Is there a lot more scoring in the shootout nowadays and why?

[SnowblindNYR]

The other day someone mentioned that on the Rangers board and since then the Rangers have played two shootout games. I looked at the rates players scored and it's all like 35% and up. It feels like back in the day it seemed like 25% was pretty good or at the very least average. There are a lot fewer variables in the shootout than the regular game so why did it change so much?

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[Tob]

The amount of highly talented Jewish players making an impact.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

The amount of highly talented Jewish players making an impact.

They light up the goalies like a Christm...eh...Menorah.

 

[Dirty Dan]

The amount of highly talented Jewish players making an impact.

But why is there no goalies?

 

[Tob]

It's all the prolonged to the side of the net stuff that's killing goalies plus going wide.

 

[vipera1960]

The other day someone mentioned that on the Rangers board and since then the Rangers have played two shootout games. I looked at the rates players scored and it's all like 35% and up. It feels like back in the day it seemed like 25% was pretty good or at the very least average. There are a lot fewer variables in the shootout than the regular game so why did it change so much?

Practice. Teams (from kids all the way to the NHL) now spend time actively working on breakaway/penalty shot/shootout moves that they didn’t before.

 

[ijuka]

It's the rules. Players should be forced to keep moving the puck forward. NHL Rulebook 23-24 states:

The puck must be kept in motion towards the opponent’s goal line

But this is not enforced. Players can pull it backwards and so they get more opportunities to outplay the goalie than they should be allowed to. The biggest farce are the practically standstill shootout attempts.

Any time the puck moves back at more than 90 degree angle in relation to the goal, the attempt should be called void. This would kill all those lame "going wide" shootout attempts during which you can brew a cup of coffee.