(a) The puck shall be dropped at the center ice face-off spot at the start of each period, after a goal is scored and in situations where a premature substitution of the goalkeeper has occurred when play has been stopped on the attacking side of the center red line.
(b) All face-offs will be conducted at one of the nine face-off spots.
A last play face-off will take place in any instance where a stoppage of play occurs as a result of the actions of both teams or if play is stopped for any reason other than what is specified in the rules.
A last play face-off is defined as the nearest face-off spot in the zone where the puck was last played.
Any time a penalty is assessed that appears on the game clock and causes a team to be short-handed, the ensuing face-off shall take place at a defending zone face-off spot of the offending team unless:
(1) A penalty is assessed after a goal is scored; the face-off will take place at the center ice face-off spot.
(2) A penalty is assessed at the start of a period or at the end of the previous period; the face-off will take place at the center ice face-off spot.
(3) The defending team is penalized and the attacking players enter into the attacking zone beyond the outer edge of the end zone face-off circle; the face-off shall take place at one of the neutral zone face-off spots nearest the attacking blue line (see Rule 612(d).
(4) Play is stopped as a result of a violation by the non-offending team such as icing the puck, premature substitution of the goalkeeper, offside, high sticking the puck or hand pass or any other violation of the rules. In these instances, the ensuing face-off shall take place at the appropriate neutral zone face-off location as covered by the rules.
When a stoppage of play occurs between the end zone face-off spots and the nearest end boards calling for a last play face-off, the face-off will take place at the nearest end zone face-off spot.
(c) When a stoppage of play occurs as the result of any action by the attacking team in the attacking zone, the ensuing face-off will take place at the nearest neutral zone face-off spot, unless the stoppage was a result of a shot going directly out of play off of the goal post or crossbar, boards or glass.
(d) When a stoppage of play takes place in an end zone followed by a gathering of players, a face-off at the nearest neutral zone face-off spot shall occur if any attacking player enters the end zone further than the outer edge of the face-off circles nearest the blue line.
(e) When a goal is disallowed as a result of the actions of the attacking team, the ensuing face-off will take place at the nearest neutral zone face-off spot, unless otherwise specified in these rules.
(f) If the puck shall illegally enter the goal as a result of deflecting directly off an official anywhere on the ice, the resulting face-off shall take place at the nearest end zone face-off spot of the goal the puck entered.
(g) A team causing a stoppage of play shall not gain a territorial advantage with the ensuing face-off. In this instance, the ensuing face-off shall be at the nearest face-off spot closer to their own goal.
