Ice hockey is known as one of the fastest sports in the world and it also gives fans a full 60 minutes of action. This this is why officials want to keep the puck in play as much as possible.
However there are times when players may feel the need to slow the game down to give them a bit of a break and this often results in a two-minute minor penalty for delaying the game
What Does “Delaying the Game” Even Mean?
Delaying the game occurs when a player intentionally does something on the ice in the middle of the action to have the play whistled dead by the on-ice officials. Delaying the game usually occurs when a team is under tremendous offensive pressure or may need a rest for its tired on-ice players.
What Type of Penalty is Given for Delay of Game?
A team which is judged to have delayed the game will be typically assessed a two-minute bench minor penalty. A player who is judged to have delayed the game will receive a two-minute minor.
Is there Always a Penalty for Delay of Game Incidents?
If a referee decides that a specific delay of game incident was accidental and not a deliberate attempt to gain a whistle, then he may decide not to assess a penalty.
Delay of Game Penalties (Infractions)
Delaying the game is covered by rule 63 of the NHL rule book. Let’s take a look at the penalties that can happen for breaking the different delay of game rules.
Shooting the Puck Over the Glass in Defending Zone
One of the most common delay of game penalties seen in ice hockey these days is for shooting or batting the puck directly out of the playing surface while in the defending zone (the team’s own blue line). A two-minute minor will be assessed to anyone who deliberately or accidentally knocks the puck over the rink side glass with his stick or body.
However if the puck is deflected on the way over the glass by an opponent or teammate, no penalty shall be called. In addition, if the puck leaves the rink in an area where there is no glass over the boards, such as one of the team benches, no penalty will be assessed. Also, no penalty is handed out if the puck leaves the playing surface directly from a faceoff.
Read our full post “NHL Puck Over Glass Penalty Explained (Delay of Game)” here.
Let’s watch Mitch Marner shoot the puck over the glass during playoffs to get a delay of game penalty:
Deliberately Shooting, Throwing, or Batting the Puck Out of Play
A minor penalty is also given to any player who deliberately bats or shoots the puck outside of the playing surface from any location on the ice. This play results in a minor penalty if the puck is knocked out of the rink either during the action or after a whistle.
Deliberately Displacing the Goal Net
Another way for players to delay the game is to deliberately knock one or both the goal posts from their moorings in the defensive zone. If a referee believes a player has displaced the net on purpose, the whistle will be blown when the offending team has control of the puck and the culprit receives a minor penalty.
If a player knocks his own net off of the moorings when the opposition has a scoring chance the referee has the option of awarding the attacking team with a goal.
Refusing to Place the Correct Number of Players on the Ice
If a team’s alternate captain or captain is warned by the referee to make sure the correct number of players are on the ice before a faceoff. If the don’t obey, it will result in a bench minor penalty. This usually happens when a team is trying to buy time by making player changes after a whistle.
Refusing to Play On or off Ice
According to Rule 73 of the NHL rule book, any team which refuses to resume play or leaves the ice and refuses to play at the start of a game or any period when ordered to do so by the referee, may lose the game by forfeit.
On the first instance, the referee will warn the team’s captain and give them 15 seconds to begin play. If they refuse to do so, a minor bench penalty will be given for delay of game.
If a team refuses to play again in the same game, the coach will be handed a game misconduct penalty. If the team still refuses to play, the game will be lost by forfeit to the opposition.
Intentionally Having Players in Offside Positions
A bench minor for delay of game can be handed out to a team which continually lines players up in offside positions on a faceoff, goes offside on purpose during the game or substitutes goalkeepers throughout a game.
Deliberately Falling on the Puck
If any player other than the netminder gathers the puck into their body or deliberately falls on it anywhere on the ice, it should result in a minor penalty. A penalty shouldn’t be called on a player who blocks a shot and has the puck lodged beneath him or loses it in their equipment or uniform though.
Read our related post Can You Lay on the Puck in Hockey? here.
Clothing and Equipment Adjustment Delays
A teammate is allowed to deliver a water bottle to his goaltender as long as it’s done during a break in the game after a whistle. The referee may hand out a penalty though if he believed the water bottle is being taken to a goalie just before a faceoff as a way to delay the game and buy some time.
The rule states that a goalie must leave the ice and be replaced by the backup netminder if repairs to his equipment are needed. That being said, most referees will allow a goalie to have a minor equipment adjustment or repair at the player’s bench proving it doesn’t take to long and is necessary.
Any other player who needs a uniform or equipment repair must have it done on the bench between shifts so it doesn’t affect the play.
In the case where a player or goalie loses a skate blade or has it broken, the referee will usually allow the immediate play to continue and then blow the whistle when the play has been completed, but he isn’t obligated to blow the play dead.
Can a Delay of Game Result in a Penalty Shot?
If a defending team knocks their net off the moorings on purpose and there isn’t enough time left in the game to serve a two-minute minor for delay of game, a penalty shot shall be given.
Also if a defending player other than the goalie holds the puck, falls on it, picks it up or gathers it into his body or hands while the puck is in the crease, it results in a penalty shot.
See Alexander Georgiev (Goalie) hit the net off with 10 seconds left in the game for the Pittsburgh Penguins to receive a penalty shot on Sportsnet here.
Can a Delay of Game Result in an Awarded Goal?
If a defending player accidentally or purposely knocks the one or both posts off before the puck crosses the goal line between the normal position of the net, the referee may also award a goal.
Basically, this means the puck would have entered the net had it not been knocked out of position by a defender. Also, if a goalkeeper deliberately knocks the net off when an opponent has a breakaway, the referee should award a goal.
If the defending team has pulled its goalie for an extra attacker and deliberately knocks the net out of place while an opponent has a scoring chance it will also result in a goal.
