Coincidental penalties

[chseagle]

Was watching the Rangers vs. Penguins last night, during the 3rd period there was a coincidental penalty called & the teams skated 4 a side.

In the league where I assist as an off-ice official, the rule set is USA Hockey rules, & on coincidental penalties the teams remain at full strength, why the differences?

[RefWEB]

Originally Posted by chseagle

Was watching the Rangers vs. Penguins last night, during the 3rd period there was a coincidental penalty called & the teams skated 4 a side.

In the league where I assist as an off-ice official, the rule set is USA Hockey rules, & on coincidental penalties the teams remain at full strength, why the differences?

The NHL rulebook is MILES different than amateur rulebooks.

The NHL is entertainment, and is looking to create offence. 4 on 4 does that. In amateur hockey, the goal is to have as many people participate as possible, hence the replacement players for coincidental penalties.

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by RefWEB

The NHL rulebook is MILES different than amateur rulebooks.

The NHL is entertainment, and is looking to create offence. 4 on 4 does that. In amateur hockey, the goal is to have as many people participate as possible, hence the replacement players for coincidental penalties.

Here's what the 2013-2014 NHL Rulebook says about coincident penalties:

19.1 Coincidental Minor Penalties - When coincident minor penalties or
coincident minor penalties of equal duration are imposed against
players of both teams, the penalized players shall all take their places
on the penalty benches and such penalized players shall not leave the
penalty bench until the first stoppage of play following the expiry of
their respective penalties. Where goalkeepers are involved, refer to
27.1. Immediate substitution shall be made for an equal number of
minor penalties or coincident minor penalties of equal duration to each
team so penalized and the penalties of the players for which
substitutions have been made shall not be taken into account for the
purpose of the delayed penalty rule (Rule 26). This rule only applies
when at least one team is already serving a time penalty in the penalty
box that causes them to be short-handed.
When one minor penalty is assessed to one player of each team at
the same stoppage in play, these penalties will be served without
substitution provided there are no other penalties in effect and visible
on the penalty clocks. Both teams will therefore play four skaters
against four skaters for the duration of the minor penalties.
Should one or both of these players (or any other players) also
incur a misconduct penalty in addition to their one minor penalty, this
rule shall apply and the teams would still play four skaters against four
skaters (the player incurring the misconduct penalty would have to
serve the entire 12 minutes – minor plus misconduct – and his team
would have to place an additional player on the penalty bench to serve
the minor penalty and be able to return to the ice when the minor
penalty expires).
When multiple penalties are assessed to both teams, equal
numbers of minor and major penalties shall be eliminated using the
coincident penalty rule and any differential in time penalties shall be
served in the normal manner and displayed on the penalty time clock
accordingly (see 19.5). If there is no differential in time penalties, all
players will serve their allotted penalty time, but will not be released
until the first stoppage of play following the expiration of their
respective penalties.
For coincidental penalties that carry over into, or are assessed
during regular-season overtime, refer to 84.3, to Reference Tables –
Table 19 – Penalties In Effect Prior to the Start of Overtime –
Regular-season on page 154, and to Reference Tables – Table 20 –
Penalties Assessed in Overtime – Regular-season on page 156.