Pulling the Netminder.

[ojc123]

I've followed hockey since the 1960's off and on. One thing that's puzzled me for a long time is the practice of pulling the netminder with about two minutes to go. I'm sure some people who know more about this than me will be able to convince me of the logic of pulling the netminder.

I hear the argument that losing by two goals or one goal makes no difference. I cannot disagree with that.

However, on numerous occasions the team that pulls it's netminder then loses an empty net goal. That team is now two goals down with perhaps a minute to play and the game is now beyond reach.

Now, it seems to me that:

a) if your team is capable of holding the puck well on the powerplay
b) if your team rarely looks vulnerable to a shorthanded goal on the powerplay
c) if your goalkeeper hasn't been called into action much during the game

then perhaps pulling the netminder might be a reasonable course of action. (I might also argue that team is unlikely to be losing.)

However, if none of these conditions are met then it seems to me to make more sense to keep your netminder on to try to keep the deficit down to one goal and hope your standard offence can get the equaliser.

I've seen discussions about this before.
eg
thecageforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Hockey&action=print&thread=13117

This article
www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/11/pulling-goalie-savvy-or-stupid.html

And this short treatment of a statistical work
canuckscorner.com/tombenjamin/2006/02/13/poisson-pills/

Or is the whole business about the drama of the last minute do-or-die attempt to rescue the game rather than cold logic?

Opinions welcome. I'm hoping to be convinced.

[tam]

i hate it never seen it work..... until tonight at the kestrels game, they equalised in the last minute.
i know they say a loss is a loss wether its one goal or two, but surely goals against matter as well if you have two teams onthe same points

[penguin]

I've seen it work plenty times in the NHL. I may have seen it in British hockey but I can't remember if I have or haven't.
I suppose when teams have an extra man on the PP they are deemed to have an advantage so it's only logical if they bring on an extra skater that they will have an advantage.
In the Flyers case, their PP is horrible so that means they are ineffective with the goalie pulled.
Maybe they should aim for last minute instead off two? Who knows. Always worth a try pulling the keeper i guess...

[penguin]

Just read the Kestrels update and seems they pulled the keeper to equalise tonight. So it does work.
Maybe invite a few of them guys along to the training

[ronniemac]

Ove the years Flyers have scored a few goals with the goalie pulled but overall it usually end up more in the minus collumn.

[flyer007]

I wouldn't of pulled Brian tonight until there was less than 60 seconds to go. Also I would like to see us dump the puck on net and get a faceoff in their zone before we pull the NM because often we dump it, the NM is on his way to the bench and we don't have possession of the puck.

[Deleted]

What does it matter if you lose 3-2 or 4-2. It's still a loss. You pull your goalie to get an extra shooter out on the ice and try to force the goal. Yes, it's a risk but it's one that should be taken to try and tie the game.

[Ironjaw]

Nov 18, 2012 23:12:11 GMT flyer007 said:

I wouldn't of pulled Brian tonight until there was less than 60 seconds to go. Also I would like to see us dump the puck on net and get a faceoff in their zone before we pull the NM because often we dump it, the NM is on his way to the bench and we don't have possession of the puck.

dump the puck on net? Decaro flips one straight out to his D when we're pulling the goalie... That makes no sense whatsoever, if your gonna do it with 60 seconds or however long left you need to have the puck. Come on now.

[spudeeelad]

Nov 18, 2012 21:44:13 GMT ojc123 said:

I've followed hockey since the 1960's off and on. One thing that's puzzled me for a long time is the practice of pulling the netminder with about two minutes to go. I'm sure some people who know more about this than me will be able to convince me of the logic of pulling the netminder.

I hear the argument that losing by two goals or one goal makes no difference. I cannot disagree with that.

However, on numerous occasions the team that pulls it's netminder then loses an empty net goal. That team is now two goals down with perhaps a minute to play and the game is now beyond reach.

Now, it seems to me that:

a) if your team is capable of holding the puck well on the powerplay
b) if your team rarely looks vulnerable to a shorthanded goal on the powerplay
c) if your goalkeeper hasn't been called into action much during the game

then perhaps pulling the netminder might be a reasonable course of action. (I might also argue that team is unlikely to be losing.)

However, if none of these conditions are met then it seems to me to make more sense to keep your netminder on to try to keep the deficit down to one goal and hope your standard offence can get the equaliser.

I've seen discussions about this before.
eg
thecageforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Hockey&action=print&thread=13117

This article
www.thesportsroundup.com/2011/11/pulling-goalie-savvy-or-stupid.html

And this short treatment of a statistical work
canuckscorner.com/tombenjamin/2006/02/13/poisson-pills/

Or is the whole business about the drama of the last minute do-or-die attempt to rescue the game rather than cold logic?

Opinions welcome. I'm hoping to be convinced.

Every time I see this question asked, I produce the same answer and that answer is this - - this COULDjust happen to you and this sums up exactly why teams pull the netminder. You take an all or nothing gamble, you were leaving with nothing as things stood and more often that not, you leave with nothing, but as shown here, it can make all the difference

[flyer007]

Nov 20, 2012 15:08:30 GMT Ironjaw said:

Nov 18, 2012 23:12:11 GMT flyer007 said:

I wouldn't of pulled Brian tonight until there was less than 60 seconds to go. Also I would like to see us dump the puck on net and get a faceoff in their zone before we pull the NM because often we dump it, the NM is on his way to the bench and we don't have possession of the puck.

dump the puck on net? Decaro flips one straight out to his D when we're pulling the goalie... That makes no sense whatsoever, if your gonna do it with 60 seconds or however long left you need to have the puck. Come on now.

My point is I wouldn't pull the NM until we had a faceoff or we have carried out over the Blue and are in possession. Unless your forecheck is excellent removing Pitts when you have dumped the puck in the corner and don't yet have possession is a quick way to give up an EN goal.