L.A. SPEAK

Slapshot slang to help you follow the hockey action at the Forum or on the tube: cannon: n. a hard, fast shot. “Robitaille fired a real cannon, but it bounced off the goalie.” cementhead: n. a player, usually a defenseman, known for his fighting rather than his hockey skills. Also, goon. dipsy-doodle: v . to weave between players on the ice. “Kurri dipsy-doodled down center ice to the net.” five hole: n. the area between the goalie’s legs; derived from shooting diagrams, where the scoring area is marked with the number five. goalie’s best friend: n. the metal framework of the net. Used when a puck gets past the goalie but hits the frame and bounces away from the net. lingerie department: n. the top of the net. “The goalie thought Gretzky was aiming for the five hole, but he put it in the lingerie department instead.” From upper-floor location of same in department stores. lumber facial: n. a blow to the face with a hockey stick. “That cementhead gave him a lumber facial, but the ref didn’t call it.” palm: v. to place the palm of a glove in an opponent’s face as a show of defiance. “The fight broke out when he palmed the other guy.” play in traffic: v. moving in the thick of the action. wheels:Z n. skating speed. “Granato’s wheels and his quick shot make him unstoppable.”