NHL expands use of video review to determine legitimacy of goals

The NHL announced several rule changes Thursday that will take effect this season, most significantly the expansion of video review “to allow broader discretion to Hockey Operations to assist the referees in determining the legitimacy of all potential goals (e.g., to ensure they are ‘good hockey goals’),” the NHL said in a statement.

“The revised Rule will allow Hockey Operations to correct a broader array of situations where video review clearly establishes that a “goal” or “no goal” call on the ice has been made in error. The new expanded rule will also allow Hockey Operations to provide guidance to referees on goal and potential goal plays where the referee has blown his whistle (or intended to blow his whistle) after having lost sight of the puck.”

The league also said that in reviewing goals that have been kicked into the net, Hockey Operations will require more demonstrable video evidence of a “distinct kicking motion” in order to overrule a “goal call” on the ice, or to uphold a “no-goal call” on the ice.

Also of note:

•A “spinorama” move in shootouts or while taking penalty shots has been banned.

•In an effort to punish and eventually reduce instances of embellishment, a graduated scale of fines for players and coaches was established, starting with a warning on the first offense and up to $5,000 for both the player and the coach on the eighth offense.

•Teams will switch ends before the start of overtime in the regular season and the ice will undergo a dry scrape before play begins. The league has removed the requirement that a coach submit a list of the first three shooters in the shootout.

The goaltenders’ restricted trapezoid area will be expanded by two feet from the goal post on both sides of the net.