I think it was during the Rangers/Lightning game where three players were called for cross-checking at the same time, two Rangers, one Lightning. So, the Lightning had a power play.
During this time, the Rangers had two in the penalty box and the Lightning had one. However, one each canceled out, so they played five on four, rather than four on three. I have two questions:
Had the Lightning not scored and the penalties expired, how would the teams get their players off the ice? As soon as they two Rangers and one Lightning stepped on the ice, there would be too many men. Would one Ranger come out, and then the other two would wait until there was a stoppage? Can you hang around in the penalty box after your penalty has expired?
In fact, the Lightning scored, so the penalties were all canceled. Why were they all canceled? Shouldn’t the score just cancel one Ranger penalty, then they would continue four on four? Even if it was five on five, would the remaining penalized players been able to play? Or, would they have to wait on the bench until their penalty time would have ended?
OK, that’s more than two questions, more like two scenarios with multiple questions each. I found the whole thing to be confusing, though.
Only one Ranger would return to the ice (and the Lightning wouldn’t either). The two players in left in the penalty box wouldn’t be able to return to the bench (or play in the game) until the after next stoppage in play.
Are you sure that’s what happened. The game should have gone back to 5-on-5 after the power play goal, but the two players with coincidental minors should have remained in the penalty box for the duration of their penalties, and then have had to wait for the next stoppage.
I’m not sure that’s what happened in the second case. I was surprised that they were back to five on five, rather than four on four, so I assumed that they penalty box was empty.
If they were, in fact, still in the box, then how do they decide which Ranger got released? Is it up to the players, the ref, the coach?
Also, when do they go to four on four? I thought they only stayed at five on five when it was offsetting major penalties. With offsetting minors, I thought they went to four on four.
There’s a huge matrix on the strength with coincidental penalties in the rule book (like 25+ different scenarios, interestingly 3 2 minute minors isn’t addressed). As far as who comes out, the captain chooses whose minor is ‘first’ and thus gets out on a goal.
Generally, coincidental minors go to 4 on 4 if there if neither team is shorthanded. If one is shorthanded, it goes to 5-4. However, once the penalties are assessed, strength doesn’t change (thus, after the score, one player comes out and it goes to 5 on 5, rather than 4 on 4.)
One fun scenario is that if you have three penalties, and two are minors by each team, and one is a double minor, the captain can choose whether to be shorthanded by one player for 4 minutes or two players for 2 minutes. (I don’t know any team that would choose the latter).