Short-handed is a term used in ice hockey and several related sports, including water polo, and refers to having fewer skaters (players) on the ice during play, as a result of a penalty. The player removed from play serves the penalty in the penalty box for a set amount of time proportional to the severity of the infraction. If a goaltender commit...
• (a.) Short of, or lacking the regular number of, servants or helpers.
When a team has fewer players on the ice than the opposition because a penalty is being served by on
Short`-hand'ed adjective Short of, or lacking the regular number of, servants or helpers. 
[adj] - inadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.
short-staffed adjective inadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.; `they`re rather short-handed at the moment`; `overcrowded and understaffed hospitals`