Don Cherry has a problem with the NHL’s current icing rules.
Back-to-back icing calls effectively put an end to the Washington Capitals’ season when New York Rangers forward Derek Stepan scored the winner in overtime of Game 7 after Karl Alzner sent the puck the length of the ice.
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Cherry cited the call on Alzner and a second instance where, in his opinion, Rangers defenceman Ryan McDonagh made no effort to stop a puck that wound up leading to an icing call, as reasons why the rule could use some reform.
Cherry and his Coach’s Corner co-host Ron McLean both offered praise for the way Alzner went into the corner and cleared the puck by using an underhanded grip with his top hand — preventing himself from potentially flipping the puck over the glass and incurring a minor penalty.
Cherry believes Alzner’s heads up play should not have led to an icing call. The rule book says otherwise.
The NHL’s “hybrid icing” rule leaves some decision making power in the hands of the officials.
Via NHL rule book:
For the purpose of interpretation of the rule, there are two judgments required for “icing the puck”. The Linesman must first determine that the puck will cross the goal line. Once the Linesman determines that the puck will cross the goal line, icing is completed upon the determination as to which player (attacking or defending) would first touch the puck. This decision by the Linesman will be made by no later than the instant the first player reaches the end zone faceoff dots with the player’s skate being the determining factor. Should the puck be shot down the ice in such a manner that it travels around the boards and/or back towards the end zone face-off dots, the same procedure shall be in effect in that the Linesman shall determine within a similar distance as to who will have touched the puck first.
For clarification, the determining factor is which player would first touch the puck, not which player would first reach the end zone faceoff dots.
If the race for the puck is too close to determine by the time the first player reaches the end zone face-off dots, icing shall be called.
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