Why did Penguins Penalty Continue After Own Goal?

The Coyotes scored an unusual Power Play Goal wherein Penguins player Jansen Harkins remained in the box on a minor penalty even through Arizona scored a PPG. Pittsburgh had drawn a delayed penalty and attempted to kill off their penalty by pulling their goalie and playing keep-away in their defensive zone...accidentally scoring an own goal when Evgeni Malkin's pass to Kris Letang slid into the empty net.

Under the hockey rules, this is still considered a Power Play Goal, but one scored without a numerical advantage for Arizona. Instead of the usual 5-on-4 skater format of a power play, Pittsburgh had voluntarily pulled its goalie to create a 5-on-5 skater situation, effectively eliminating the numerical strength disparity for skaters in an attempt to waste time.

As a result, this qualifies as a goal scored during numeric equality, so even though Pittsburgh was serving a minor penalty, the penalty did not terminate upon the Coyotes goal, as there was no numeric advantage (for skaters) at the time of the goal.

Play thus resumed with Harkins remaining in the box for Pittsburgh and Arizona's Jason Zucker in the penalty box as well for the now-no-longer-delayed hooking minor penalty.

Video as follows:

Close Call of Week: Russia Goal Disallowed v USA Hockey

Our Close Call of the Week flies in from Sochi, Russia's Bolshoy Ice Dome where Team USA knocked off Russia in an epic shootout thriller of men's hockey. At the heart of the matter, however, was an apparent Russian goal late in the third period that was waived off after video instant replay review, allowing the game to proceed to overtime in the first place.

With 4:40 remaining in the third period, Russian skater Fedor Tyutin shot from the upper offensive zone on and in goal for what was then ruled a good goal and 3-2 Russian lead. After referee Brad Meier's initial mechanic of "score the goal"—the referee must make this call when a puck finds its way into the net unless another call (the waive-off) is necessary—all four officials got together before formal video review at the scorer's bench.

This IIHF screenshot release shows the goal net off its
mooring at the time of the disallowed goal (4:40).

Pursuant to International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Rule 471(a)5, which states "no goal shall be allowed...if the goal net has been displaced from its normal position, or the frame of the goal net is not completely flat on the ice."

After video review, the goal was negated and play resumed from the point of interruption. Replays indicate USA goalkeeper Jonathan Quick appeared to displace the goal net while attempting a routine hockey move. His actions cannot conclusively be classified as deliberate or intentional.

Had the referees deemed Quick deliberately displaced the goal net, no goal would have been awarded to Tyutin for the infraction. Rule 554b states that if the goalkeeper "deliberately displaces the goal frame from its normal position, [he] shall be assessed a minor penalty." As for awarding a goal, Rule 554b(d) states that a goal may be awarded only if a goalkeeper has been removed from the ice when the infraction occurs; otherwise a minor penalty is assessed unless the criteria for a penalty shot are met (last two minutes of game or overtime; opponent in control with no opponent between him and the goalkeeper with a reasonable opportunity to score).

Contrary to popular belief, it was not referee Brad Meier of the USA and NHL who unilaterally ruled "no goal" because as a referee, he did not have access to video instant replay. Instead, that responsibility fell to the video goal judge, who reviewed whether the puck had entered the net prior to the goal frame being displaced, as in IIHF Rule 330(b)2. The goal judges listed for the match include Chris Carlson of Canada and Andre Schrader of Germany; the video goal judge is not included.

Procedural Rule 4 states that in the case of an inconclusive video review, the referee makes the final decision. As evidenced by the attached photograph, visual evidence tends to conclusively indicate the goal frame was dislodged, as in 471(a)5.

IIHF referee supervisor Konstantin Komissarov soon thereafter confirmed the no goal ruling and video review process was proper and correct. Interestingly enough, prior to the Vancouver games of 2010, Komissarov and NHL officiating director Terry Gregson mulled whether to assign and allow Canadian referee Dan O'Halloran and Canadian referee Bill McCrearly and Canadian linesman Jean Morin to officiate the gold medal game between Canada and the United States. At the time, Gregson posed a philosophical question saying, "Will we be using the best or are there political ramifications to our decisions?"

The IIHF and NHL referee supervisors then voted to put three Canadian officials on the Canada-USA game. The fourth—linesman Stefan Fonselius—was from Finland. Canada ultimately won that contest in overtime, 3-2.

