NHL rule changes for 2015-16

The NHL Board of Governors formally approved 3-on-3 overtime today in an effort to cut down on ties and shootouts. Power plays will revert to 4-on-3 in the period, or 5-on-3 in the instance of two minor penalties assessed against a team.

The league also agreed to expand the use of video review to include a Coach’s Challenge in a “limited scope of scenarios.” Both begin this fall.

Here are all the rule changes for the 2015-16 season, directly from the NHL:

3-on-3 Overtime

1. Teams play an additional overtime period of not more than five

(5) minutes with the team scoring first declared the winner and being

awarded an additional point.

2. The overtime period will be played with each team at 3-on-3 manpower

(plus goaltender) for the full five-minute period.

3. Manpowers during overtime will be adjusted to reflect the situation

in the game, but at no time will a team have fewer than three (3)

skaters on the ice during the overtime period. For example, if a team

enters the overtime period on a power play, manpower would be

adjusted from 5 on 4 at the end of regulation to 4 on 3 at the start

of overtime. If a minor penalty is assessed during overtime, the

teams will play 4 on 3. If a second minor penalty is assessed to the

same team during overtime, the teams will play 5 on 3.

4. If the game remains tied at the end of the five (5) minute overtime

period, the teams will proceed to a three-round shootout. After each

team has taken three shots, if the score remains tied, the shootout

will proceed to a “sudden death” format.

5. Clubs who pull their goaltender for an extra attacker during the

overtime period (other than on a delayed penalty) will be subject to

the potential forfeiture of their one (1) point earned for the tie at

the end of regulation in the event the opposing team scores into the

empty net.

6. At the end of regulation, the entire ice surface will be shoveled and

the goalies will change ends. There will be no further ice surface

maintenance during the balance of overtime period. Following the

overtime period and before the shootout, the ice surface will be

shoveled again, and the goalies will change ends.

 

Expanded Video Review

This expanded video review is intended to be extremely narrow in

scope and the original call on the ice is to be overturned if, and only if,

a determination is made by the on-ice Official(s) (in consultation with the

Toronto Video Room) that the original call on the ice was not correct. If a

review is not conclusive and/or there is any doubt whatsoever as to whether

the call on the ice was correct, the on-ice Official(s) will be instructed

to confirm their original call.

 

Coach’s Challenge

1. A team may only request a Coach’s Challenge to review the following

scenarios:

a) “Off-Side” Play Leading to a Goal. A play that results in a “GOAL”

call on the ice where the defending team asserts that the play should

have been stopped by reason of an “Off-Side” infraction by the

attacking team.

b) Scoring Plays Involving Potential “Interference on the Goalkeeper”

(i) A play that results in a “GOAL” call on the ice where the

defending team asserts that the goal should have been disallowed due

to “Interference on the Goalkeeper,” as described in Rules 69.1, 69.3

and 69.4; or

(ii) A play that results in a “NO GOAL” call on the ice despite the

puck having entered the net, where the on-ice Officials have

determined that the attacking team was guilty of “Interference on the

Goalkeeper” but where the attacking team asserts: (i) there was no

actual contact of any kind initiated by an attacking Player with the

goalkeeper; or (ii) the attacking Player was pushed, shoved, or

fouled by a defending Player causing the attacking Player to come

into contact with the goalkeeper; or (iii) the attacking Player’s

positioning within the goal crease did not impair the goalkeeper’s

ability to defend his goal and, in fact, had no discernible impact on

the play.

2. A team may only request a Coach’s Challenge if they have their

time-out available and the Coach’s Challenge must be effectively

initiated prior to the resumption of play.

3. If the Coach’s Challenge does not result in the original call on the

ice being overturned, the team exercising such challenge will forfeit its

time-out.

4. If the Coach’s Challenge does result in the call on the ice being

overturned, the team successfully exercising such challenge will retain

its time-out.

 

League Initiated Review

1. In the final minute of play in the 3rd Period and at any point in

Overtime (Regular Season and Playoffs), Hockey Operations will

initiate the review of any scenario that would otherwise be subject

to a Coach’s Challenge.

2. Hockey Operations will continue to initiate and be responsible for

the review of all goals subject to Video Review under Rule 38.4.

Where a Coach’s Challenge is available on a scoring play potentially

involving “Interference on the Goalkeeper” or “Off-Side,” Hockey

Operations will, as an initial and threshold matter, determine that

the puck entered the net and is a good hockey goal before the play

will be subject to further review by means of a Coach’s Challenge

(or, in the final minute of play or in Overtime, a review initiated

by Hockey Operations). If a team requests a Coach’s Challenge but

Video Review under Rule 38.4 renders such Challenge unnecessary, then

the Challenge will be deemed not to have been made and the timeout

will be preserved.

