NHL 2008-09
Rule Changes
by Gaby Martinez
Hockeytalk.biz
OCTOBER 20, 2008 -- Beginning this season, the
NHL changed four of its rules. The first rule changed is rule 76.2 regarding
the location of the faceoff once a penalty has been assessed. Next, rule
81.1, regarding contact when players are pursuing an icing was adjusted.
Third is rule 85.5 regarding faceoffs when the puck has hit any of the goal
posts and has gone out of play. Lastly, a tweak to the rule regarding
television timeouts.
The first rule changed is rule 76.2.
This rule currently states: “When players are
penalized at a stoppage of play so as to result in penalties being placed on
the penalty time clock to one team, the ensuing face-off shall be conducted
at one of the two face-off spots in the offending team’s end zone.” This
means that teams who are penalized will take the next face-off in their
defending zone.
Previously, the face-off would occur in the zone in
which the penalty was taken. The four exceptions to the rule are as follows:
The penalty is given after the scoring of a goal, the penalty is at the end
of a period, the defending team is about to be penalized and the attacking
players enter the zone beyond the outer edge of the face-off circles, or the
team not being punished ices the puck.
This rule makes teams become more disciplined, since
all power plays now begin in the offensive zone.
Rule 81.1 regarding icing was changed.
To eliminate injuries due to over-aggressive contact
during a race for an iced puck, the NHL changed this rule. Rule 81.1
currently states: “Any contact between opposing players while pursuing the
puck on icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not
eliminating the opponent from playing the puck. Unnecessary or dangerous
contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player.”
The league opted against no-touch icing, but will
try to make the NHL a safer league by eliminating contact during the chase..
Rule 85.1 concerning puck out of bounds has been
changed.
Previously, if the puck hit the crossbar or goal
posts and went out of play, the face-off would occur in the neutral zone.
Now, the rule states: “One exception to the above shall be when the puck
deflects off the goal frame, including the goal post or crossbar, when
caused by either team, either shot directly or deflected off any player or
official, the face-off shall always be conducted in that end zone at the
nearest face-off spot.”
This reform encourages teams to shoot the puck more
often, because the players know that the faceoff resulting from a goal post
or cross bar deflection will remain in the offensive zone. , .
Lastly, a rule was issued relating to television
time outs.
Television time outs will no longer take place if
the stoppage of play was because an icing had occurred. This rule was
changed to prevent players from getting time to rest despite not being
allowed to change.
These recently updated NHL rules will make a
difference in the game.
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