Pad Save

A save made by a goalie using his leg pads.

Paddle

Goal stick

Penalty

Punishment for infraction of the rules, resulting in the player having to leave the ice for a set period of time. Penalties can be 2, 4, 5 or 10 minutes in length and are handed out by the referee(s). See minor penalty, major penalty.

Penalty bench

The penalty box

Penalty Box

The area of the rink, opposite the bench side, where players must sit during their penalty. The penalty boxes are separated to prevent off ice fighting.

Penalty killing

The act of a player or team shooting the puck down ice, or maintaining possession of the puck in a manner that will allow time to elapse off the penalty clock and not give the opposition a chance to score. See ragging the puck, killing a penalty.

Penalty minutes

The cumulative time a player has spent in the penalty box. This statistic, known as "penalties in minutes," is kept by the league and becomes part of a players career record. This statistic is not kept for goalies. A player who has the lowest number of penalty minutes at the end of the year has a good chance of winning the Lady Byng Trophy for the most gentlemanly player.

Penalty shot

A free shot on the goalie awarded to a player if certain infractions are committed. The puck is put on the center spot and at the indication of the referee the player then takes the puck in on the goalie. Once the player takes the shot or is checked by the goalie, the penalty shot is over. The player may not get a rebound.

Penalty shot circle

The circle in front of the goalie where penalty shots were taken from in the years 1934-35 to 1940-41. The circle was 38 feet from the goal line.

Penalty shot line

From 1941-42 to 1945-46, penalty shots were taken from this line, 28 feet from the goal line.

Penalty timekeeper

One of the off ice officials who monitors the time a player spends in the penalty box, and makes sure he spends the correct amount of time in the box.

Period

A 20-minute segment of the game. There are a minimum of three 20 minute periods in a regulation game. If a game goes into overtime periods may be a maximum of 5 or 20 minutes. See overtime.

Pest

A player who antagonizes his opponents with his play or words.

Peter Puck

In the early 1970's, broadcaster Brian McFarlane created the animated figure in the shape of a puck to help explain the rules of the game to children and new fans in the United States.

Pick

A term originally used in basketball, a "pick" is the positioning of a player in the way of an opponent so that when the opponent moves, the person who is the pick blocks the opponent out so the puck carrier can proceed.

Pine(s)

The player bench. A player is said to be riding the pines if he is dressed for the game but seeing little action.

Pins

A players legs.

Pipes

The goal posts. See also iron.

Playing the man

A player who checks the puck carrier, concentrating on the player, and letting one of his team mates go after the loose puck. Opposite of playing the puck.

Playing the puck(goalie)

Done by the goalie when he leaves his net to retrieve the puck when it is shot around behind, or close to the net.

Playing the puck(player)

Concentrating on the puck and not the player. The checker usually tries to poke the puck away from the puck carrier with his stick. If he is unsuccessful the puck carrier will usually be able to go around the opposing player.

Playmaker

A player whose has the skill to set up plays by passing the puck. One of the greatest playmakers of all time is Wayne Gretzky.

Playoffs

The post season play where the top teams of each division or conference play against each other in a "best of" format. The winner of each series will play against each other until one team is left. That team is then awarded the Stanley Cup.

Playoff hockey

An intense and exciting type of hockey played during the playoffs. During such games teams will hit harder, check closer and play with higher levels of intensity.

Plugging away

Digging for the puck.

Plugger

A lunch pail player. See also grinder, mucker, lunch pail player.

Plus-minus

A statistic that tries to show a players defensive skill. A player is awarded a "plus" each time he is on the ice for a goal his team scores, and awarded a "minus" each time he is on the ice for a goal the opposition scores. The minus' are subtracted from the plus' and the remaining number is the "plus-minus" number. The higher the number(as a positive) the better.

Point

The area just inside a players attacking zone, close to the boards

Point man

The player, usually a defenseman, who stations himself on his teams attacking blue line, whose primary job is to prevent the puck from leaving the attacking zone, and to shoot the puck at the net or pass it if he receives it.

Point blank

A shot taken in extremely close proximity to the net. Usually a slapshot.

Poke check

A check with the stick where the player suddenly extends his stick out, and knocks the puck away from the attacking player. Usually done by the goalie or a defenseman.

Policeman

An enforcer. See goon, enforcer.

Pond

Slang for ice.

Pot

To score a goal.

Power forward

A forward who can play physically as well as defensively. His statistics will show a higher than average goals and assist numbers as well as penalty minutes.

Power play

A situation where a team has at least one more player on the ice than the other team due to penalties. See man advantage.

Press box

The area of the arena that is allocated for radio, TV, and newspaper personnel to cover the game.

Prexy

Slang for the President of the league.

Prospect

A younger player, not necessarily in the minors who shows signs of being able to play in the NHL.

Puck

A vulcanized rubber disk, 3" in diameter and 1" high. Pucks have evolved from wooden disks to the rubber shapes we see today. The pucks are kept frozen to help prevent excessive bouncing while in play. See also biscuit, bootheel, disk.

Puck chasers

Slang for hockey players

Puck control

Maintaining possession of the puck for an extended period of time either for penalty killing or for creating scoring opportunities. See ragging the puck, penalty killing.

Pull the goalie

Removing the goalie from the game in favor of an extra attacker. This tactic was first used by Art Ross, and is normally used in the final minutes of play to try and tie a game by the team who is losing. It is also used when a delayed penalty is called. See delayed penalty.

Quick release

The ability of a player to shoot the puck quickly with little time to control or aim the puck. See one timer.

Quinella

Scoring every type of goal in a game, short handed, even strength, penalty shot and empty net. In baseball this is known as hitting for the cycle, single, double, triple and homerun. Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux did this January 1, 1988.