Regel 85: Puck Out of Bounds

When a puck goes outside the playing area at either end or either side of the Rink, strikes any obstacles above the playing surface other than the Boards or Protective Glass, causes the glass, lighting, timing device or the supports to break, it shall be “faced-off” at the nearest Face-off Spot in the zone from where it was shot or deflected out of play.
Should the On-ice Officials rule that the shot or deflection that caused the puck to go out of play originated from the neutral or Defending Zones, the resulting “face-off” location shall be the nearest Face-off Spot closest to the origin of the shot or deflection that gives the offending Team the least amount of “territorial advantage”.

If the puck comes to rest on top of the Boards surrounding the playing area, it shall be considered to be in play and may be played legally by hand or stick.

When the puck goes outside the playing area directly off the “face-off”, regardless as to which Player may have last contacted the puck, the “face-off” shall remain in the same spot and no penalty will be assessed to either Team for delaying the game.

When the puck is shot and it makes contact with the gloves or the body of a Player hanging over the Players’ Bench, or if the puck enters the Players’ Bench through an open bench door, the “face-off” shall take place at the nearest Face-off Spot in the zone from where the puck was shot, however, if the puck hits an opposing Player’s glove or body that is hanging over the opposing Team’s Players’ Bench or enters the opposing Team’s Players’ Bench through an open bench door, the “face-off” shall take place in the Neutral Zone adjacent to the opponent’s Players’ Bench.

Should the puck strike the curved glass located at the end of either Players’ Bench, play shall be stopped when observed by any of the On-ice Officials. The ensuing “face-off” shall be determined as if the puck went outside the playing area.

Should the puck strike the spectator netting at the ends and the corners of the arena, play shall be stopped, and the ensuing “face-off” shall be determined as if the puck went outside the playing area. Players must not stop playing the game until they hear the whistle to do so.

When the puck becomes lodged in the netting on the outside of either goal so as to make it “unplayable”, or if it is “frozen” between opposing Players intentionally or otherwise, the Referee shall stop the play.
The puck may be played off the goal netting by either Team. However, should the puck remain on the goal netting for more than three (3) seconds, play shall be stopped.

Should the Goalkeeper use their stick or glove to “freeze” the puck on the back of the net or should a defending Player shield an attacking Player from playing the puck off the back of the net, the “face-off” shall take place at one of the Face-off Spots in the Defending Zone.

Should the puck go under the goal either from behind or the side, or through the mesh from behind or the side, if this is witnessed by an On-ice Official, play should be stopped immediately, and the ensuing “face-off” should take place at the nearest Face-off Spot in the zone nearest to the location where the play was stopped.

Should a scramble take place, or a Player accidentally fall on the puck and the puck be out of sight of the Referee, they shall immediately blow their whistle and stop the play. The puck shall then be “faced-off” at the nearest Face-off Spot in the zone where the play was stopped unless otherwise provided for in the rules.

Play shall not be stopped if the puck touches an On-ice Official anywhere on the Rink, regardless of whether a Team is “short-handed” or not. A puck that deflects back into the Defending Zone off an On-ice Official who is in the Neutral Zone, will be deemed to be “off-side”.
→ Rule 83 – Off-Side

The puck striking or deflecting off an On-ice Official does not automatically nullify a “potential icing”.
When a puck deflects off an On-ice Official and goes out of play, the ensuing “face-off” will take place at the Face-off Spot in the zone nearest to where the puck deflected off the Official. If a goal is scored as a result of being deflected directly into the net off an On-ice Official, the goal shall not be allowed.

Should any Player cause the puck to go out of play or become “unplayable” in any zone, the “face-off” shall take place at the Face-off Spot in the zone from which the puck was shot. If deflected out of play, at the nearest Face-off Spot in the zone where it deflected out of play. If this stoppage is caused by an attacking player in the attacking zone, the face-off will take place at the closest face-off spot in the attacking zone (if the player did not make an infraction as per Rule 63 – Delaying the Game)
If the zone happens to be the Neutral Zone, the Face-off Spot selected shall be the one that gives the offending Team the least amount of “territorial advantage”.

For a puck that is “unplayable” due to being lodged in the netting or as a result of it being “frozen” between opposing Players, the resulting “face-off” shall be at either of the adjacent Face-off Spots or at the nearest Face-off Spot in the zone from which the puck was shot, unless otherwise covered in these rules.

If the attacking Team shoots the puck into the zone and a “Delayed Off-side” is indicated, or if the attacking Team commits a game flow infraction such as contacting the puck with a “high-stick” or “batting the puck with a glove” (causing a stoppage of play), the ensuing “face-off” shall be in the Neutral Zone outside the offending Team’s Attacking Zone.

A Minor Penalty for “Delay of Game” shall be imposed on a Goalkeeper who “deliberately” drops the puck on the goal netting to cause a stoppage of play.
→ Rule 67.3 – Minor Penalty - Goalkeeper

Any loss of time on the game or penalty clocks due to the puck going out of play must be replaced. The Video Goal Operator may be consulted to ensure the time is accurately replaced.
→ Rule 37.6 – Video Review to Verify Time on Clock