NHL gets tough on serial divers
Repeat offenders for diving - along with their coaches - will face increasingly steeper fines as part of a series of rule changes announced by the National Hockey League on Thursday.
Starting with players' fourth diving offenses, coaches will begin getting fined, too. Other rules changes announced by the league focus on overtime, shootouts, penalties, video review, faceoffs and the trapezoid behind the net.
In shootouts, coaches no longer have to submit a list of their first three shooters. Players are also no longer allowed to do a 'spin-o-rama' on penalty shots or in a shootout.
In an effort to cut down on shootouts, there will be a dry scrape of the ice before overtime, something that was previously done before shootouts.
Teams will also change ends in overtime to make line changes from the defensive zone more difficult.
The trapezoid behind the net in which goaltenders can touch the puck will be expanded by two feet to make it safer for defensemen.
Meanwhile, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin says the right knee he injured at the world championships in May is fine and he's been working out for the past month or so.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the three-time NHL MVP said: "My knee doesn't bother me. Everything feels fine and 100 percent."
Asked whether he would play left wing or right wing under new Capitals coach Barry Trotz, Ovechkin replied: "Ask him about it. He's the coach and he's going to make the decision."
The Capitals missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years last season.
(China Daily 09/13/2014 page9)