What is the No Line Change Rule if the Net is Accidentally Knocked off?
When a defending team accidentally displaces the net and causes a stoppage in play, the faceoff takes place in their own zone and they aren’t allowed to make a line change. If the goalie had been pulled for an extra attacker at the time, the goalie will be allowed back in the net though and a substitution is allowed if a player is injured.
If the attacking team shoots the puck into the opponent’s zone from their own side of centre ice and the netminder freezes the puck for a whistle, the faceoff takes place in the defending zone and the defenders aren’t allowed to make a line change. However an injured player may be replaced.
What is a Delayed Whistle?
When the net is accidentally knocked out of place by an attacking player the play will carry on to give the defending team a chance to clear the zone as long as they are in possession of the puck. If the team loses possession of the puck and the net hasn’t been replaced in the meantime, the play will be whistled dead with a faceoff taking place nearest the location where the play was blown dead.
However if the defending team loses possession of the puck in its own end the faceoff comes outside of their blue line and into the neutral zone. By allowing the play to continue when the non-offending team’s net has been displaced, it means they may continue the play and score a goal even though their own net is off its moorings.
This scenario can only take place when the team which is scored upon was responsible for displacing the net.
Can Goalies Get Delay of Game Penalties?
If a goalie races out of the crease in a foot race against an opponent and falls on the puck it will result in a minor penalty for delay of game. However if a goalie leaves the crease to cut down a shooter’s angle, he may cover the puck after making a save.
The goalie will receive a penalty though if he drops on the puck in the crease or freezes it against a goal post for a whistle when there’s no attacker in the vicinity of the net. A minor penalty is also given to a netminder who plays the puck behind the net when it isn’t in the designated trapezoid area.
Goalkeepers will also be handed penalties for holding the puck for longer than three seconds when there’s no attacker in the vicinity; deliberately holding the puck in any way to get an unnecessary stoppage in play; throwing the puck toward an opponent’s net; drops the puck on top of the net, onto the back netting or into his goal pads; deliberately piles up ice or snow or any other obstacles in front of or near his net to prevent a scoring chance.
In the event a goalie throws the puck at the opponent’s net and the opposition gains possession, the play will be allowed to continue. If the opposition should happen to score, the goal will count and the impending penalty will be wiped out. If the opponents don’t score then a delay of game penalty is handed out.
Can a Faceoff Violation Cause a Penalty?
Rule 76 of the NHL rule book deals with faceoff violations and states that any team which is found guilty of a faceoff violation for a second time on the same faceoff, his team will be assessed a bench minor penalty for delay of game. If a centre is ejected from a faceoff and his replacement isn’t ready or is also ejected from the faceoff it also results in a bench minor.
Any player who is late for a faceoff and in an offside position when the puck is dropped will be given a warning. If it happens again by the offending team, they will receive a bench minor. Any intentional stalling on a faceoff may also result in a bench penalty.
Players Must Leave their Benches at the End of the Period
Rule 86.5 states that the home team’s players must head directly to the dressing room at the end of each period and the visitors must wait for the on-ice officials to signal them when to leave the ice if they have to cross the ice surface to reach their room.
Any team which disobeys this rule should be hit with a bench minor for delay of game. In addition, if a team isn’t on the ice and ready to start the game at the beginning of a period they will also receive a bench minor. A team may not warm up a goalie with pucks at the start of a period either and if they do so after one warning, will be assessed a bench minor.
No Warm-up Pucks are Allowed During Time Outs
Rule 87 deals with pucks on the ice during a team’s 30-second time out and television time outs. It states that no pucks are allowed on the ice for the purpose of warming up a goalie during either of these types of time outs. They will receive one warning and if it continues, will be assessed a bench minor for delay of game.
Failed Coaches Challenges
If a coach challenges a play for either goaltender interference, a possible offside or missed stoppage of play in the offensive zone following a goal, a minor bench penalty will be assessed for a failed challenge.
If the same team fails on any subsequent challenges in the same game they will be handed a double minor bench penalty for all other failed challenges.
What Happens When Objects Are Thrown on the Ice?
The rules state that if any objects are tossed onto the playing surface and interfere with the play, the referee will blow the whistle and have the items removed from the ice.
The play then resumes with a faceoff at the nearest circle to where the play was stopped. If objects are thrown onto the ice following a whistle and during a break in the action, the referee will instruct the off-ice officials to make an announcement over the PA system to the effect that a bench-minor will be handed to the home team if any more items are tossed to the ice.
If articles such as hats are thrown to the ice when a players scores a hat-trick (three goals), or following a special milestone, no penalty will be called. If spectators throw objects onto the ice when a player has a breakaway in the attacking side of centre ice and it interferes in the play, a penalty shot will be awarded.
If the defending team throws anything on the ice such as a stick or glove when an opponent is on a breakaway it also results in a penalty shot. If the defenders thrown anything at a puck carrier in their own zone the play is allowed to be completed and if a goal is scored it’s counted.
If the player fails to score on the play then a penalty shot is given. If a defending team throws anything at an opponent during a scoring chance when the defending team’s goalie has been pulled for an extra attacker, the referee will award a goal.
Watch some of the craziest stuff thrown on the ice during NHL games in this YouTube video below:
Final Thoughts
All hockey fans want to see as much continuous action as possible and that’s why most delay of game rules are appreciated. Although there are several infractions which result in this type of penalty, most of them are pretty rare other than a defending play shooting the puck over the glass either on purpose or by accident. Therefore It seems the rules are having the desired effect on the game.
Jamie is the founder of Hockey Response and he is the chief writer/ lead editor. Jamie has been playing hockey for over 20 years. He was the defenseman of the year in NL and has played Jr A level hockey. Jamie has coached several kids hockey camps and he was the assistant coach of the Western Kings.