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Forums :: Blog World :: Paul Stewart: Rule Book Stew: Hockey Sense, Common Sense and Uniformity
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Paul Stewart
Joined: 10.14.2013

Jan 9 @ 10:36 AM ET
Paul Stewart: Rule Book Stew: Hockey Sense, Common Sense and Uniformity
powerenforcer
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Wheeling, IL
Joined: 09.24.2009

Jan 9 @ 1:25 PM ET
Hi Paul - I have a question about the DOG ruling. Does that only apply to pucks that are shot out of play? I ask because I have seen Goaltenders direct pucks out of play with their blockers, and no calls were made. But doesn't that fall into the same category, a player directs the puck out of play in the defensive zone?

Not only are you correct that the rule book needs to be written to be better understood, it has to be followed the same by each crew. It's frustrating as a fan when in one game they let interference run wild, and then the next every little touch is called.
jmatchett383
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 03.09.2010

Jan 9 @ 2:59 PM ET
Hi Paul - I have a question about the DOG ruling. Does that only apply to pucks that are shot out of play? I ask because I have seen Goaltenders direct pucks out of play with their blockers, and no calls were made. But doesn't that fall into the same category, a player directs the puck out of play in the defensive zone?

Not only are you correct that the rule book needs to be written to be better understood, it has to be followed the same by each crew. It's frustrating as a fan when in one game they let interference run wild, and then the next every little touch is called.

- powerenforcer


From the way I understand it, the DOG penalty for pucks over the glass have to be done while the player has possession. A blocker save/deflection don't qualify.
powerenforcer
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: Wheeling, IL
Joined: 09.24.2009

Jan 9 @ 3:05 PM ET
From the way I understand it, the DOG penalty for pucks over the glass have to be done while the player has possession. A blocker save/deflection don't qualify.
- jmatchett383


The issue I have with that type of thinking is, I know the Goaltenders train to control rebounds, so I see it as control = possession.
OrrFour
Joined: 11.04.2013

Jan 9 @ 7:12 PM ET
I recently saw a goal called back on review because it was ruled goaltender interference. In my opinion, the goalie knew he couldn't get back in position in time so he let himself be taken out easily. The McCauley rule would have kept it a goal.
PghPens668771
Pittsburgh Penguins
Joined: 11.26.2013

Jan 10 @ 10:50 PM ET
Good article Paul. Yeah, I agree that the rule makes sense and also with what you said that it should not necessarily wash out all penalties. One thing to consider is that if a player elbows or crosschecks another in the head during stoppages of play that can easily be called - it can (and really should) even result in a major/match penalty. The fact that the clock is not ticking is irrelevant.

Like you said I guess it comes down to classifying penalties by how likely they are to cause injury. The one penalty that is a grey area is interference. Interference can range from being very subtle and barely perceptible (like what the Red Wings used to pull in the 2008-9 playoffs and almost always got away with) to a brutal but clean open ice hit on a player without the puck that leaves him with a concussion.
Pompous
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Ruskin, FL
Joined: 02.19.2014

Jan 12 @ 11:18 AM ET
I am the sort that despises ANYONE who abuses the powers they are granted by an 'authority'.
Think South Park and Carmen.
A cop on the beat can be effective and appreciated for being judicious and have an arrest record that is abbreviated. Is he doing the job?
By my standards yes.
Then we get the macho slugs, pumped up with steroids and power, who are going to PROVE something, anything to assert their dominion. They can have a really enormous record of filing charges, but are the doing the job?
Much like Mr. Stewart, I agree the process of bringing justice starts with the 'legislature'. If they don't collaborate with the population that they are attempting to 'fix', and fail to acknowledge, then correct, their errors, we sink into a morass of confusion.
This is when the poorly constructed egos wreck the purpose of the rules and the games.
Some refs need a good talking to and perhaps be shown the door when they display a poor sense of the purposes for enforcing the rules.
The model of moving a team from one soccer division to another, EVERY year, would be an adjustment to permit a freer flow of the premier refs separating from the dross of striped skaters.
I do not know how to implement a fair 'shake' to do this but it seems to be worth debating.
Slip and slap
Vancouver Canucks
Joined: 09.14.2017

Jan 12 @ 4:18 PM ET
NHL officials have found a new low when it comes to job performance this season. The amount of missed calls on clear, obvious infractions is massive. I can't see how anyone could defend such poor job performance.