ANSWERS: 2
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Upon looking at the *actual* rule book, I realise I was mistaken. According to the book, "Players of the attacking Team must not precede the puck into the attacking zone. For violation of this Rule, the play is stopped and the puck shall be faced-off in the neutral zone at the face-off spot nearest the attacking zone of the offending Team. (NOTE) A player actually controlling the puck who shall cross the line ahead of the puck shall not be considered "off-side"." So I'm guessing that note also covers skating in backwards.
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Actually you are NOT offside if you are in control of the puck while skating backwards accross the opposition blue line. Read the note under Rule 77 b. http://www.nhl.com/hockeyu/rulebook/rule77.html This is true for all levels of hockey and not just the NHL.
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