NHL should consider using IIHF’s ‘in the crease’ rules

The Edmonton Oilers would certainly agree that enough is enough with these potential goaltender interference calls.

The Oilers have come up on the wrong side of two such calls - both deemed good goals by the league - against the Anaheim Ducks in Games 4 and 5, pushing them to the brink of elimination in Round 2.

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Milan Lucic and head coach Todd McLellan sounded off following Friday's double-overtime defeat, suggesting neither is sure what constitutes goaltender interference anymore.

Of course, those two instances are not the only such calls that have received criticism. Your favorite team was likely wronged at one point or another during the regular season.

So, what can be done?

Some have called for the league to do a better job of defining what exactly counts as goaltender interference. That could work, but could still open the door for the same problems. A better suggestion would be implementing rules already used by the IIHF.

Under IIHF rule 595, play is blown dead if an opposing player stands in the goaltender's crease, regardless of where the puck is on the ice:

4. However, where an attacking players stands in the goal crease, play shall be stopped and a face-off shall take place in the nearest face-off spot in the Neutral Zone.

Goals can also be disallowed under rule 471:

4. If an attacking player stands or holds his stick in the goal crease when the puck enters the goal net, unless he has been physically interfered with, by the action of any defending player so as to cause him to be in the goal crease when the puck enters the goal net, unless if in the opinion of the Referee, he had sufficient time to get out of the crease.

6. If an attacking player initiates contact with the goalkeeper, incidental or otherwise, while the goaltender is in his goal crease and a goal is scored.

7. If an attacking player initiates any contact with the goalkeeper, other than incidental contact, while goalkeeper is outside his goal crease and a goal is scored.

8. Where an attacking player enters or takes a position within the goal crease, so as to obstruct the goalkeeper's vision and impair his ability to defend his goal net and a goal is scored.

The NHL needs to find a way to either crack down on players coming in contact with goalies, or define more clearly what warrants a goaltender interference call. Fortunately, it appears a good example of rules that could fix both these issues are already being used on the other side of the pond.

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