Tom Kowal is a National Hockey League

National Hockey League

The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...

 referee

Official (ice hockey)

In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. There are two categories of officials, on-ice officials, who are the referees and linesmen that enforce the rules during game play, and off-ice officials, who have an...

 since the 1999–2000 NHL season, who wears uniform number 32. He is noted for his inconsistency in two games regarding the verification of scored goals. A game between the Buffalo Sabers and the Calgary Flames

Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...

 on January 21, 2006 saw Robyn Regehr

Robyn Regehr

Robyn Regehr is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League . He was a first round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche, selected 19th overall at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, but was traded to Calgary while still playing junior hockey for the...

 score a power play goal in the second period by kicking the puck into the net which according to NHL Rule 49, is illegal. Kowal declined to review the goal and deemed it legal which allowed the Flames to take a 2-1 lead and subsequently win the game 4-1. Another incident involved a game between the Tampa Bay Lightning

Tampa Bay Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...

 and Washington Capitals

Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...

 on March 6, 2011. An apparent Vincent Lecavalier

Vincent Lecavalier

Vincent Lecavalier is a Canadian professional hockey center and captain of the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League .-Rimouski Océanic:...

 goal in the 3rd period was disallowed for the Lightning after Kowal ruled that Martin St. Louis

Martin St. Louis

Martin St. Louis is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger and alternate captain currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

 interfered with Washington goalie Braden Holtby

Braden Holtby

Braden Holtby is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender from Marshall Saskatchewan who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...

by diving into him. This negated a 2-0 lead for the Lightning. Replays clearly displayed that St. Louis was tripped into the net by a Washington defender, a situation that does not negate a scored goal according to NHL Rule 69. The Capitals were able to score the tying goal and win the game in the shootout round.