Short-handed

Lore & Background

Players assigned to power play or penalty killing duties are often known as 'special teams'. The team on the power play often only has one defenseman at the rear rather than the typical two, so that it can add another attacker. This strategy can be exploited by the short-handed team, if they manage to get the puck into the neutral zone, leaving most of the opposing players behind, and the penalty killers may enjoy odd man rushes and breakaways against the single defenseman of the advantaged team. In most competitions, the short-handed team is free to ice the puck without the play being stopped, and thus can change lines at roughly the same intervals as during five-on-five play. Some governing bodies have enforced icing for teams on the penalty kill, including the World Hockey Association during the 1970s, the United States Hockey League (USHL) during its 2014 Fall Classic exhibition series, and USA Hockey for all sanctioned youth competitions (players 14 and under, in all age groups) since 2017–18.

A team can have two or more players in the penalty box, but cannot ever have fewer than three skaters on the ice at any given time. If the other team is at full strength and the penalized team has two players in the penalty box, plus a goalie in net, the situation is called a five on three. This situation gives the team on the power play an even greater chance of scoring. If the advantaged team on the 5-on-3 scores, the player who took the earlier of the two penalties may return to the ice, and play resumes as a power play with only one player in the penalty box. However, if the first penalty taken was a double-minor penalty, the penalty that expires is the first penalty of the double-minor, and the clock then begins to run down on the second penalty, with the 5-on-3 continuing.

A call for too many men on the ice in a 5-on-3 situation in the last two minutes of regulation or in overtime results in a penalty shot. This current rule resulted from coach Roger Neilson's exploitation of rule loopholes during an OHL game when his team was up one goal, but was down two men in a five-on-three situation for the last minute of the game. Realizing that more penalties could not be served under the existing rules, Neilson put too many men on the ice every ten seconds. The referees stopped the play and a face-off was held, relieving pressure on the defense. In regular-season overtime in the NHL, which is normally played 3-on-3, a 5-on-3 situation is possible if two players on one team are serving penalties at the same time.

Reader's Guide

The concept of being short-handed is central to ice hockey's penalty system, creating strategic imbalances that define special teams play. The penalty kill and power play are critical phases where games can be won or lost, and the rules governing short-handed play have evolved to balance fairness and excitement. The 5-on-3 situation represents an extreme disadvantage, often leading to aggressive defensive formations like the 'iron cross'—a diamond shape with one forward, two defensemen and the goaltender—where the short-handed team focuses solely on clearing the puck without attempting offense. The rule change regarding too many men on the ice in a 5-on-3 situation during the final two minutes or overtime, resulting in a penalty shot, directly stems from coach Roger Neilson's exploitation of a loophole, demonstrating how tactical ingenuity can shape league regulations. Short-handed goals are notable for their rarity and impact; a goal scored while down a player can shift momentum dramatically. The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) introduced the term 'jailbreak goal' for a short-handed goal during a minor penalty, as a minor penalty ends if either team scores. Historical milestones, such as the Boston Bruins scoring three short-handed goals on a single penalty kill in 1:04, highlight the dramatic potential of these situations. The Winnipeg Jets' four short-handed goals in one game in 1995 remain a record since the Original Six era.

Did You Know?

• A short-handed goal during a minor penalty in the PWHL is called a 'jailbreak goal'.
• Mike Richards holds the record for most career 3-on-5 goals with three.
• The Boston Bruins scored three short-handed goals on a single penalty kill in 1:04 on April 10, 2010.