Larger Neutral Zone to Be Tested in AHL

The NHL will test whether a larger neutral zone increases scoring chances in eight AHL games beginning this month, the AHL said Wednesday.

Widening the zone in the middle of the ice between the blue lines is one of the ideas NHL players and coaches have suggested as a way to reduce the effectiveness of defensive systems that have reduced NHL scoring.

NHL teams are averaging 5.0 goals a game this season, down from 5.3 last season, 6.3 in 1995-96 and 8.3 in 1981-82. There have been 77 shutouts this season, up from 50 at this point last season.

In the AHL test games, the one-foot-wide blue lines and one-foot-wide center red line will be widened to three feet. The blue lines will be considered part of the neutral zone, making it a total of six feet wider.

All of the NHL’s 30 teams have players competing in the AHL, the top professional developmental league in North America.

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Goaltender Ron Tugnutt was put on the injured list by the Dallas Stars, who activated defenseman Teppo Numminen and right wing Aaron Downey.

Tugnutt, 1-2 with a 2.11 goals-against average, sprained a knee in practice recently and his status is day to day.

Numminen sat out 12 games after breaking a foot last month and Downey was sidelined for 16 games because of a broken hip.

From Wire Reports