Former NHL Ref turned rules analyst on ESPN.
Colorado/Montreal
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Sorry, Grumpa, there is an exception in the rulebook. Player committing the infraction must have his stick above his own waist
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The rulebook picture you are showing is from 23-24. The rule was amended for clarity. This is from the 2025–26 rulebook. The players shoulders of the player being hit must be above the waist of player committing the infraction
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Mtl-Buf too-many men. Player came on and got in the way of the puck carrier while his teammate was still on the ice. Correct call. Here is the applicable rule....
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The rule you are referring to concerns leaving the bench in a fight situation. If he is considered off the ice but then goes back to start a fight, he left the bench. Here is the relevant rule. It was applied correctly.
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...a legal line change. A team might at some point, have 10 skaters on the ice at the same time but as long as everyone is 10' from the bench and no one deliberately plays the puck, then it's a legal line change. Also, puck was 100' from CAR bench...2/2
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The video you were watching is not the high stick, it occurs one second before that. Here is the full video
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I know this doesn't quite compete with a random Wikipedia reference but here is the rule. The stick and/or the player's shoulders must be above the waist of the player committing the infraction
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Kevin, I deleted the first video and added a longer video. Someone conveniently posted a video that did not show the high stick occurring
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As promised. 2 guys leaving the bench for 2 guys going off. Everyone is around 10' from the bench which is accepted practice unless any of those 4 play the puck or get immediately involved in the play. Guy coming over boards is delaying until his guy(out of frame) gets closer
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Promise that's true. Here's a screen grab from 2014
I will concede though that the rulebook does not do a good job of fully describing the full criteria and the accepted interpretation/application of this rule
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Updated post for clarity. Must maintain possession & control once puck enters zone. He fans on it (misses) twice and then D-man engages his stick all before he ever regains control. Yes, its judgement but bobbling it twice lends itself to momentary loss of control.
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Avs disallowed goal. You need to maintain possession and control once the puck enters the zone. He remains in possession but the D-man momentarily engages his stick before he finally touches it. He is no longer in control at that point.
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Ed, watch the reverse angle. If anything, Garland could've been assessed a holding penalty. He was trying really hard to draw one.
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So Jon 'the expert' blocked me after insulting me twice and not appreciating hearing facts.....LOL
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I don't need to make an excuse. I don't care if you believe me. I'm explaining the rule. That is onside. Makar scored a huge goal against Edmonton in the semifinals four years ago. Case law has been tried and settled...
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Puck carrier was forced to alter his path while both the retiring player and player coming on were both still on the ice. Agree it wasn't egregious but player coming on did provide a slight obstacle.
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Close to similar but I believe that Bob was breaking the plane with his upper body and contact occurred in the white paint. I've tried to highlight the crease in the 2 pics. 1st pic is contact, 2nd is as Bob retreats.
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Last night in Quebec 2 outstanding people were inducted into the Hockey Quebec HOF. David Taveroff & Claude Frappier have devoted their adult lives to giving back in multiple capacities. Honored to call them both friends.
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RIP to one of the greatest, funniest and most caring people I've ever met. Leon bridged the generation gap with his younger peers and was a friend and father-like figure to our entire staff. Beloved would be an understatement. Condolences to his family.
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Frozen Frenzy, NHLonESPN tonight. 3 games, back to back to back and Bucci & Weeksy doing the Wraparound, covering all 16 gms on ESPN+
Puck drops at 6pm ET....GAME ON!
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Really close call but remember that the crease is 3-D. I believe his butt was breaking the plane and made contact which is why I think it was disallowed. It was considered in the blue and it doesn't matter who initiates the contact
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Totally agree! The initial contact occurs in the blue paint when the forward pushes his right pad with his stick and knocks him off balance.
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Yes, contact occurred outside the crease. That is everyone's ice and incidental contact is permitted especially when goalie initiates it.
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It stood because goaltender initiates contact in the white paint. It was disallowed Thursday night because contact occurred in the blue paint. That is the key to this rule
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Dylan, it might appear to be the exact same scenario but the goldtender initiates contact outside the crease in the white paint last night. That is not his ice and incidental contact is permitted. The biggest red flag when determining this rule is where does contact occur?
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Both times the goaltender initiates contact. Thursday the contact happens in the blue paint last night the contact happens in the white ice. The goaltender has no more right to that ice than the forward does
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Brett, Thursday the contact was in the blue paint last night the contact was initiated by the goaltender in the white paint. That is the key part of this rule. Where does the contact occur?
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Drake, I just watched it and it is nothing like the goal from Thursday night. The key here and people don't seem to understand it, is where does the contact occur? Thursday was in the blue paint last night was in the white paint.
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Sorry Drake, he got pushed in, exited and then re-entered on his own. Goalie was off balance due to contact and didn't 'make' a save, puck hit him. Here's the rule, and it doesn't happen 1000s of times per season. SitRm has been very consistent when a team challenges
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JP, the crease is 3-D and extends 4 feet to the crossbar. In the pic you can clearly see his butt is breaking the plane. He went in the crease on his own at this point. Here is the rule;
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Not sure why people are confused about the disallowed goal in Nashville. Goalie tries to move left and his right arm and blocker are prevented from doing so because CBJ player is in the crease. He was lucky to even make the original save.
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Not sure about the arm locking part but your comment just proves how difficult the job is that referees have in real time. They don't get to watch slow-mo from different angles. They get it right most of the time.
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To my friends in the north who may not have seen a replay from the end zone , it was a high stick.
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RIP Will Norris (1936-2025). A humble gentleman who shaped the paths of mine and countless other young officials on their way to the NHL. A friend, mentor and confidant. He will be dearly missed.
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Sure looks like he's breaking your 3-D moot argument here....Goalie reacted to initial contact, he did not initiate contact. The rule has actually been remarkably consistent to anyone who pays attention.
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Here's a still shot of the Makar play from several years ago. It was very confusing for many hockey fans who didn't fully understand the delay/tag up rule.
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Eric, with all due respect, Montour's feet were still on his side of the red line when the puck hit the ice. Here are some still shots and you can see the puck eventually. In the first pic, the puck is already btw Mtl player's legs.
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To expand on earlier icing post, there is some confusion about a player attempting to play the puck. The defender MUST ATTEMPT to play the puck however if the goalie attempts or even fakes attempting to play the puck, it's waved off. It's 2 different scenarios.
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Linesmen Cherrey & Shewchyk made the correct call on the late icing on NJD that led to the winning goal in DAL. The onus is on the team shooting the puck and D-man is not expected or obligated to play a puck that's 2' off the ice. He tried and missed. That's icing.
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Sorry these are so grainy, they're from my laptop but these are back to back still-frames. I'm not saying he played the puck with 100% certainty but I think it's too close to risk a delay of game penalty after being scored on to tie the game.
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