In a recent game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews received a two-minute minor penalty for picking up the stick of Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins off the ice and using it during gameplay. Likewise, Merzlikins received a penalty of his own, after initially nabbing Matthews’ stick from the ice and forcing the captain’s hand into creating the now-viral moment. It was an occurrence that was quite unfamiliar to hockey fans.
Leafs fans likely yelled in unison at their TV: “A penalty? For just carrying Merzlikins’ stick? Why?” After all, the rare moment seemed to only be a spontaneous moment of hijinx. The NHL views it much differently, though, with equipment rule 10.3 of the league's rule book scrutinizing such an action.
Never again will a player commit twig thievery in the name of silliness. But the oddities of the official rule book don’t stop there. There are actually many more provisions in place to keep players from obstructing a game with clip-worthy moments.
From forfeits to armpits, here’s a look at some of the NHL’s strangest rules: The NHL official rule book’s most obscure rules: A primer According to Rule 66.1, the league and an on-ice official can cease a game from continuing if a team refuses to comply with the official rules. In the scenario that the offending team refuses to comply, the referee and commissioner are capable of considering the game forfeited and the non-offending team automatically w.
