NHL

Fast and loose

Hoping to increase scoring and excitement, the league institutes several rule changes.

By BRANT JAMES
Published July 23, 2005

Lightning general manager Jay Feaster acknowledges many of the rule changes the NHL announced Friday could benefit a franchise that won a Stanley Cup with speed and offensive skill.

Bigger offensive zones. Great.

Smaller goaltender equipment. Nice.

No two-line pass. Excellent.

But more important than any of the new rules, Feaster said, is an announced recommitment to enforcing key old ones: interference, hooking and holding/obstruction.

"We're the type of team that will benefit from the rule changes, especially the zero tolerance on obstruction," he said. "That is the linchpin to the whole thing. If the league keeps its promise to cut down and eliminate the hooking and holding and interference and those type of things, the more skilled teams will benefit." The NHL made the same proclamation for the 2003-04 season. But after an early enforcement, officials allowed the neutral zone to bog down, much to the consternation of Feaster and Lightning coach John Tortorella. The Lightning's championship run - led by regular-season MVP and leading scorer Martin St. Louis, Finals MVP Brad Richards and Vinny Lecavalier - was arguably more impressive because it was completed despite a gantlet of clutching gloves.

Allowing stars to be stars could provide the zip the NHL seeks as it attempts to woo back fans after the cancellation of the 2004-05 season.

Colin Campbell, the league's executive vice president and director of hockey operations, said referees would be supported and encouraged to call the rules as written.

"We felt it was our obligation to recommend a slate of changes that will succeed in doing one thing: entertaining our fans; both those in the arena and those watching on television," said Campbell, a member of a competition committee comprising four players, four general managers and one owner.

Many changes are designed to increase pace and offense.

One of the main changes is the elimination of the the two-line pass. A "tag-up" rule will allow players who preceded the puck into the offensive to keep a play onsides by returning to touch the blue line.

Officials will be given discretion whether to call international-style "no-touch" icing or allow players to chase the puck if they deem it was sent into the offensive zone by a pass. And the team that ices the puck cannot make a line change before the ensuing faceoff. The offensive zones will be expanded as the neutral zone is reduced from 54 to 50 feet. Goaltenders will be allowed to play the puck only in a trapezoid-shaped box behind the net and will use leg pads reduced in width by an inch to 115/8. All other equipment - blocking glove, upper-body protector, pants and jerseys - also will be reduced.

Ties will be eliminated with the advent of a shootout. Each team will take three shots. If the score remains tied, it becomes sudden death. The final score officially will be the score at the end of regulation plus one goal for the winner.

THE RULE: Games tied after regulation and a five-minute, four-on-four sudden-death overtime will be decided by a shootout.

THE EFFECT: No more ties, but teams that lose in overtime or the shootout will earn a point. The winner gets two. THE RULE: Nets moved 2 feet closer to the end boards, and blue lines moved 4 feet closer together.

THE EFFECT: Offensive zones and room in front of the net will be bigger.

THE RULE: Two-line passes no longer a violation.

THE EFFECT: Longer passes and more movement through the neutral zone, leading, perhaps, to more scoring.

THE RULE: The dimensions of goaltender equipment will be reduced by approximately 11 percent.

THE EFFECT: Creates more net for the shooters to score. Also, goalies will be limited to areas where they can handle the puck, allowing teams to create offense by dumping the puck into the offensive zone.

THE RULE: The tag-up offsides rule will permit play to continue if offensive players who preceded the puck into the zone return to the blue line and clear the zone.

THE EFFECT: Less stoppages for offsides and, perhaps, more scoring chances.

[Last modified July 23, 2005, 00:53:16]