Rules

Offside is a rule that defines the order of entry into the attacking zone. It affects where a set attack starts, why a linesman sometimes raises an arm instead of blowing the play dead, and why a goal can be overturned after video review. The logic in the NHL, IIHF, and USA Hockey is broadly […]

Hockey feels straightforward right up until the first controversial moment. The puck goes into the net—but the referee signals a face-off. A player was standing near the crease—and suddenly it’s “goalie interference.” And two identical-looking situations in different tournaments can be judged differently, because “official rules” are not a single document for all of hockey. […]