The shoot-out has long been a topic that divides hockey fans. Many feel that it's an overly long and drawn-out skills competition, and a cheap gimmick that diminishes the emphasis on team play and tarnishes the integrity of the game. Others disagree, pointing out that it's actually not all that long.
But while the shoot-out may cause its share of controversy, there's no disputing that it has also created some unique hockey memories. Here's a sampling of some of the most indelible moments from the brief history of the NHL shoot-out:
February 13, 2008: After being given a rare shoot-out opportunity, a confused and frightened Tomas Kaberle spends the next forty-five minutes circling the offensive zone in a desperate attempt to find someone to pass to.
December 10, 2010: After telling Edmonton Oilers teammates that he was going to try something creative for a change, a disappointed Linus Omark is forced to switch to plan B after officials refuse to allow him to bring his ladder and bucket of confetti onto the ice.
November 2, 2009: Continuing his impressive streak as the only player in NHL history to be successful on every career shoot-out attempt, Gregory Campbell scores on his patented move of skating directly at the goaltender while yelling, “Get out of the way or my dad will suspend you!”
October 21, 2008: In a controversial effort to improve their chances of taking home two points, Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson pulls Vesa Toskala before the shoot-out begins and replaces him with an old shoelace dangling from the crossbar.
November 27, 2010: Olli Jokinen streaks in across the blue line, kicks the puck up to his skates, and executes a breathtaking spinorama before being stopped by an arena worker who explains that game is already over and the Flames lost 7–1 in regulation.
March 24, 2010: Despite scoring on his first career attempt, Canadiens' defenseman P.K. Subban receives near-unanimous criticism from within the hockey community after he briefly cracks a facial expression.
October 25, 2005: Amid echoes of shots and clouds of gun smoke, the first shoot-out in Dallas Stars history resumes after the public address announcer sternly admonishes the Texas crowd because that's not the kind of “shoot-out” they meant and they know it.
April 11, 2009: The Flyers eliminate the Rangers from playoff contention on the season's final day, thanks to a move they call “glue the puck to the front of a stolen Zamboni and then run over Henrik Lundqvist while he's taking a drink from his water bottle.”
November 3, 2009: Players begin to realize that the best way to score on Rick DiPietro is by coming in as slowly as possible, since given enough time he'll eventually keel over from some random injury, and you can just tap it into the open net.
January 1, 2008: After giving up the game-winning shoot-out goal to Sidney Crosby to end the first-ever outdoor Winter Classic, the Sabres' Ryan Miller comforts himself by telling reporters, “Oh well, at least I know that's the worst game-ending five-hole goal I'll ever give up to that guy on national television.”