What is empty net in hockey?

In hockey, an empty net refers to a situation where a team pulls their goaltender from the ice in order to add an extra skater to the game. This typically occurs when a team is losing and wants to increase their offensive pressure in an attempt to tie the game.

By pulling the goalie, the team essentially sacrifices their defensive coverage in favor of having an additional player to create scoring opportunities. This can be a risky move, as the opposing team has a better chance of scoring an empty-net goal without a goaltender to defend the net.

Teams will usually wait until the final minutes of a game to pull their goalie in favor of an extra skater. However, some coaches may choose to do so earlier if they are desperate for a goal.

Overall, the strategy of pulling the goalie is a high-risk, high-reward tactic that can create exciting moments in hockey games.