A similar IIHF-specific rule concerns the puck on the net itself, which explains why play was not immediately blown dead when the puck deflected onto the netting itself with two seconds remaining in overtime: "When the puck is lodged in the outside netting of the goal net for more than three sec- onds or frozen against the goal net between opposing players, the Referee shall stop the play and face-off the puck" (IIHF Rule 481).

Had this game been played under NHL rules, the goal would have been allowed, as "the goal frame shall be considered in its proper position when at least a portion of the flexible peg(s) are still inside both the goal post and the hole in the ice. The flexible pegs could be bent, but as long at least a portion of the flexib;e peg(s) are still in the hole in the ice and the goal post, the goal frame shall be deemed to be in its proper position. The goal frame could be raised somewhat on one post (or both), but as long as the flexible pegs are still in contact with the holes in the ice and the goal posts, the goal frame shall not be deemed to be displaced" (NHL Rule 78.4).

International Rules also propelled Team USA through the shootout, allowing repeated use of successful winger T.J. Oshie, who ultimately scored the game-winner in the eighth round.

Wrap: United States vs. Russian Federation (XXII Olympic Winter Games Hockey), 2/15/14

NHL Milestone: Referee Brad Watson (1,000 Career Games)

Close Call Sports acknowledges and congratulates NHL referee Brad Watson on his 1,000th NHL game, Tuesday evening's Avalanche-Maple Leafs contest. Watson, whose minor league career took him through the SJHL, WHL, IHL and AHL, breaking into the NHL on March 7, 1996; he was named to full-time staff in 1999. He is the 22nd NHL referee to reach the 1,000-game mark.

Source: Regina's Watson to referee 1,000th NHL game (The Regina Leader-Post)

Canucks-Flames Brawl, Ejections, Dressing Room Battle

Saturday's Canucks-Flames rivalry game turned hockey night into fight night in Canada. Referees Dave Jackson and Kyle Rehman and particularly linesmen Lonnie Cameron and John Grandt had their hands full as 21 penalties were handed out just two-seconds into the affair at Rogers Arena. When the dust finally settled, all 10 players on the ice received fighting majors, the first pair of combatants scored 10-minute misconducts and the remaining eight were ejected for supplemental duels. Summary of the penalties is below:

Fighting Major Penalty - 5 Minutes

Full-scale NHL line brawl kicks off Canadian rivalry game.

CGY - Ladislav Smid (fought Kevin Bieksa)*
CGY - Brian McGrattan (fought Tom Sestito)^
CGY - Blair Jones (fought Dale Weise)*
CGY - Chris Butler (fought Jason Garrison)*
CGY - Kevin Westgarth (fought Kellan Lain)*`
VAN - Kevin Bieksa (fought Ladislav Smid)*
VAN - Tom Sestito (fought Brian McGrattan)^
VAN - Dale Weise (fought Blair Jones)*
VAN - Jason Garrison (fought Chris Butler)*
VAN - Kellan Lain (fought Kevin Westgrath)*

^Also received a Misconduct - 10 Minutes penalty.
*Also received a Game Misconduct - 10 Minutes and Ejection.
`Also received a Roughing minor penalty - 2 minutes.

Video: Line brawl inaugurates the Canucks-Flames game right after referee drops the puck (CBC)

Canucks head coach John Tortorella escalated the situation backstage during the first intermission, crossing over from Vancouver's clubhouse to Calgary's half of the floor.
Video: Tortorella scrums with Flames in front of Calgary's dressing room (CBC)

Wrap: Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks, 1/18/13

Close Call of the Week: Butt-Goal - Should it Have Counted?

Monday's Coyotes-Sabres game ended in bizarre fashion 3:47 into the overtime period when Sabres defenseman Mark Pysyk's wrist shot, assists to Matt Moulson and Christian Ehrhoff, appeared to come to rest in the back of Coyotes goalie Mike Smith's uniform jersey, just above the pads of the pants, as Smith's rear end drifted into the net, the puck physically crossing the plane of the goal line. The game-ending buttgoal was ultimately confirmed after a (1) conference between referees Greg Kimmerly and Chris Rooney and linesmen Greg Devorski and Brad Kovachik and (2) instant replay review from Toronto's video "war room," allowing Buffalo the 2-1 final. But should the goal have counted?

Puck stays in Referee's sight as butt-goal ends game.

