The "wheelhouse" is a term used to describe an excellent shooting opportunity for a hockey player. Typically, a player will get a pass from a teammate as he is setting up in the offensive zone. When he can put all his momentum and strength behind the shot and fire it cleanly, it is said to be in his wheelhouse. Shooters want this kind of opportunity to help them score goals.
Slap Shot
When a player gets a pass in his wheelhouse, he typically is in a position to fire a slap shot at the opposing goal. This means he has broken free from the defensive coverage and has the opportunity to set up to take the pass and fire a hard slap shot. Typically, the pass will slide to the shooter near the middle of his set up. As the puck gets closer, the shooter will begin his backswing and then come forward and slap the puck on net without stopping the puck. This is called one-timing the puck.
Goalie Reaction
Opposing goaltenders are put to the test when a shooter fires this type of wheelhouse shot. The shooter is getting all his strength and momentum behind the shot and hockey players might shoot the puck at speeds approaching or exceeding 100 mph. Boston Bruin defenseman Zdeno Chara has won the NHL's hardest shot competition on multiple occasions with shots measuring 105.9 mph. When a shooter catches the puck squarely with the blade of his stick on a hard slap shot, the goaltender must have a clear view of the shot to make a move to try to stop the puck. If a player has a wheelhouse shot and the goaltender is screened -- blocked out -- by another offensive player stationed in front of the net or even one of his own teammates, it can be impossible to make a move to block the shot.
Typical Shooters
In most cases, the right wing or left wing will be the beneficiaries of a pass from the center or another teammate for a shot from his wheelhouse. If the puck is in one of the offensive corners, the center and either the right wing or left wing will try to dig the puck out and create an offensive opportunity. The wing who is not in the corner will skate toward the slot area -- 15 to 25 feet in front of the goalie -- and try to get open. If he is successful, the pass will come and a top-level scoring opportunity will present itself.
Top Shooters
While Zdeno Chara can shoot explosively, he typically will line up near the blue line and not in the slot for his powerful shot. His teammate, right wing Nathan Horton, took a pass in his wheelhouse in overtime of the Bruins' seven-game series against Montreal in 2011 and buried the slap shot past Canadiens goalie Carey Price to give the Bruins a dramatic win in the series. Other top shooters from the slot include Washington's Alexander Ovechkin, Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos and Calgary's Jarome Iginla.
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