Fighting is against the rules in the NHL, but it is punished with a five-minute major penalty rather than an automatic ejection, so it has never been fully removed from the game. Supporters argue fights let players police dirty play themselves. Extra penalties for instigators and other rules limit fights, and they are much rarer than they used to be.
To new fans, a hockey fight is the strangest thing in sports: two players drop their gloves, the officials step back, and the crowd stands up. Then both players get five minutes in the penalty box and the game goes on. Here is why the NHL handles fights the way it does, and the rules that apply.
Why do they allow fighting in hockey?
Strictly speaking, they do not. Fighting is a penalty in the NHL rulebook. What makes hockey different is the size of the penalty. In most leagues and sports, throwing a punch gets you ejected. In the NHL, a fight usually costs each player a five-minute major and nothing more, unless the officials see aggravating circumstances.
The reasons the NHL has kept it that way are mostly about tradition and the idea of self-policing:
- Deterrence. The traditional argument is that players are less likely to take cheap shots at stars if they know they will have to answer to someone. For decades, teams carried "enforcers" whose job was to protect skilled teammates.
- Emotion and momentum. Players and coaches often say a fight can change the mood on a bench after a big hit or a bad stretch of play.
- Tradition. Fighting has been part of professional hockey since its early days, and many players, coaches and fans see it as part of the sport's culture.
The other side of the debate is serious. Critics point to the risk of concussions and long-term brain injury, and to the fact that almost every other level of hockey bans fighting outright. The debate has gone on for decades and has not been settled.
What are the NHL rules for fighting?
The key rules:
- Fighting major: Each player in a fight gets a five-minute major penalty. Because both players are usually penalized, the teams stay at even strength and nobody goes on a power play from the fight itself.
- Instigator: A player who starts a fight gets an extra two-minute minor and a 10-minute misconduct. That puts his team shorthanded, which is the main reason players are careful about starting fights.
- Late in the game: Instigating a fight in the final five minutes of regulation or in overtime brings a game misconduct, and further discipline can follow.
- Aggressor: A player who keeps throwing punches at an opponent who is defenseless or no longer fighting can be given an aggressor penalty, with a game misconduct.
- Third man in: A player who joins a fight that is already going on gets a game misconduct.
- Helmets: A player who takes off his own helmet before a fight receives an extra minor penalty.
- Leaving the bench: A player who leaves the bench to join a fight faces an automatic suspension.
Linesmen step in once the fight reaches a point where one player is down or the players are tangled up, and they separate the players.
What is a fight strap on a hockey jersey?
A fight strap, or tie-down, is a strap sewn inside the back of a player's jersey that fastens to his pants. It keeps the jersey from being pulled over his head during a fight. Players used to slip out of their jerseys to get an advantage, or have them pulled over their heads, leaving them defenseless. The NHL now requires jerseys to be tied down, and a player who loses his jersey in a fight because it was not properly fastened can be penalized. The rule is sometimes called the "Rob Ray rule," after the Buffalo Sabres enforcer whose jersey often came off in fights.
How common are NHL fights today?
Far less common than in the past. Fighting peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, when some teams were built around intimidation. Since then the numbers have dropped steadily, especially after the 2005-06 rule changes that opened up the game and rewarded speed and skill. The pure enforcer, a player who rarely played except to fight, has largely disappeared from NHL rosters.
Fights still happen, often after a big hit on a star, in heated rivalry games or at the end of a lopsided game, and they are still more common in the regular season than in the playoffs, when nobody wants to take a penalty that could cost a series.
Is fighting allowed in other leagues?
Mostly not. Fighting brings ejections or suspensions in international hockey, including the Olympics, in US college hockey and in most youth and amateur leagues. The NHL and some other North American pro leagues are the main places where a fight leads to a penalty rather than an automatic ejection.
What is a Gordie Howe hat trick?
A goal, an assist and a fight in the same game. It is an unofficial stat, named after the Detroit Red Wings legend who combined skill with toughness. See what is a hat trick.
Frequently asked questions
- Why do they allow fighting in hockey?
- Fighting is against the rules, but the NHL punishes it with a five-minute major penalty instead of an automatic ejection. The league has kept that approach largely for tradition and the belief that players policing each other discourages dirty play.
- What is a fight strap on a hockey jersey?
- A fight strap, or tie-down, is a strap inside the jersey that attaches to the player's pants so the jersey cannot be pulled over his head in a fight. The NHL requires jerseys to be tied down.
- What is the penalty for fighting in the NHL?
- Each player in a fight gets a five-minute major penalty. A player who starts the fight also gets an instigator minor and a 10-minute misconduct, and other circumstances can bring a game misconduct.
- Do NHL players get ejected for fighting?
- Not usually. A standard fight brings a five-minute major. Ejection follows only in specific situations, such as being the third man into a fight, being the aggressor, or instigating a fight late in the game.
- Is fighting allowed in college hockey or the Olympics?
- No. Fighting leads to ejection or suspension in US college hockey and in international hockey, including the Olympics.
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