The rule is the rule.

What if Drouin had accepted a pass like that then shot on goal and it goes in?

Then what, it should be offside...but because in this case he wasn't involved with the puck at the line it shouldn't be?

NOPE.

You accept the 'fair' rule and you live with it.

Drouin knows the rule...you drag your skate to stay onside...that's what players do all the time.
- icedog97

Here is the rule:

You're offside when "both skates are completely over the leading edge of the blue line involved in the play"

You're onside when "either of the skates are in contact with, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line..."

That is the rule directly from the NHL. Reading that Drouin was not offside because he did not have both skates over the leading edge. The NHL then ends the rule about offside and starts a new paragraph about onside where again Drouin was not onside. So he was not offside but not onside so what was he? NHL needs to just fix the rule by making the rule either being offside or onside, can't have both because it makes no sense.

Black and White by definition means 2 options, I listed 4 without thinking hard about it.

4 > 2

Black & White would mean:
Puck must cross the line before any piece of an attacking player does or its offsides.

Obviously the rule is not that.
- Glak18

Technically you listed two things...onside and offside.

I dont really care about the foot in the air rule but its not difficult...keep your foot on the ice and you'll be onside every time.

Looks like the Pen fans whine just as much as Sid the Kid......even when they get the call. The point is this; the point wasn't was he "technically" onside or offside....it was should such a play be reviewable. I really think review is fine when it's to determine if the puck crosse the lines etc. but an inch over the line for an offside? (though his back skate looks to be on the ice) but whatever.

I am sorry. I just saw your fandom...i humbly ask forgiveness.
- climbdenali12

Good argument. i guess you don't disagree with my comment since you refused to explain why changing the rule to "break the plain" will result in less challenges and overturned goals. It will really in different overturn goals, and probably more as it is more difficult for a linesman to determine the plane than the skate on the ice.

All im rooting for at this point is Pittsburgh to have a goal disallowed on offsides just to see the reactions with the tables turned.

Anyway if its going to be reviewed there should be a camera on the line...and if they can see they are behind the line its good. the skate is supposed to be on the ice so the linesman can see they are onside, which is probably why the call got missed in the first place
- YuenglingJagr

We have lost games (partially at least)...in the playoffs...against the Flyers...because a goal was awarded when a player was clearly offside but there was no review process.

Granted...in the grand scheme of things, the Pens weren't going to beat the Flyers that year anyway...but still...I would have wanted it reviewed.

If you lose a game because your team was legitimately offside on a goal that was scored...THEMS THE BREAKS...

Stay onside...that is all.

Also i must say reviewable calls are a good thing - it would be a lot worse to win/lose a playoff game on a blatantly missed call (not referencing this offside in this example) than to have to wait a few minutes to make sure the correct call was made.

Sure the foot in the air may be a bit silly but for those crucifying the entire review process i think you need to consider how upset you'd be if a goal like the duchene offside goal is what caused you to lose the stanley cup.

Looks like the Pen fans whine just as much as Sid the Kid......even when they get the call. The point is this; the point wasn't was he "technically" onside or offside....it was should such a play be reviewable. I really think review is fine when it's to determine if the puck crosse the lines etc. but an inch over the line for an offside? (though his back skate looks to be on the ice) but whatever.
- Kinggilmour

Haha yeah we're the ones who are whining. Did you read the blog?

My point is that if a guy is a fraction of an inch offside and a linesman makes a judgement call that he was onside I can live with that.

Ultimately we should probably enforce rules more, the lack of plain as day penalties that aren't called in the playoffs is ridiculous and affects that games wayyyy more than a guy being a fraction of an inch offside.

So we should probably allow coaches to challenge every penalty.

You can say that offside isn't a judgement call but it was until last year and for the most part no one had a problem with it for 50 years

But if you're more comfortable calling me a moron go for it. If you ever park 1 too many inches away from the curb I hope you get a ticket, and then I also hope you're cool with it
- mattmoulson

Ok, if a puck is a couple of millimetres either side of the goal line would be a big deal?

Here is the rule:

You're offside when "both skates are completely over the leading edge of the blue line involved in the play"

You're onside when "either of the skates are in contact with, or on his own side of the line, at the instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line..."

That is the rule directly from the NHL. Reading that Drouin was not offside because he did not have both skates over the leading edge. The NHL then ends the rule about offside and starts a new paragraph about onside where again Drouin was not onside. So he was not offside but not onside so what was he? NHL needs to just fix the rule by making the rule either being offside or onside, can't have both because it makes no sense.
- Kucherovski

I agree with this, and on a macro level as well. Way too much gray area in the NHL rule book.

Looks like the Pen fans whine just as much as Sid the Kid......even when they get the call. The point is this; the point wasn't was he "technically" onside or offside....it was should such a play be reviewable. I really think review is fine when it's to determine if the puck crosse the lines etc. but an inch over the line for an offside? (though his back skate looks to be on the ice) but whatever.
- Kinggilmour

Yes, we should stop everything because you or some don't like it.

Looks like the Pen fans whine just as much as Sid the Kid......even when they get the call. The point is this; the point wasn't was he "technically" onside or offside....it was should such a play be reviewable. I really think review is fine when it's to determine if the puck crosse the lines etc. but an inch over the line for an offside? (though his back skate looks to be on the ice) but whatever.
- Kinggilmour

I say again...what if Drouin takes a pass...with his skates the way they were last night... then proceeds to shoot and score?

Should he be offside or not?

