If while a Team is "short-handed" by one or more minor or bench minor penalties, the opposing Team scores a goal, the first of such penalties shall automatically terminate. (NOTE) "Short-handed" means that the Team must be below the numerical strength of its opponents on the ice at the time the goal is scored. The minor or bench minor penalty which terminates automatically is the one with the least amount of time on the clock. Thus coincident minor penalties to both Teams do NOT cause either side to be "short-handed".
This Rule shall also apply when a goal is awarded.
(NEW for 2005-06) This Rule does not apply when a goal is scored on a penalty shot (i.e. offending team's penalized player(s) do not get released on the scoring of a goal on a penalty shot).
Minor penalty expiration criteria
- Is the Team scored against short handed?
- Is the Team scored against serving a Minor Penalty on the clock?
If both criteria are satisfied, the minor penalty with the least amount of time on the clock shall terminate except when coincidental penalties are being served.
When the minor penalties of two players of the same Team terminate at the same time, the Captain of that Team shall designate to the Referee which of such players will return to the ice first and the Referee will instruct the Penalty Timekeeper accordingly.
When one player receives a major penalty and a minor penalty at the same time, the major penalty shall be served first by the penalized player, except under Rule 27(c) where coincidental penalties are in effect in which case the minor penalty will be recorded and served first.
When ONE minor penalty is assessed to ONE player 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. (NOTE) Should one or either of these players also incur a misconduct penalty in addition to their ONE minor penalty, this rule shall apply and teams would still play four skaters against four skaters (the player incurring the misconduct penalty would have to serve the entire 12 minutes - minor plus misconduct - and his team would have to place an additional player on the penalty bench to serve the minor penalty and be able to return to the ice when the minor penalty expires).
When multiple penalties are assessed to both teams, equal numbers of minor and major penalties shall be eliminated using the coincident penalty rule and any differential in time penalties shall be served in the normal manner and displayed on the penalty time clock accordingly. If there is no differential in time penalties, all players will still serve their allotted penalty time, but will not be released until the first stoppage of play following the expiration of their respective penalties.
