In hockey, a goal scored when the opposing team's goaltender is not on the ice is called an empty net goal.
Empty-net goals most often happen late in a close game. A team that is trailing may pull its goaltender and replace them with an extra attacker, creating a six-skater attack. If the leading team gains possession, it can shoot toward the unguarded net and seal the victory. The term also applies when a goalie is absent for another reason, although that situation is much less common.
An empty-net goal is not the same as a shorthanded goal. A shorthanded goal is scored while the attacking team is serving a penalty, whereas an empty-net goal describes the absence of the opposing goaltender. It is also different from a power-play goal, which is scored while the attacking team has a numerical advantage.
In official statistics, an empty-net goal is recorded against the goaltender who was previously in net, but it does not count toward that goalie's goals-against average or save percentage. The abbreviation ENG is commonly used in scorekeeping.