The NHL hands out several types of penalties for on-ice misbehavior. When it comes to the length of punishment, these penalties will vary based on the seriousness of the specific infraction. One of the most severe penalties the league dishes out is the game misconduct.
What is a Game Misconduct Penalty in Hockey?
When a player receives a game misconduct penalty in the sport of ice hockey, it simply means they have been thrown out of the remainder of the game and will not return to action.
A game misconduct penalty involves the suspension of a player for the balance of the game but a substitute is permitted to replace the player removed. Ten minutes are applied in the league records to the player incurring a game misconduct penalty. – NHL Rulebook 2023-2024
How Long is a Game Misconduct Penalty?
The length of each game misconduct penalty will vary since the amount of playing time missed will depend on the time the penalty was handed out. If a player is given a game misconduct in the first period he will naturally miss more ice time than a player who is tossed from a game in the third period.
Any player who is given a game misconduct also has 10 minutes of penalty time added to their seasonal statistics. But even though the player and team is hit with 10 minutes worth of penalty time, the team doesn’t play shorthanded, as a game misconduct itself is not a timed penalty.
The dismissed player doesn’t hang around to serve any time in the penalty box, but a teammate (chosen by the coaches) must serve any infraction time the player may have received on the same play. For instance, if the player was handed a two-minute minor penalty, a five-minute major, or a five-minute match penalty along with the game misconduct, a teammate must serve the minor or major penalty time in the box.
What’s the Difference Between a Match Penalty, Misconduct Penalty, and a Game Misconduct Penalty?
I will first explain the main differences between all of these penalties because it can be confusing to understand the differences between them all, but below, I explain match penalties and misconduct penalties in detail too.
| Game Misconduct Penalty | A game misconduct penalty is when a player is suspended for the remainder of the current game they are playing. |
| Misconduct Penalty | A misconduct penalty is when a player is given a 10 minute non-timed penalty during a game in which they can return to the same game when the 10 minutes is completed. |
| Match Penalty | A match penalty is the suspension of the current game due to a deliberate attempt to injure, an automatic 5-minute timed penalty is given. The player is automatically suspended from future games until the Commissioner has ruled any supplementary discipline. |
Match Penalty – Rule 21
A match penalty involves the suspension of a player for the balance of the game and the offender shall be ordered to the dressing room immediately. A match penalty shall be imposed on any player who deliberately attempts to injure or who deliberately injures an opponent in any manner. – NHL Rulebook 2023-2024
The match penalty also comes with an automatic five-minute major, which must be served by a teammate other than a goaltender. If the player receives any other minor or major penalties on the play, they must also be served by a teammate. In addition, the player who receives the match penalty will have 10 minutes of penalty time added to their statistics for the match penalty and will be suspended from playing until the league has investigated the matter.
When a goalie is assessed a match penalty he must leave the game but can be replaced by an eligible teammate. The five-minutes and any other penalties that may have been assessed at the same time must be served in the penalty box by a teammate who was on the ice when the infraction took place. However, if the opposing team receives a coincidental major or match penalty simultaneously, the goalie’s five-minute match penalty doesn’t need to be served.
All match penalties will be video-reviewed by the on-ice officials to either confirm the original call or reduce it to a less severe infraction.
Depending on their severity, some common infractions that could result in a match penalty include:
- head-butting,
- high-sticking,
- an illegal check to the head, kicking an opponent,
- kneeing,
- punching and injuring an unsuspecting opponent,
- slew-footing,
- slashing,
- spearing,
- throwing a stick or any other object,
- and wearing tape on their hands during an altercation/fight.
Read our related post “NHL Match Penalty vs Game Misconduct (What’s the Difference?)” here.
Misconduct Penalties – Rule 22
In the event of misconduct penalties to any players except the goalkeeper, the players shall be ruled off the ice for a period of ten (10) minutes each. A substitute player is permitted to immediately replace a player serving a misconduct penalty. A player whose misconduct penalty has expired shall remain in the penalty box until the next stoppage of play. – NHL Rulebook 2023-2024
Rule 22 of the NHL rulebook covers misconduct penalties, this is different than a match penalty and a game misconduct penalty. A misconduct penalty means you only serve a 10 minute (non-timed) penalty during a game, and you can return to action when the 10 minutes is up.
Note, there may be a timed penalty that must be served by a teammate similar to a game misconduct penalty. If the player who received a misconduct penalty also received a minor, major, or match, you will be shorthanded.
If the penalty occurs in the final 10 minutes of a game or in overtime, he will be asked to leave the ice and head to the dressing room rather than serve the penalty in the penalty box.
