Back check: Forwards in their offensive zone skate back quickly to their own defensive zone to protect their goal and keep the opponent from shooting

Blue line: Two lines running across the width of the rink, one on either side of the red line. The area between the blue lines is called the neutral zone.

Boards: The wall around an ice hockey rink, which measures 42 inches high. They are topped off by synthetic glass to protect spectators while still allowing them the ability to see the action. 

Boarding: A penalty incurred when one player checks another player into the boards from behind

Breakaway: An offensive rush when there is no opponent between the puck carrier and the opposition's goalie

Crease: The semi-circular blue area painted in front of each goal. It's considered a safe zone for the goalie. Attacking players cannot score if they precede the puck into the crease.

Dive: When a player exaggerates being hooked or tripped in an attempt to draw a penalty

Drop pass: A play in which a puck carrier leaves the puck behind him to be picked up by a trailing teammate

Face-off: The dropping of the puck between one player from each team to start or resume play

Five-hole: The area in the opening between a goalie's leg pads

Flat pass: A pass where the puck remains on the surface of the ice, also known as a saucer pass

Forecheck: Forwards forecheck by hurrying into the opponent's defensive zone to either keep the puck there or take it away

Freezing the puck: When a player holds the puck against the boards with the stick or skates. A goalie freezes the puck by either holding the puck in the glove or trapping it on the ice.

Group stage: The 12 countries competing are divided into three groups to begin Olympic competition. Each team will face the other three times in its pairing during this initial stage of play.

Hat trick: When a player scores three goals in one game

Hooking: A penalty that occurs when a player uses their stick to impede the progress of an opponent. The act is done by pulling or tugging on any part of an opposing player's body or stick. 

Icing: When a player shoots a puck from behind their own red line and it travels untouched past the opposing team's goal line. Play is stopped when an opponent other than the goalie touches the puck.

Line change: Prior to the beginning of a period or after a stoppage in play, the visiting team can complete any player substitutions, followed by the home team

Neutral zone: The area in the center of the ice which is located between the blue lines

Odd-man rush: An offensive strategy that capitalizes on more offensive players heading into the attacking zone than defensive players

Offside: A penalty that occurs when a player on the attacking team precedes the puck into the attacking zone. A player is offside when both skates completely are over the leading edge of the blue line involved in the play.

One timer: The act of shooting the puck directly off a pass

Penalty kill: This occurs when a team has a player in the penalty box and is playing shorthanded against the opposing team's power play. The goal for the shorthanded team is to run out the penalty by killing as much time as possible and not allowing the other team to score.

Pipe: A common reference for the goalposts

Power play: This occurs when one team has the competitive advantage of having more players on the ice than the opposing team. This happens after a penalty is called and player(s) are sent to the penalty box to serve time for the infraction.

Red line: The center line that divides the ice into two equal halves

Shorthanded: When a team is playing with fewer players than its opponent

Shorthanded goal: A goal scored by a team while it is at a player disadvantage

Slap shot: Hitting the puck with the blade of the stick after taking a full backswing

Sweater: Term used for a hockey jersey

Top shelf: Placing a shot in the top quarter of the net

Tripping: A penalty that occurs when a player places the stick, knee, foot, arm, hand or elbow in such a manner that causes the opponent to trip or fall

Wrap around: When a player skates around behind the opposing goal and attempts to wrap the puck around the goal post under the goalie

Wrist shot: Shooting the puck with the blade of the stick using a quick snap of the wrist, rather than a full backswing