New NHL New Rules

After watching a very entertaining 2-nil game between two of the original six on the Versus network tonight, I thought it worthwhile to remind those lost fans and hockey naysayers of the rule changes enacted prior to last season after the lockout:

Shootout
-Following a scoreless five-minute overtime, three players from each team participate in a shootout. Each team takes three shots. The team with the most goals after those six shots wins. If still tied, the shootout will advance to a sudden death format. If a game is decided by a shootout, the final score will give the winning team one more goal than its opponent, based on the score at the end of overtime.

Lines
-Two-line passes are now legal as the center red line will be ignored for offsides purposes.
-The blue lines will be moved closer together to create an additional four feet in each of the offensive zones. That reduces the size of the neutral zone to 50 feet from 54 feet.
-Goal lines will be moved two feet, to 11 feet from the end boards.
-The tag-up offsides rule returns, allowing play to continue if offensive players who preceded the puck into the zone return to the blue line and tag it.

Goalies
-The dimensions of goaltender equipment will be reduced by approximately 11 percent. In addition to a one-inch reduction (to 11 inches) in the width of leg pads, the blocking glove, upper-body protector, pants and jersey also will be reduced in size.
-Goalies may play the puck behind the goal line only in a trapezoid-shaped area defined by lines that begin six feet from either goal post and extend diagonally to points 28 feet apart at the end boards.

Icing
-A team that ices the puck can’t make a line change before the ensuing faceoff.
Touch icing remains in effect but linesmen will be given more discretion to wave off infractions if they are deemed the result of a long, attempted pass.

Instigation penalties
-A player who instigates a fight in the final five minutes of a game will receive a game misconduct and an automatic one-game suspension. The length of suspension would double for each additional incident. The player’s coach will be fined $10,000, a penalty that would double for each recurrence.

Officiating
Zero tolerance on interference, hooking and holding-obstruction.

Additional Changes
Goalies who play the puck behind the goal line but outside the designated puck-handling area will be called for delay of game. Goaltenders will be penalized for delay of game if they freeze the puck unnecessarily.
Any player who shoots the puck directly over the glass in his defending zone will be penalized for delay of game. Previously only goalies were penalized for the infraction.

To sum it all up, the game is much faster now. The puck moves from end to end with crisper passing and looser skating. Clutching and grabbing, left-wing lock, and a clogged neutral zone are in the past. The most athletic, best skating, and best coaching will net the new era's Stanley Cup.

Here are my top teams at the midseason:

1. Anaheim-scary good
2. Detroit-Dom Hasek is 42 this month, Chris Chelios is 45 this month
3. Nashville-don't have a clue why they are so good-props to the coaches and captain
4. Buffalo-great team that has taken advantage of the new rules more than any other
5. Montreal-great powerplay offensively and defensively as well with Kovalev/Koivu

Cold Steel on Ice...