two blue, 12-inch wide lines running parallel across the ice, each 60 feet from the goal; they divide the rink into three zones called the attacking, defending and neutral (or center) zones; defending blue line is the line closer to a player’s own net; attacking blue line is the one farther from his net; used in determining offsides.

with the Patrick Division made up the Wales Conference until the 1992-93 season; renamed the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference starting with the 1993-94 season.

a mid-season exhibition game pitting selected stars of North American origin against selected stars from the rest of the world; from 1969 to 1997, the game was played between representatives from the NHL's two conferences.

the pass or passes which immediately precede a successful scoring attempt; a maximum of two assists are credited for one goal.

the area between the opponents’ blue line and their goal.

an attempt by a player, on his way back to his defensive zone, to regain the puck from the opposition by checking or harassing an opponent who has the puck.

a shot or pass made with the stick from the left side by a right-handed player or from the right side by a left-handed player.

to get by one or both of the defensemen.

to outwit the goalie and score a goal.

the area of ice behind the goal cage is legal territory.