156th overall by the Vancouver Canucks, and he’s fighting for his NHL lane.

He made 28 saves, and still wore the winner because of a crease crash and a ruling he didn’t respect.

If the puck is in, it’s in, but the league keeps selling "safety" while goalies get cleaned out on scoring plays.

That’s why Silovs snapped, because goalies see the contact first and the replay second.

Ottawa left Pittsburgh with a 3-2 win, moving to 27-21-7, while the Penguins fell to 28-15-11.

Now the next start comes with a question: will the crease be a workplace, or open season.

Previously on HockeyUnplugged

POLL
FEVRIER 3\|124 ANSWERS Arturs Silovs calls out NHL after controversial Claude Giroux winner Should the NHL tighten crease protection after Arturs Silovs’ complaint?
Yes	118	95.2 %
No	6	4.8 %
List of polls