The Colorado Avalanche took a commanding 3-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final over the Tampa Bay Lightning courtesy of a game-winning goal in overtime by Nazem Kadri to win Wednesday's Game 4. However, there's now a lot of drama surrounding Kadri's goal.

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper claimed in his postgame press conference that the game should have still been going on, but without offering specifics. Cooper simply teased that people would see what he meant and that he would address the issue on Thursday. Soon, video and images swept across social media seemingly showing that the Avalanche could have been called for a too many men on the ice penalty.

Naturally, Kadri wasn't having Cooper's complaints, per Greg Wyshynski of ESPN:

“I'm not quite sure what he really was, what he was thinking of why it shouldn't have counted. That kind of confuses me a little bit,” said Kadri, who played in his first game of the series after undergoing thumb surgery in the Western Conference finals. “The puck hit the back of the net, end of story, so not sure why he would say that.”

Kadri might not have seen all the different angles and explanations when he made these comments, but would he have admitted the Avalanche were in the wrong if he did? It does seem as if they got away with one given it looks like Kadri entered play early before Nathan MacKinnon was close enough to the bench as he came off. Interestingly enough, there was similar drama involving the Lightning last season on a playoff goal that went in their favor.

The NHL did put a statement afterward:

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“A too many men on the ice penalty is a judgment call that can be made by any of the four on-ice officials,” NHL Hockey Operations said in a statement. “Following the game, Hockey Operations met with the four officials as is their normal protocol. In discussing the winning goal, each of the four officials advised that they did not see a too many men on the ice situation on the play.”

This kind of play is not reviewable, so one has to wonder if this controversial Avalanche goal sparks a rule change. Kadri and his Colorado teammates aren't going to sweat it, though, as they're now one win away from hoisting the Stanley Cup.