REPORT: NHL considering RULE CHANGE
The other night in a game between the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets had a very controversial play happen that has been causing speculation amongst the league and could possibly even force a rule change.
In this situation, Jets defender Josh Morrissey pushes Jamie Benn who hits Connor Hellebuyck which knocks his helmet off, and the Stars immediately score:
The ruling on the play was a good goal because of this rule:
NHL Rule 9 � Uniforms � 9.6 � Helmets � When a goalkeeper has lost his helmet and/or face mask and his team has control of the puck, the play shall be stopped immediately to allow the goalkeeper the opportunity to regain his helmet and/or face mask.
When the opposing team has control of the puck, play shall only be stopped if there is no immediate and impending scoring opportunity. This stoppage of play must be made by the Referee. When play is stopped because the goalkeeper has lost his helmet and/or face mask, the ensuing face-off shall take place at one of the defending team's end zone face-off spots.
When the opposing team has control of the puck, play shall only be stopped if there is no immediate and impending scoring opportunity. This stoppage of play must be made by the Referee. When play is stopped because the goalkeeper has lost his helmet and/or face mask, the ensuing face-off shall take place at one of the defending team's end zone face-off spots.
The Winnipeg Jets didn't have the puck so the play kept going which resulted in the tying goal.
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, this could now cause some rule changes:
There is definitely going to be something done in the aftermath of the Jason Robertson goal when Connor Hellebuyck's mask was knocked off last Friday. Maybe it's as simple as a more aggressive whistle, since GMs recognize goalies need to be protected. In the days since that occurred, there's also been a demand to make sure «mask-off» doesn't get abused or become a strategy. Last season, St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington received a delay-of-game penalty for removing his mask in a game against the Jets. Another suggestion was making a chin-strap mandatory � an attempt that failed in 2014. Goalies refused that as part of the equipment slimdown. «Goalie Gear Nerd» on Twitter made an interesting point, that this wouldn't work anyways because of the way the mask is designed to fall under contact.
This change isn't coming immediately, but it could be implemented as soon as next season.
| POLL | ||
Should the league change this rule? | ||
| yes | 179 | 74.9 % |
| no | 60 | 25.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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