Unlike sports such as football and basketball, hockey doesn't classify penalties into offensive and defensive. Penalties are assessed equally against offensive and defensive players, as well as teams, to ensure sportsmanlike conduct, prevent injuries, make the game fair and keep it moving. Nevertheless, offensive players are more likely to commit certain infractions, and one in particular, interfering with the goaltender, can only be committed by an offensive player.
Types of Penalties
The NHL rulebook, according to which most hockey games are played, stipulates 59 penalties. They are classified as either minor, major or misconduct, and can be incurred by a player or by the bench. Minor penalties are two minutes long, major ones five minutes, and a misconduct can cost a player 10 minutes in the penalty box or ejection from the game. While a player is serving a minor or major penalty, his team must play shorthanded, and he can come out of the penalty box as soon as his penalty expires.
Interfering with the Goaltender
Any intentional contact with the goalkeeper by an offensive player, whether the goalkeeper is inside the crease or not, results in a penalty for the player. The referee can, at his discretion, assess either a major or minor penalty. If a goal is scored because of the interference, the goal is disallowed. An offensive player can be in the goal crease, but if his presence there prevents the goalkeeper from stopping a shot that goes into the net, the goal is disallowed. An offensive player pushed against the goaltender does not incur a penalty, as long as he makes a reasonable effort to avoid contact.
Handling the Puck
Players are allowed to bat the puck with their hands, whether it is in the air or on the ice, but they are not allowed to direct it to another player unless he is behind his own blue line. If he does so while behind the opposing side's blue line, the referee stops play, and there is a face-off. If he bats it into the opposing net, the goal is disallowed. A player incurs a penalty for picking the puck up off the ice or catching it and skating with it. The penalty is called "closing hand on the puck."
Bench Penalties
Having too many men on the ice is a bench penalty that puts the opposing team at an unfair disadvantage and can be considered an offensive penalty. When a substitution is made, the player who is being replaced must be within 5 feet of the bench before his substitute can come on the ice. A related bench penalty is illegal substitution, when a player leaves the penalty box before his penalty has expired. When the referee imposes a bench penalty, any player from the offending side can serve the penalty, and the team must play shorthanded.
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