Drop the puck, let's play hockey.

Hoisting the Stanley Cup is a big deal.
Barbara Johnston-US Presswire

Stepping out from behind the keyboard, I just want to say I love hockey. I wish more people watched and liked hockey so it would get more TV time and so more people could watch and like hockey and the cycle would continue. With the impending lockout in the NBA, it's going to leave us with only one professional sport. Hockey. Often times, I find that people dismiss hockey because it's difficult for them to follow, or they don't understand what's going on. I hope to explain some of the rules and nuances of the game so maybe you'll consider flicking on a Sunday morning game when the NFL is done playing football.

Goals

It may seem simple but I feel the need to explain this. Hockey is more like soccer than it is football in respect to scoring. By this I mean the entire puck has to cross the goal line instead of like football where only part of the ball has to cross the line. Once the entire puck is in the goal, a point is awarded.

What the heck is "icing?"

Icing is when a player shoots the puck across both the center red line and the opposing team's goal line without the puck going into the net or being able to be touched by an opposing player in their neutral or defensive zones. If an offensive player touches the puck first after it crosses both the red line and the goal line, icing is negated. Icing can also be negated by the goalie touching the puck back behind the goal line. When icing occurs, a linesman stops play. Play is resumed with a face off in the defending zone of the team that "iced the puck." Another time when icing is nullified is when a team is on a "power play" (which will be explained next,) the defending team can send the puck down the ice to stop the man advantage.

Power Play

A power play occurs when one team has more players on the ice than the other team as a result of penalties assessed to the shorthanded team. A power play can end one of two ways. Either the clock (usually 2 minutes) expires, or the team with more players scores a goal.

Offsides

If a player enters the attacking zone ahead of the puck but does not touch it, the play is offside but no whistle is blown immediately, thus creating a delayed offside. When all players from the offside team leave their offensive zone and go into the neutral zone the linesman cancels the offside infraction. Conversely, if the offending team touches the puck before leaving their offensive zone the whistle is blown for the offside infraction.

Hat Trick
When one player scores three goals in one game.

Why do people throw octopus onto the ice?

According to answers.com, it started during the 1952 Stanley Cup Playoffs. At that time there were only 6 teams, and to win the Stanley Cup required 8 playoff victories (two best of seven series). The owner of a local fish shop in Detroit threw an octopus onto the ice claiming that the 8 tentacles represented the 8 games that the Red Wings would win to get the Stanley Cup. The Wings won the Cup, and the tradition of using an Octopus to rally the Red Wings was born.

These are some real basic rules but I find some of the most confusing. I hope you tune in to a few games and enjoy one of the most fast paced sports in existence. It's fast, fun and great entertainment.