During the 2014 Russian Olympics, the United States faced Canada in hockey. After a period of pressing on the US goal, the puck was cleared to the side. The linesman got in the way of a Canadian player, and the puck, bouncing off the boards, nearly went into the Canadian net.
Linesmen interfere with the play quite often, but are there any consequences if done so accidentally or purposefully?
The only rule in the NHL Rulebook that I could find addressing this situation is that a goal is disallowed if it goes in directly off of an official.
78.5 Disallowed Goals – Apparent goals shall be disallowed by the Referee and the appropriate announcement made by the Public Address Announcer for the following reasons:
(iii) When the puck has deflected directly into the net off an official.
Based on my understanding (but no explicit mention in the rulebook), otherwise the officials are "in play" and no particular exception exists for stopping play due to linesmen or referees obstructing play. Clearly they are instructed to avoid doing so whenever possible, but if they're unable to avoid the play, the play stands (unless a goal goes off of an official).
It goes without saying that this only applies to NHL games and other games which take place under NHL rules.
Under IIHF Rules, the following applies:
RULE 73 – PUCK STRIKING AN ON-ICE OFFICIAL
i. Game action will not be stopped because the puck touches an on-ice official during the regular course of play except when:
- The puck enters the goal net as a result of that contact;
- The puck goes out of play as a result of that contact;
- An on-ice official is injured.
ii. If the attacking team scores a goal because the puck deflects or bounces directly off an on-ice official, the goal will not be allowed and the ensuing faceoff will take place at the nearest faceoff spot to where the puck made contact with the on-ice official.
iii. If the puck hits an on-ice official and is subsequently put into the goal net in any legal manner, the goal will be allowed.
iv. If the puck leaves the playing area after hitting an on-ice official in the neutral zone, the ensuing faceoff will take place at the faceoff spot in the neutral zone nearest to where the puck made contact with the on-ice official.
v. If the puck leaves the playing area after hitting an on-ice official in either end zone, the ensuing faceoff will take place at the faceoff spot in the end zone nearest to where the puck made contact with the on-ice official.
Should the interference be intentional, the league will probably take action against the linesman.
