Short-handed

In ice hockey, shorthanded refers to having fewer skaters on the ice during play, as a result of a penalty. The player removed from play serves the penalty in an off-ice box (the penalty box) for a set amount of time proportional to the severity of the infraction. The penalized team is said to be on the penalty kill (PK) while their players are in the penalty box. The opposing team is usually referred to as having an "advantage" until the penalized player returns to play. This situation is often called a power play for the opposing team, due to the increased likelihood of scoring during this time. If the team with the advantage scores a goal while the other team is shorthanded, the penalty is over, unless it was a major penalty.

A team can have unlimited players in the penalty box (provided that they don't run out), but can only be limited to four skaters on the ice at any given time. If the other team is at full strength and the penalized team has two players in the penalty box, plus a goalie in net, the situation is called a 5-on-3. This situation often leads to a goal for the team on the power play. If the advantaged team on the 5-on-3 scores, the player who took the earlier of the two penalties may return to the ice, and play resumes as a power play with only one player in the penalty box.

A player that scores while shorthanded is credited with a shorthanded goal. These goals are often the result of a breakaway, which can come from a poke check or sometimes from an interception. Occasionally, they are due to a mistake on the part of the goaltender, or an effective play on the part of the penalty-killers. The latter are typically embarrassing for the team on the power play.

If the team on the power play scores in a penalty shot, the penalized player must remain in the penalty box.