I think the missing part of everyone's interpretation of the kicking motion issue is that the NHL looks at the rule as a whole:
Quote:
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A goal cannot be scored by an attacking player who uses a distinct kicking motion to propel the puck into the net
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The bolded above is the definitive point of the rule. A player can kick their foot at the puck and deflect the puck into the net. However if the kick actual propels the puck, then it is not a goal.
Here is exactly what the NHL looks at when reviewing these plays:
Quote:
1. Was there a distinct kicking motion?
2. Did the distinct kicking motion propel the puck into the net?
3. What direction was the skate/ player facing?
4. Did the puck have enough inertia/ force to go into the net on its own and the skate just changed the direction of the puck?
5. Did the skate just change the direction of the puck?
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As others have said it is a safety rule, so a gray area indeed....