How Penalties Work in Hockey | NHL 101

One important aspect of learning any sport is understanding penalties how the rules are enforced. Like most sports hockey and the NHL have some unique way of handling penalties, so here are the basics. This video does not cover any specific penalties, instead we will start with how penalties work and then cover specific NHL penalties in later videos.
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[@torinira.9269]

One note about match penalties: A player receiving a match penalty is considered suspended until they meet with the League Head Office for a ruling on the incident.

[@sullivanlarson6400]

Thanks for adding this

[@nicolemuhling2132]

So helpful for someone from oversees who just attended their very first hockey game a month ago during a vacation in the US. We watched the LA Kings vs. the Montréal Canadians and have become infected with the hockey virus. Since then, we've been followings the Oilers because of or fellow countryman Leon Draisaitl who seems to be playing an amazing season. So thanks for your easy to understand explanations which are very much appreciated by a hockey dummy. 😅 Will watch quite a few more!!

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Glad to help! It's a great game, especially live so that's awesome you got to a game! Philip Grubauer is also German and plays goalie for the Seattle Kraken (shameless plug from a Seattle fan) but yes Leon is the best German player at the moment.

[@davidnewton580]

Keep up the good work introducing hockey to new fans. Also, there are times when a team has 2 players in the penalty box and the other team will have a 2 man advantage.

[@sullivanlarson6400]

I’m really trying to get into hockey so thank you for this, I’m only a couple minutes in and I have learned quite a bit lol

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Glad to hear it! It's a great game so I'm happy to help new fans learn it!

[@Matthew6418]

Probably the most common double minor called is high sticking that causes bleeding. At least in the games I've watched.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Yeah that is the most common double for sure.

[@courtlandcarmichael1139]

Thx for keeping this series going!

[@annersholcomb9037]

Great job man keep up the good work

[@orianaciao5095]

I love your videos! I'm completely new to hockey, and you explain so well!

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Glad you find them helpful! I appreciate the kind words!

[@logandetwiler4483]

Is an example of a five minute major Cody Eakins cross check on Joe Pavelski? in the chest following a faceoff. Pavelski landed awkwardly on his head, causing the referees to issue Eakin a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct, despite neither of them seeing the infraction.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Yes that was ruled a five min major and mostly because of the blood and fact it caused an injury. That particular play I think there is a good argument to be made it shouldn't have been a penalty at all but when two players collide and there is an injury like that a penalty often gets handed out.

[@davidxie297]

Great work, listen everyday

[@cinnarollyrolls]

hi new hockey fan here! your videos have been extremely insightful. watched your whole 101 series & actually have been able to follow along with what’s going on in these games. I appreciate the time & effort you put into these videos!!! Much love xo!

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Glad you found them helpful! Happy to answer any questions if you have them. And more videos are in the making!

[@cinnarollyrolls]

I have just a general question about body checking. What classify’s a hit being dirty vs a hit being a clean one? as a new fan it’s hard to tell the difference they all look pretty brutal to me lol

[@davidxie297]

My son listens and he has been improving in hockey, thanks so much!

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Glad to hear it! Happy to help spread the joy of hockey!

[@doeeyes2]

My kid plays AAA in Toronto (minor bantham) and I still dont understand most of the penalities he gets. Thanks for this!

[@CheapSeatsSports]

You're welcome! Glad to help and good luck to your kid!

[@munkyvision4635]

I fucken love this guy.. Top videos! I’m a die hard NHL fan from down under (Australia), & I cannot express enough how much I love this game.. This guy right here makes some of the best NHL videos on the internet, hands down...

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Well thank you! I'm glad you enjoy them and I appreciate the kind words. Hockey is indeed a great game 😌

[@xessi.]

i’m also from down under and is there any channel that shows the games or do i just have to watch highlights or get a subscription?

[@Easyn_]

Thank you for these videos!

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Absolutely!

[@Flecha57]

Puerto Rico hockey fan here! 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 Best video I have seen in regards of NHL rules. By the way, you have a beautiful voice... 😍 😍

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Thanks glad you liked the video! As for my voice, well you know how everyone thinks their own voice sounds weird, so I'll take your word for it. I appreciate the compliment tho 🙂

[@jasminejohnston6393]

Also when Clint Malarchuk was sliced in the neck by another player’s skate and bled all over the ice. It’s a miracle he survived…

[@ryanmcintyre2540]

I’ll want to you take a look at the 1st game of the Battle of Alberta in this year’s playoffs and how the players switched penalty’s from the box

[@CheapSeatsSports]

The Tkachuk one in the 3rd? That was weird. Not really sure what happened there I'd have to go back and look again. That was a wild game tho!

[@jonathancleghorn2725]

Love your background. Seattle all the way!

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Absolutely!

