Slashing the Stick Penalty Question

[Trap Jesus]

When a player breaks another player's stick with his own, it's supposed to be an automatic slashing penalty. However, in the Bruins/Islanders game, Strome slashed Pastrnak's stick right before the puck dropped (everyone was lined up, but the puck had not been dropped yet). No call was made.

I was just wondering if it is in the rule book that it has to happen during play, and if doing this before the puck is dropped is fair game.

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[Steamwhistle]

Is it supposed to be an automatic slash, though? I always thought it was up to the refs discretion, regardless of a broken stick or not.

 

[Coopers Gum]

I've always hated that automatic call. Slashing should only be slashing when it doesn't touch the stick in my opinion. I mean, obviously, you don't want people two-handing people's sticks all the time, but that's the ref's discretion. The automatic call for a broken stick, or when a player drops their stick is for the birds.

 

[Trap Jesus]

Is it supposed to be an automatic slash, though? I always thought it was up to the refs discretion, regardless of a broken stick or not.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=68559

Slashing is the act of a player swinging his stick at an opponent, whether contact is made or not. Any forceful or powerful chop with the stick on an opponent's body, the opponent's stick, or on or near the opponent's hands that, in the judgment of the Referee, is not an attempt to play the puck, shall be penalized as slashing.
Minor Penalty - A minor penalty, at the discretion of the Referee based on the severity of the contact, shall be imposed on a player who slashes an opponent. Any slash that break the opponents stick shall be deemed an automatic penalty.

I haven't seen anything about it having to take place in play though.

 

[Classicnamesup]

According to you the play was not even on yet. Plus it should never be automatic, always to discretion. Sometimes players slash the other player and their own stick breaks, drawing a call. Sometimes a light slash hits the stick in the right spot and snaps it, lame call. Not like the refs call it properly anyway, all the time you see missed broken sticks

 

[Trap Jesus]

According to you the play was not even on yet. Plus it should never be automatic, always to discretion. Sometimes players slash the other player and their own stick breaks, drawing a call. Sometimes a light slash hits the stick in the right spot and snaps it, lame call. Not like the refs call it properly anyway, all the time you see missed broken sticks

I'm not trying to debate the penalty being good for the game or not (personally I think it's a stupid rule as well), but it's in the rule book that it's an automatic penalty. I'm just trying to pinpoint if it only means during play.

 

[PlaceboFan]

http://www.gfycat.com/ComfortableWindyCuscus

Not exactly a light slash.

 

[hockeykicker]

im guessing cause the ref angle is behind the islanders player to the left of the camera view in the gif provided above and he didnt see it

 

[Sigh]

Maybe if Pastrnak was faster he'd draw that call.

 

[hockeykicker]

Maybe if Pastrnak was faster he'd draw that call.

faster?? he was standing still

 

[Sigh]

faster?? he was standing still

Kind of an inside joke. One of the theories as to why the Bruins get so few powerplays is that they're a slow team. Just poking some fun at that.

 

[hockeykicker]

oh haha sorry, should have known something was up

 

[nmbr_24]

http://www.gfycat.com/ComfortableWindyCuscus

Not exactly a light slash.

wow, I am pretty sure I have seen that called as a penalty when a stick was slashed before the puck was dropped. That should have been called.

 

[nmbr_24]

I'm not trying to debate the penalty being good for the game or not (personally I think it's a stupid rule as well), but it's in the rule book that it's an automatic penalty. I'm just trying to pinpoint if it only means during play.

If that was true then fighting should be allowed between the whistles too

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

That should be delay of game if anything.

 

[Pia8988]

They've called slashes to leg before the whistle. Zero reason besides being inept that this wasn't 2 on Strome.

 

[sabrebuild]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=68559



I haven't seen anything about it having to take place in play though.

I hate that rule, and it is well past its time. With the way sticks break now compared to old wood ones it's a joke to call a penalty every time a stick breaks from a slash, totally arbitrary.

 

[la patineuse]

What's worse is when referees automatically call a slash whenever a stick is broken regardless of whether or not it was an actual slash. A broken stick doesn't always mean it was a slash that broke the stick.

 

[jviss]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=68559

I haven't seen anything about it having to take place in play though.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=68559

Slashing is the act of a player swinging his stick at an opponent, whether contact is made or not. Any forceful or powerful chop with the stick on an opponent's body, the opponent's stick, or on or near the opponent's hands that, in the judgment of the Referee, is not an attempt to play the puck, shall be penalized as slashing.
Minor Penalty - A minor penalty, at the discretion of the Referee based on the severity of the contact, shall be imposed on a player who slashes an opponent. Any slash that break the opponents stick shall be deemed an automatic penalty.
I haven't seen anything about it having to take place in play though.

Interesting that this is indeed on the nhl website that "[a]ny slash that break the opponents stick shall be deemed an automatic penalty," as you found, it is not in the rulebook! The only automatics in the official rules relate to fines, suspensions, and the like, nothing regarding penalty calls themselves. There are no automatic "primary" penalties.

That said, I think this one should have been called.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

Watching the replay of the game now, that is hilarious. The ref throws a hissyfit screaming at Pastrnak to go get another stick as though it was his fault.

"GO GET A NEW STICK!!!!" I believe is what he was yelling at Pastrnak.

 

[LaCarriere]

Looks like pastrnak helped it out a little bit by leaning on it after the slash, but yea, that should have been a penalty. Slashing or delay of game.

Not sure how they missed that.

 

[talkinaway]

Why would it matter if the slash happens before or after the puck drop/whistle?

If it's during play, it's a slash. If it's before or after play, maybe it's unsportsmanlike conduct or delay of game, but it's still able to be penalized. I don't care what it's called; I just want the penalty to be given.

 

[Budddy]

Watching the replay of the game now, that is hilarious. The ref throws a hissyfit screaming at Pastrnak to go get another stick as though it was his fault.

"GO GET A NEW STICK!!!!" I believe is what he was yelling at Pastrnak.

Puzzling..Dan Orourke staring right at it...followed up closely by missing the call when Marchand tripped up by Tavares

Ahh...NHL reffing...

 

[Cashville]

http://www.gfycat.com/ComfortableWindyCuscus

Not exactly a light slash.

Man I am just sitting at my desk laughing watching this GIF; so over the top. The Bruins player is just like "...did you really just do that? What the hell is wrong with you?"

 

[WalterSobchak]

It really looks to me like he breaks the stick himself.

The slash happens and he immediately puts heavy pressure on the stick to try and break it, drawing the penalty.

just what I am seeing there, I would guess the ref agreed and thus - no call.