What do Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Misconduct penalties cover?

Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Section 15). Two minutes, fully served. It is called if a player or team staff member:

• makes remarks or gestures that show dissension with on-ice officials, opposing players or spectators.
• keeps harassing an on-ice official after a warning.
• throws a stick into the penalty bench, players' bench or stands.
• as a player, refuses to leave the on-ice officials' crease when told to.
• intentionally leaves the penalty bench or players' bench during an altercation without becoming involved in it.
• does anything an on-ice official considers unsportsmanlike.

A captain may talk to on-ice officials, but may not argue with them. Asking for an interpretation and then saying thank you is not an infraction.

Misconduct (Section 16). Game ejection, and a teammate serves an Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty. It is called if a player or team staff member:

• uses obscene, profane or abusive language or gestures toward any person.
• persists in disputing, or shows disrespect for, an on-ice official's ruling.
• a team staff member steps onto the ice during the game, except for a player injury. A staff member who steps on for an injury must go directly to that player and not discuss the play with the officials.

Quiet, undirected swearing (for example muttering after a missed shot) would not likely draw a Misconduct penalty.