What is offside in hockey?
Arguably the most common call in the NHL today, offside is seen in every game. But what does it mean?
When you think of the word, "buzzkill", what does it mean to you? Does it mean someone who walks into a party or room and sucks the life out of it with their bland personality? Perhaps their name is Josh and they constantly complain about how the world is unfair and their hockey team has been screwed numerous times. Perhaps Josh is a Sharks fan, but the world will never know.
Anyways, people see him and ignore him because they know he's going to kill the good mood in the room. He'll probably talk about how Brayden McNabb is useless (Spoiler Alert: He isn't) and how Gary Bettman is conspiring for particular teams. He'll talk about how franchises like the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers get all the calls, which leads people to slowly exit the room.
Josh isn't the only walking "buzzkill" known to man. The offside call is one of the oldest (and most common) rules in hockey. It's meant to provide structure and ensure the game doesn't get too much like the Wild West. But what's behind this common rule and what makes it stand out? Here's a breakdown of the definition of this "buzzkill" stipulation.
The definition of offside in the NHL (and what it means for the Vegas Golden Knights)
To explain the rule, let's employ the services of the USA Hockey rulebook. They have Rule 630 pulled up so newer fans can better understand its definition. Take it away, USA Hockey!
Offside occurs when players of an attacking team precede the puck into an attacking zone. The position of the player's skates and the position of the puck relative to the blue line are deciding factors for an "offside" violation.
This rule has been around for nearly a century, originating in 1929. There's a good reason for that, for it prevents players from turning the game into "NHL Jam" and becoming a video game. How? It takes away the easy entry into the attacking zone via the puck.
There are different types of this call, ranging from delayed to intentional. The offending team will take a face-off in their defending zone at the face-off end zone spot, complicating matters and killing the mood. Therefore, it helps to slow down the play and avoid getting called for this.
If you're wondering why this call is the ultimate "buzzkill" call, that's because it can stop any momentum for a potential goal. Imagine Brayden McNabb and Mark Stone zipping down the ice with the chance to tie the game. Suddenly, the referee calls that McNabb preceded the puck crossing the blue line. That would stop any momentum for scoring a potential goal. Essentially, it's the "Josh" of hockey rules.
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