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NEW YORK, June 18, 2008 (AFP) - The National Hockey League board of governors Wednesday approved rule changes regarding faceoffs and icing that had been recommended by general managers and approved by the competition committee.
One change stipulates that the first faceoff of a power play will take place in the defending zone of the team that committed the foul.
Another alteration states that "any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck."
The amended rule further states that "unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player."
The icing rule change likely is in response to the broken leg suffered by Minnesota Wild defenseman Kurtis Foster on March 19, when he crashed into the boards while chasing San Jose rookie Torrey Mitchell for the puck.
Another faceoff rule change addresses a situation where the puck is shot off the goal frame, goal post or crossbar. Then, the subsequent faceoff will remain in the end zone where the puck went out of play.
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