What are short-handed goals and top shelf goals in hockey?

Answer

A short handed goal means that the team that scored the goal was down a man, i.e., they had at least one person in the penalty box. In other words, they didn't have five skaters on the ice. If you are the other team (without the penalty) then you are considered to be on the power play and your goal will be considered a power play goal.

Top shelf goals mean that the player shot the puck into the top of the net. Picture a book shelf. Now picture the puck going in the top shelf.

Answer

A slight correction on a "top shelf " goal.

The shooter is shooting the puck into the INSIDE of the top of the net, under the cross bar. This is done by using a "lifter shot " that comes up from the stick, at short range, and is very hard to stop.

A short-handed goal is when you score with a man on your team is in the penalty box and you score

and a top-shelf goal is when you get the puck up high on the net..