If a goalie is handed a 10-minute misconduct, a teammate who was on the ice when the penalty was dished out may serve the infraction. If the offending player also receives a minor and/or major or match penalty with the misconduct, his team must play shorthanded for the other infractions.
The most common causes of a 10-minute misconduct include:
- banging the boards with your stick in protest of an official’s ruling,
- attempting to or continuing a fight,
- deliberately breaking your stick or refusing to hand it over for a stick measurement,
- deliberately throwing your stick or any other piece of equipment out of the playing area,
- entering or remaining in the official’s on-ice crease area,
- fighting off of the ice surface, inciting an opponent,
- instigating a fight,
- distracting or interfering with an opponent who is taking a penalty shot,
- shooting or knocking the puck out of reach of an official,
- leaving the players’ bench to converse with an official,
- refusing to change a non-regulation article of protective equipment (second violation),
- using abusive or profane language.
Note: All misconduct penalties that are assessed for abusing an official must be reported in detail to the NHL’s head office.
Are there Different Types of Game Misconduct Penalties?
There are three major types of game misconducts in the NHL: abuse of officials, stick infractions, and physical fouls.
1. Abuse of Officials
The “Abuse of Officials” penalty in hockey is when a player, goalkeeper, or coach challenges, disputes, or shows unsportsmanlike conduct towards game officials. This includes using obscene, profane, or abusive language or gestures, making degrading comments about an official, or persistently arguing a ruling even after being instructed to stop.
Such behavior, whether it occurs before, during, or after a game, can result in penalties ranging from minor penalties to game misconducts, depending on the severity of the offense.
Numerous offenses can happen that can lead to a game misconduct due to Abuse of Officials, and some include:
- Use of obscene, profane, or abusive language towards officials, especially after an initial unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
- Intentionally knocking or shooting the puck away from an official retrieving it.
- Persistently challenging or disputing an official’s ruling after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
- Banging the boards with sticks or objects to show disrespect for an official’s decision, especially after an initial unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
- Players not allowed in the Referee’s crease unless taking positions on the penalty bench, especially during official consultations
- Players throwing equipment out of play face a misconduct penalty, with added penalties if done in protest of an official’s decision.
- Players banging the glass in protest of an Off-Ice Official’s decision face penalties after prior unsportsmanlike conduct.
- Participants repeatedly displaying misconduct face a sequence of penalties: minor, then misconduct, followed by game misconduct.
When a player accumulates two game misconducts in the regular or postseason for abusing an official, he’s automatically suspended for the next game. In addition, the suspension increases by one game for each following of the same game misconduct.
2. Stick Infractions
The stick infractions that can lead to a game misconduct are:
- butt-ending
- cross-checking
- hooking
- spearing
- slashing
Here are some rules regarding stick infraction game misconduct penalties:
Regular Season Penalties:
- Any player who hasn’t played 41 consecutive games (half a season) without a stick infraction penalty and receives two game misconducts for stick-related fouls will be automatically suspended for the next game.
- The automatic suspension increases by a game for each subsequent stick infraction game misconduct.
Playoff Penalties:
- A player who receives two game misconducts for stick-related infractions during the playoffs is automatically suspended for the next postseason game.
- The automatic ban increases by a game for each subsequent game misconduct.
- Before the Stanley Cup Finals series starts, all stick-infraction game misconducts are removed from the player’s current playoff record but remain on his overall record.
Record Adjustment:
- If a player plays 41 consecutive regular-season games without receiving a stick-related major penalty and game misconduct, his prior game misconducts are cleared from his current record but stay on his overall historical record.
- The total games count for a player spans a two-year period, starting from the date of his first game misconduct in each foul category.
3. Physical Infractions
The physical infractions which can result in a game misconduct are:
- clipping
- charging
- elbowing
- boarding
- head-butting
- interference
- kneeing
- checking from behind
Here are some rules regarding physical infraction game misconduct penalties:
Regular Season Penalties:
- Players receiving two game misconducts for physical infractions within 41 consecutive regular-season games face an automatic next-game suspension.
- Each subsequent game misconduct increases the suspension duration by one game.
Playoff Penalties:
- Players earning two physical-foul game misconducts in the playoffs get an automatic next-game ban.
- Each following game misconduct adds an additional game to the suspension.
Record Adjustments:
- Before the Stanley Cup Final series starts, physical-foul game misconducts are removed from the player’s current playoff tally but remain in the overall record.
