Typically, a goalie will watch for the end of his team’s PP and pound his stick on the ice in the last few seconds. I’ve also seen in college games where the backup goalie will pound his stick on the boards. In that play, Vancouver had the puck in our end as the PP ticked down, so Niemi had to be focused on the puck, not the clock. Mitchell came out of the box right as the Hawks were clearing and we know what happened next. There really wasn’t time for Niemi to warn him. It was just shitty situation.

As far as “nuances” that aren’t really obvious, I dunno. My playing experience is pretty limited.

I find this stuff interesting cause I’m a dork.

As a goalie, I use to crack my stick on the ice/floor and shout “even” when the power play was up. Of course you don’t always have time. But then again, the WHOLE bench was pretty much 50 feet from him, and should be shouting instructions, as well.

Hits like that happen, it’s hockey, but certainly some of his teamates could have helped warn him one way or another.

There are a million subtle nuances that I would have to probably sit and really think about, but come as second nature on the rink.

whether you are on the bench or on the ice, you are are always yelling. There is constant communication on the ice. The Hawks players would have been screaming that the PP was coming to an end. I know my teams always have. Toews just didnt keep his head up. Maybe he thought he could blow by Mitchell, and Willie would just go straight to the bench for a change (which is what usually happens). No way Niemi could have done anything to alert Toews to the oncoming hit. He just didn’t keep his head up, which usually spells disaster.

It wasn’t my intent to place blame on any player for that hit, I just really wasn’t aware of what goes on on the ice during the game. I mean besides shooting the puck and shit.

If your player has his back to the opposition, as a goalie you could yell: “MAN ON” to warn him……..for future reference :)

Why do fans whistle during a team’s breakout? I’m ignorant of its significance.

… after making eye contact with the puck carrier I’ll simply yell a quick series of “yep! yep! yep!” or “No! no! no!” to let him know if I’m open or not. It’s a very fast way of relaying the message and I can change it instantly. Like most of us that never… quite… made it to the NHL (lol), the puck carrier can then continue skating with his head down and know roughly where I am and whether or not I’m open to receive a pass.

This is one that has eluded me even though I have played the game in the past. A delayed penalty is signaled by a referee’s arm going up until the defending team gains possession of the puck. Is this a judgement call? Sometimes a player is hooked and still has possession of the puck and the penalty is called immediately.

Is the constant chatter on the ice among the players. Their mouths are running as fast as their feet (and that is one of the ways a lot of the “no look” stuff goes on – they can hear where teammates are – or teammates are telling them of an open play they can’t see themselves).

The oalie has to do a lot of it – because he is often the only one facing the way he is, or the only one out of the play and able to see the whole ice, so he has to share what he sees that impacts the play – or what a teammate needs to protect himself.

And coming out of the box into an unsuspecting player with his head down was something a player lived for. A crushing check like that is a game momentum changer.