The Right Side of an Inch

 

Rule 1.3 - Division of Ice Surface

1. A red line, 5.08 cm (2 in.) wide, will be marked 3.35 m (11ft.) from each end of the rink, parallel to the end boards. This line will extend across the rink and be known as the Goal Line

   Official rules of ice hockey

    

   
   
    A game of inches.

   Much has been made, in the immediate aftermath of the US victory over Canada in the Men's Hockey final, of how the teams played. Some commentators (partisans on either side of the contest) have written that the Canadians "dominated" the game, or at least the second and third periods. A few have gone so far as to claim that Canada was "the better team," having outshot Team USA, and that the Americans won by virtue of a hot goaltender and little else. A very few then grudgingly observe that the final score reflected: USA 2, Canada 1.

   One would be remiss to ignore the wonderful opportunities the Olympic Games affords to expand lexicons. During one of the curling matches involving the USA women, an announcer suggested that the stone placement had such narrow tolerances that it put our team "On the wrong side of an inch." This was immediately appealing as a way to say a lot by saying a little.

   In hockey, an accomplished team with a balanced attack and defense is often described as having a "Two Hundred Foot Game." That is, they are proficient the entire length of the rink. To be that, it requires six players working in harmony. One of those players - the goalie.

   The goaltender doesn't guard the net, even though their crease (the "blue paint") is immediately in front of it. It's the tendie's job to mind the line, to see to it that the puck doesn't cross (completely) that horrible "wrong side of an inch." That 5.08 cm that divides victory and defeat. Twenty-four square feet (6'x4' goalmouth) that is two inches deep.

   In essence, hockey is about defending that thin red line in the blue paint at your end of the 200 feet, and attacking their red line in their blue paint. How a team does it... There are no style points. A beautifully crafted, superbly drawn up, exquisitely placed goal counts the same as something that ricochets off the helmet of a player, bounces off the ass of the tendie and dribbles a millimeter over the goal line.

   Who is responsible for guarding that line? As a former tendie, it would be easy for me to say it is the goalie's job. It isn't, entirely. It's up to all six players to make that happen.

   Sometimes, teams do it by dominating possession of the puck. If my team has it, it's very hard for the other team to score. Simple, right? Except - no style points there, either. Skate around all you want. Team Canada can tell you where one miscue can lead.

   The other is by accepting that, either in one game or generally, your tendie is the best player on the ice. So, you try to make sure that, while the other team is working itself into a lather shooting the puck at him/her, you are making them take low-percentage shots. 

   The goalie is generally responsible for the shooter - that is, everything being equal their job is to stop the present shot on goal. Most competent NHL tendies will stop almost every shot made from a reasonable distance. The other players' job is allow them to see the shot, cut off any passes and gain control of rebounds.

   Really good goaltenders are expected to dazzle even jaded fans with a "sparkling save" from time to time. They anticipate a pass across the ice and appear at the last minute to stifle what looked like a sure goal. They foil a breakaway. They make two or three saves in quick succession at their "doorstep." Maybe they even steal a sure goal with reflexes, or acrobatics.

   Guys like USA goalie Connor Hellebucyk? All of it, all day long.

   So what does his team do? The opponent can shoot the puck at him repeatedly and so long as he can see it, can anticipate the play and the rebounds are managed as a team - fire away. They'll only get tired of it. Maybe it will make the other team press harder, become frustrated. Maybe they make one pass too many. Maybe they try to be too perfect, and miss the net instead. And maybe, in overtime, one of the best players on the planet indulges a bad position and the fabulous goalie's team is off to the races and Gold Medal Glory.

   Full strength hockey is played six-on-six, not 5 on 5. There are no style points. Shots on goal are a metric, and not a very precise one. Dominated?

   Not when you control the right side of a two-inch red line on the ice.

   Congratulations, USA Hockey. We're proud of you.