Shot (ice hockey)
A scoring attempt directed on goal, requiring a save or resulting in a goal.
In ice hockey, a shot occurs when a player uses their stick to strike or snap the puck toward the net in an effort to score. Teams track their total shots on goal as a general indicator of offensive pressure and control. Officially, a shot on goal is counted only if the puck is directed on net and either results in a goal or forces the goaltender to make a save. This statistic is particularly important for goaltenders, whose save percentage reflects how many shots they stop. Skaters also have their own shooting percentages, though these are considered less significant. Some shots are classified as scoring chances when they are more likely to produce a goal.
There are five basic shot types. The shovel, or flip, shot is the simplest, using a shoveling or flicking motion to push the puck forward. Players often use it to nudge loose pucks past a goaltender who is out of position. The wrist shot starts with the puck near the heel-middle of the blade. The shooter rolls their back wrist quickly while pushing the puck forward with the bottom hand, causing the puck to spin for accuracy. The stick flexes, and the snap upon release adds speed. The snap shot combines elements of the slapshot and wrist shot: the shooter cocks the stick back like a slapshot, then finishes with a wrist flick. This produces more speed than a wrist shot but takes slightly longer to release. The slapshot is the hardest but most telegraphed shot. The player draws the stick back and strikes the ice a few inches behind the puck, flexing the stick to store energy that transfers to the puck on contact. The follow-through controls the puck’s trajectory. The backhand shot is a wrist shot released from the back of the blade, on the player’s backhand. It is less powerful and accurate but often surprises opponents, especially near the net or on breakaways. A backhand slapshot is also possible.
Other shot variations include the one-timer, which can be any of the above shots executed in a continuous motion. A player receives a pass and fires the puck without stopping it first. This shot has low accuracy but makes it difficult for the goaltender to set up, and the puck’s elasticity can generate extra speed and lift.
- Basic types
- Five basic types: shovel, wrist, snap, slap, backhand
- Shot on goal definition
- A scoring attempt directed on goal, resulting in a goal or requiring a save
- Notable wrist shot players
- Joe Sakic, Alexander Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk, Connor McDavid, Marián Gáborík, Jeff Carter, Evgeni Malkin, Jack Eichel, Teemu Selänne, Alexei Kovalev, Pavel Datsyuk, Phil Kessel, Wayne Gretzky, Steven
- Notable snap shot players
- Joe Sakic, Ilya Kovalchuk, Phil Kessel, Thomas Vanek, Nathan Horton, Kirill Kaprizov, Anže Kopitar, Vincent Lecavalier, Alexander Ovechkin, Mike Bossy, Evgeni Malkin, Connor McDavid, Dany Heatley
- Notable slap shot players
- Bernard 'Boom Boom' Geoffrion, Al MacInnis, Zdeno Chára, Daniel Alfredsson, Ilya Kovalchuk, Dustin Byfuglien, Alexander Ovechkin, Shea Weber, Sami Salo, Mario Lemieux, Guy Lafleur, Christian Ehrhoff,
- Notable backhand shot players
- Jyrki Lumme, Joe Sakic, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marián Hossa, Milan Hejduk, Patrick Marleau, Mike Richards, Mats Sundin, Pavel Datsyuk, Paul Stastny, Henrik Zetterberg, Derek Roy, Claude Giroux,
Lore & Background
The shovel shot is the simplest and most basic, executed by a shoveling motion or flick to push the puck. The wrist shot involves rolling the back wrist while thrusting the puck forward, causing spin for accuracy; the stick flex adds speed. The snap shot combines the slapshot's cocking motion with the wrist shot's flick, balancing speed and release time. The slapshot is the hardest but most telegraphed, using stick flex against the ice to store and transfer energy. The backhand shot is released from the back of the blade, less powerful but often unexpected, typically used close to the goal. The one-timer can be any shot fired in a continuous motion from a pass, sacrificing accuracy for speed and difficulty for the goaltender. A deke is a feint or shot intended to confound a defender, with some players known for 'dangling'. The Michigan, or lacrosse-style goal, involves flipping the puck onto the blade and whipping it, usually attempted from behind the net. Tipping redirects an incoming shot with the stick blade or body parts, often resulting in a goal through chance as much as deliberate effort.
Reader's Guide
Shots are central to ice hockey's statistical and strategic evaluation. The count of shots on goal is used as a rough guide to which team is being more aggressive and dominant. For goaltenders, save percentage is based on how many shots did not get past them, making shots and saves especially relevant to their performance. The number of shots taken by skaters and the percentage on which they score is measured but generally given less weight. Some shots on goal are considered more likely to result in a goal and are called scoring chances. The variety of shot types—from the basic shovel to the high-skill Michigan—reflects the tactical depth of the sport. Players known for specific shots, such as Joe Sakic for the snap shot or Alexander Ovechkin for the slapshot, have shaped offensive play. The one-timer, when executed as a slapshot and finding the net, is often called a 'goal-scorers goal' due to its difficulty. The Michigan shot, first used in the 1996 NCAA Tournament by Mike Legg, grew in popularity and began to be attempted by NHL players in the mid-to-late 2010s, with Andrei Svechnikov scoring the first and second successful Michigan goals in the NHL.
Did You Know?
- A shot on goal is officially counted only when directed on goal, resulting in a goal or requiring a save.
- The snap shot is a combination of the slapshot and wrist shot, balancing speed and release time.
- The Michigan shot was first used in the 1996 NCAA Tournament by Mike Legg, though its invention is credited to Bill Armstrong.
- The slapshot stores energy by flexing the stick against the ice two to seven inches behind the puck.
More in Ice Hockey Terminology, Part 2 1-24
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