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Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:09 pm EDT

Video: Team Sweden bringing chips to the shootout party

By Sean Leahy

If you're a golf or soccer fan, you're aware of the beauty of a chip shot.

In soccer, it's a slow, deceptive shot or pass used to outsmart an opponent's defense. In golf, it's a shot that helps get you out of the sand trap, deep rough or away from pesky gophers. The chip shot flutters in the air, almost slowing time down, and is always effective.

One would think with the elimination of the two-line pass in hockey, that we would see the chip more often. Atlanta's Eric Perrin attempt in a game last month against Edmonton was successful when he found Marty Reasoner on the other end.

But what about using it as an actual shot? Case and point: Sweden's Linus Omark who, in a warm-up match for the upcoming IIHF World Championships, made Swiss Marco Bührer look silly with a little help from the crossbar.

If only Inter Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovic could switch sports, we'd see the chip take over hockey.

Omark, who was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth-round of the 2007 NHL Draft, is currently playing for Lulea in the Swedish Elite League. Oilers assistant General Manager Kevin Prendergast would like to bring Omark to North America; but recently an unnamed KHL club threw a large offer his way, which has thrown a monkey wrench into the Edmonton's plans.

Predergast has stated that he does not plan to get into a bidding war with clubs trying to pry Omark away. Despite his small frame (5-9, 170 lbs.), Omark has the skills to play in the NHL according to Prendergast: "There's nothing wrong with this kid, other than being small... something we have a lot of, but he's gritty. He's a much better version of Patrick Thoresen."

That sound you hear is the "Patrick Thoresen Fan Club" putting on their Nutty-Buddy's and cranking out letters.

The 2009 IIHF World Championships kick off in Switzerland beginning April 24 with Sweden playing out of Group C with the United States.

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16 Comments

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  1. Sobu
    1. Posted by Sobu Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:31 pm EDT

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    I'm surprised I don't see that move very often either. It's seems like it'd be the best answer the a low-off balance goalie. Too many times I see players either miss wide or high trying to power it around the goalie in that situation. Even worse many players try to hit the '6 hole' only to learn that it doesn't exist.
  2. g-g-g-gaber
    2. Posted by g-g-g-gaber Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Numero uno!! Uno i said!
  3. Larry
    3. Posted by Larry Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:58 pm EDT

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    Leahy's a bum!
  4. blake-pon@...
    4. Posted by blake-pon@... Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    If anyone watches the Eric Perrin chip shot linked above, skip to around 3:24
  5. Brian S
    5. Posted by Brian S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:50 pm EDT

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    Hey Wysh kudos for the Zlatan reference.
  6. Brian S
    6. Posted by Brian S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:50 pm EDT

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    Leahy rather, I just assume its Wysh, terrible I know.
  7. habs1rule
    7. Posted by habs1rule Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:15 pm EDT

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    He's too big for the Habs, and that shot wont work against a stand up goalie, just those butterfly floppers who look like they just came on dry land for the first time. Isnt it embarrassing to post #1 ..and be ninth!
  8. Harry the Husky
    8. Posted by Harry the Husky Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:30 pm EDT

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    Wait a minute. The goal should have been waved off. He pulled the puck backwards to flip it. Puck must remain in a continuing forward motion during a penalty shot, no?
  9. j_n_16
    9. Posted by j_n_16 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    That is the cheakiest goal ever
  10. j_n_16
    10. Posted by j_n_16 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    @ The Ghost
    They make exceptions for the puck being moved back slightly. For example, remember Marek Malik's insane goal against the Caps? Or the countless spin-o-ramas that have been pulled? The rule really only applies to ensure guys can't skate towards the goalie, stop, go back to the blue line and try again.
  11. Justin K
    11. Posted by Justin K Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:44 pm EDT

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    Yeah, I have the feeling it would have to be an impromptu move; it's too susceptible to the poke check. However, nice move and great video quality.
  12. Zachary K
    12. Posted by Zachary K Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:00 pm EDT

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    *Assistant* GM
  13. MTL_WINGS
    13. Posted by MTL_WINGS Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:26 pm EDT

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    That's almost exactly like the deke that datsyuk does. Youtube Datsyuk and Turco.
  14. Phil Wood
    14. Posted by Phil Wood Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    Shootouts do not allow the puck or player to have a backward motion - but the player stickhandling the puck with a slight backward tug really only slows the puck. This argument has popped upa couple of times, but if you take into account the forward momentum of hte player/puck, you can see that the pull back really only slowed the puck allowing the player to catch up - it didn't stop the puck and pull it into negative motion (more like the type of goal that bothers Angry Rask). This is a fair play and a goal. The problem with it is the slow speed of the shot. The player put it off the crossbar which was about perfect. If he was lower, either the goalies stick swipe, or if he had be smarter, lifting of his leg pads will make this move very unsuccessful.
  15. Steve B
    15. Posted by Steve B Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    Hey, I did the same thing in my rec league Monday night, minus the deke, ha. Too bad there is no YouTube video of it, haha.
  16. books
    16. Posted by books Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    A goalie definetly wouldn't expect that so it might work once in a while...although if you miss playing around like that you look really bad.
    On a similar vein I fooled around with a shot that acted like a breaking ball for a while. I did it completely by accident the first time but after a while I managed to figure out the mechanics. I fooled my goalie a number of times with it in practice but would never use it in a game for a couple reasons. 1) 95% of my goals were from about 5-10 feet away from the net 2) In a real game you don't get to play around with the puck and if you do you get either killed with a wicked hit or benched. I'm not a fan of the shoot out as it is completely removed from the conditions of the regular game. This kind of thing may be fun to do in practice but really it's a crap way to win...kind of like telling a goalie his wife is a lesbian so you can get him thrown out...'It's true...I know I know!!!'

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