NHL Rule 31.4 grants Referees the authority to "give the final decision in matters of disputed goals" while Rule 38.2 unequivocally states that "every goal is to be reviewed by the Video Goal Judge," who, working in concert with the off-ice official at ice level, will relay the result of the replay review to the referee for final decision. As is generally the case, this review process was correctly executed.

At issue is game flow and the question of when shall the officials rule the puck out of bounds. Rule 85.2 states that a puck is considered unplayable if it becomes lodged in the netting outside of either goal, is frozen between opposing players or if it enters a goal from behind or the side. Rule 85.3 states that "should scramble take place or a player accidentally fall on the puck and the puck be out of sight of the Referee, he shall immediately blow his whistle and stop the play." As the attached image demonstrates, the puck did not fully enter goalie Smith's shirt/pants cradle prior to crossing the goal line; accordingly, play was properly kept alive. Good goal.

Video: Buffalo defeats Phoenix on walk-off #buttgoal win as referee Kimmerly announces the good goal

Close Call of the Week: NHL Overtime Penalty Strength

Last night, a CCS follower asked a question about NHL overtime rules, specifically how on-ice strength is determined during the extra 4x4 period when one or both teams suffers two or more concurrent or subsequent penalties, as was the case during Tuesday's Kings-Ducks freeway rivalry game, decided in a shootout.

The Play: With just 29 seconds remaining in regulation of a 2-2 game, Kings RW Justin Williams received a two-minute minor for slashing against Corey Perry, giving Anaheim a power play to end the third period. The score still tied, the teams headed to overtime and four-on-four skating, only with the Kings down to three due to the wraparound Williams penalty. 27 seconds into the five-minute overtime period, Perry drew another penalty, a slash by Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell, who joined Williams in LA's penalty box.

Question: Is Anaheim allowed to skate with five during the overtime two-man advantage?

NHL's Table 20 - Rule 84 - Overtime Penalties

Short Answer: Yes, Anaheim is awarded a fifth skater because Los Angeles is obliged to add one skater to bring its on-ice strength up to three. (LAK 2 + 1 = 3 / ANA 4 + 1 = 5)

Explanation and References: According to NHL Rule 84 regarding overtime and Table 20 regarding overtime penalty assessment, once a team receives a second minor penalty, each team must add one player to their on-ice strength. For Los Angeles, adding one player effectively increases on-ice strength from two to three while for Anaheim, this increases on-ice strength from four-to-five. The reason for this is that no team shall skate with an on-ice strength of less than three skaters.

Bonus: Playing five-on-three, the Ducks received a minor penalty at 1:24 due to Dustin Penner's interference against Jarret Stoll, creating a four-on-three situation. When LAK Williams' penalty expired at 1:31 and he exited the penalty box, the teams skated four-on-four even though each team had one player serving a penalty. The rules state play shall continue four-on-four, but at the next stoppage of play (prior to the expiration of either penalty), the strength shall be adjusted to three-on-three, the standard procedure for coincidental minor penalties during overtime. In this situation, the Kings skated four-on-three when Mitchell's penalty expired at 2:27 while both teams returned to full strength (4x4 for OT) when Penner's penalty expired at 3:24.

NHL Ejections: Paul Devorski & Dan O'Halloran (9 Games)

NHL referees Paul Devorski and Dan O'Halloran along with linesmen Lonnie Cameron and Jay Sharrers presided over a massive on-ice brawl that left nine ejected during Game 3 of the Canadiens-Senators Stanley Cup Playoffs series' blowout win for Ottawa, who defeated the Canadiens 6-1.

Full line fight produces mass ejections.

With 12:56 remaining in the third period, the Canadiens and Senators lines engaged in a mighty melee, 10 players charged with fighting and eight game misconduct penalties after a two-minute minor for slashing by Montreal's Ryan White. As play resumed several minutes later, another scrum broke out at the 8:31-mark (or with 11:29 remaining in the third period), resulting in two roughing minors, two instigators (one face shield), two fighting and one additional game misconduct after a Josh Gorges (Montreal) two-minute minor for charging. In all, 14 players were charged with fighting during the third period and one received a simple misconduct (White).

When the dust—or ice—finally settled, nine players received game misconduct (ejection) penalties...

