Hockey 101: Offsides, Icing And Other Basic Rules Explained

• Home
• >> Sports
• >> NHL

Vegas Golden Knights Ryan Reaves (75) and Tomas Hyka (38) look up from the penalty box during a 5-on-3 power play for the Los Angeles Kings during game at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. (Las Vegas Review-Journal File)More Stories‘That’s how we play’: Golden Knights get many contributions in win over KingsGolden Knights Eichel, Hanifin share limelight on SportsCenterGolden Knights beat Kings without 5 Olympians in lineupBack to work: Golden Knights start road trip with roster questions By Rochelle Richards / Las Vegas Review-Journal January 3, 2020 - 4:34 pm Updated January 3, 2020 - 6:27 pm

Are you new to hockey? Don’t know the blue line from the red line? We’re here to help.

Here’s a crash course in some basic hockey knowledge so you can brush up and impress your friends.

Key Terms

— Offsides: The puck must always precede the team which has possession of it across the opposing team’s blue line. If a player crosses the blue line ahead of the puck, he is offsides and the play is whistled dead. Two linesmen, one at each blue line, determines whether an offsides infraction was committed.

— Icing: If the team in possession of the puck sends it from its half of the ice across the other team’s goal line without the opposition being able to play it, play is whistled dead and the faceoff is brought back to that team’s end. There’s no icing if a team is killing a penalty.

— Full strength: When both sides are playing 5-on-5.

— Penalties: There are three levels of infractions: minor, major and match. Minor penalties include tripping, holding, high-sticking, elbowing, delay of game, hooking and slashing. Major penalties are assessed for fighting or for minor infractions that are egregious. A match penalty, which results in automatic ejection, is called for an attempt to deliberately injure an opponent.

— Power play: The team which had an infraction committed against it has a man advantage. Usually, it’s 5 vs. 4. However, it can be 5-on-3 or 4-on-3, depending on the penalties. If a team scores while on a regular 5-on-4 power play, the team committing the infraction gets to return the offending player to the ice.

— Penalty kill: The team which commits the penalty must play shorthanded and is allowed to ice the puck without causing a stoppage in play.

— Penalty shot: Awarded to a player who was impeded from behind while on a breakaway. The player getting the shot gets a clear path from center ice to the goaltender and gets one shot to score.

MOST READ Sponsored By One Nevada Credit Union LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE Story continues after advertisement Story continues after advertisement Story continues after advertisement Story continues after advertisement Story continues after advertisement THE LATEST ‘That’s how we play’: Golden Knights get many contributions in win over Kings By Danny Webster / RJ February 26, 2026 - 6:49 amFebruary 26, 2026 - 6:49 am

Behind call-up Tanner Laczynski’s first career three-point night, the Golden Knights got contributions from everybody in their win over the Kings on Wednesday.

Golden Knights Eichel, Hanifin share limelight on SportsCenter By Bill Bradley / RJ February 26, 2026 - 5:27 amFebruary 26, 2026 - 8:58 am

Center Jack Eichel and defenseman Noah Hanifin, wearing their Olympics gold medals, were interviewed for almost 15 minutes on SportsCenter on Wednesday night.

Golden Knights beat Kings without 5 Olympians in lineup By Danny Webster / RJ February 25, 2026 - 12:40 pmFebruary 25, 2026 - 10:04 pm

The shorthanded Vegas Golden Knights scored three goals in the third period and rallied to defeat the Los Angeles Kings 6-4 at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday

Back to work: Golden Knights start road trip with roster questions By Danny Webster / RJ February 24, 2026 - 1:52 pmFebruary 24, 2026 - 3:18 pm

The Golden Knights will be without Olympians Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin for Wednesday’s game in Los Angeles, but could be getting three players back from injuries.

Rasmus Andersson has ‘no comment’ on representing Sweden in Winter Olympics By Danny Webster / RJ February 23, 2026 - 5:47 pmFebruary 24, 2026 - 10:07 am

Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson didn’t want to comment on his personal experience representing Sweden in the Winter Olympics. He was a healthy scratch twice.

Report: Uncertainty on when Team USA stars will rejoin NHL teams By Danny Webster / RJ February 23, 2026 - 1:51 pmFebruary 23, 2026 - 5:09 pm

There’s uncertainty on when Team USA players will rejoin their NHL clubs, putting Golden Knights stars Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin’s availability for Wednesday in Los Angeles in question.

Golden Knights stars Eichel, Hanifin win gold for Team USA By Danny Webster / RJ February 22, 2026 - 10:54 amFebruary 22, 2026 - 7:56 pm

Golden Knights stars Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin are bringing the gold medal back to Las Vegas after Team USA’s thrilling 2-1 overtime win over Canada on Sunday.

Golden Knights on both sides vying for 1st gold medal with USA, Canada By Danny Webster / RJ February 21, 2026 - 4:05 pmFebruary 21, 2026 - 4:05 pm

Some members of the Golden Knights will return from the Olympics the happiest they can be with a gold medal when Canada faces the United States.

Golden Knights goalie returns from ‘fun experience’ in Olympics By Danny Webster / RJ February 21, 2026 - 3:56 pmFebruary 21, 2026 - 3:56 pm

Golden Knights goalie Akira Schmid was the first Olympian to return from Italy, as he practiced with the team for the first time since Switzerland was eliminated.

Golden Knights Olympic Roundup: USA, Canada set for epic gold medal clash By Danny Webster / RJ February 20, 2026 - 5:27 pmFebruary 20, 2026 - 5:27 pm

Five Golden Knights players will meet in one of the most highly anticipated gold medal games in recent memory when the United States faces Canada on Sunday.

MORE STORIES