Photo by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

NHL approves rule change regarding goaltender interference

By @StefanKubus  –

The National Hockey League announced today that its Board of Governors approved changes to rules surrounding the Coach’s Challenge on goaltender interference.

After being recommended at the March GM meetings, the NHL/NHLPA Competition Committee then approved changes to Rule 78.7 (ii) Coach’s Challenge – Goaltender Interference.

Just in time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, too, considering how much confusion the rule had generated among not only fans, but the coaches and players themselves.

The rule, listed below, will take place for all games on March 28 and beyond. The underlined portions indicate changes made to the rule.

(ii) Scoring Plays Involving Potential “Interference on the Goalkeeper”

(c) The standard for overturning the call in the event of a “GOAL” call on the ice is that the NHL Situation Room (which shall include a former referee in the Officiating Department in the decision-making process), after reviewing any and all available replays and consulting with the Referee who made the original call, determines that the goal should have been disallowed due to “Interference on the Goalkeeper,” as described in Rules 69.1, 69.3 and 69.4.

(d) The standard for overturning the call in the event of a “NO GOAL” call on the ice is that the NHL Situation Room (which shall include a former referee in the Officiating Department in the decision-making process), after reviewing any and all available replays and consulting with the Referee who made the original call, determines that the goal on the ice should have been allowed because either: (i) there was no actual contact of any kind initiated by the attacking Player with the goalkeeper; or (ii) the attacking Player was pushed, shoved or fouled by a defending Player causing the attacking Player to come into contact with the goalkeeper; or (iii) the attacking Player’s positioning within the crease did not impair the goalkeeper’s ability to defend his goal and, in fact, had no discernible impact on the play.