RULES OF THE GAME
The National Hockey League (NHL)
The NHL was established in November 1917. Initially, there were five franchises: the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Wanderers, Quebec Bulldogs, and the Toronto Arenas. There were many changes to the NHL and its teams between 1917 and 1941, but in 1942 the league stabilized with the teams that have become known as the "Original Six." The original six teams were the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Today, there are 30 teams in 30 cities across North America (6 in Canada and 24 in the U.S.).
Object of The Game
Hockey is played on an ice surface by two teams of six players wearing skates that allow them to move at speeds of up to 30 mph. The object of this fast-paced game is for the players, using a stick, to put a small hard rubber disk (puck) into the net of the opposing team, thus scoring a goal. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins. The rules governing the game are designed to keep the game flowing with lots of action up and down the ice.
 
A Goal
A goal is scored when the puck entirely crosses the vertical plane of the red goal line into the net. A goal will not be allowed if the puck has been thrown or otherwise deliberately directed by an attacking player into the net by any means other than the stick. However, the puck can be deflected off a skate or off the attacking player's body if no overt attempt is made to throw or kick it into the net. If a player of the defending team puts the puck into the net in any way, the goal will also be allowed. A goal will be disallowed if an attacking player initiates contact with the goaltender.
Face-Off
This is the method by which the puck is put into play. During a face-off, one player from each team lines up to face each other at one of the rink's nine face-off spots. The referee or linesman drops the puck between the players, who then battle for possession.
Length of the Game
In the NHL, the game is divided into three 20-minute periods. Since the clock is stopped when the play is stopped, one period will usually take up to 35 minutes to play. There is a 15-minute intermission between periods during which time the ice is resurfaced. During the regular season, if the score is even (tied) after three periods of regulation play, the teams will be awarded one point each and will then play an additional overtime period of not more than five minutes, with the team scoring first (sudden death) declared the winner and awarded an additional point. The overtime period is played with only four skaters and one goaltender per team. During the playoffs, since there can be no tie games, 20-minute sudden death overtime periods are played, with the regular five on five format used, until a team scores.
Team Standings
Regular Season: Regular season standings are determined by points awarded according to a team's won/lost/tied record. A team is awarded two points for a win, one point for a tie and zero points for a loss. A team losing in overtime is also awarded one point.

Playoffs: At the end of the regular season, the top eight teams in each conference advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the playoff conference champions will face each other in the Stanley Cup Finals. When the playoffs are complete, the two finalists will have played in four best-of-seven series (16-28 games) over the course of the playoffs.
 
Officials
In the National Hockey League, four officials enforce the rules on the ice. The referees, who are distinguished by orange armbands, call violations and penalties and have the final decision on any dispute. The referees are assisted by linesmen who call off-side, icing and penalties under unique circumstances.
 
Tools of the Trade
Puck: The puck is six ounces of solid vulcanized rubber, three inches in diameter and one inch thick. The pucks are frozen prior to the start of a game to make them bounce resistant, and can travel at speeds exceeding 100 mph.

Stick: Historically constructed of wood in the old days, sticks are now made of many different materials including aluminum, graphite, and kevlar. There are one- and two-piece models for players other than the goalies. On the two-piece models, the blade is attached to the shaft about six inches up from the heel of the stick blade, using heat or some sort of locking system.

Skates: Traditionally made of leather, manufacturers now utilize a combination of materials (kevlar/graphite) when designing a skate boot to make it light, stiff, durable and more protective.

Protective Equipment: Hockey is a collision sport where high-tech protective gear is a must for all players. Shoulder pads, elbow pads, shinguards, gloves, padded pants, mouth guards and helmets are worn by all players. Some players also wear a visor on their helmet to protect their eyes from high-flying sticks and pucks. Goalie equipment differs slightly from regular player equipment.
 
PLAYER POSITIONS
Each team has a 23-man roster, of which 20 dress for each game. Every team uses six players at a time on the ice: three forwards (center, right winger, and left winger), two defensemen (left and right) and one goaltender.

All players are allowed to carry the puck, make forward/backward passes and shoot at the opposing goalie. Players can also go on and off the ice while play is in progress.


