Debating Rule 48

Following a controversial hit that took Boston Bruin forward Nathan Horton out of the playoffs with a concussion, the NHL is yet again debating head shots.

On Wednesday a group of NHL general managers and former players will consider the league’s rule regarding illegal checks to the head.

Rule 48 classifies an illegal check to the head as a, “lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted.”

Early in the first period of Game 3, Vancouver Canuck defenseman Aaron Rome hammered Horton, sending the Bruin winger to the hospital. Rome was ejected from the game, and later received a four-game suspension from the league – effectively ending his season.

On Tuesday, NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Mike Murphy said that Rome’s suspension ruling was based on the lateness of the hit and the injury it caused to Horton.

Hockey fans and commentators alike took to Twitter to debate whether Rome’s hit violated Rule 48.

“It was the lateness of the hit that got Rome suspension. It wasn’t a blindside hit, and not under rule 48. If that matters to anyone,” tweeted JasonGregor.

“Not rule 48? It’s text book rule 48. ’blind side hit to an opponent where the head is the principal point of contact is not permitted’,” tweeted drayna14.

Head hits have been a talking point around the NHL for a couple years and the league created Rule 48 prior to this season to penalize any "lateral or back pressure hit" where the principal point of contact is the head. Some would like to see the definition expanded to include any hit to the head.

A blue-ribbon panel of four former NHLers – comprised of Steve Yzerman, Rob Blake, Brendan Shanahan and Joe Nieuwendyk — has been tasked with examining head shots in the league. They are scheduled to talk about potential tweaks to the rule at the general managers’ meeting today.

With files from The Canadian Press

Rule 48 explained

48.1 Illegal Check to the Head – A lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact is not permitted.

48.2 Minor Penalty – There is no provision for a minor penalty for this rule.

48.3 Major Penalty – For a violation of this rule, a major penalty shall be assessed (see 48.4).

48.4 Game Misconduct – An automatic game misconduct penalty shall be assessed whenever a major penalty is assessed under this rule.

48.5 Match Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent with an illegal check to the head.

48.6 Fines and Suspensions – Any player who incurs a total of two game misconducts under this rule, in either regular League or playoff games, shall be suspended automatically for the next game his team plays. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.

If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion, which falls under Rule 28.