NHL

hockey positions.

Four jobs on the ice, four different reasons to watch. Once you know who's supposed to be where, the chaos starts to look like a plan.

Goalie

Stands in the net wearing extra padding from head to toe and stops the puck from crossing the goal line, using their whole body, their pads, and their stick. One goalie plays the entire game unless the coach decides to pull them.

The player padded up like a marshmallow in front of the net. You will not miss them.

Save! That's his 30th tonight. He's seeing everything.

Defensemen

Play closest to their own goal, usually two on the ice at a time, blocking shots, clearing the puck out of danger, and starting the transition up the ice once they get it.

The pair hanging back near their own blue line, first to touch the puck after a save.

He cleared that off the glass. Simple play, exactly what a defenseman is out there for.

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Centers

Play in the middle of the ice, take faceoffs to start or restart play, and are usually the ones responsible for linking the defense to the offense.

The player crouched over the dot before every faceoff. That's a center's job before the puck even drops.

Won the draw clean. That's the center doing his job before the play even starts.

Wings

Play the outside lanes on either side of the center, and are usually the ones finishing plays near the net.

The players skating the boards on either side, then cutting toward the crease once the puck gets there.

Tap-in from the wing. He was just standing there waiting for that pass.

Other sports

Basketball.Football.Baseball.Soccer.

Once you know who does what, the hockey glossarycovers what they're actually doing out there.

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