While I agree that was an illegal goal, it happened in game 6. Even if the goal was disallowed, the Sabres would have still had to win in OT to force a game 7. It's not like the Sabres had the cup in their hands at that point.
But if you wait until the offseason, you would be risking Benning making panic moves to save his own ass. See Chiarelli before getting canned in Edmonton.
Must be a tough pill to swallow for Benning to see Virtanen, Gaudette and Big Mac getting scratched. I'm sure part of the reason why he let Toffoli and Leivo walk was in the hopes that those three guys would take the next step.
I don't doubt that Marky wants to win and he probably won't get that in Detroit. But this is likely his last chance at a big contract, it would be hard to walk away from money and term when it's you're last shot to set yourself and your family up for life.
The last time Kelly reffed an elimination game for the Canucks, he called made this weak call against Daniel Sedin in OT - it lead to the series winning goal: