Additional Clarification on New Rules for 2019-20

NEW YORK --As we approach the start of the 2019-20 regular-season, NHL Hockey Operations and Officiating is providing the following interpretations/clarifications with respect to the new rules. This information has been compiled to answer a number of questions that have arisen during the 2019-20 pre-season.

As a reminder, the intent of new Rule 38.2 (b) is to address a missed stoppage event in the offensive zone that results in a goal.

MISSED GAME STOPPAGE EVENT IN OFFENSIVE ZONE LEADING TO A GOAL

RULE 38.2 (b):A play that results in a "GOAL" call on the ice where the defending team claims that the play should have been stopped by reason of any play occurring in the offensive zone that should have resulted in a play stoppage but did not.
Clarification - High-Sticked Pucks
i) If the missed game stoppage is a high-sticked puck committed by the attacking player from the neutral zone to himself or a teammate in the offensive zone - a Coach's Challenge by the defending teamwould be successful. While the puck was high-sticked in the neutral zone, the rule infraction does not occur until that player or a teammate touches the puck in the offensive zone.
ii) If the missed game stoppage is a high-sticked puck committed by a defending player to a defending player - either in the defending zone or from the neutral zone back to a teammate in the defending zone - a Coach's Challenge by the defending team would be unsuccessful. The spirit of the rule is to address Missed Game Stoppages in the Offensive Zone caused by an attacking player.
Clarification - Batted Pucks
i) If the missed game stoppage is a batted puck committed by the attacking player from the neutral zone to himself or a teammate in the offensive zone - a Coach's Challenge by the defending team would be successful. While the puck was batted in the neutral zone, the rule infraction does not occur until that player or a teammate touches the puck in the offensive zone.
ii) If the missed game stoppage is a defending player batting the puck from the neutral zone back to a teammate in the defending zone - a Coach's Challenge by the defending team would be unsuccessful. The spirit of the rule is to address Missed Game Stoppages in the Offensive Zone caused by an attacking player.
Clarification - Offensive Zone Puck Out of Play
If the missed game stoppage is a puck deflected or shot out of play (i.e. into the netting) in the offensive zone, regardless of whether it last touched the stick of an attacking or defending player - a Coach's Challenge by the defending team would be successful.

NO LINE CHANGE

RULE 63. 7
Pages 97-98 of 2019-20 Official Rules
Net Dislodged: If the net is dislodged by both players and it can't be determined conclusively that it was the actions of the defender, the face-off defaults to the regular dot and the defending team will be allowed to make a line change.
Goalie Freeze on Shot Past Center: When a puck is shot from beyond center and frozen by the goaltender - the defending team will suffer the loss of a line change without exception.
Note: There will be no TV commercials after either of the two stoppages listed above.

IDENTIFYING THE FACE-OFF LOCATION

If no direction is given from a Club in situations where the offensive team has the right to choose which side of the ice the face-off will occur - the face-off alignment will default to the regular location identified by the on-ice officials.

PUCK DROP AFTER GOALS AND START OF OT

A change this season will see linesmen dropping the puck at center ice after all goals and prior to the start of OT.