Hockey offside is about sequence, not just position. Officials are judging whether the puck entered the attacking zone before all attacking players cleared or whether the entry stayed legal because the players tagged up in time.
If the puck exits the attacking zone and an attacker is still inside, that team usually has to clear before playing the puck back in. Fans often think the first dump-out resets everything instantly, but delayed offside logic means the players still have cleanup work to do.
Not automatically. In many codes the question is whether the skate was still above or breaking the plane of the blue line, not whether it was physically touching the ice. That is why replay often zooms in on skate position relative to the line rather than looking for blade contact with the surface.
The decision path on this page uses the National Hockey League Official Rules 2025-2026. That version matters when a skate is above the blue line, the puck is carried backward into the zone, or a delayed offside is being cleared. IIHF, NCAA, and USA Hockey competitions publish their own current books, so do not transfer the NHL wording or its video-review procedure without checking the competition named on the scoresheet.
For a close entry, freeze the first instant the puck completely crosses the leading edge of the blue line. Mark every attacking skate relative to the line, then decide whether the entry was controlled or delayed-offside play continued. If the puck later leaves the zone, start a new timeline. This prevents a later touch, deflection, or scoring chance from obscuring the original entry decision.