goaltending

noun

goal·​tend·​ing ˈgōl-ˌten-diŋ 

1

: the act of guarding a goal (as in hockey)

2

: a violation in basketball that involves touching or deflecting a ball that is on its downward path toward the basket or on or within the rim of the basket

Examples of goaltending in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1985, buoyed by Lindbergh’s elite goaltending, the Flyers advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, losing to Wayne Gretzky’s Edmonton Oilers just months before Lindbergh’s death. —Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025

Defense and goaltending were supposed to this team’s strength. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025

Early season trends are already shaping their narrative — Ovechkin’s ice time is being managed carefully, and while the power play has looked shaky, the defensive structure and goaltending duo of Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren should keep them competitive once again this season. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025

Colorado traded for Mackenzie Blackwood eight days later, and the reshaped goaltending tandem helped save what had been a tumultuous start to the season. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for goaltending

• amending
• appending
• ascending
• attending
• befriending
• commending
• contending
• defending
• depending
• descending
• distending
• expending