Long Change
What is Long Change?
A situation in hockey that occurs during the second period of the game when the home and away goaltenders switch ends. This means each team is shooting on the opposite net than they were previously. It is called a "long change" because the team must skate farther away from the bench to defend its own net.
Sporting Charts explains Long Change
The long change can be costly in a game if a line gets stuck in their defensive zone for a long period of time and can't clear the puck. This is a tough situation because the players on the ice, while tired, don't want to leave their teammates shorthanded by making a run for the bench that is further away. At the same time, tired players are not as effective on the ice, so a tired player may hamper the game by staying out on the ice too long and not making a change.