A slap shot is the hardest and most intimidating shot in ice hockey. The top players in the game can fire a slap shot at speeds of better than 100 miles per hour. A slap shot is a devastating offensive weapon. When a player has the opportunity to take a full windup and blast the puck at top speed, he can score a goal or set up a teammate for a tip-in or a rebound.
Power Play
When a team has a man advantage because its opponent has taken a penalty, one of the primary strategies is to work the puck back to one of two players at the blue line so they can wind up and take a slap shot. This is effective because the player at that spot -- known as the point -- can survey the ice before making a play. He can pass to a teammate, fire a shot in to the corner, take a wrist shot or take a slap shot. When the point man can find an open lane to the goal and take a slap shot, it will be a major challenge for the goalie to stop the blast and control the rebound.
Deflections
When a player takes a slap shot, his primary goal is to put the shot on net and hopefully score a goal. However, a teammate may put himself in between the shot and the goalie. If he has quick hands, he may be able to deflect the shot so it changes directions on its way to the goal. If the deflection sends the puck to an unguarded area of the net, it is nearly impossible for the opposing goaltender to react quickly enough to stop a deflected shot that may be traveling over 100 MPH.
Rebounds
A goalie may get one of his leg pads or his glove on the puck and that will keep the slap shot from going into the net. However, when the puck is shot hard, it is difficult to control the puck. On many occasions, the goalie will leave a rebound that an opposing player will be able to seize and fire a quick shot on net and score a goal. This is a frequent occurrence when a player takes a slap shot.
Drawbacks
A slap shot takes much longer to shoot than a wrist shot, a snap shot or a backhand shot. As a result, a slap shot can be easy for a goalie to stop when he sees the shot from start to finish. Slap shots are harder for the shooter to control. In many cases, a top shooter can pick out any spot on the net and hit it with a wrist shot. A slap shot will usually not have that kind of accuracy. A slap shot is usually more effective when it is taken from medium or long range. It is usually not effective when taken close to the net because defensemen can react and block it since they are usually close to the shooter.
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