Goaltender
The player who prevents the puck from entering their team's net.
In ice hockey, the goaltender—also called the goalie or netminder—is the player tasked with keeping the puck out of their team’s net to stop the other side from scoring. They usually operate in or near the goal crease, the marked area in front of the net, and often position themselves at or just beyond the top of that zone to reduce the shooting angle. Modern goaltending features two main styles: butterfly and hybrid, the latter blending the traditional stand-up approach with butterfly techniques. Because shots are so powerful, goaltenders wear specialized protective gear. Their performance can heavily influence a game’s outcome, and one-on-one situations like breakaways or shootouts often highlight a goaltender’s skill—or lack of it. Only one goaltender per team is allowed on the ice at a time, though teams can choose to play without one and use an extra skater instead. That move is usually a desperate late-game gamble to score, or it may happen during a delayed penalty when the short-handed team risks touching the puck and stopping play.
The position goes by many names in the hockey world: goalie, goaler, goalkeeper, netminder, GK, tendy, and tender. Early on, the term was hyphenated as goal-tender. The craft itself is called goaltending, and specialized goalie coaches work exclusively with these players. Terms like goalie stick and goalie pads reflect the common use of “goalie” for equipment. While “goaltender” is the most frequent term, the official rulebooks of the NHL and IIHF use “goalkeeper.”
Goaltenders enjoy unique privileges and training. Their equipment differs from other players’ and follows strict regulations. They can block shots with any part of their body and may legally freeze the puck with their hands to stop play. If an opposing player hits the goaltender without trying to avoid contact, that player can be penalized. In leagues like the NHL, a goaltender can keep playing with a broken stick until the whistle blows, whereas other players must drop broken sticks immediately. Goaltenders typically stay in or near the crease for the entire game, unlike other positions that rotate on and off the ice. Attackers cannot make contact with the goaltender inside the crease, as that interferes with saves, but they may enter the crease to play a loose puck.
- Goals scored by nhl goaltenders
- 17 goaltenders have scored a goal in NHL games; combined, NHL goaltenders have scored 20 total goals
- Goaltenders with multiple goals
- Ron Hextall and Martin Brodeur are the only goaltenders in NHL history to be credited with multiple goals
- Goaltender with most goals
- Martin Brodeur is the only goaltender to be credited with three goals
- Goaltender with game winning goal
- Martin Brodeur is the only NHL goaltender to have been credited with a game-winning goal
Lore & Background
In the early days of the sport, the term was spelled with a hyphen as goal-tender. The art of playing the position is called goaltending, and there are coaches, usually called the goalie coach, who specialize exclusively in working with goaltenders. The variation goalie is typically used for items associated with the position, such as goalie stick and goalie pads. Although 'goaltender' is by far the more-commonly used term, the official rules of the NHL and the IIHF use the term 'goalkeeper'.
The goaltender has special privileges and training that other players do not. They wear special goaltending equipment that is different from that worn by other players and is subject to specific regulations. Goaltenders may use any part of their bodies to block shots. They may legally hold (or freeze) the puck with their hands to cause a stoppage of play. If a player from the other team hits the goaltender without making an attempt to get out of their way, the offending player may be penalized. In some leagues (including the NHL), if a goaltender's stick breaks, they can continue playing with a broken stick until the play is stopped, unlike other players who must drop any broken sticks immediately.
In the modern age of goaltending there are two common styles: butterfly and hybrid (hybrid is a mix of the traditional stand-up style and butterfly technique). Because of the power of shots, the goaltender wears special equipment to protect the body from direct impact. One-on-one situations, such as breakaways and shootouts, have the tendency to showcase a goaltender's pure skill, or lack thereof. No more than one goaltender per team is permitted to be on the ice at any given time.
Reader's Guide
The goaltender's role is central to the game, as their performance may greatly impact the outcome or score. The position carries unique privileges: goaltenders may use any part of their bodies to block shots, can freeze the puck to stop play, and are protected from interference by attackers within the crease. If a goaltender commits an infraction that would normally send a player to the penalty box, a teammate serves the penalty instead; however, a game misconduct or match penalty forces the goaltender to leave the ice and be replaced.
Goaltenders are often pulled if they have allowed several goals in a short period of time, whether at fault or not. A notable incident involved future Hall-of-Famer Patrick Roy, who was kept in net by his coach after allowing nine goals on 26 shots; Roy famously told the team president it would be his 'last game in Montreal' and was traded four days later.
Seventeen goaltenders have scored a goal in NHL games, totaling 20 goals. A goaltender can score by shooting the puck into the net directly or being awarded the goal as the last player to touch the puck if an opponent scores an own goal. Ron Hextall and Martin Brodeur are the only goaltenders to be credited with multiple goals; Hextall remains the only one to have scored multiple via directly shooting the puck. Brodeur is the only goaltender credited with three goals and the only one credited with a game-winning goal.
A team is not required to use a goaltender and may pull the goalie for an extra attacker, typically as a desperation measure when trailing late in a game or during a delayed penalty. This leaves the net empty, creating the opportunity for an empty-net goal. In overtime, NHL rules strongly encourage using a goaltender; if a team opts for an extra attacker and an empty-net goal is scored, the game is credited as a regulation loss instead of an overtime loss, and the team forfeits the point earned for going to overtime.
Did You Know?
- The official rules of the NHL and IIHF use the term 'goalkeeper', though 'goaltender' is more common.
- Ron Hextall is the only NHL goaltender to have scored multiple goals via directly shooting the puck.
- Martin Brodeur is the only NHL goaltender credited with a game-winning goal.
- If a goaltender's stick breaks in the NHL, they can continue playing with it until the play stops, unlike other players.
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