Goaltender
Unlike his teammates, the goalie does not skate around the ice. His job is to keep the puck out of his net by stopping shots that can exceed 100 mph. The goalie can use any part of the body or any piece of equipment to stop the puck. He needs quickness, good balance, concentration and courage!
Defensemen
The right and left defensemen play a dual role. They have to stop incoming opponents, preventing them from shooting at their goaltender. They also have to support their forwards on offense by initiating offensive charges and following the play into the attacking zone. Once inside the offensive zone they attempt to keep the puck inside the blue line.
Center
The center primarily operates up and down the middle of the ice and takes all face-offs. The center is the playmaker, passing between the two wings to set up a goal. In the defensive zone, the center's job is to get back and assist defense "down low" and try and break up the opposing team's play.
Wings
Right and left wings predominately move up and down the sides of the rink with the direction of play. The wingers are often big players willing to battle along the boards to gain possession of the puck and create scoring opportunities. Defensively, they guard the opponent's pointmen and try to keep them from shooting.
 
NHL RINK
The Ice
The ice is made by spraying water over a concrete floor containing freezing pipes. A layer of ice, about a quarter of an inch thick, is then painted white. Once the ice is painted white, the lines and logos are then painted on and an additional three-quarters of an inch of ice is laid to coat the markings and bring the total thickness to about one inch.
Blue Lines
The blue lines are primarily used to enforce the off-side rule, but also divide the ice into the defensive zone, the neutral zone and the offensive zone.
Center Red Line
The red line is primarily used to enforce the icing rule, but also divides the ice into two equal halves.
Red Goal Line
The red goal line is used to enforce icing as well as to define a goal.
Neutral Zone
This is the central portion of the rink between the two blue lines.
Defensive Zone
This is the area in which a team's own goal is located. It is the area from the end boards to the defensive blue line.
Offensive Zone
This is the area in which the opponent's goal is located. It is the area from the offensive blue line to the end boards.
Face-Off Circles/Dots
This is the area where the puck is put into play with a face-off. There are five face-off circles and four face-off dots throughout the rink. The center ice circle is used at the start of each period and after each goal, while the other circles and dots are used more frequently and for various other reasons during the course of a game.
The Goal/Net
The goal/net extends vertically to a height of four feet above the surface of the ice and measures six feet wide. The vertical pipes are known as the goal posts and the horizontal pipe is known as the crossbar.
Goal Crease
The goal crease is the area immediately in front of the opening of the goal that is outlined by red semi-circular lines. It defines the playing area of the goaltender into which no offensive player may enter without the puck. Revised during the 99/00 season, the crease rule is now intended to implement a "no harm, no foul, no video review" standard. The rule is based on the premise that an attacking player's position, whether inside or outside the crease, should not, by itself, determine whether a goal should be allowed or disallowed.
Penalty Box
The penalty box is where a player will sit for a specified amount of time after having broken a rule. There is one box for each team and they are located on either side of the timekeeper's box immediately across the ice from the team benches.
The Stanley Cup®
The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy competed for by professional athletes in North America. It was donated in 1893 by Canada's Governor General, Sir Frederick Arthur, also known as Lord Stanley, Earl of Preston, to reward the best Canadian amateur hockey teams. Since 1926, only NHL teams have competed for the silver trophy. Each member of the winning team has their name engraved in the cup.
 
THREE MAIN RULES
Off-Side
When any member of the attacking team completely crosses the opponent's blue line before the puck. The puck must cross the line first! When off-side occurs, play is stopped and the puck is returned for a face-off to the face-off dot in the neutral zone on the side of the ice in which the infraction occurred.
Two-Line Pass
Occurs when a player in his own defensive zone passes the puck (untouched) across the blue line and the center red line to another player on his team. When this occurs, play is stopped and the puck is returned for a face-off in the defensive zone where the pass was initiated.
Icing
The act of shooting the puck untouched from the defensive side of the red line (center ice) past the opponent's goal line (other than in the net) and then being touched first by the opposing team. When this occurs, play is stopped and the puck is returned to the other end of the ice to a face-off dot on the side of the ice in which the infraction occurred.

Exceptions to the Icing Rule:

  1. When a team is shorthanded because of a penalty.
  2. When the referee decides that the opposing team could have played the puck.
  3. When the puck goes through the goal crease.
  4. When the opposing goalie touches the puck.