What are the little red lines behind the hockey goals for? No, I’m not talking about the goal line, that …

runs from board to board and through the goal crease. Rather, I am talking about the angled red lines leading from the goal crease red line approximately 4 feet on either side of the net leading to the back boards (the boards behind the net). I think they were put there four ot five years ago, but I never heard what they are for.
Sorry if my description is goofy, it’s getting late and I’m tired.
Thanks to all who answer.

took my a second to figure out what you were talking about,
anyway, they represent the area that the goaltenders can come out and play the puck in, behind the goal line. The goalies are allowed to play the puck inside the trapezoid those lines create behind the net, but not in the corners ( on the other side of each diagonal line)

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10 Responses to What are the little red lines behind the hockey goals for? No, I’m not talking about the goal line, that …

  1. scott_decoy says:

    took my a second to figure out what you were talking about,
    anyway, they represent the area that the goaltenders can come out and play the puck in, behind the goal line. The goalies are allowed to play the puck inside the trapezoid those lines create behind the net, but not in the corners ( on the other side of each diagonal line)
    References :

  2. Andrew G says:

    thats the area that goalies are allowed to come out and play the puck, if they touch the puck outside of the lines its a penalty for delay of game. They can still play the puck anywhere above the goal line though
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  3. miller.eric7 says:

    Its the area behind the net that the goaltenders can play the puck at. This is known as the trapezoid, if they play the puck outside the trapezoid and behind the goal line, they will get a two minute penalty for delay of game. This was brought into the league in 2005 after the labor strike which was a part of a series of rules aimed at making the game quicker with less obstruction and dumping of teh puck. It was also tested on AHL teams before being used in the NHL.
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  4. Amy B is Kurfuddled says:

    It’s called the trapezoid. It’s relatively new to the NHL. The goalie can only play the puck in that area if the puck croses the goal line. If the goalie plays it behind the goal line, other than inside the trapezoid, it is a two-minute penalty.

    I can’t stand the rule, myself.
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  5. torotnota says:

    goalies are only allowed playin the puck thats behind the goal line if its in the trapezoid, anywhere else behind the goal line and they call a penalty… a dumb rule if u ask me
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  6. Freckles needs a new job says:

    Those two lines create the trapazoid. That’s the limited space where a goalie can play the puck behind the goal line.
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  7. trombass08 says:

    That, my confused friend, is called the trapezoid. Inside those lines is the only place behind the net that the goalies can touch the puck. And that was put in place after they came back from the lock-out.

    Brent: That’s what I said. Don’t you know how to read?
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  8. Brent B says:

    Are you talking about the trapezoids? They limit the goalies from having control of the puck in the corners, If the goalie touchs the puck in the corners then a "delay of game" penalty is called

    Edit: Tombass the goalies CANT play the puck in the corners.

    edit: sorry misunderstood, thought you meant they could only have control of the puck in the corners, sorry.
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  9. Dale L says:

    if the goalie goes out of red lines in the back they will be given a penalty for delay of game because generaly it would be called iceing if he goes in that area.
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  10. thegamerdug says:

    the lines are there to restirct the goaltenders movements. They cannot play the puck or skate in that area outside the trapezoid.
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