Can you clarify the question Taiter? It was confusing how you presented it.

Like most things, it made sense in my head!!

When there are coincidental penalties, what factors go in to deciding if it affects man power on the ice? For instance, the handbags between Downs and Ovie the other week resulted in a 2 each for Roughing and a 4-on-4. However, after a scuffle between the Fridge, Veilleux, Kovalchuk and Popovic in the first game of the season, they each got 2 minutes and the game resumed 5-on-5.

I’m sure in the second scenario it’s because there’s multiple players involved, but I’ve seen other times (that I can’t yet find to illustrate or explain) when there’s only been two players and the game resumes 5-on-5.

Hope that helps!

(And also sorry for the lack of clarity – it’s a rule that confuses me muchly, and I’d spent ages trying to decipher the rule book!)

When one minor penalty is assessed to one player or goalkeeper 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.

19.5 Applying the Coincidental Penalty Rule – When multiple penalties are assessed to both teams at the same stoppage of play, the following rules are to be utilized by the Referees to determine the on-ice strength for both teams:

(i) Cancel as many major and/or match penalties as possible

(ii) Cancel as many minor, bench minor and or double-minor penalties as possible

Refer to Reference Tables – Table 17 – Coincidental Penalties.

The Chart can be found here. http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26556

So, when one player from each team gets one minor penalty (ex tripping and a dive, or each were called for roughing) they play 4 on 4.

For a major penalty such as fighting (example 9 on the chart) they play 5 on 5.

When there are multiple players/penalties involved they follow the chart.

It is my understanding that “coincidental” just means that the penalties were called on the same stoppage of play. What I think you are describing is what many refer to as “offsetting” penalties. This occurs when multiple penalties are given to each team without giving either team a man advantage.

I hope this helps to clear things up for you.

Thanks mate!