[@dano7476]

Awesome video! I’ve been running the clock for my son’s youth hockey team and have now done a couple of high school games. Last game a ref gave a player from each team a double minor for fighting. Since they were coincidental I was told they don’t need to go on the clock. If team A scored 30 seconds into the 4 minutes, would the team B’s player time in the box be impacted? Or because it’s 5 on 5 with coincidentals, do both players serve the full 4 minutes regardless of how many goals might be scored? Why would a double minor be called rather than a major? I don’t understand the difference. Thanks so much!

[@patrickvolk7031]

Coincidental minors if not timed on the clock, require a stoppage for the players to reenter. Coincidental minors aren't canceled by goals. Generally, the threshold for a major penalty by a foul is blood. A minor high stick wouldn't have any damage. If there's more, but not blood, then a double-minor may be called. A major foul normally includes an automatic game misconduct. Fighting major in anything but pros gets an automatic game misconduct as well (ref didn't want to throw them out basically, but it was more than roughing). Both players serve the whole penalty, regardless of any goals.

[@juangonzalez-vh8kg]

Thank you for your videos! learning lots! a suggestion would be to put in small real life clips as examples :)

[@CheapSeatsSports]

I'd love to but unfortunately due to copyright issues if I do the NHL can claim all money made off the videos and if they really wanted, have them taken down.

[@davidxie297]

So amazing

[@sarangshlizzy5312]

I really appreciated the example video for penalty shot. It would be cool in future videos and explanations to have a visual example alongside

[@CheapSeatsSports]

I do my best with animations but the NHL has copyrights on all NHL videos.

[@sarangshlizzy5312]

that makes a lot of sense. i like your videos though, they've been super helpful for me

[@riogiancarlo4167]

A wall full of mariners and hawks memorabilia and a flyers sweater is the most based thing I’ve seen in a minite

[@CheapSeatsSports]

I'm a Kraken fan, but I have a jersey for all the teams now and I try to mix it up for these 101 videos. I do kinda like the Flyers tho, good branding and they have a distinct identity.

[@themattgannon]

Great video! I know it's a little late to be commenting this, but boarding is not a 5 minute major no matter what. Minor penalties for boarding are called quite frequently

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Thanks for the comment, and I looked to double check as rules do change but boarding can still be a major penalty as of 2023 rule book. Rule 41.3

[@themattgannon]

@@CheapSeatsSports oh, I never said it couldn't be a major! Just that major isn't the only option.

[@DaltonHastings1]

What if you get a misconduct after a game? At a Providence Bruins game this past weekend, two players got a misconduct call at the very end of the game. Do said two players have to fulfill those penalties at the next game?

[@CheapSeatsSports]

In short, no, penalties do not carry over from one game to another. However at the discretion of the league they may hand out fines (only in a professional league usually) or suspensions to discourage players doing whatever they want near the end of games.

[@patrickvolk7031]

You get fines for game misconducts, and majors.

[@davidwilders9744]

Love the Giroux jersey man. But you're a Kraken fan now, so are you selling it? Help a Flyers fan out 😅😂

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Unfortunately not I'm working on getting one from every team for future video stuff and also just to collect. I did get it for pretty cheap tho. Around $50 on ebay. Check out full moon jerseys on eBay, all legit, no fakes.

[@davidwilders9744]

@@CheapSeatsSports Thanks man. Loving the channel even despite our different allegiances. Looking forward to watching more of your videos as the season progresses!

[@rockymtnman22]

An accurate "Penalties 101" needs to include the following. What determines what a referees calls includes: (1) who are the team owners (2) Where do the referees who are officiating the game reside (3) What are the experiences has the referee had with both teams. (4) What is the score in the game (5) What part of the season is the game being played. and finally, (6) Has the referees made a blunder earlier in the game.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Haha, yeah this was just about the actual rules. I probably will do a video about how the rules are actually officiated at some point because you aren't wrong... NHL refs are well let's just say about as popular as MLB umps.

[@kratosbelmont]

I have a question reguarding Hockey. I get what a power play is ( the team with the advantage) . I also get what a penalty kill is ( the team with the disadvantage with a team member in the penalty bax) . If the team with the PP ( power play ) scores a goal then the player in the penalty box gets to go back in the game unless if its a double miner penalty wich is 4 mins it gets cut in half of a major penalty wich the player is forced to stay to hole time. But what happins if rhe team with the PK ( penalty kill ) scores instead ?

[@CheapSeatsSports]

If a team scores shorthanded (scoring while on the PK) it doesn't change anything about the penalty length. On rare occasions you will see a team score short-handed twice on the same PK. In fact the Sharks actually did that last night (Dec 7th 2023) against the Red Wings.

[@kratosbelmont]

@@CheapSeatsSports wow . i would think it would of been the opposite . if the PK scored it would reduce the penalty. Scense its their team mate in the box . what a poopy situation there

[@kratosbelmont]

@@CheapSeatsSports thank you for answering my question 🙂

[@lgoxx1382]

i went to an echl game yesterday it is now saturday and all of the goals were powerplay goals

[@CheapSeatsSports]

That's odd, not unheard of but definitely not super common.

