Breaking down the Blackhawks' strategy in shootouts: Predetermined moves and calculated orders

Shootout critics argue they’re a crapshoot way to determine the winner of an NHL game, and they are somewhat correct.

But as NHL three-on-three overtime strategy shifts toward passively maintaining possession, shootouts are on the rise again, whether fans like it or not.

The Blackhawks have gone 3-5 in eight shootouts this season, including six between Dec. 27 and Jan. 27. That’s already tied for the most they've had in any season since the overtime rules changed in 2015.

And there is a science to the crapshoot — somewhat. Here’s a look into how the Hawks strategize for shootouts:

Players

Hawks players receive a shootout-focused scouting report on their opponent’s starting goalie before every game, but “then you have the whole game to do your own scouting report,” Frank Nazar pointed out.

“Usually, I get a good chance in tight with the goalie and read how he plays those,” added Nazar, who is 1-for-5 this season. “I use that when I go in the shootout. [Plus], you never know if you'll get a penalty shot, right? You want to prepare no matter what.”

Once chosen for a shootout attempt, most players like to have ideas in mind for their route down the ice — and the move they’ll attempt on the goalie — before the attempt begins. They have to be willing to change those ideas at any moment, though.

“I find I do a little better when I've got something in my mind and stick to that,” said Connor Bedard, who is 2-for-5. “But sometimes the goalie is in a different spot than you expect, so you change it if you need to.”

Teuvo Teravainen, who is 0-for-4 this season but 10-for-30 in his career, likes to stick with one approach at any given time, then switch that approach suddenly once goalies seem to know it's coming.

"It's [a] little battle if you're going to do the same move or do something else," Teravainen said.

But sometimes, a player only has one move in his repertoire. That's the case for defenseman Louis Crevier, who pulls the puck across the crease and flicks a backhand shot past the goalie before he can fully slide left to right.

It worked on a Dec. 10 breakaway against Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin. That earned Crevier two unexpected shootout opportunities in January, the latter of which he converted against Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. But it probably does have a finite period of viability.

Coaches

The Hawks' coaching staff, led by Jeff Blashill, decides which players to send out in shootouts and in what order.

Sometimes, Blashill is going off a pure hunch, like he did when Nick Foligno — who was previously 0-for-13 in his career in shootouts — buried the sixth-round winner Jan. 3 against the Capitals.

But usually, he's referencing a deep archive of shootout data — which includes players' college and minor-league careers — as well as what he has seen in just-for-fun shootouts after practices.

There's science behind the shootout order, too. Bedard, for example, always shoots second for a reason.

"Some guys like to go second [because] they like to get a look at the goalie," Blashill said. "Not that they don't have tape ahead of time, but just to get a feel for it. Also, enough times, somebody like Connor has played a lot of minutes in overtime, so it gives him a chance to catch his breath."

Rookie Nick Lardis, who is 2-for-5, usually went first because Blashill figures there's less pressure on that slot. Veteran Ryan Donato, who is 1-for-7 this season but 11-for-34 in his career, has often gone third because Blashill believes he can handle pressure.

"You've certainly got to make sure that your best shooters get a chance to shoot," Blashill added. "That's probably the No. 1 rule."