from Mick Kern of SiriusXM,

For the penalty shot represents the ultimate hockey mano-a-mano. Goalie vs. Shooter. Offence vs. Defence. The unstoppable force meeting the unmovable object. And so on.

Yes, the shootout is practically the same thing, but it’s Penalty Shot Light. You get another chance, or two. The shootout does have its moments where it matches the intensity of a penalty shot. When a game comes down to the final shot, or that great 2010 shootout where the Flyers edged the Rangers not only for the game, but for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Those are exceptions. There’s a reason the hockey world has gone to 3-on-3 regular season overtime. Less shootouts.

There was a time in this fair land where the penalty shot was seen with less regularity than an Asian Crested Ibis, or the bus you’re waiting for when you’re already 15 minutes late for an appointment.

Officials were loath to raise their arm and present a team with a clear cut scoring opportunity, even when a clear cut scoring opportunity had just been clearly cut down.

“Let the players decide things” was no doubt the sentiment that ruled the day, completing disregarding that someone just decided the game by breaking the rules.

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