A penalty shot in hockey is called when a player with a clear breakaway gets illegally interfered with by the other team, costing them an obvious goal.
What counts as a major penalty in hockey?
A major penalty is a serious infraction that sends a player to the box for five full minutes, no matter how many goals get scored.
You’ll see these for things like fighting, boarding, or using your stick dangerously. The player sits the whole five minutes even if the other team scores multiple times during that stretch.
What exactly makes a penalty shot happen?
A penalty shot gets awarded when a player on a breakaway gets fouled in a way that takes away a clear scoring chance.
Most of the time, this happens when a defender illegally messes with the puck carrier in the neutral or offensive zone, and no goal goes in on the play.
Why and when does a penalty shot get called?
A penalty shot gets called when a player has clear control of the puck and a straight path to the net, but gets fouled by an opponent.
The whole point is to give back a scoring chance that got unfairly taken away. The foul has to happen in the neutral or offensive zone, and the player had to have a real shot at scoring.
How often do players score on penalty shots?
Right now, NHL players score on about 50–55% of penalty shots as of 2026.
That number comes from decades of regular-season data. The exact percentage can shift a little depending on the era or shooting style, but it’s usually pretty close to a coin flip between shooter and goalie.
Can a goalie take a penalty shot?
Yes, a goalie can take a penalty shot if they’re the one fouled during a breakaway.
It doesn’t happen often, but NHL goalies have actually taken penalty shots before. The most famous example comes from soccer, but hockey rules let goalies take them too when the situation calls for it.
What’s a slap shot in hockey?
A slap shot is a hard hockey shot where the player winds up fully and swings the stick before hitting the puck.
This shot packs serious speed because the energy from the stick transfers straight through the blade into the puck, making it one of the fastest shots in the game.
What are the five key skills in hockey?
The five core skills every hockey player needs are first touch, leading, hitting, passing, and flat-stick tackling.
These skills help players control the game, keep possession, and defend properly. First touch lets you control the puck quickly, leading creates space, hitting applies body contact, passing moves the puck around, and flat-stick tackling wins the puck cleanly.
What are the five types of penalties in hockey?
The five penalty types in hockey are minor, major, misconduct, match penalties, and penalty shots.
Minor penalties give the other team a two-minute power play; major penalties mean five minutes in the box; misconducts remove a player for 10 minutes with a substitute; match penalties eject a player for the rest of the game; and penalty shots restore a lost scoring chance.
What’s a 10-minute penalty in hockey?
A 10-minute misconduct penalty kicks a player out of the game for 10 minutes, but their team can send in a substitute right away.
The player serves the full 10 minutes no matter how many goals get scored, but the team doesn’t have to play short-handed. These penalties usually come for unsportsmanlike conduct or repeated minor infractions.
Can you pass a penalty kick in soccer?
Yes, in soccer you can pass a penalty kick to a teammate during a shootout or regular play.
The Laws of the Game allow the kicker to roll the ball forward to a teammate, who can then try to score. That soft chip shot is sometimes called a “panenka” when executed well.
Where do you take a penalty shot from?
A penalty shot is taken from the penalty mark, which sits 11 meters (about 12 yards) from the goal line and dead center between the posts.
The shooter skates straight at the net from that spot, with only the opposing goalie to beat. In penalty shootouts after a tied game, they use the exact same distance.
Who can take a penalty shot?
Only players who were on the ice when the foul happened—or were temporarily off like an injured player—can take the penalty shot.
Substitutes or players who left the ice before the foul aren’t allowed to step up. That rule keeps things fair and stops teams from bringing in fresh shooters who didn’t face the foul.
When was the last penalty shot in the NHL?
The most recent NHL penalty shot went to Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers on May 3, 2024, during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin stopped it. Penalty shots don’t come up much in the playoffs, so every one stands out.
When is body checking allowed in hockey?
You can only body check an opponent who actually has possession or control of the puck.
Legal checks have to land with the shoulder, hip, or torso. Hitting someone without the puck is a penalty, plain and simple.
Can a goalie play with a broken stick?
A goalie can keep playing with a broken stick until the next whistle, then grab a new one from the bench.
A teammate has to hand the new stick directly to the goalie—no sliding or throwing allowed. The goalie must swap sticks before jumping back into action for safety’s sake.
