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Those Darned Delay-Of-Game Penalties |
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Although their series is far from over, the playoff fortunes of the New York Rangers may have turned for the worse because of how the rule for delay of game infractions was worded and interpreted.
With less than a minute left in regulation, Washington’s Karl Alzner swiped at a puck that was shot into his own zone, which went over the glass into the crowd. The Rangers expected Alzner to get a two minute penalty for delaying the game, but the referees did not issue a penalty.
Rule 63.2 states “A minor penalty for delay of game shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who deliberately shoots or bats (using his hand or his stick) the puck outside the playing area during the play or after a stoppage of play.
When any player, while in his defending zone, shoots or bats (using his hand or his stick) the puck directly (non-deflected) out of the playing surface, except where there is no glass, a penalty shall be assessed for delaying the game.”
After the game, the NHL deemed that Alzner had deflected the puck over the glass and did not shoot or bat it into the crowd.
In overtime, both teams received over-the-glass delay of game minors, with Ryan McDonough’s penalty leading to Mike Green’s overtime winner, giving the Capitals a 2-0 lead in the series.
Previous to this rule being implemented after the 2005 lockout, handing out delay penalties for shooting over the glass was determined by the referee like any other penalty, based on whether it was done on purpose to get a needed play stoppage or accidentally.
Now there is no gray area for shooting the puck over the glass and the outcome of important games are being decided by a trivial infraction.
Do you think that the NHL go back to pre-lockout rules for delay of game and put the call at the discretion of the referee or do you think that the current rule is acceptable?
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