DOWN BY 2? WHEN TO PULL

When trailing, coaches shouldn't wait to get an extra skater on the ice. An aggressive approach to pulling the goalie, such as the one below, could be the difference between hoisting the Cup, or not

[The following text appears within a diagram. Please see hardcopy or PDF for actual diagram.]

TIME LEFT

6:00

NO

ARE YOU SHORTHANDED?

YES

PULL

DON'T PULL

DID YOU SCORE?

YES

REINSERT GOALIE

NO

STAY EMPTY

DID YOU SCORE SHORTHANDED?

YES

NO

4:00

PULL AT EVEN STRENGTH

3:00

ARE YOU TIED?

NO

EMPTY NET

Source: Strategies for Pulling the Goalie in Hockey, 2010, by David Beaudoin and Tim B. Swartz, The American Statistician.

DIAGRAM