Ok, if a puck is a couple of millimetres either side of the goal line would be a big deal?
- Aussiepenguin

Yes it is, but if a guy is a millimeter offside, no I don't care. If a guy gets tripped with one minute left in a tie game it doesn't get called in the playoffs. That's a bigger deal than an offside. But since that's a "judgement call" apparently everybody is ok with it.

Penalties that are and are not called affect a game more than offside. I want penalties called more consistently and I also don't want offside reviewed. I guess that makes me a moron

Good argument. i guess you don't disagree with my comment since you refused to explain why changing the rule to "break the plain" will result in less challenges and overturned goals. It will really in different overturn goals, and probably more as it is more difficult for a linesman to determine the plane than the skate on the ice.
- Njuice

"breaking the plain" was a suggestion made by another poster.

I was saying that if the technology being put in place is overturning what has been considered a "good goal" for the last 30 years (can't speak to 31 years ago as I don't remember that far back) the NHL might consider adjusting the rule to allow for these plays to be considered onside.

I say again...what if Drouin takes a pass...with his skates the way they were last night... then proceeds to shoot and score?

Should he be offside or not?
- icedog97

I think, based on the rules, if you're going to make arguments start to ask, was Drouin onside because to answer your exact question, no he was not offside if his skates are the way they were and he shoots and scores.

Ffs. Sports should be all about two things. Winning and scoring.

Just get rid of the off side rule. Who cares if a player cherry picks. Leave a dman back then. Would increase scoring which increases excitement which increases fan enjoyment. So simple.

Sports will never eliminate bad calls. Live with it.

We have lost games (partially at least)...in the playoffs...against the Flyers...because a goal was awarded when a player was clearly offside but there was no review process.

Granted...in the grand scheme of things, the Pens weren't going to beat the Flyers that year anyway...but still...I would have wanted it reviewed.

If you lose a game because your team was legitimately offside on a goal that was scored...THEMS THE BREAKS...

Stay onside...that is all.
- icedog97

Can we confirm that even if a guy is offside a goalie is still allowed to make a save

With all of the reviews in sports these days I'm used to it. Fans don't know when to celebrate goals, just like they don't know when to celebrate hits, home runs or stolen bases. Touchdowns too. I doubt it ever goes back.

I think this goes to the evolution of the rule. The offsides rule has worked, with very few exceptions, for years and years. The linesman is making a judgement call based upon a single line relative to a puck and multiple players moving at high rates of speed. With the use of cameras and slow speeds we are bastardizing the spirit of the original rule on technicalities.

Was he offsides? Absolutely...was offsides the reason he scored? Absolutely not. If the NHL is going to use cameras and replays to get calls right, then the rules will need to be adjusted so the spirit of the rule remains intact.

I agree that eventually the "breaking the plain" will be implemented into the rule and this will be rectified. But it doesn't happen overnight.

It could be worse...a team could score a Cup winning goal in overtime which was later seen as a skate in the crea....I mean offsides only for that not to be reversed.
- climbdenali12

you hit the nail on the head.

because of the recent emergence of technology... it exposes the rule as being the problem - not how the officials call it.

clearly the officials call the rules in real time... and without electronic aids this new emergence of a problem - but what they (the NHL) really should do and soon - they have implemented the challenge - now quickly address the rule issue that has been exposed.

there's really no good reason to wait to change it.

The entire point of the rule in the first place has been lost

It's just turned into a Hail Mary for the opposing coach to throw one up and hope some insignificant event gets the goal Called back.

It's even worse when we've seen a team cycle and control play for 2 mins and then finally score. only to get it called back because there was a slight offside minutes ago that literally had nothing to do with the goal. Which although not as egregious as last nights, still isn't much different.

It's a silly rule and it'll be adjusted this offseason cause everyone knows it

I don't begrudge pit fans that are defending it today. But it's nothing more than defending it cause it helped them out. And they'd be doing the exact opposite if the shoe was on the other foot

I say again...what if Drouin takes a pass...with his skates the way they were last night... then proceeds to shoot and score?

Should he be offside or not?
- icedog97

Using the NHL rules as set by precedent... Offside.

Should these rules be set in stone now or should they still be adjusted to make the playing and viewing experience better and more exciting?

With all of the reviews in sports these days I'm used to it. Fans don't know when to celebrate goals, just like they don't know when to celebrate hits, home runs or stolen bases. Touchdowns too. I doubt it ever goes back.
- madmike71

All of those things are bad, but I guess some people are really into it

Using the NHL rules as set by precedent... Offside.

Should these rules be set in stone now or should they still be adjusted to make the playing and viewing experience better and more exciting?
- climbdenali12

Canada and half of the cities in the states that have teams care about the sport. When the NHL initiates coaches challenges it makes the sport worse. Even if a goal counts it took 5 minutes to figure it out and the buzz is gone.

All of those things are bad, but I guess some people are really into it
- mattmoulson

Technology has changed these games forever. I don't see it reverting back. It's never bad when your team benefits.....just saying.

This "rule" should be an easy adjustment for players IMO. Drag your foot at all costs. To me, it's no different than a college football player learning to get both feet in bounds in the NFL.

Using the NHL rules as set by precedent... Offside.

Should these rules be set in stone now or should they still be adjusted to make the playing and viewing experience better and more exciting?
- climbdenali12

Wrong, using the NHL rules he was not offside.

In last night’s Game 6 affair at Amalie Arena between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning, a game in which the Penguins deservedly extended the series to a winner-take-all Game 7 in Pittsburgh on Thursday night behind their 4-2 victory, the Lightning appeared to have struck first with an early first period goal from ultra elusive winger Jonathan Drouin.

Did this guy just say it was a 4-2 victory?