While trailing
63%
Tied
22%
While leading
14%
Key findings
- Timeouts used in about 2 of every 3 games (62%).
- 81% in period 3; 68% in the last five minutes.
- 83% followed by a pulled goalie — a structured late gamble, not a pause for momentum.
- That gamble ties the game only 16% of the time; empty-net goals against dominate outcomes.
What this means for a club or media team
For coaches and analysts, timeout usage is a trailing-state marker — useful in pre-game prep and post-game review, not as a “momentum reset” KPI. For broadcast and print, the story is tactical honesty: the button signals trouble and sets up 6-on-5, with quantified long-shot odds.
Full research note: read on Research →