When the Prince George Cougars step out onto the ice to play the Winterhawks tonight at 7 in Portland, they'll have a few new rules to get used to.
Following the NHL's lead, the WHL has tweaked its rules on tripping penalties, overtime/shootouts, out-of-bounds shot, face-off positioning and no-change icing.
If tonight's game goes to a shootout or a penalty shot is called, shootout participants can no longer use a spin-o-rama, 360-degree turn with the puck to score on goalies.
The WHL experimented with forcing teams to dry-scrape the entire ice surface prior to overtime periods but has adjusted that rule to require dry scrapes only if the game goes to a shootout and only in the middle part of the rink. Teams are required to change ends prior to overtime and will switch again before a shootout.
Changes have also been approved in the event of a puck leaving the playing surface and where on the ice the ensuing face-off will be. Face-offs will now occur in the attacking zone whenever: a shot goes out of play after it deflects off a post or crossbar, after a shot breaks a pane of glass, after a shot deflects off the side of the net, after a shot is tipped or deflected by a teammate out of play, or if the shot gets wedged in or on the exterior of the net.
Before the rule change, face-off positioning depended on who last touched the puck. If it was an attacking player who last touched it, the face-off was moved out of the other team's defensive zone. If the last touch was by a defensive player the puck would be dropped in that player's defensive zone.
Players who dive to trip an attacking player using their stick, arm or any part of the body will get a two-minute penalty regardless of whether they touch the puck first. In a situation that might otherwise warrant a penalty shot, the sentence will be reduced to a two-minute penalty if the defending player touches the puck before the tripping infraction occurs.
The centre of a team which commits a no-change icing infraction will not get waived out of the face-off circle on the first instance of a face-off infraction. Instead, that player will receive a warning and if that player commits a second face-off infraction on the same stoppage that player will receive a two-minute bench penalty for delay of game.
If conclusive video replay evidence determines a goal was scored after the puck hits the netting behind the net and then lands onto the playing surface undetected by the on-ice officials, the goal will be disallowed. If however, the puck leaves the attacking zone after hitting the mesh, the play is no longer reviewable by the video goal judge.
NEW PLAYOFF FORMAT
The Cougars have 72 regular-season games to play until playoffs, including their Sunday road game (5:15 p.m.) against the Tri-City Americans. If they get to the playoffs there are some changes in store.
Just as the NHL did last year, the WHL is allowing two wildcard teams per conference into the playoffs. Under the new rule, the teams with the three highest point totals in each of the four divisions will make the playoffs as well as two wildcard teams in each conference with the next highest point totals. The first-place team with the best record in each conference will play the wildcard team that finishes with the fewer points, while the other division winner will take on the wildcard opponent which has the better record. The other first-round matchups will involve the second- and third-place teams in each division.
The first-round winners in each bracket meet each other in the second round, with winners advancing to the conference finals.
All playoff series will be best-of-seven affairs.
