Quick Facts

Just a few quick facts before tonights game 6 in Boston.

The NHL and the NHLPA talked today and they decided that work will be done to change Rule 48 . This is the rule right now:

Rule 48 - Illegal Check to the Head

48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted.

48.2 Minor Penalty - There is no provision for a minor penaltyfor this rule.

48.3 Major Penalty - For a violation of this rule, a major penalty shall be assessed (see 48.4).

48.4 Game Misconduct – An automatic game misconduct penalty shall be assessed whenever a major penalty is assessed under this rule.

48.5 Match Penalty - The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent with an illegal check to the head.

48.6 Fines and Suspensions – Any player who incurs a total of two (2) game misconducts under this rule, in either regular League or playoff games, shall be suspended automatically for the next game his team plays. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.

If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion  (refer to Rule28).

So the 2 groups decided that they'll come up with a better way to word the details of these confusing and vague rules. Noone is really clear when a player should be suspended or not nowadays after a big hit. For instance, people feel that the Rome hit was punished too severely. So hopefully they will come up with a solution to this problem and make the game safer while keeping it as enjoyable.

Another thing I'd like to point out is that for the first time since 2002, the NHL finals will finish after the NBA finals. After last nights snooze-fest in Miami, the NHL finals stand alone in the playoff world. I don't know whether this is a good thing or not or whether it's just sheer coincidence when this stuff happens (I'd say the latter) but some people like weird stats like this so why not eh?