- After 41 consecutive regular-season games without a physical-foul major penalty and game misconduct, a player’s past game misconducts are cleared from the current count but stay in the general record.
Duration of Record:
- A player’s record spans a two-year period, beginning from the date of the first game misconduct in each foul category.
4. Automatic Game Misconduct (20.4 NHL Rulebook)
According to rule 20.4, an automatic game misconduct is handed to any player who has accrued three major penalties in the same game.
In addition, a game misconduct will be handed out whenever a player receives a five-minute major for the following infractions:
- receiving a second fighting instigator penalty in the same game
- instigating a fight in the final five minutes of a game or in overtime
- receiving a third instigator penalty in the season
- head-butting, hooking, kneeing, slashing and/or spearing.
Also, the NHL rule book states that a player will receive an automatic game misconduct when receiving a major penalty for boarding, charging or elbowing and it results in an injury to the opponent’s head or face.
Any player or non-playing member of the team who physically interferes with, throws an object at, or becomes involved in an altercation with a fan will automatically be handed a game misconduct. The referee will then report the infraction to the Commissioner of the NHL, and further penalties and suspensions could be handed out.
Other Infractions that can lead to a Game Misconduct:
The other ways to earn yourself a game misconduct according to rule 23.8 include:
Physical Altercations:
-
- Attempting to continue a fight
- Fighting off the ice surface
- Being the first or second player to leave the players’ bench to start or participate in an altercation
- Being the third man in an altercation
- Intervening in an altercation
- Leaving the penalty box during an altercation
- Starting a secondary altercation
- Being assessed a third major penalty during a game
Equipment and Attire Issues:
-
- Not having your sweater properly tied down during an altercation
- Removing your sweater prior to an altercation
- Throwing your stick outside of the playing area
Disrespect towards Officials:
-
- Deliberately attempting to injure non-playing personnel of the opposing team
- Interfering with a game official in the performance of their duties
- Persisting to dispute or challenge an official’s ruling
- Returning to the ice surface after being told to leave
Unsportsmanlike Conduct:
-
- Inciting an opponent into receiving a penalty
- Obscene gestures or language
- Racial slurs or taunts
- Spitting at or on a spectator
Interactions with Spectators:
-
- Striking or interfering with a spectator
What Type of Game Misconducts are Most Common in the NHL?
Game misconducts are actually pretty rare in the NHL, as most players don’t cross that line when it comes to misbehaving. Several are handed out each regular season and postseason, however. Most of these penalties are dished out for serious reckless infractions that did cause or could have caused injury to an opponent.
Instigating a second fight in the same game or in the last five minutes of the contest is also a somewhat common reason for a game misconduct if the score is lopsided at the time.
Can a Goalie Get a Game Misconduct?
Yes, in the NHL a goalie can get a game misconduct. If a team’s goalie receives a game misconduct, he must leave the contest and be replaced by an eligible teammate.
Can a Coach or Staff Member Get a Game Misconduct?
Yes, any playing and non-playing member of a team’s staff may be assessed with a game misconduct penalty. Typically, these are Abuse of Officials penalties and they are not timed penalties resulting in the team being short handed.
Are Game Misconduct Penalties Reviewed?
All game misconducts are reviewed after the contest by the NHL for the purpose of rescinding it or assessing further discipline. The only infractions which may be video reviewed by on-ice officials are five-minute major penalties, double-minors for high sticking and match penalties.
Rule 20.6 states that officials will review all major penalties other than those handed out for fighting. Therefore, if a game misconduct has been handed out as a result of a major or match penalty, the game misconduct may be rescinded on the ice.
How Much is a Player Fined if They Get a Game Misconduct?
The rulebook states that a player may be hit with financial fines and a possible suspension after receiving a game misconduct, depending on the circumstances of the incident. It will be reported to the Commissioner who has full power to impose further suspensions and fines.
- Fines may not exceed $10,000 for a first offense and $15,000 for a second offense within a 12-month time period.
- For each time a player is suspended for an accumulation of game misconducts, his team is fined $1,000.
Take a look at all the fines in 2022 and 2023 season by Scouting the Refs here.
A team may request in writing to have the league review and rescind a game misconduct penalty but must do so within 48 hours of the game’s conclusion.
How Do Game Misconduct Penalties Work in the Playoffs?
In the playoffs, any player who receives two game misconducts for a general-category infraction will be automatically suspended for the next game. For each following game misconduct in the postseason, the automatic suspension is increased by one game, and the team is fined $1,000.
Read our related post “33 Types of Penalties in Hockey (Each Explained)” here.
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.
