Lee Stempniak and the Top 10 Worst Shootout Attempts in NHL History

The shootout.

It's an aspect of the game that is favoured by many, due to its exciting and unpredictable nature.

An aspect of the game that is also hated by a selective group, because they believe a tie should be settled with hockey, not a talent contest.

An aspect of the game that always ends with a winner, a loser, and a hero.

Since its introduction in the 2005-06 season, the shootout has garnered a wide array of emotions from NHL fans around the world, seeing everything from adoration to complete disdain.

It's a "love it or hate it" kind of thing.

Each team sends out three players to compete in a best-of-three shootout challenge. In the occasion of a tie in score after all six shooters, both teams will designate one player at a time to try and end the game.

It's a chance for players to show their stuff and prove that they have some magic up their sleeves.

In its five-year National Hockey League lifespan, the shootout has brought us a staggering number of memorable dekes, goals, and hockey games.

I'm sure we all remember Marek Malik's 15th round, between-the-legs heroics. The same goes for any—or all—of Pavel Datsyuk's shootout masterpieces.

Might I remind you of the famous "spin-o-rama?" How about the ever-popular leg kick?

We as fans have surely seen our fair share of impressive shootout attempts, but what is often overlooked is the other side of the spectrum.

What about the games where things didn't go as planned?

With all the highlight reel goals, many forget about the times where a player missed on a shootout opportunity on account of bad stick handling, loss of balance, or even just a faulty stick.

Today, we will be reviewing the best examples of misplays in the shootout. Without further ado, here are the Top 10 Worst Shootout Attempts in NHL History.

Honourable Mention: Corey Perry Can't Get Around a Goalie Stick

Perry couldn't avoid Norrena's stick.

Perry just missed the cut with this example of what not to do when a goalie poke checks you.

Had he made the simple move around the stick, he would have had time to grab a coffee, come back, and then score. That's JUST how wide open the net would have been.

10. Raffi Torres...Oops

Oops!

The announcer points out that Torres should go for a power move and stay away from dangling. I can't say I disagree. With moves like that, he shouldn't be touching a deke with a stick.

I realize Torres definitely doesn't play that badly on a nightly basis, he's a fairly solid player. Nonetheless, if he was having that kind of night, he should have just shot and avoided all possible embarrassment.

9. Andy McDonald Loses Control

He just flat out loses control.

McDonald sort of just lost control of this one, nothing all too special. It slides in at number nine because of the sheer simplicity of the clip.

At first, he skates in looking like one of those calm, cool and professional guys; that is, until he tried to stickhandle.

Oops!

8. Markus Naslund Screws Up, Not Once, But Twice!

Trouble right from the beginning.

This one spelled trouble right from the beginning.

Naslund casually skates up and tries to take the puck, but he accidentally passes it.

Now, if that doesn't change your whole mindset when you're about to go one-on-one against a goaltender with the game on your shoulders, I don't know what does.

The initial "screw up" lead to another. He awkwardly turned around and grabbed the puck, then picked up the pace and skated in.

He ended up just switching to his backhand and flipping a weak shot on net against goaltender Marty Turco.

7. Henrik Sedin's Shootout Attempt That Just Plain Sucked

Just bad. Very, very bad.

Now, WHAT exactly was Henrik Sedin thinking when he did this?

There was no real method to his madness, no reason or rhyme. It's barely even explainable, the leading scorer of the 2009-10 season just skated in through the zone and tapped a backhander at goaltender Ed Belfour that could be described perfectly with one word; powerless.

Saying that the shot was weak is an understatement. Actually, the announcer probably stated it perfectly when he said:

"I don't even know it, if that puck had gone through, would it have even had enough momentum to get to the back of the net?" 

6. Todd Marchant Loses His Luggage

Great.

Sorry, what?

This happened in his first shootout attempt of the season... poor guy!

I don't think Todd Marchant got the memo that he could have just picked up the puck with his stick and continued his shootout run unharmed.

Unfortunately, he didn't clue in, and just slid the puck backwards towards the goaltender.

5. Andrew Ladd Dumps The Puck in at The Wrong Time

Don't dump the puck, Andrew!

I guess the guy was just a little too dedicated to the dump-and-chase play. Unfortunately for Ladd, the formulas from that playbook don't work so well in the shootout.

An easy save was made and Ladd was left to make the shameful skate back to the bench. Get 'em next time.

4. Lee Stempniak Shoots, And... Well, Just Watch

Poor guy, that's incredibly embarrassing.

Man, oh man, oh man.

Poor Stempy, having to live through the embarrassment of knowing that he was the creator of this wildly horrendous shot.

Just watch.

3. Patrick Eaves' "Fake N' Fall"

Patrick Eaves, skating in with speed, he fakes, he.. falls?

This one is actually quite entertaining. He skates, stumbles, and falls. What more could you ask for in a failed shootout attempt?

Patrick Eaves must have just hit a patch of slippery ice or something, but whatever it was, it was definitely funny.

His loss is our gain in the sense of entertainment... unless, of course, if you're a Red Wing fan.

2. Dennis Wideman Goes Wide.. Way Wide!

Too wide there, Wideman?

"He's going to get the CCM double runners for the next St. Louis Blues game!"

"Looks like Barry Melrose after his first beer!"

"He just toe-picked it, crazy-legged it to the corner!"

Those three incredible quotes from the announcers can pretty much describe the entire video clip.

There's something about watching the way he falls, and just listening to the announcers in the background that make the clip nearly perfect.

Some people may be surprised to see this clip at number two and not in first place, but strangely enough, there is a new "worst shootout" champion.

1. Anton Stralman Slips Up and Splits Up... Ouch

So.. what happened here?

Watching this video, I just can't seem to figure out exactly how Anton Stralman managed to pull of this masterpiece.

I think it's safe to say that he has officially dethroned Dennis Wideman as the owner of the worst NHL shootout attempt in history.

I won't say anymore, let's just leave Stralman and this video to bask in their glory.

This article and much more can also be found at Sports Haze. Check it out!

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