From: www.nhl.com

TORONTO/NEW YORK - At the recent National Hockey League General Managers' Meeting, two procedural changes were recommended with respect to the measurement of sticks prior to the shootout and pucks shot out of play from the defensive zone. These changes will be in effect beginning with tonight's games.

1. Measurement of sticks in shootouts

* The Referee will quickly and efficiently measure the first shooter from each team during the scrape and that player will be on the ice beside his bench.
* Before the second player in the shootout is allowed to proceed to take his shot by the Linesman, the Referee will measure the third shooter's stick. This procedure of measuring the next shooter's stick shall continue to the conclusion of the shootout.
* If a shooter's stick is found to be illegal, that player will be disqualified from shooting and the Coach will promptly and efficiently designate a replacement shooter. This replacement may be a player from the three players submitted (if they have not shot) or any other skater on the team.
* If a team receives three disqualifications for illegal sticks, the third disqualification will result in that team forfeiting one shooting opportunity in that game.

2. Pucks out of play penalty

It was determined by the General Managers that, regarding Rule 51(a) (NOTE 1), delaying the game for shooting the puck out of play from the defensive zone: a puck shot out of play will now be judged by the route the puck leaves the playing surface, not the final destination. The four on-ice officials can converse to get the correct call on where the puck left the playing surface.

Referees will continue to use discretion under Rule 51(b) where a player anywhere on the ice deliberately bats the puck with his hand or stick outside the playing area.