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Photo: Kings GM Dean Lombardi has a good reason to complain

Martin Hanzal, Matt Greene, Sami Lepisto

** CORRECTS ID TO DOAN ** Phoenix Coyotes center Martin Hanzal, left, scores a goal by knocking the puck out of the air as Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Greene tries to slap it with his hand while Coyotes’ Shane Doan looks on during the second period of their NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

AP

Last night, Kings GM Dean Lombardi went ballistic on replay officials in Toronto not overturning an on-ice call for a goal scored by Phoenix’s Martin Hanzal. Hanzal’s goal in the second period was the first of the game and the eventual game-winner in a 2-0 Coyotes win over Los Angeles.

Lombardi singled out NHL vice-president of hockey operations Mike Murphy for being upset that he didn’t end up with a job with the Kings and that’s the reason why the replay call went against his team. Never mind the fact that the Kings haven’t been able to score goals with any sort of consistency lately and they’re mired in a miserable stretch of games in which they’ve lost 10 of their last 12.

As it turns out, Lombardi’s got a good reason to complain as evidenced by this great photo taken by the AP’s Mark J. Terrill.

Martin Hanzal, Matt Greene, Sami Lepisto

** CORRECTS ID TO DOAN ** Phoenix Coyotes center Martin Hanzal, left, scores a goal by knocking the puck out of the air as Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Greene tries to slap it with his hand while Coyotes’ Shane Doan looks on during the second period of their NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

AP

As you can see, Hanzal’s stick is clearly above the crossbar where it connects with the puck to put it past Jon Quick. Somehow, the officials on the ice missed this as did the replay officials.

This doesn’t mean Lombardi is off the hook for his comments as he’ll likely be reprimanded with a fine for being critical of basically everyone involved but this little slice of vindication should make for a nice moral victory.