[@kratosbelmont]

I have one more question . Is there a face mask penelty . if a hickey player grabes an opposing players mask ? Simular to the NFL or is it just a roughing penelty in general?

[@CheapSeatsSports]

There is a rule that you can't remove another player's helmet. NHL helmets are a lot easier to remove than football helmets so you can really turn a player's head much. Otherwise it could fall under roughing or maybe interference.

[@kratosbelmont]

@@CheapSeatsSports alrighty thank you very nuch sir

[@WarShorts.]

Penalty shots seems to be really rare.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

They are fairly rare yes usually only a few happen a month during the regular season which is not many considering the number of games there are.

[@kratosbelmont]

So why is it called/ named a Penalty Kill ? I get the short handed part . and is Power Kill and Penalty kill the same.thing with two different names ?

[@CheapSeatsSports]

I don't know who first called it that or why but I assume because they are trying to kill the penalty time off the clock idk. Yes "Power kill" and "Penalty kill" are the same thing, penalty kill is used way more often tho (at least in North America)

[@kratosbelmont]

@@CheapSeatsSports alrighty thank you for answering my question 🙂

[@ImageryMemberDotCom]

Thanks

[@CheapSeatsSports]

No problem

[@Wolky324]

You didn't mention how a fighting penalty is 5 minutes and doesn't result in a loss of manpower

[@scottmcmulkin1056]

Just change your channel name to what's Kraken at this point lmao

[@jackyboi8832]

the only time i have been to the penalty box was for high sticking

[@CheapSeatsSports]

I've been for tripping a couple of times... one was just they other guy falling near me cause it's rec league haha

[@rileykazama3145]

Sometimes they screw your team over sometimes they don't get called I know the feeling

[@jasminejohnston6393]

Remember when Steve Sullivan was high-sticked in the face and the fan who mocked him for it got a puck to the face?

[@CheapSeatsSports]

That was pretty funny. He went over and laughed and the lady the guy was with gave him a thumbs up lol

[@otakudibyan24]

dude explaining penalties wearing flyers jersey makes sense

[@CheapSeatsSports]

😏

[@merikano2985]

Just because the NHL is changing doesn't mean the sport itself is changing. The famous Miracle on Ice team had to change its style to play to speed and finesse versus traditional hockey - and this was back in 1980. Versus forty years later in a league where every hockey player can skate just as fast and has just as much endurance then yes - speed and finesse make sense. But not every league is the NHL. And to use that as the bar to set the rules across all hockey is shameful. The odds of a boy playing ONE NHL game is 1 out of a 1,000. To make a career out of the NHL is 1 in 4,000. The only way to beat those odds involves a lot of natural talent AND good coaching and good hockey schools. All of which is $$$$$ pricey, and just not affordable to most kids. In lower level leagues not all teams are equal and if they want W's that means playing a more physical game of hockey. Otherwise you're asking kids and older non-professional leagues to just bang their heads against walls repeatedly as the same teams outskates and outplays every other team in the league because the rules in the NHL are now being applied to them too. A good hit or a good fight may not change much for a game in the NHL, but at lower leagues it can change the entire momentum of a game. The game is suddenly a lot more competitive and challenges more talented players to keep away from places they know they'll get hit. For the 1 in 1,000 none of that makes a difference. But most hockey players will never get that far will they?

[@Seawiiplay]

My dad won the most penalties award when he played as a kid 😈

[@ba1428]

four on foreplay Not that there's anything wrong with it

[@GoYouDeepSeaMonsters]

🙂

[@CheapSeatsSports]

🙂

[@davidcapelle8331]

Can you explain goalie interference?

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Basically it's if a goaltender while in the crease is hit in any way by an opposing play that prevents him from making a save the goal doesn't count. There is more to it than that, but to be perfectly honest I don't think it's worth elaboration because the way the rule is meant to be called and how it is called in the NHL are entirely different things. There is so little consistency in how it's being called right now that I've literally heard from the mouth of 1 NHL team's video replay guy that they don't know what to expect night to night with goaltender interference. It's a big problem.

[@driptip22]

Slashing and hooking on the stick should be allowed. On the players body....yeah that's a penalty.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

They often are unless it's super bad or runs up and hits the hands of the opposing player.

[@DD-gi6kx]

how penalties work in the NHL...not well and not consistently

[@CheapSeatsSports]

True

[@Joemight13]

Short of shorthanded goal

[@goalscorerlajon]

A non goalie player? You must mean a SKATER.

[@CheapSeatsSports]

Yes but saying "a skater" isn't something all brand new fans would know just means non goalies.

[@buildingglocks5797]

You should be a krakens fan

[@CheapSeatsSports]

It's possible I am a Kraken fan.