There are several unwritten rules in the game of hockey and one of them is shooting the puck after a whistle. There’s no specific rule in the NHL which deals with the infraction but it’s generally considered to be unsportsmanlike conduct and can result in a two-minute minor or 10-minute misconduct penalty.
All players know that shooting the puck after a whistle is frowned upon and shouldn’t be done and are fully aware of the consequences for doing so.
Is it a Penalty to Shoot the Puck After the Whistle?
If a player shoots the puck after the whistle has blown, it will typically result in a two-minute minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. If a player purposely shoots the puck towards an official or away from an official who is attempting to retrieve it or pick the puck up it usually results in a 10-minute misconduct or game misconduct.
As with many other rules in the NHL rule book, it’s up to the referee to determine if the incident is worthy of a penalty. The referee will determine this by intent. Did the player purposely shoot the puck at the net out of spite? Was it dangerous? Or was it by accident?
What Happens if a Player Shoots the Puck After the Whistle?
While it’s entirely possible that a player shoots the puck after the whistle has blown because he didn’t hear the whistle, it’s usually done to create a disturbance with the opposing team. On most occasions when a player shoots the puck after a whistle it’s done to get a reaction from the opposition.
The play usually results in physical contact or a fight, and it can sometimes be done to give a slumping team a much-needed wake up call or a lift during a game.
However, when a player shoots the puck towards or away from an official, it’s almost always believed to be on purpose and is usually done out of frustration or as a form of protest against the officials.
Can You Get Fined or Suspended for Shooting the Puck After the Whistle?
Just about any play in the NHL can result in a fine or suspension as the league has the power to investigate any incident. If a player wound up and rifled the puck with bad intent at an opponent or an official the play would likely result in further punishment.
However for gently shooting the puck towards the net after a whistle, a minor penalty is deemed to be sufficient punishment. That being said, if a brawl ensued due to a player shooting the puck after the whistle, suspensions and fines could be handed out but they would be a result of the brawl not because of shooting the puck.
NHL Examples of Shooting the Puck After the Whistle
The following videos are examples of a player taking a shot after the whistle has blown. It’s up to the referee to decide if an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty is warranted. But as you can see the opposing players never take too kindly to a player shooting the puck after a whistle no matter how harmless it may seem. The unsportsmanlike play usually results in a multi-player scrum or a fight.
Here are 3 NHL Examples:
- Tony DeAngelo Flips Puck into the Rangers’ Goalie
- Gabriel Landeskog Shoots Puck Into Empty Net After Whistle
- Scheifele Puts Puck into Net After Whistle
The video below is an example of a player shooting the puck towards an official. Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning is frustrated that an official has indirectly caused a goal and then pays the price for what seems like a harmless but purposeful reaction shooting/passing the puck in the refs direction.
In this video, Torey Krug of the Boston Bruins is penalized for firing the puck towards an official following an offside call.
What’s the Continuous Play Rule?
The NHL’s continuous play rule states that a goal will be allowed if the original shot is still in motion and crosses the goal line, even if the play has been whistled dead by an official because he lost sight of the puck. So, it is not a shot after the whistle.
Read all you need to know about the continuous play rule here.
Ian is an experienced ice hockey writer with a passion for the game. He has been covering hockey for over 25 years and has contributed to various publications. He covers all aspects of the sport, from NHL rules to in-depth analysis of the game as well as previews. Ian is also an avid fan who attends numerous games and has played hockey regularly since moving to Canada at the age of 10.