What are active boards?

Question

they mention them alot during games in pittsburgh.

Answer 1

The Joe in Detroit has active boards, meaning the boards are hard and the puck bounces back faster. The Wings use this to their advantage, often firing slapshots wide of the net so the puck will bounce out to a forward waiting to pounce.

Pittsburgh has soft boards and soft ice. The ice there is why players appear to be clumsy at times, even falling. They're skating in slush.

Each rink's boards are different, but I think Detroit's have been described as the most active.

Answer 2

active boards is when the puck bounces off quickly back into play. this means that when a shot misses the net it bounces back out front for a possible rebound. at a warmer arena the ice tends to be softer and the boards not as "active" it slows down the puck

Answer 3

It means boards have a greater rebound on the puck.  In the Joe when a puck hits the boards it is more likely to take a weird bounce either in front or out.