Perhaps the most beloved of rules infringements in professional sports, a fight in an NHL game is not only an accepted part of hockey, but also a relied-upon way of upholding the other rules.
In the modern game, if a young player takes a particularly hard hit, if a skater is subject to a major foul, or the goaltender is roughed up, there’s a price to be paid beyond the penalty minutes, and that tends to be a fight.
Even though fights do incur a major penalty and are a form of rule-breaking in the NHL, there are rules to fighting, as both the league and the players accept that it’s a core part of the sport. These are the NHL fighting rules.
What Counts as a Fight in the NHL?
Usually, you know that a fight is about to take place in the NHL when two players shake off their gloves and begin to circle each other or quickly grab jerseys.
In the rules, an incident is deemed a fight by the officials when one player has attempted to punch another multiple times, if two or more players have attempted to land punches multiple times, or when two or more players wrestle in a way that impedes the ability of at least one of them to skate.
Fighting is covered in Rule 46 of the official NHL rulebook, and any players deemed to have partaken in a fight will be given five minutes in the penalty box.
However, referees have a lot of room to manoeuvre to address the specifics of an individual fight. It’s not always as straightforward as the two drop gloves at the same time, land some punches, and tumble to the ice.
What Penalties Can Players Get for Fighting in the NHL?
The penalties for fighting are broken up into several mini categories without any hard-set rules on applying blanket penalties.
This allows referees to give out minutes in the box according to the various degrees of responsibility leading up to and during a fight.
An instigator, under Rule 46.11, needs to have a menacing attitude or posture; thrown the first punch; travelled some way to get to their target; taken their gloves off first; verbally instigated; clearly retaliated for a previous incident; or have sought retribution for a previous incident.
If a player instigates a fight but doesn’t end up in a fight, they will receive a minor penalty of usually of two minutes, unless other fouls are committed in the build-up.
On top of this, a minor instigator penalty can be given on top of the major, which could put the non-instigating team on the powerplay. Two minutes are also given to those who remove their helmets before a fight.
When two players clearly agree to a fight, and one isn’t seen as overly instigating, they’ll both get five for fighting and neither team on the ice will be at a man disadvantage.
To get ejected for fighting, a player either needs to: partake in three fights in one game; use a weapon like their stick, skate, or helmet in the fight; not have their jersey tied down before a fight; or leave the bench to get into a fight. As well as this, two instigator penalties will result in the player being ejected.
It’s when you see some particularly rowdy skaters trying to pick a fight and not quite getting one when it’s a good time to turn to the live sport betting Canada odds as a powerplay might just be on the way.
What is a Match Penalty for Fighting?
Should a player punch an unsuspecting or unwilling opponent at any time and cause injury, they’ll be dealt a match penalty. This puts their team shorthanded for five full minutes, and the player is ejected.
A match penalty will also be dealt to any player wearing anything on their hands during a fight that leads to any kind of injury. This is one of the reasons behind the flicking off of the gloves before two players fight.
Players can also get a game misconduct penalty on top of the major for fighting if they are deemed to be an aggressor. An aggressor is a fighter who continues to attempt to fight or punch once the other is defenceless or has bowed out.
What are the Rules When Fighting in the NHL?
In the NHL, when two players are fighting, they are allowed to grab and tug on each other’s jerseys, throw punches with empty and uncovered clenched fists, and wrestle to the ice.
Punches to the face are the aim, but neither can do anything that will intentionally put the other at an unfair disadvantage, such as by pulling the jersey over their heads and continuing to punch as that leaves the other defenceless.
When the two players hit the ice, they are to stop fighting. They shouldn’t throw any more punches, force their weight further on their opponent, and should allow the referees to escort them to the penalty box.
What is the Purpose of Fighting in the NHL?
Fighting is both a form of self-governance within a game as well as a way to boost team and fan morale. This is why, despite their somewhat fading role as specialist players, enforcers are still relied upon in the NHL.
While skill and speed are the emphasis, there’s a good reason why the +800 Stanley Cup favourites in the NHL odds, the Toronto Maple Leafs, added Ryan Reaves over the summer. He’ll keep opponents in check.
Enforcers are still greatly respected in the game as they’ll put their bodies on the line and take the fines to ensure that their vulnerable or star players aren’t targeted by opponents, or to give their side a boost at key moments.
In the end, though, hockey is an incredibly high-speed, intense, and physical sport. Accidents can happen, and skaters can take advantage of the intensity by slipping in heavier than necessary checks.
So, having an intimidating figure who’s ready to throw down for their team on the other side of the rink can greatly help to keep those frustrated or even dirty players in check.
Fighting and those willing to fight help to keep others in check while dealing out due retribution when necessary. For the fans, not only can they get behind players willing to fight for their team, but a hockey fight is quite the spectacle.
*Credit for all images in this article belongs to Alamy*
