Yeah, Pettersson Knew the Helmet Rule, ‘Heat of the Moment’

Several facts are simultaneously true. Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson had a very good, borderline great series against the New York Rangers. The defenseman pushed the offense, protected his net, and looked like the defenseman the Penguins hoped they signed two years ago.

And Marcus Pettersson was put in a position to make an instantaneous decision, the results of which ultimately led to the New York Rangers’ late third period tying goal in Game 7.

“It stinks,” head coach Mike Sullivan said of the rule after Game 7.

The NHL rulebook forces a player without a helmet to leave the ice. The caveat is the player can finish the play or replace his helmet to remain on the ice. NHL rule section 9.6:

“A player on the ice whose helmet comes off during play shall be assessed a minor penalty if he does not exit the playing surface, or retrieve and replace his helmet properly on his head (with or without his chin strap fastened), within a reasonable period of time. It is reasonable if a player who is making a play on the puck or who is in the vicinity of the puck and engaged in the play at the time his helmet comes off, takes the opportunity to complete the play before either exiting the ice or retrieving and replacing his helmet.”

If the player doesn’t comply, it’s a minor penalty. Pettersson had his helmet pulled off by New York forward Alexis Lafreniere, but it was behind the play. Pettersson had to decide, nay, more like a react. Without thought, he had to find his lid or head for the bench.

“(Lafreniere) was falling, but in the heat of the moment–yeah–the rule is I probably could have put it on again,” Pettersson said. “But in the heat of the moment, I think I tried to get to the bench and get a change in. It was an unfortunate play.”

Ironic that the league cares more about the helmet than hits to squishy matter inside.

Pettersson had a solid Round One series. Paired with John Marino, Pettersson was on the ice for more goals-for, significantly more shot attempts-for, and posted an xGF above 60%.

Visually, Pettersson was strong on the blue line. He was able to join the play and create a bit of offense. In the regular season against the Rangers, Pettersson was occasionally swallowed by the Rangers forecheck. That really didn’t happen in the playoffs.

“I think the first half of the season was a lot better for me. I think I took a step back in the last month,” Pettersson admitted on break-up day. “But I think in the playoffs, I felt like I got my game back where I wanted to be. And so I think I want to take another step…the first half of the season was really good for me, and I want to build on that.”

Pettersson may have resurrected his standing with the Penguins. With a salary just above $4 million for three more seasons, but the GM who signed him is no longer in charge, Pettersson’s name was heavily used in trade speculation and salary-cap reduction moves last summer.

After a solid playoff series, he likely improved his stock with the Pittsburgh Penguins and around the NHL.