7:04 Game Misconduct Penalties (Ejections)
- Ottawa's Zack Smith (also fighting)
- Ottawa's Chris Neil (also fighting)
- Ottawa's Chris Phillips (also fighting)
- Ottawa's Matt Kassian (also fighting)
- Montreal's Jarred Tinordi (also fighting)
- Montreal's Colby Armstrong (also fighting)
- Montreal's Travis Moen (also fighting)

8:31 Game Misconduct Penalty (Ejection) - Montreal's PK Subban (also fighting, instigator face shield)

On May 2, Eric Gryba earned a game for an injurious hit on Lars Eller that resulted in facial and dental fractures.

Wrap: Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators (Stanley Cup Playoffs), 5/5/13
Video: Full line brawl and subsequent fight between Canadiens, Senators send nine off ice for game miscs

The Stripes is All-Access Profile of NHL On-Ice Officials

The National Hockey League recently debuted an online feature, "The Stripes: Referee All Access," which follows professional hockey's officials throughout the course of a game during this lockout-shortened season.

With the tagline, "as a ref, there are no shifts, no time outs, no plus/minus" The Stripes takes off, greeting as they arrive at Toronto's Air Canada Centre, home to the Maple Leafs and the NBA's Toronto Raptors.

NFL referees Tim Peel and Brian Pochmara are highlighted throughout the segment as they speak of the officiating atmosphere at North American hockey's highest level. Also present are linesmen Brad Kovachik and Derek Nansen along with a trip to Toronto's video "war room" during which a goal call is upheld.

NHL VP and Sr Dir of Officiating Terry Gregson appears in the dressing room for the officials' post-game.

McCreary is honored before his last NHL game (4/3/2011)

The Stripes and the similar title Behind the Stripes have been used before in connection with officiating-related profiles, including the "Behind the Stripes: A Ref's Life" feature, a 23-minute segment still available online.

That documentary followed AHL referee Ghislain Hebert as he negotiated the minor-to-major league officiating pipeline, hoping for an eventual full-time NHL schedule and appointment to the staff. Also profiled was veteran Bill McCreary, who spoke of his own journey through the sport. Toronto and the Philadelphia Flyers were featured during that segment; referee Dean Morton and linesmen Scott Driscoll and Steve Barton also made an appearance as members of McCreary's on-ice crew in Philadelphia. Linesman Mark Pare and referee Greg Kimmerly join McCreary and Driscoll for Game #2 in Detroit for a Blackhawks-Red Wing fray.

Hebert's second game is a major league call-up affair, an NHL contest with referee Kevin Pollock and linesmen Mark Shewchyk and Kovachik at Buffalo's HSBC Arena where NHL Officiating Manager and former referee Don Koharski drops by for a pre-game, likening his pre-game speech to that of a hockey coach to his team. Both Games #2 ended in shootouts, including an 11-rounder during which the Colorado Avalanche beat the Sabres.

After working one last Stanley Cup Finals, McCreary retired after nearly 30 years on the ice. Hebert since was hired to the full-time NHL staff.

As a profile of professional hockey officials, yes, the videos prominently feature several fight situations.

Videos: The Stripes: Referee All Access (NHL.com) & Behind the Stripes - A Ref's Life (SwissHabs)

Lithuanian 18U Player Throws Stick at Official

Lithuanian forward Danielius Nomanovas may have just lost his assistant captain's status after throwing a stick at linesman Toivo Tilku of Estonia immediately following Great Britain's victory over Lithuania during the Ice Hockey U18 World Championship (Division II, Group A). As the official dropped to the ice clutching his shoulder, British forward Lewis Hook cut short his celebration and skated to confront Nomanovas before Tilku recovered and dashed in to break up the minor fray. Takizawa Shinichi of Japan was the referee while Emil Wernstrom (Sweden) served as second linesman.

After a slashing penalty at 59:20, GB had scored a shorthanded goal at 59:28 to take a decisive 3-2 lead.

Wrap: Lithuania vs. Great Britain (IIHF Ice Hockey U18 World Championship, Estonia [DII-A]), 4/3/13
Video: Nomanovas loses his temper and manifests tantrum by inexcusably hurling his stick at the referee 

Case Play: Hockey Puck Splits in Two in Swiss Game

What happens when a hockey puck splits in half leaving one shard in the net and the other on the boards?

This exact play occured during a Swiss hockey game on March 16, 2013 when Cédric Botter attempted a wrist shot. The goal was waived off by refereee Stéphane Rochette following instant replay review.

Video: Pucks breaks into two pieces and is ultimately ruled frozen and a no-goal (SwissHabs)

NHL Rule 78.4 states, in part, "a goal shall be scored when the puck shall have been put...entirely across a red line." Rule 85—Puck Out of Bounds—addresses the instance of a puck causing the glass, lighting timing device or supports to break, but does not consider the situation of a puck itself shattering.

