Hockey today is played even where in natural conditions there is almost no ice or snow. Only football can compete with respect to the degree of popularity in different countries and on different continents. The rules and regulations of this game were formed gradually, as it gradually turned from a simple winter entertainment into a great professional sport. The hockey community on both sides of the ocean is always actively discussing all new trends and possible changes in the rules of their favorite game. Let's take a closer look at what bullets in hockey are. This is one of the most controversial issues in the rules and regulations of hockey competitions.
When does it come to shootouts?
According to all existing hockey rules, teams playing on the ice rink find out relations with each other, trying to throw the puck into the opponent’s goal. The whole process of the game is strictly regulated by hockey rules, the strict observance of which is observed by the refereeing team of three competent specialists. In a tough power struggle, violations are inevitable. Usually they are punished by removing the offender for two minutes of playing time or five minutes if the violation was serious and the opponent's player was slightly injured. But there are special situations when an attacker comes face to face with the goalkeeper. And the defender who failed to stop him in a fair fight knocks the opponent down. Such a violation is punished in a special way. The injured party is entitled to a free throw.
What are hockey shootouts
A free throw in hockey is called a “bullet” and is carried out in strict accordance with the rules. All outsiders leave the ice rink. Only the goalkeeper and striker remain on it. Hockey shootouts are nothing more than martial arts between them. The attacker starts from the center of the field and moves to the goal; he has only one attempt to throw. The rules of shootouts in hockey are not allowed to touch the puck for the second time. Well, spectators and players are watching the outcome of the match from the stands and from the bench. As a rule, the right to throw is granted to the player who was attacked not according to the rules and was knocked down.
Until the result is achieved
Hockey shootouts are a seemingly very spectacular sight. And the audience in the stands likes to look at this kind of martial arts. But in ordinary matches, it doesn’t come to free throws so often, usually violations of the rules are punishable by a simple two-minute removal. Nevertheless, shootouts in the hockey of the regular championship of the Continental Hockey League are carried out quite often. The fact is that they have lost the function of punishing the guilty team. Since the principle of the game was established in the KHL games, in which there can be no draw, the winner of the match is established with the help of shootouts. If three periods of regular time end with a tie, an additional period is assigned, it is called "overtime". If he does not allow to reveal the winner, then the players of the teams alternately carry out three shootouts. If this does not change the draw, then the teams are given one more throw. How many shootouts in hockey can be the maximum? As much as you need before the victory of one of the teams. Thus, a draw is completely ruled out, one of the opponents will surely achieve success. But sometimes a series of shootouts are delayed for a long time.
In playoff games
The KHL regulation has changed several times in the part that defines the rules for the final part of the championship. At the dawn of the league, the playoffs were no different from the regular part of the championship. But the matches began to often end with a series of shootouts, as the players were very afraid to make a mistake in the final meetings and give the opponent a chance. A lot of mocking comments began to be heard on the topic that you can no longer play hockey - just shootouts. But after their cancellation, the opposite extreme arose - the games began to drag out for a very long time, one overtime followed the other. The game often went to wear. As a result, in 2012 a balanced decision was made. now overtime is played up to the finals, and then shootouts are thrown. Exceptions are the fifth game in the eighth of the finals and the seventh in subsequent stages. They are played to victory. Similarly, until the victorious result, all matches of the Kontinental Hockey League finals are played .
A kind of record
World hockey statistics give us the answer to the question of the absolute achievements in the field of shooting shots on goal of the enemy. This record was set in a match between the teams “Munich” and “Straubing Tigers”. To find out the relationship, these teams needed to make 42 free throws. Won the Straubing Tigers. Perhaps this curious record will ever be surpassed. Only this will happen very soon.