Shot (ice hockey)
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A shot in ice hockey is an attempt by a player to score a goal by striking the puck with his stick in the direction of the net. There are four basic types of shots in ice hockey:
- The wrist shot is the simplest and most accurate shot. The player starts with the puck on the heel of the blade then draws the puck behind his body while shifting his weight back with his stick, and then quickly sweeps it forward with the stick pointing in the direction that they want to shoot.
- The snap shot can be executed the fastest. With very little windup, the player violently snaps his wrists to send the puck flying.
- The slapshot is the hardest yet most telegraphed shot. The player draws his stick back away from the puck, then forcefully brings it forward to strike the puck.
- The backhand shot is a wrist shot released from the back of the blade, and on the player's backhand. This shot is not as powerful or accurate as any of the other shots, but often comes unexpectedly. Backhand shots are primarily taken close to the goal.
A count of how many shots are taken by a team is kept and this is often used as rough guide to which team is being more aggressive and dominant. A scoring attempt in hockey (as opposed to soccer) is officially counted as a shot only when it is directed on goal, resulting in a goal or requiring the goaltender to make a save. This is called a shot on goal. The numbers of shots and saves in a game are especially relevant to goaltenders, whose save percentage is based on how many shots did not get past them. The number of shots taken by skaters and the percentage on which they score is also measured, but these numbers are generally given less weight.