In concert with Rule 78.4, a similar situation in the Americas would likely be treated as a Puck Out of Sight pursuant to Rule 85.3 ("Should...the puck be out of sight of the Referee, he shall immediately blow his whistle and stop play").

As baseball season approaches, the UEFL announces its first Case Play of the 2013 season, based on the above scenario. Consider the following situation, modified from the above real-world hockey example.

Play: With two out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Gray Sox are trailing the Blue Sox 3-0. Hoping to get the Gray Sox back into the game, batter B1 hits a fly to deep center field, causing the ball to come apart during flight. (For video of this goofy play, click here to see this most cartoony of events).

Goofy's "How to Play Baseball" is Copyright, Walt Disney Co.

Case Play 2013-01:
a: Was our umpire correct in keeping this play alive through the collision at home plate?
b1: If so, and assuming F8 held in his hand part of the attached yet splintered baseball and this part of the baseball touched B1 prior to B1 touching home plate, is B1 out or does his run count; how does play proceed? R1, R2 and R3 have already legally scored.
b2: If not, what is the result of the play?
Now that we're warmed up, consider part (c):
c: Assume the ball has completely severed in two, as per the hockey scenario. One half of the ball is caught by F8 while the other half goes over the outfield wall in fair territory, both on the fly. Is that 3 outs, a grand slam or something else?

This is a Group Case Play in which you may respond to this post with your answer. Productive participants stand to gain one Case Play point (+1) in the UEFL Standings—before the season even begins. To receive credit, be sure to include your UEFL username.

*It is highly improbable that a baseball may come partially apart during one play. While one baseball would routinely be used during games in the late 1800s and early 1900s and occassionally fail or change properties during later innings, the death of Ray Chapman due to a HBP to the head in 1920 spurred the the American and National Leagues to consider replacing ripped, scuffed, cut, worn, fatigued or pitcher-manipulated balls.*

First NHL Ejections of 2013: Rehman & Kowal

Tuesday evening's slate of games drew the shortened 2013 NHL season's first game misconduct...

Referees Kyle Rehman & Tom Kowal ejected Canadiens center Ryan White for instigator and aggressor charges in the 3rd period of the Panthers-Canadiens game. With 16:51 remaining in the 3rd period, Florida's Tomas Fleischmann was called for boarding after an illegal hit on defenseless (back turned; hit from behind) Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges, resulting in a delayed penalty situation until White was ruled to have instigated a fight with Fleischmann, resulting in a two-minute instigating minor penalty, a five-minute major penalty for fighting, a 10-minute misconduct (instigator) and a 10-minute game misconduct (aggressor) for 27 penalty minutes after Fleischmann was ruled to have been an unwilling combatant (NHL Rules 46.2 and 46.11). Because Fleischmann was ruled as unwilling, he did not receive a fighting major. At the time of the ejection, the Canadiens were leading, 4-1. The Canadiens ultimately won the contest, 4-1.

Wrap: Florida Panthers vs. Montreal Canadiens, 1/23/13
Video: White targets, fights Fleischmann following the latter's illegal check into the boards

AHL Hockey: Bench Clearing Brawl Leaves 13 Ejected

The first day of NHL action during its lockout-shortened 2013 season did not produce any ejection activity; instead, the AHL took that honor in grand fashion with a large bench-clearing brawl.

Players quickly matched up following Beach-Sheahan at center ice.

A bench-clearing incident during the second period of Saturday's Griffins-IceHogs American Hockey League game resulted in a whopping round of 13 player disqualifications. It all took place with 11:58 remaining in the third period, when Rockford IceHogs right wing Kyle Beach dropped gloves and squared off against Grand Rapids Griffins center Riley Sheahan; teammates of both players followed suit as goalies Petr Mrazek (Griffins) and Carter Hutton (IceHogs) engaged in a classic goalie fight. With equipment strewn across the ice, players from both benches cleared onto the ice, causing a hockey fight delay lasting several minutes while linesmen Dan Dineen & Al Stensland attempted to break up fight after fight while referees Trent Knorr and Joe Sullivan observed and maintained a rap sheet.

