Why is icing not called against a shorthanded ice hockey team?

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In ice hockey, icing occurs when a team shoots the puck from its own half of the ice past the opposing team's goal line. While this infraction typically results in a stoppage of play and a face-off in the offending team's defensive zone, the rule is not enforced when a team is shorthanded.

This exception exists because a team playing with fewer players due to a penalty is already at a significant disadvantage. Allowing them to ice the puck provides a necessary tactical release, enabling the shorthanded team to relieve pressure and clear the zone without the penalty of a whistle and a defensive-zone face-off.1