The rule that following through on a shot is not a penalty is to protect the basic elements of hockey. Plus, how many guys take a slap shot with the intent of high sticking someone in front of them?
That's why I don't like the lacrosse style goal because the intent is to put your stick over the goalie's shoulder and up by his ear because that is where the opening is. Any stick to head contact is not really accidental because the goalie is in his crease and he has a right to have his head there.
If you can do it with contacting the goalie's mask with your stick, it's a goal. Otherwise it should be two minutes for high sticking.
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Originally Posted by Zoller
As far as making contact with the goalies head. Is the risk for goalies really that high? Velocity of the stick is low when compared to a slap shot so concussion risk is negligible. Goalies also have a cage so a little tap to the mask won't hurt them.
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That's a very slippery slope and I don't think goalies (and the NHLPA) would agree that it's okay just because it doesn't "hurt". I believe if you high stick a player in the visor or on the helmet, it's still a penalty even if it's just a "tap"?