Question

During a penalty shot attempt and before the player takes the shot, the goalkeeper attempts to poke-check the puck. The puck rolls over the goalkeeper's stick, strikes the leg of the player taking the shot, who is now behind the goalkeeper and between the goalkeeper and the post. The puck deflects off the player and enters the goal. Is this a legal goal?

Answer 1

In ice hockey, a goal from a deflection off a player taking a penalty shot, who is behind the goalie, would typically be ruled illegal as the puck must be in forward motion and only touched by the shooter.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a penalty shot in ice hockey, if the goalkeeper attempts to poke-check the puck and it inadvertently deflects off another player, such as the player taking the penalty shot, and enters the goal, the rules of ice hockey typically would disallow the goal. This is because during a penalty shot, the puck must be kept in forward motion towards the goal line and it can only be touched by the shooter. In the scenario described, the puck deflects off the player taking the shot, who is behind the goalkeeper and cannot legally play the puck from that position. Therefore, under normal ice hockey rules, this would not be considered a legal goal.