Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson was penalized for a faceoff violation after he played the puck with his hand off the draw in Wednesday’s Game 5 against the Dallas Stars.
With the score tied 2-2, Stephenson lined up for a faceoff against Joe Pavelski in the defensive end with 1:18 remaining in the opening period. The two centers’ sticks were tied up, prompting Stephenson to use his left glove to push the puck back to defenseman Shea Theodore.
The officials immediately whistled the play dead for a faceoff violation under Rule 67.2:
A minor penalty shall be assessed for “delay of game – face-off violation” to a player taking the face-off who attempts to win the face-off by batting the puck with their hand.
The two players involved in the actual face-off (the centers) are not permitted to play the puck with their hand without incurring a penalty under this rule until such time as a third player (from either team) has at least touched the puck. Once the face-off is deemed complete (and a winner of the face-off is clear) hand passes shall be enforced as per Rule 79 – Hand Pass.
Obviously, nobody else touched the puck.
Stephenson headed off for the rare faceoff violation penalty.
Referees for the game were Garrett Rank (#7) and Jean Hebert (#15), with linespersons Steve Barton (#59) and Kyle Flemington (#55).
