NHL Likely to Make Rule Change to Goaltending Shortly

The last few days has been filled with large amounts of controversy in the NHL. The controversy is surrounding a situation that occurred in the Jets vs Stars game and involved goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck.

Here is the play:


As you can see, Connor Hellebuyck lost his helmet due to a collision, and seconds later the Stars scored in the empty netter to tie the game with under 30 seconds left.


You might be asking why the play wasn't called dead. After all, we have typically been under the impression that if the goalie's helmet comes off then the play is called dead for their safety.

Well, there is more to that. Thanks to Blades of Steel, we got some clarity on the rule for you.

NHL Rule 9 – Uniforms – 9.6 – Helmets – When a goalkeeper has lost his helmet and/or face mask and his team has control of the puck, the play shall be stopped immediately to allow the goalkeeper the opportunity to regain his helmet and/or face mask. When the opposing team has control of the puck, play shall only be stopped if there is no immediate and impending scoring opportunity. This stoppage of play must be made by the Referee. When play is stopped because the goalkeeper has lost his helmet and/or face mask, the ensuing face-off shall take place at one of the defending team's end zone face-off spots.

So apparently the play can't just be ruled dead no matter who has possession of the puck, which makes sense.

Now, with this controversy, the NHL is reviewing whether they should add to the rule or change the rule.

According to insider Elliote Friedman, there is going to be something done by the league.

There is definitely going to be something done in the aftermath of the Jason Robertson goal when Connor Hellebuyck's mask was knocked off last Friday. Maybe it's as simple as a more aggressive whistle, since GMs recognize goalies need to be protected. In the days since that occurred, there's also been a demand to make sure «mask-off» doesn't get abused or become a strategy. Last season, St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington received a delay-of-game penalty for removing his mask in a game against the Jets. Another suggestion was making a chin-strap mandatory — an attempt that failed in 2014. Goalies refused that as part of the equipment slimdown. «Goalie Gear Nerd» on Twitter made an interesting point, that this wouldn't work anyways because of the way the mask is designed to fall under contact.

Credit to Blades of Steel for coverage of the story.