The object of the game of ice hockey is to score more goals than the opposing team. Goaltenders and defencemen are concerned primarily with keeping the other team from scoring a goal, while forwards are primarily concerned with scoring goals on the other team. Let's delve into the terminology and rules surrounding scoring in ice hockey.
Diagram of an ice hockey rink, showing key areas.
The Goal
In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck entirely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to (see also own goal). The term goal may also refer to the structure in which goals are scored.
The ice hockey goal is rectangular in shape; the front frame of the goal is made of steel tube painted red and consists of two vertical goalposts and a horizontal crossbar. A net is attached to the back of the frame to catch pucks that enter the goal and also to prevent pucks from entering it from behind. The entire goal is considered an inbounds area of the playing surface, and it is legal to play the puck behind the goal.
For a goal to be scored, the puck normally must entirely cross the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar of the goal frame. Additionally, in many leagues, a goal does not count if a player from the attacking team has a skate or stick in the goal crease before the puck. The National Hockey League (NHL) abolished this rule starting in the 1999-2000 season after the disputed triple-overtime goal in the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals. Brett Hull of the Dallas Stars scored the series-clinching goal against the Buffalo Sabres.
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Assists and Points
Typically, the last player on the goal-scoring team to touch the puck before it goes into the net is credited with scoring that goal. Zero, one, or two other players on the goal-scoring team may also credited with an assist for helping their teammate to score the goal. If another player on the goal-scoring team touched the puck to help score the goal before the goal-scoring player touched it without an opposing player intervening (touching the puck in between), then that player gets an assist.
For a hockey player, a goal or an assist credited to them is also considered a point; thus the number of goals scored by that player plus the number of assists for them equals the number of points for that player. However, a rule says that only one point can be credited to any one player on a goal scored.[3] This means one player cannot be credited with a goal and an assist for the same goal scored; instead the player would only get credit for a goal and a different player may get credit for an assist, if applicable.
Usually on a hockey team, forwards score the most goals and get the most points, although defensemen can score goals and often get assists. The number of goals scored is a closely watched statistic. Each year the Rocket Richard Trophy is presented to the NHL player to have scored the most goals. The trophy is named after Maurice Richard, the first player to score 50 goals in a season, at a time when the NHL regular season was only 50 games (compared to 82 today). The player to have scored the most goals in an NHL season is Wayne Gretzky.
Goal Judge
The goal judge is an official positioned off-ice behind each goal for the specific purpose of indicating when the puck has crossed the goal line and entered the goal. For arenas so equipped, the goal judge turns on a red light behind the goal when they see the puck cross the goal line.
Own Goal
If a hockey player causes the puck to enter their own team's net - which in soccer is called an own goal - credit for the goal goes to the last player on the scoring team to have touched the puck. No assists are awarded.
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Hat Trick
When a player scores three goals in a game it is known as a hat-trick.
Any puck heading towards the net is counted as a shot. When the goaltender prevents the shot from entering the net, they are credited with a save. Shots resulting in saves by the goaltender or goals scored are considered shots on goal (or shots on net). A shot which is blocked by an opposing player before it reaches the goaltender is not considered a shot on net. Also, if the puck is deflected wide of the net by another player (regardless of team) it is not counted as a shot on net.
Goal Horns and Songs
The trend of sounding a horn when the home team scores a goal originated in the 1973 Stanley Cup Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and the Chicago Black Hawks. Black Hawks owner Bill Wirtz had the horn of his yacht installed in the team’s home arena, Chicago Stadium, and had it sound after Black Hawks goals. This practice become commonplace in professional hockey.[5] In 2022, all goal horns are paired with a song.
Common Hockey Terms
- Cherry Picking: When a player, generally a forward, hangs out by the red line while the play is in his/her team's defensive zone.
- Five-Hole: The hole between the goalie’s leg pads.
- Garbage Goal: A goal that takes little talent to score.
- Light the Lamp: To “light the lamp” is to score a goal.
- Odd-Man Rush: When one team races towards the opposing teams goalie with an extra player.
- Pipe: The pipe is the goal post.
- Pulling the Goalie: A team that is losing will sometimes take their own goalie off the ice and use another forward.
- “The Room”: A hockey team's dressing room.
- Saucer pass: An airborne pass from one player to another.
- Sin Bin: Place a player goes after he is called for a penalty.
- Sweater: Another word for a hockey jersey.
- Tic-Tac-Toe: Three tape-to-tape passes that lead to a goal.
Here's a table summarizing some of the key scoring terms in hockey:
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Goal | When the puck entirely crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar. |
| Assist | Credited to a player who helps set up a goal. |
| Hat Trick | When a player scores three goals in one game. |
| Power Play | When a team has more players on the ice due to a penalty against the opposing team. |
| Empty Net Goal | A goal scored against an opponent that has pulled the goalie. |
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Understanding these rules and terms is essential for any hockey fan or player. Enjoy the game!
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