If only you could hit the goalie...

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

Question 1: Should goalies that leave the crease be fair game?

Darren Dreger: Yes, stay in the net! In Wednesday's Canadiens-Blues game, Carey Price was disturbed by the play in front of him so he tried to do it himself and Blues' Cam Janssen had no other option but to run into Price.

Keith Jones: It's an absolute yes for me; it's one of the most exciting plays in the game of hockey. If the goaltender leaves the crease, he should be able to be run over.

Mike Kenenan: The answer is no. I love my goaltenders, I have to protect my goalie and they're not fair game.

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=307005 <-----rest of article

my take on the subject is the NHL should get rid of the trapezoid and make the goalie fair game, and have always thought this. if the goalie leaves the net, he's just another defenseman and should be eligible for a good drilling.

just wondering what you guys think about this..?

[PROBIE4PREZ 58]

Out of their crease ? Then hell yah run em over!!! just like in football when the ball is turned over Qb's and kickers become fair game .. if the goalie is out of his crease .. boom fair game

[stevkrause 1,247]

exactly - goalie is fair game, but you run him, be prepared to pay up... let the players police goalie protection...

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

While I see the argument for being able to hit the goalie while he is out wandering, all of the goalie equipment makes it pretty hard to be able to take and give hits. If the goalie puts himself in a situation where he will be hit then he will be hit. Leave it to the goalie to decide but I know I would love to see a goalie throw a check. This is a very hot topic. Also, if you allow the goalie to be hit, you will still see big brawls afterwards regardless of the rules. It is ingrained in the culture of the NHL to retaliate after your goalie has been hit.

[puckhog419 0]

wow, just saw the replay of that game. that was a BIG hit. I still believe that if a goalie leaves the crease they are fair game. I was always a forward when i played hockey, would be interesting to here from someone who has played goalie before

[edit] spelling

Edited January 21, 2010 by puckhog419

[Guest Lidstromboli]

[NGKEIB 32]

The funniest goalie-player incidents I can recall were in a Sweden-Finland game. Salo went behind the net, tried to check Jokinen, fell over, and Jokinen got an interference penalty.

Later in the same game, Jokinen was pushed into Salo's crease, so Salo started hitting him in the head. Jokinen got another two minutes...

[RedSea 31]

I'm all for goalies being fair game, but in some situations I don't like it. If the goalies behind the crease making a pass, I don't think he should be fair game because he is the goaltender, not a skater. In this instance the net would be left unguarded if he was taken out with a hit. I just see a lot of sloppy goals coming off of plays like this. And to tell the goalie to stay in the net would just slow the game down.

How about he's untouchable behind the goal line? But if he comes out Carey Price style, mess him up!

[j.hoop 64]

Out of their crease ? Then hell yah run em over!!! just like in football when the ball is turned over Qb's and kickers become fair game .. if the goalie is out of his crease .. boom fair game

reminds of this cup of awesome from last weekend

[heikks86 21]

if the goalie is out of his crease and in front of the net he should be fair game, but if he is behind the net playing a puck he shouldnt be able to be hit

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

if the goalie is out of his crease and in front of the net he should be fair game, but if he is behind the net playing a puck he shouldnt be able to be hit

I think that is a fair assessment on how to handle the situation. It should be a risky play for the goalie to come way out of his net but not for him to go behind his net. The goalie has to have a buffer zone outside of the crease, but the goalie should not enjoy free roam without risks.

[Guest ZetterbergFourty]

Yeah it's cool to run a goalie that leaves his crease. Does this include nailing him behind the net too? Noone has a problem with this untill it happens to Ozzy or Jimmy, then they'll be a massive uproar.

[Shady Ultima 40]

How about the goalie can go into the trapezoid safely... but anywhere ELSE he's fair game? Then the trapezoid can stay there and have a reason that wasn't made by people who's IQ is less then their age.