| abstract
| - The penalty shot was added to the rule books of the National Hockey League for the 1934-35 season, allowing them to be awarded when a player was fouled while in "a good scoring position." The first penalty shot was awarded to the Montreal Canadiens' Armand Mondou on November 10, 1934; he was stopped by the Toronto Maple Leafs' George Hainsworth. On November 13, Ralph "Scotty" Bowman of the St. Louis Eagles scored the first penalty shot goal in NHL history. 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. In the Southern Professional Hockey League, since its inception in 2004, a penalty shot is automatically awarded for a minor penalty in the final two minutes of overtime. To start a penalty shot, the puck is placed on the centre 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 a penalty shot. The time needed for the shot is not included in the playing time of the game. If the shot is unsuccessful, play is restarted with a faceoff in the zone where the penalty shot was tried. If the shot is successful, the faceoff is at center ice as with any other goal. Although most of the rule books do not specify a time limit, they do require the shooter to move the puck continuously toward a scoring attempt, once it is touched. The skater may also skate for a short time prior to touching the puck, to build up his momentum. At any point, the referee would have to judge whether the attacker is stalling, and thus nullify the play. Frequently, players will attempt to deke around the goaltender in an effort to score. Other players may simply shoot quickly in front of the goaltender, relying on the quick release of the shot to score a goal. 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. A penalty shot is considered by some commentators to be the most exciting moment in hockey. However, due to the circumstances necessary to trigger a penalty shot call, penalty shots are rare in the NHL, especially in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Far fewer goals are scored on penalty shots compared to penalty kicks. In the long history of Stanley Cup play, only 46 penalty shots have been called, and only ten in the Finals since the first one in 1937. The first eight resulted in no score. The first successful penalty shot in Stanley Cup Finals history occurred on June 5 2006, when Chris Pronger of the Edmonton Oilers beat Cam Ward of the Carolina Hurricanes, following an illegal covering of the puck by a Carolina player. The most recent failed attempt occurred in the 2007 finals, when Antoine Vermette of the Ottawa Senators had his shot turned aside by Jean-Sébastien Giguère of the champion Anaheim Ducks
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