How to Get a Penalty Shot in Ice Hockey

Penalty shots in ice hockey are different from those in other sports. Unlike other sports, such as soccer and field hockey, in ice hockey the shooter can skate with the puck and bring it to just outside the goal crease before shooting. This freedom makes penalty shots successful about 40% of the time for the shooter. Here's how you can get awarded a penalty shot.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Have the other team deliberately and unfairly prevent you from having a scoring opportunity. This usually means that a defender on the opposite team breaks a rule to get you off balance or stop the puck from entering the goal.

2. Expect a penalty shot if a defender trips or knocks you over from behind while you are on a breakaway. A breakaway occurs when you get around the last defender near center ice, and you race toward the goal with only the goalie in your path. Sometimes, in desperation, a defender will commit a holding, hooking or stabbing penalty to prevent you from scoring. In this case, you will be awarded a penalty shot.

3. Expect a penalty shot if a defender on the opposite team other than the goalie stops the puck in the crease. The crease is the semicircle that goes around the goal. Only the goalie is allowed within it, and only the goalie can land on pucks within the crease. If another defender is caught blocking shots in any way from within the crease, your team will probably be awarded a penalty shot.

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