WASHINGTON (WUSA9)-- If you're not a true hockey fan, then watching Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, had you googling a few of the rules that you weren't confident in asking your friends about.
Don't worry!
Your secret is safe with me.
Just in time for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Gold Knights, is your crash course in common hockey rules.
If the result of the challenge is that the play was “onside,” the goal shall count and the team that issued the challenge shall be assessed a minor penalty for delaying the game.
From Rule 83 of the NHL rulebook: Players of the attacking team must not precede the puck into the attacking zone. The position of the player’s skates and not that of his stick shall be the determining factor in all instances in deciding an off-side. A player is off-side when both skates are completely over the leading edge of the blue line involved in the play.
2. Goaltender interference
Coaches could ask for a review if they felt an interference call had been missed, at the cost of a timeout if the play was upheld.
According to the NHL Rule Book on charging, "Any player who leaves their feet while delivering a body check is also found to be in violation of the charging rule."
Rule 48.1: Illegal Check to the Head: A hit resulting in contact with an opponent’s head where the head was the main point of contact and such contact to the head was avoidable is not permitted.
4. Overtime
The major rule change is how overtime is decided. Unlike the regular season, where they play a five-minute 3-on-3 OT before going to the shootout (with additional sudden death rounds if necessary), playoff hockey continues with regular 5-on-5, 20-minute periods for however long it takes for the next goal to be scored.
5. Face-off procedure
Visiting team's centre must place stick first for face-offs at centre ice Defending team's centre must place stick first for face-offs in either attacking zone.
If that didn't help and you still have a few questions, all of the rules can be found here.