In ice hockey, the net is held in place by flexible pegs that extend upward into the net's posts and downward beneath the surface of the ice. These long pegs serve to hold the net in place when it is slightly moved or bumped during the course of play, allowing the net some room to move without being thrown out of position. If a player crashes into the net or if it is otherwise forcefully moved, the flexible pegs are designed to allow the net to move with the player, thus throwing the net out of position while preventing injury to the player.
Stoppage of Play
Due to the physical nature of hockey, the goal posts are often moved off the pegs accidentally over the course of a game. According to both IIHF and NHL rules, play should be stopped when at least one of the pegs is either no longer in a goal post or in its hole in the ice. When this happens, a stoppage of play is called whenever the offending team gains possession of the puck. Due to the potential delay between when the net is moved off its pegs and when the offending team gains possession of the puck, it is possible for a team to score a goal at one end of the ice when the net is off its pegs at the other end.
Face-Off Position
Once the net has been knocked off its pegs and the offending team gains possession of the puck, a face-off is called nearest to where a stoppage of play is called. When the attacking team is responsible for accidentally displacing the defending team's net, a face-off cannot be called within the defending team's zone. If a stoppage of play is called in the defending team's zone when the attacking team is responsible for moving the net off of its pegs, the face-off is moved outside that team's blue line.
Penalties
If a referee rules that a player has intentionally moved the net off its pegs, a minor penalty for delay of game is called against the offending player. If this penalty is called against the defending team in their zone during the last two minutes of a game or during overtime, a penalty shot is awarded to the attacking team. A penalty shot can also be awarded if a player is on a breakaway and the defending goalie, or any other player on the defending team, intentionally moves the net off its pegs.
Awarded Goal
A goal can be automatically awarded to the attacking team for a number of reasons related to the net being moved off its pegs. If a defending player deliberately moves the net off its pegs following an attacking player's shot, a goal is awarded if the referee rules that this shot would have been a goal. Similarly, a goal is awarded to the attacking team if the goalie is not on the ice and a defending player deliberately moves the net off its pegs, provided the attacking player has an obvious shot at the empty net. During the course of a penalty shot, both the IIHF and NHL state that a goal is automatically awarded to the attacking team if the goalie deliberately moves the net off its pegs.
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