Olympic ice hockey is experiencing some growing pains. Just ask Team USA, which has already fallen victim to the newest competitor in the hockey arena at the Games --the instant replay.

It was last season that the National Hockey League adopted the policy, and this is the first time in Olympic history that the instant replay has been used. And while Team USA would have a few more goals under its belt without the replay, Icer Coach Joe Battista is in favor of this controversial decision.

"I like it in theory," he said. "Obviously, on goals in particular, it can be very useful."

Replays can be requested for a number of reasons. Was the puck over the line? Was it intentionally kicked in? Did the goaltender catch it beyond the line? In Olympic rules, only the official can request a review.

"Some cases it's very clear, in other cases it's still grey," Battista said. "In those situations where it was clearly the wrong call, I like the idea of being able to correct it right away. But you've got to have guidelines that will limit the amount of delays."

Indeed, a problem surrounding the policy is that the replay, review and subsequent decision has been anything but "instant." In Sunday's clash between Slovakia and Sweden, at least three minutes had elapsed before a decision on a goal was made.

Sunday's 4-4 deadlock between Team USA and France could have easily ended in a 5-3 American advantage. They have the instant replay to thank for the tie.

After a French player deflected the puck toward the goal in the first period, it appeared that defenseman Chris Imes knocked it away. Not so, said an official.

Battista recalled a similar situation in the Icers' game against West Chester Sunday, when junior defenseman John Farrall stopped a shot after an opponent beat the Penn State goalkeeper. Because there is no replay in the Icers' league, it was up to the official to settle the dispute.

"(Farrall) stopped it with his stick and shot it out of the net," Battista said. "(West Chester's) argument was that he caught it beyond the goal line. From our angle, from where we film at center ice, you couldn't tell."

But in the Olympic arena, technology such as overhead cameras make it easier to tell, and Team USA's woes weren't over yet on Sunday. Up 2-1 in the second, a slap shot by Ted Crowley bounced off the skate of a teammate and into the French net.

Before the Americans could savor a 3-1 lead, the officials used the instant replay and made a controversial decision, saying the puck was deliberately kicked in.

"That's a tough call," Battista said. "That's an area where there's enough grey area from a video perspective."

While Icer goalkeeper Dennis Magulick said the "win some, lose some" factor in referee decisons is part of hockey's atmosphere, he is in favor of the instant replay. He recalls many injustices in NHL playoff and overtime games before the rule was adopted, when bogus goals were allowed.

"In that sense, instant replay is good," Magulick said. "But in another sense, and this is probably the same in all sports, it takes a little bit away from the game . . . it works in both directions."