Penalty shot (ice hockey)
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In ice hockey, a penalty shot is a type of penalty awarded when a team loses a clear scoring opportunity because of a foul committed by an opposing player. One player is given an attempt to score a goal without opposition from any defending players except the goaltender. Unlike penalty kicks in football (soccer) and penalty strokes in field hockey, the player is allowed to skate with the puck before shooting.
Penalty shots are most commonly awarded when a player is fouled from behind on a breakaway and is not able to take a shot. Other fouls that result in penalty shots include throwing the stick in the defending zone or at a player on a breakaway, purposely dislodging the goal post to prevent a scoring opportunity, a defending player other than the goaltender falling on or picking up the puck while it is in the goal crease, and deliberate illegal substitution in the last two minutes of regulation time or in overtime.
To start a penalty shot, the puck is placed on the center faceoff spot, and the goaltender stands on the goal line. When the referee blows the whistle, the attacking player may take control of the puck and attempt to score. Once the attacker touches the puck, the goaltender may step away from the line for better positioning. The shooter is allowed one shot – a goal cannot be scored on a rebound – and once the puck crosses the goal line, the penalty shot is considered complete. Play stops immediately following an unsuccessful penalty shot and is restarted with a faceoff in the zone where the penalty shot was tried.
If a penalty shot is awarded and the penalized team had pulled their goaltender in favour of an extra attacker, an automatic goal is awarded in lieu of the penalty shot.