Goal (ice hockey) Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
A goal in ice hockey provides a team with one point. A goal is scored when a puck goes between the goalposts and under the crossbar of the net.The entire game of hockey is built around scoring and preventing goals, and they are the only count that determines victory and defeat. Goaltenderss and defencemen are concerned primarily with keeping the other team from scoring a goal, while forwardss a primarily concerned with scoring goals on the other team. Forwards of course have to be defensively responsible and defencemen also need to press offensively.
To count as a goal it must entirely crosses the red line between the goalposts. A goal does not count if it is sent into the goal from a stick raised above the height of the crossbar. A goal also does not count if it is kicked or thrown into the goal. A goal that is accidentally redirected off a player does count, however. If the goalie is impeded from preventing the goal by an attacking player the goal also does not count. Around the front of the goal net is the crease in theory a player is not allowed to score while in the crease, but in recent years that rule has not been regularly enforced in the NHL. Goals can also be disallowed if the scoring team had too many men on ice at the time of the goal, or if it was scored with a broken stick.
A goal judge helps officiate off ice behind each goal. For arenas so equipped, the goal judge turns on a red light behind the goal. The goal judge provides an opinion to the referee on the validity of the goal (i.e. whether the puck cross the line). The referee retains final authority and can override the opinion of the goal judge.
Unlike football (soccer), hockey does not have own goals. If a goal is scored by a player on the defending team, credit for the goal goes to the last player on the other team to have touched the puck.
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. Gretzky is also the fastest to 50 goals; during his record-setting 1981-82 season, in which he finished with 92 goals, he scored his 50th goal in the Edmonton Oilers' 39th game of the season.
The overall amount of goal scoring is also closely watched. In recent years with the development of the neutral zone trap and the growing size of goaltender equipment goal scoring has decreased, leading many to think the game is less entertaining.
There are a number of different types of goals for which separate statistics are kept, but all count equally.
- Even strength goal is a normal goal with no unusual conditions
- Power play goal is a goal scored by a team on a power play with an advantage in players (usually a one-man advantage, but sometimes two-man)
- Shorthanded goal is a goal scored by a team that is on the penalty kill
- Empty net goal is a goal scored at the end of the game when there is no goalie guarding the net
- Penalty shot goal is a goal scored on a penalty shot
- Overtime goal is a goal scored in sudden-death overtime
- Game winning goal is the last goal needed to win the hockey game
- Go-ahead goal is the goal that puts one team ahead of another after the game has been tied
A quinella occurs when a player scores an even-strength goal, a power-play goal, a short-handed goal, is successful on a penalty shot, and scores an empty netter. This has only been done once in NHL history, with Mario Lemieux having scored one against the New Jersey Devils.
Up to two players who helped the scorer may receive assist, assists and goals count equally to a player total points.
When a player scores three goals in a game it is known as a hat trick.
Any puck heading towards the net is known as a shot, the majority of shots are stopped by the goalie. This is an Article on Goal (ice hockey). Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Goal (ice hockey) Related terms