Empty net goal

An empty net goal, or colloquially, an empty netter occurs in ice hockey when a team scores a goal into a net with no goaltender "(goalie)" present. This usually occurs in one of three different occasions:
#In about the last two minutes of a game, if a team is within two goals, they will often "pull the goalie" for an extra attacker, which leaves the goal defenseless. If the team with the lead gets control of the puck they will often shoot at the net after clearing center ice. It is less common for a team to shoot from their own zone at an empty net because icing could occur if the shooter misses the net.
#In the case of a delayed penalty, the non-offending team will often pull their goaltender for an extra attacker in this situation as well. Empty net goals that are scored in this case are accidental own goals because the whistle would be blown if the offending team touches the puck. An own goal can be scored if a forward passes backwards to a defenseman that is not in position, and the puck slides all the way down the ice into the team's own net. This goal is credited to the last player on the scoring team who touched the puck.
#Sometimes a team will pull their goalie when they are on a two-man advantage, even if not nearing the end of the game. With the team then gaining an advantage of six skaters to three, this will increase even further the chances of the team scoring a power play goal.

An empty net goal can also occur in soccer in a situation where a team is losing by a goal late in a game in which goal difference is not a relevant factor, such as in a knockout cup competition. Often in these situations the goalkeeper of the team that is losing will go into the attacking area if his team has a set play, such as a corner kick. In this case it is then possible for the defending team to score into the empty net if they are able to win possession of the ball.

Examples of this include Xabi Alonso scoring for Liverpool against Luton Town in the FA CupFact|date=May 2008 and Ryan McCann scoring for Queen of the South against Dundee in the Scottish CupFact|date=May 2008

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