Better plus/minus stats

Thanks goodness we don't officially keep track of plus/minus stats in our league. I feel like I'm often on the ice nearing the end of my shift when a goal is scored (but that could just be my confirmation bias coupled with a general insecurity about my playing abilities). The plus/minus stat would be an interesting thing to measure, actually, rather than just guessing. (I'm a scientist. I will always prefer measurement over estimation!)


Nevertheless, I've identified two defensive mistakes we collectively make that often lead to goals being scored against us: 

1. Too-long shifts: Mathematically, whether we do long or short shifts, we should get to play one-third of the game (or one-half, depending on how many lines we have). So I don't understand the reluctance to come off the ice before we feel tired. What often happens is that we start out great, with short shifts, and then each pair stays on the ice a little longer, so that subsequent pairs stay out even longer, and all of a sudden we've got these hell shifts during the second period (when it's harder to change because of the increased distance from the bench) that go on and on for three minutes or more. The more tired we are, the harder it is to break out to enable a change on the fly, and even harder to just ice the damn puck and get a whistle so we can change. I don't think the fatigue necessarily leads to being too slow to catch the opponents, either - I can always find it in me to race, even if I'm tired - I think the greater danger is that it induces bad judgement in front of the net. The wrong man is left open and then the opponents score. Or during the breakout, we make a boneheaded move and hand the puck to an opponent instead of passing to a teammate. Argh!
2. Confusion when we switch sides temporarily: Sometimes the other team breaks out and the last man back ends up covering the opposite side (i.e., I play right defence, but end up on the left side temporarily). The other defenceman takes over my usual side. Fine. Then comes this moment of confusion when we're not sure whether we should switch back to our original sides. One split-second of hesitation is all it takes to leave someone uncovered in front of the net ("I thought she was covering her!") and then they score. This problem can be improved by being paired with the same partner several games in a row - you get better at reading each other - or by COMMUNICATING! (Listen to the goalie, too, she's always telling us when there's someone uncovered in front of the net.) Also, if the puck is in the corner and there are two opponents in front of the net, our centre had better be down low in front of the net, not in the corner. One defenceman has a really hard time covering two opponents! (Math again.)

If we could address these errors I think we would prevent more goals. The obvious solutions to (1) and (2) above are:

1. Short shifts! If you're thinking about coming off and then change your mind, change it back and come off anyway. You might not get another chance and you'll become a liability rather than an asset.
2. Communicate! If you've switched sides with your defensive partner, stay switched until the heat is off, and be sure to yell when you switch back. And listen to your goalie. And yell for your centre if she's digging in the corner but you need help in front.

As a team, if we follow those tips we should reduce the overall goals scored against us. For myself, at the very least, following those two tips should lead to better plus/minus stats.