At the conclusion of the fighting delay, 13 players were ejected for game misconducts varying from aggressor to leaving the bench penalties in a game that tallied 230 total penalty minutes. At the time of the ejections, the Griffins were leading, 7-4. The Griffins ultimately won the contest, 11-6. The following is a full list of ejected players and reasons for disqualification, as indicated by the official scorer:

Game Misconduct - Aggressor (10 minutes)

IceHogs RW Kyle Beach (+2 min instigating, +5 min fighting, +10 min misconduct - instigating [27 PIM])

Game Misconduct - Secondary Altercation (10 minutes)
Griffins D Gleason Fournier (+ 5 min fighting)
Griffins D Brian Lashoff (+5 min fighting)
Griffins G Petr Mrazek (+5 min fighting)
Griffins RW Francis Pare (+5 min fighting)
Griffins LW Tomas Tatar (+5 min fighting)
IceHogs LW Wade Brookbank (+5 min fighting)
IceHogs D Adam Clendening (+5 min fighting)
IceHogs G Carter Hutton (+5 min fighting)
IceHogs D Shawn Lalonde (+5 min fighting)
IceHogs RW Philippe Paradis (+5 min fighting)

Game Misconduct - Leaving the Bench or Third Man In (10 minutes; specified below)
IceHogs C Rob Flick (leaving the bench)
IceHogs LW Kenndal McArdle (third man in)

*Griffins C Riley Sheahan was not ejected but did receive a five-minute major for fighting.

If you're thinking about records, this 13-casualty, 230 PIM affair doesn't even come close. The October 14, 1981 tilt between the Adirondack Red Wings and Hershey Bears resulted in 520 total penalty minutes (264 for Adirondack, 256 for Hershey) and 39 total misconducts (20 & 19), though it was the 1986-87 Bears who established the seasonal PIM record at 2,872 minutes. Worldwide, the Russian Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)'s Avangard Omsk and Vityaz Chekhov contest of January 9, 2010 produced a world record 707 penalty minutes and resulted in the suspension of the contest 3 minutes and 39 seconds into the first period. The world record fight is available here.

Wrap: Grand Rapids Griffins vs. Rockford IceHogs, 1/19/13
Video: RFD's Kyle Beach is ruled to have instigated a massive ice-wide melee resulting in 13 heave-ho's

AHL: How to Lose the Calder Cup without Really Trying

On the day of a possibly decisive Game 5 of the NHL's Stanley Cup Final between the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils, we turn to the American Hockey League for a truly devastating way to lose a playoff game, much less a championship series contest.

Because playoff hockey's overtime is truly sudden death, any goal scored after the third period is truly a walk-off, a golden goal, an instant win—or is it?

Toronto reacts to the goal (News services/Rene Johnston)

Thursday: the AHL's Norfolk Admirals and Toronto Marlies were locked in a scoreless draw by regulation's end, necessitating a decisive OT period. With fatigued players abound, goalies Dustin Tokarski (Norfolk) and Ben Scrivens (Toronto) had displayed the type of Martin Brodeur-Jonathan Quick showdown that necessitated overtime during Games 1 & 2 of the NHL's Stanley Cup Final.

So when the AHL affair came to an abrupt end nearly halfway through the OT period, it was fitting that Scrivens had left the crease to play a dumped puck along the quad boards. Unfortunately, that dumped puck took the oddest of caroms off the glass and rebounded between the pipes for the game-winner.

Or an apparent game-winner that should have been disallowed.

Phoenix Coyotes' Shane Doan, Mike Smith Receive Game Misconducts Following Loss to LA Kings

The post-game ejection. Very rarely does one ever experience such an event in baseball, basketball or even football—in those three sports, officiating mechanics often instruct referees and umpires to leave the confines of the playing area upon the final out, whistle or horn. Avoiding confrontation is the name of the game—if a player argues, officials are to disengage and walk away.

Mike Smith & Shane Doan - Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

However, not every sport provides its officials with such luxuries. For as long as the professional sport has had on-ice officials, hockey has mandated its officials stay on the ice slightly longer than referees stay on a court or umpires on a field.

No, unlike their MLB and NBA brethren, NHL officials are implored by Rule 31.10 to "remain on the ice at the conclusion of each period until all players have proceeded to their dressing rooms. This means NHL referees and linesmen must observe the post-game handshake line during which they continue to hold jurisdiction over all on-ice, team, player and coach related matters.

