A ‘referee’ will be designated to resolve any disputes not covered under these rules.

Game Settings:

• 5 Minute Periods
• No Offsides, Penalties On
• No Line Changes
• Manual Goalie Control

Team Selection:

A coin flip will take place between the 2 players. The winner of the coin flip will choose the matchup (All-Star teams and same team matchups are excluded). The loser of the coin flip will choose to play as 1 of the 2 teams chosen and play as the Away Team. The winner will play as the other team and will be Home.

Example: Player 1 wins toss, and chooses matchup. Player 2 chooses a team from the matchup, and plays as the Away Team. Player 1 plays as the other team and is Home.

During the bracket round, matchups will be a best of 3 series. The higher seed will play Home and choose matchups for Game 1 and 3 (if necessary). The lower seed will be Home for Game 2 (and choose the Game 2 matchup), but will be Away (and choose their team from the matchup) for Games 1 and 3.

Example: Player 1 is the higher seed, is Home Team for Game 1 and 3, and chooses the matchups for Game 1 and 3. Player 2 chooses a team from the matchups for Game 1 and 3, and is Home and chooses the matchup for Game 2.

In-Game Rules:

• Changing Goalies:

  Goalies can be changed before the opening face-off and during play stoppages. You cannot change goalies during a face-off, or when a penalty shot is called.

• Editing Lines:

  Line-up changes will be allowed at the beginning of the game, when there is an injury to a player, during intermissions, and when a time out is called (by either team). If you would like to make a change at intermission, please notify your opponent that you wish to do, so they can allow you the time before the start of the next period.

  At the beginning of the game, both players can change their lines and the Home team gets the last change. If someone starts the game before the other player has changed their lines, the game can be restarted if the puck has not been dropped yet; just declare that you would like to restart before the puck drops. Please be fast when picking your starting line-up. One minute should be more than enough time.

  During period intermissions, we prefer you change your lines before the intermission, but you are allowed to change them during the intermissions. However, if your opponent starts the next period before you got the chance to change your lines, the game will continue, and you cannot change your line before the puck drops.

  If you try to change your lines at an unapproved time, you must revert your changes before play can resume.

  Line changes during the game should not take more than 10 seconds. Please be respectful and keep it short.

  Due to a bug in the game, the exact attribute values reported in the Edit Lines and Team Roster screens are not accurate, they are only in the range of possible values for that player (other than weight, which is the correct value). So please do not spend lots of time looking for who is playing better that game based on those values; consider them only ballpark numbers.

• Substituting for an Extra Attacker:

  This is the only time pausing is allowed during game play. The goalie can be pulled at any time when the puck is in the neutral zone or in your offensive zone. You must have control of the puck if you are pulling him when in your defensive zone. You can only put the goalie back in immediately after a whistle (before a faceoff).

• System Malfunction:

  If there is a system malfunction, the game will restart with the score of the game and the players will play the number of periods that were remaining (a partial period would count as a full period).

• Tie Game:

  If a game is still tied after overtime is completed, then the game will be reset, and play will continue until someone scores. (player injuries, penalties won’t carry over from the previous game).

• Mercy Rule:

  If a player is leading by 8 goals, the game will be called in favor of that player.

FAQs

What is the Code of Conduct?

We ask that you respect all participants at ALL times.

Why are you using the game settings: 5 min periods, no offsides, penalties on, no line changes, manual goalie on?

These are the standard rules used in most online NHL'94 leagues. These rules create fast-paced, quick games. Some justification for these rules:

• 5 Minute Periods: This results in games of about 11 minutes in real time. In most cases, a longer game would not change the result.
• No Offsides: The AI has a tendency to go offside or stay offside, causing unnecessary whistles, slowing the game down.
• No Line Changes: Players remain at full energy all game, for fast- paced action. Setting up all lines would be time-consuming.
• Penalties: While it's unfortunately quite random who gets penalties, enabling penalties helps to prevent some 'cheese' moves such as excessive holding/hooking.
• Manual Goalie Control: Taking manual control of the goalie to make a save is optional with manual goalie enabled, so if you don't want to use manual goalie, simply don't take control of the goalie, and he will behave exactly the same as an automatic goalie. So there is no reason to not enable the manual goalie setting.

Can I use the time-out?

Yes, but not during play, only during stoppages. There’s only one time out in the game. Please keep your break to no more than 10 seconds. It's unknown if time outs actually do anything with line changes disabled. Both teams can use this time to change lines, if necessary.

What is the Sega Genesis Weight bug and CB check?

Click on the link for an explanation. The CB check is allowed during game play. CB Check Explanation

What is a pass shot?

Pass shots are when you use your pass button to direct the puck into the net. They are allowed in the tournament. Here’s a video providing some examples on the genesis version. Pass Shot Video

Is it okay to view who is hot and cold?

It’s not necessary and we request that you skip it to save time. You can view the player’s ratings when editing lines.

What happens when a glitch occurs?

For those that have played this game for a long time, at some point you’ve seen a glitch that occurred, and probably thought it was kind of funny (maybe not so much if you were scored on), but continued playing. We will to take that same approach. If it’s in the game, it’s in the game.

Some rare, but known glitches:

• Shooting the puck at the net after the whistle when a penalty shot has been called can result in a goal
• If you get 'stuck' as the goalie,
  • Your opponent is allowed to attempt to score on you (but can not delay the game in the eyes of the referee).
  • Not enforced: It is considered good sportsmanship to dump the puck if your opponent is stuck as the goalie, so that he can get un-stuck, then the opponent should dump the puck back to you and let you leave your zone to continue your possession/attack.
  • To minimize your chance of getting stuck as the goalie, do not skate far from your net when you control the goalie and have the puck -- if you pass it and the pass is intercepted, you may get stuck as the goalie but without control.
• Miracle goals such as the puck landing on top of the net and then falling through the net and in are counted.

Contact: kingraph@nhl94.com