RULE | IIHF | | NHL |
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Players Dressed | A maximum of 20 players and 2 goalkeepers can be dressed and on the Game Sheet | | A maximum of 18 players and 2 goalkeepers can be dressed and on the Game Sheet |
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Icing the Puck | Icing is called automatically as soon as the puck crosses the goal line | | Touch icing is called as soon as a player of the non-offending team touches the puck first once it has crossed the goal line |
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| No such ruling | | An attempted pass that has been deemed receivable by a Linesman can be waived off to prevent icing |
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Face-offs | The attacking team player must put their stick on the ice first for any face-off in the attacking half of the ice | | The visiting team player must put their stick on the ice first for any face-off |
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Goalkeeper Restricted Area Back of Net | No such ruling | | If a goalkeeper who plays the puck outside of the trapezoid lines located back of the goal net is assessed a minor penalty |
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High Sticking the Puck | The ensuing face-off will be held at the nearest spot where the foul was committed regardless of team strength at the time of the foul | | The ensuing face-off will be held at the nearest spot where the foul was committed. If the foul was committed by the team of greater strength, the face off shall be conducted in their own end zone |
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Offside | On a delayed offside, any shot on goal will bring about a stoppage | | On a delayed offside, any shot on goal will not bring about a stoppage |
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Change of Players | Each team is allowed 5 seconds to change their players following a stoppage throughout the entire game | | The visiting team is allowed 5 seconds to change and the home team is allowed 8 seconds to change players following a stoppage. This ruling does not apply in overtime or in the last 2 minutes of regulation time |
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Protective Equipment | The first violation of any equipment by any player after a warning to a team by the Referee will result in a misconduct penalty being assessed to the player | | A second violation of the same player who was previously warned for his equipment by the Referee will result in a minor penalty being assessed to that player |
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Helmet | A player on the ice whose helmet comes off during play and who does not put the helmet back on with the chin strap properly fastened and continues to play without a helmet shall be assessed a minor penalty | | A player on the ice whose helmet comes off during play is permitted to continue to play without a helmet |
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| A player must wear a helmet in both the pre-game warm-up and in the game | | A player may participate without a helmet in the pre-game warm-up |
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Visors | Players born after December 31, 1974 must wear a visor | | Visors are not compulsory |
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| Tinted visors are not permitted | | Tinted visors are permitted |
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Goalkeeper Stick | No such ruling | | A minimum ½” knob of tape or protective covering must be at the top of the shaft |
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Stick Measurement | Only one measurement for one team per stoppage is allowed | | Only one measurement per team per stoppage is allowed |
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Time-Outs | Both teams may request team time-outs during the same stoppage | | Only one team may request a team time-out during a stoppage |
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Kicking the Puck | A goal is only allowed if the kicked puck deflects off of a stick of an attacking player and goes into the net | | A goal is only allowed if the kicked puck deflects off of any stick except the goalkeeper stick and goes into the net |
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Penalty Shot | Any player from the team fouled can take the penalty shot | | The player fouled must take the penalty shot |
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| A player must have control of the puck for the team to be awarded a Penalty Shot | | A player must be in control or could have obtained control of the puck to be awarded a Penalty Shot |
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Protection of Goalkeeper | The play is stopped if an attacking player stands in the goal crease | | No such rule |
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Penalties | No such ruling | | In the last 5 minutes or in overtime differential then play 3 minutes or 1 minute shorthanded |
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Checking to the Head | A minor penalty plus a 10 minute Misconduct, or a 5 minute major plus an automatic Game Misconduct or a Match penalty | | No such ruling but called as related penalty |
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Checking from Behind | A minor penalty plus a 10 minute Misconduct, or a 5 minute major plus an automatic Game Misconduct or a Match penalty | | No Minor penalty options only a 5 minute major plus a Game Misconduct or a Match penalty |
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Fighting | A 5 minute major for roughing plus an Automatic Game Misconduct or a Match penalty | | A 5 minute major penalty but player remains in the game |
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| Referee may order players to their benches | | Players must go to their benches |
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| No such ruling | | A Game Misconduct if the jersey is not “tied down” |
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Goalkeeper Penalty | Any player on the ice at the stoppage of play following the foul is to serve the penalty | | Any player on the ice at the time when the foul was committed is to serve the penalty |
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Major Penalty | The replacement player must be in the Penalty Box immediately | | The replacement player must be in the Penalty Box before the penalty is terminated |
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Physical Abuse of Officials | A player is assessed a Match and the Disciplinary Panel decides the length of suspension | | A player is assessed a Game Misconduct. and officials decide on the category |
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Slew Footing | A minor penalty, or a 5 minute major plus an automatic Game Misconduct or a Match penalty, all called under the tripping rule | | A Match penalty |
