Rule 628. Puck Out of Bounds or Unplayable

1. When the puck goes outside the playing area or strikes any obstacles above the playing surface other than the boards, glass or wire, or deflects off an Official out of the playing area, it shall be faced-off from where it was shot or deflected by a player, unless otherwise expressly provided in these rules.

   If the puck leaves the playing area or becomes unplayable due to a defect in the playing rink, a face-off will take place at the point where the puck was last played.

2. When the puck becomes lodged in the netting on the outside of either goal so as to make it unplayable, or if it is frozen between opposing players intentionally or otherwise, the Referee shall stop the play and face-off the puck at either of the adjacent end zone face-off spots unless in the opinion of the Referee the stoppage was caused by a player of the attacking team, in which case the resulting face-off shall be conducted in the Neutral Zone.

   (Note) This includes a stoppage of play caused by a player of the attacking team shooting the puck onto the back of the defending team's goal without any intervening action by the defending team.

   The defending team and/or the attacking team may play the puck off the net at any time. However, should the puck remain on the net for longer than three seconds, play shall be stopped and the face-off shall take place on an end zone face-off spot except when the stoppage is caused by the attacking team, in which case the face-off shall take place on a face-off spot in the Neutral Zone. However, if the puck comes to rest on top of the goal frame or in the netting on top of the goal frame, play shall be stopped immediately.

3. A minor penalty shall be imposed on a goalkeeper who deliberately drops the puck on the goal netting to cause a stoppage of play.

4. If the puck comes to rest on top of the boards surrounding the playing area, it shall be considered to be in play and may be played legally by the hand or stick.