"With the Game on His Stick": The home (dis)advantage in National Hockey League shootouts

Desmond McEwan, Kathleen A. Martin Ginis, Steven R. Bray

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether a home advantage or disadvantage is evident in loss and win-imminent situations within National Hockey League (NHL) shootouts. Design: Archival. Method: Shooting percentages were analyzed from the 2006-2011 NHL seasons and shots were classified as: loss-imminent (when a miss results in a loss for the shooter's team); win-imminent (when a goal results in a win for the shooter's team); or non-outcome-imminent (when a miss or goal does not immediately determine the outcome of the game). Results: A home advantage was evident in loss-imminent situations when a team needed to score to avoid a loss. By contrast, a home disadvantage was evident in win-imminent situations when a team was shooting to win. Conclusion: The home (dis)advantage varies across different outcome-imminent situations. Comparing home and away teams' success in specific situations within a sporting match may be a valuable way of assessing the home (dis)advantage in sports.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)578-581
Number of pages4
JournalPsychology of Sport and Exercise
Volume13
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2012

Keywords

  • Choking under pressure
  • Hockey
  • Home advantage
  • Home choke
  • Shootout
  • Sport psychology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Applied Psychology

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