The NHL's board of governors approved several minor rule changes Thursday, the most notable one pertaining to the curvature of players' sticks.

Under the new rules, the maximum curve of a player's stick was increased to three-quarters of an inch from half an inch.

The increase in the size of the curve of sticks is expected to give players more zip in their shots.

Players who are caught with a stick that exceeds the maximum curve during regulation time or overtime, but not shootouts, will incur a minor penalty and a $200 US fine for the first offence.

A second offence will result in a minor penalty, plus a fine of $1,000. A third offence would draw a game misconduct penalty and an automatic one-game suspension. The suspension would double in length for any subsequent violation.

During shootouts, a team can request the measurement of an opposing shooter's stick prior to his attempt on net. If he has a legal stick, the complaining team would forfeit its next shootout attempt and incur a fine of $5,000.

Home team gets shootout choice

If the stick is illegal, the offending player would become ineligible to participate in the shootout and the team would forfeit that shootout attempt. The team would also be fined $5,000 and the player would be fined $1,000.

The board of governors also approved a rule change that will give the home team the choice of shooting first or second in a shootout.

Another new measure deals with players who dive or embellish an offence in order to draw a penalty.

Under the new rules, a player who dives will be sent a written warning from the league. A second infraction draws a $1,000 fine, while a third offence would result in a possible one-game suspension.

The length of the suspension would double for any subsequent violation.