Alex Burrows is one of the Vancouver Canucks' most successful shootout performers, having gone 8-for-12 over the last two seasons. He was the first shooter for the ‘Nucks at the Los Angeles Kings on Monday night, and decided to get a little creative.

It didn’t work, as the shot rang off the post near Jonathan Quick. But what if it had …

(Vancouver lost the game, 3-2, on a Jeff Carter shootout goal.)

First, let’s establish the rules for such a move, from the NHL rulebook on penalty shots and shootout attempts:

The puck must be kept in motion towards the opponent’s goal line and once it is shot, the play shall be considered complete. … The spin-o-rama type move where the player completes a 360° turn as he approaches the goal, shall be permitted as this involves continuous motion.

Well, Burrows does a spin-o-rama, but leaves the puck behind him. The puck continues to inch forward on the ice as Burrows leaves the spin. He resists the temptation to go backhand/forehand, which would have made this attempt a little murkier. He then fires it off the post to Quick’s right.

Would this have counted? By the letter of the law, we think it would.

Does it violate the spirit of the rule, assuming this soulless skills competition does contain a spirit? Probably.

What say you about this inventive attempt, with the understanding that Alex Burrows as its author may already levy a strike against it?

Pass or Fail: Alex Burrows’ spinning puck abandonment move against Jonathan Quick.