 

Additional Notes Regarding Scenarios Subject to Expanded Video Review

1. The League will make available in all arenas, technology

(either a handheld tablet or a television or computer monitor) that

will allow on-ice Officials, in conjunction with the Toronto Video

Room, to view replays if, and only to the extent, a formal Coach’s

Challenge has been initiated (or, in the final minute of play or in

Overtime, a review by Hockey Operations is initiated). To the extent

practical, the replays made available to the Officials on the ice

will be the same replays that are being utilized by the Toronto Video

Room.

2 Once a Challenge has been initiated (or, in the final minute of play

or in Overtime, a review is initiated by Hockey Operations), the

Toronto Video Room will immediately establish contact with the

Referee (or Linesman) responsible for the call on the ice via the

headset and will inquire and discuss with the Referee (or Linesman),

prior to the Referee (or Linesman) examining any video, the

following: (a) the Referee’s (or Linesman’s) “final” call on the ice;

and (b) what the Referee (or Linesman) observed on the play.

3. The on-ice call will then be reviewed simultaneously by the

appropriate on-ice Officials at ice level and by Hockey Operations in

the Toronto Video Room using any and all replays at their disposal.

After reviewing the play and consulting with the Toronto Video Room,

the appropriate on-ice Officials will then make the “final” decision

on whether to uphold or overturn the original call on the ice. Once

the decision is made, the Referee will inform the Penalty

Timekeeper/PA Announcer and will make the announcement on the ice.

Plays Potentially Involving An “Off-Side” Infraction

1. The standard for overturning the call in the event of a “GOAL” call

on the ice is that the Linesman, after reviewing any and all

available replays and consulting with the Toronto Video Room,

determines that one or more Players on the attacking team preceded

the puck into the attacking zone prior to the goal being scored and

that, as a result, the play should have been stopped for an

“Off-Side” infraction; where this standard is met, the goal will be

disallowed.

2. Goals will only be reviewed for a potential “Off-Side” infraction if:

(a) the puck does not come out of the attacking zone again; or (b)

all members of the attacking team do not clear the attacking zone

again, between the time of the “Off-Side” play and the time the goal

is scored.

3. In the event a goal is reversed due to the Linesman determining that

the play was “Off-Side” prior to the goal being scored, the clock

(including penalty time clocks, if applicable) will be re-set to the

time at which the play should have been stopped for the “Off-Side”

infraction.

Plays Potentially Involving “Interference on the Goalkeeper”

1. The standard for overturning the call in the event of a “GOAL” call

on the ice is that the Referee, after reviewing any and all available

replays and consulting with the Toronto Video Room, determines that

the goal should have been disallowed due to “Interference on the

Goalkeeper,” as described in Rules 69.1, 69.3 and 69.4.

2. The standard for overturning the call in the event of a “NO GOAL”

call on the ice is that the Referee, after reviewing any and all

replays and consulting with the Toronto Video Room, determines that

the goal on the ice should have been allowed because either: (i)

there was no actual contact of any kind initiated by the attacking

Player with the goalkeeper; or (ii) the attacking Player was pushed,

shoved or fouled by a defending Player causing the attacking Player

to come into contact with the goalkeeper; or (iii) the attacking

Player’s positioning within the crease did not impair the

goalkeeper’s ability to defend his goal and, in fact, had no

discernible impact on the play.

3. The Video Review process on these plays (whether initiated by way of

a Coach’s Challenge or by Hockey Operations in the final minute of

play or in Overtime) will be utilized exclusively for purposes of

confirming or overturning a “GOAL” or “NO GOAL” call on the ice on

scoring plays potentially involving “Interference on the Goalkeeper.”

The Video Review process on these plays -- regardless of its outcome

-- will not be utilized for any other purpose, including,

specifically, for assessing minor or major penalties for Goalkeeper

Interference.

 

Rule 76.4, Face-Offs – Paragraph 2

When the face-off takes place at any of the nine face-off spots, the

players taking part shall take their position so that they will stand

squarely facing their opponent’s end of the rink, and clear of the ice

markings (where applicable). The sticks of both players facing-off shall

have the blade on the ice, within the designated white area. At the eight

face-off spots (excluding center ice face-off spot), the defending player

shall place his stick within the designated white area first followed

immediately by the attacking player. When the face-off is conducted at the

center ice face-off spot, the visiting player shall place his stick on the

ice first.