This rules oddity gave rise to the most unusual of ejections Tuesday night—the post-game variety. After an uncalled knee of a hit—ruled controversial and egregious by Phoenix and clean by Los Angeles—by Kings captain Dustin Brown on Phoenix's Michal Rozsival in overtime of the deciding Game 5, Coyotes players grew furious at officials, continuing to protest the no-call even after Los Angeles' Dustin Penner scored the game winner at 17:42 of the period.

As the Kings celebrated a return to the Stanley Cup Finals, Coyotes captain Shane Doan and goalie Mike Smith confronted the officials, who had remained on-ice as specified by Rule 31.10. As Doan and Smith continued to berate and challenge referees Brad Watson and Kevin Pollock, they were assessed game misconduct penalties under the purview of Rule 39.5(ii), which specifically addresses unsportsmanlike conduct—obscene, profane or abusive language or gesture[s] directed at any on or off-ice official or [the use of] the name of any official coupled with any vociferous remarks—that occurs after the expiration of the game.

For the Coyotes and their stars Doan and Smith, it was truly a wait until the final possible moment of their 2012 post-season before drawing those final ejections and for referees Watson and Pollock, it was a rare series of post-game ejections necessitated by two rules unique to hockey.

Staples Center Timing Oddity Gives Los Angeles Kings Win Over Columbus Blue Jackets

Los Angeles Kings fans at Staples Center were treated to extra hockey on Wednesday night, but not in the traditional sense of overtime.

The Kings and Columbus Blue Jackets were locked in a 2-2 tie and seemed poised for an extra period of play as time was winding down in regulation.

Instead, a suspicious timing error appeared to have extended the third period of the contest by fractions of a second, giving Kings defenseman Drew Doughty just enough time to slap a game-winner past Blue Jackets goalie Curtis Sanford for a buzzer-beating score.

Or did he? After all, Los Angeles is the city of the fashionably late.

Replays conclusively demonstrate the game clock appeared to freeze at 1.8 seconds, mysteriously restarting moments later just as oddly as it had stopped.

Referee Kelly Sutherland Injured by Puck to Face: Should Visors be Mandatory in the NHL?

NHL Referee Kelly Sutherland was injured during today's Rangers-Sabres hockey contest.

With sharp blades, whizzing pucks and weapon-like sticks, hockey referees and linesmen have one of the most dangerous officiating jobs in sports, which we were unfortunately reminded of on Wednesday night.

Just 5:37 into the first period of the New York Rangers vs. Buffalo Sabres contest, Sutherland found himself directly in the line of fire, as a shot attempt was deflected off a Rangers player, careening directly into Sutherland's face.

University of Toronto Study: Canadian Hockey Referees Suffer Overwhelming Abuse, Violence, Lack of Support

An emergency medicine resident at the University of Toronto has recently released a study regarding violence and injury in Canadian hockey games, from the referees' perspective.

Published in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, the report is titled "Violence in Canadian Amateur Hockey: The Experience of Referees in Ontario," and was led by Dr. Alun D. "AD" Ackery and was co-authorzed by Dr. Charles Tator and D. Carolyn Snider.

In his abstract, Ackery described the objective of his study as a means "to determine the perceptions and roles of referees about violence and injury in hockey games."

The web-based questionnaire was issued to hockey officials across Canada from various leagues and levels of play, with 92 percent of responses coming from the Ontario area. The NHL prohibited its referees and linesmen from participating in the study.

The results were striking yet not surprising. The following is a list of key findings.

Bruins-Canucks Fight: Former NHL Referee Kerry Fraser's Take

Hockey Ejections: The Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks held a Stanley Cup rematch on January 7, resulting in some wild scrums, fights, punches and ejections.

Game misconducts were issued to Vancouver's Maxim Lapierre and Alex Burrows, while Boston's Brad Marchand was ejected for a dangerous clipping penalty against Vancouver's Sami Salo. Marchand was later suspended five games for his actions.

Former on-ice official Kerry Fraser recently wrote about the heated contest that was full of controversy.

Dan Carcillo Suspended, John Tortorella Fined During Busy Day of NHL Discipline

Chicago Blackhawks forward Dan Carcillo was suspended seven games for a dangerous and illegal high board to the head of Edmonton Oilers defenseman Tom Gilbert.

The week-long suspension to Carcillo capped off the NHL's first full day of discipline, with Calgary Flames forward Rene Bourque receiving a five-game suspension for elbowing Washington's Nicklas Backstrom and New York Rangers Head Coach John Tortorella receiving a $30,000 fine for claiming a Winter Classic conspiracy.