why "empty net?"

[Bertha Venation]

For at least a while, shortly before the OT, the USA goal had no goaltender. Why?

[taterguy]

1. They subbed the goal tender for an extra offensive player

[Bertha Venation]

3. thank you, taterguy

[Blue_Tires]

2. last-ditch attacking option...

with little time left, you either get the tying goal or lose...it matters not if a cheap goal goes in the other way...

like in baseball, bottom of the ninth, bases loaded with no out in a tie game, the manager will bring his outfielders WAY in

[Bertha Venation]

4. thank you, Blue Tires

[TheMightyFavog]

10. It's also done on a delayed penalty.

Might as well get the extra attacker out there, because once the puck is touched by a member of the penalized team, play is blown dead.

[cherokeeprogressive]

5. Because sooner or later, everyone must grow up and leave the roost.

Oh wait, I thought you typed "empty nest". My bad.

[pokerfan]

6. you had it right

eventually even goaltenders grow up.

[edbermac]

7. He had to go to the little boys room.

Too much Gatorade. :hurts:

[Forkboy]

8. It's a gamble.

Different coaches have different takes on it. When the goalie comes off you can replace him with a regular player, so you can have a 6-5 advantage....the downside being that your goal is unprotected. It rarely works in the NHL, but it also rarely works that a team ties a game with an even amount of players, so the risk is worth it. Most pull the goalie with about 1 minute left in regulation time, though some are more aggressive and will pull the goalie with 1:30 to 2 minutes left. I think the stats a few years ago showed that it worked all of 8% of the time, which is probably higher than expected.

I've seen coaches pull their goalie with a faceoff in the other team's zone late in the 1st or 2nd period as well. If there's only two seconds or so you have time to score, but the defensive team can't get the puck into your net in that amount of time (the puck has to be across the goal line with time on the clock to count as a goal), so some coaches will take that risk. Not many in the NHL, mind you, where coaching jobs come and go VERY quickly. :)

[Midlodemocrat]

9. Pulling the goalie. Tried and often true trick of putting

six men on the ice to the other team's five in the hopes that they can outskate and score.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

[HEyHEY]

11. And a Canadian expression for when a woman goes off birth control while trying to conceive

:)

[Midlodemocrat]

12. HAHA. I knew that.

HOW ARE YOU???? Miss seeing you around. Hoping you're well in China!!!

XOXOXOXO

[HEyHEY]

13. Home now

Was back for the Olympics, I go back to China wednesday. Things there are good. Hope you're well too!