Last night’s playoff game had a disallowed goal based on it having gone off a skate. In my arguing over this on Facebook, I decided to put my legal brain to the task, since it’s not completely out of steam after this morning’s work.
Here is my interpretation of the rules:
NHL rules can be found here: http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26489
Rule 78.4:
If an attacking player has the puck deflect into the net, off his skate or body, in any manner, the goal shall be allowed. The player who deflected the puck shall be credited with the goal.
This is subject to 78.5 (ii) below:
Rule 78.5 (ii):
[Goal is disallowed] When the puck has been kicked using a distinct kicking motion.
Therefore off the skate is okay unless there is a “distinct kicking motion.” Turning the skate is a motion distinct from merely stopping, but it is not a kicking motion. And if one claims that the momentum of Daniel’s skate was such that it resembled a kicking motion, there was nothing within it to distinguish the kicking component from the stopping component as a kicking motion. It has to be a kick, distinct from other movement.
There are two components: the change in position of the skate (distinct motion), and that the change in position is a kicking motion, not merely a change in angle, as deflections (and movements to improve deflection) are permitted.
Defence rests.
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