“Tip Your Hat”
Key Takeaways
- Ovechkin's one-timer reached 101.3 mph at the 2018 NHL All-Star Hardest Shot competition, combining elite speed with heavy spin that causes unpredictable puck movement.
- Multiple NHL goalies, including Braden Holtby and James Reimer, describe the shot as behaving like a knuckleball—moving erratically even when the goalie knows it's coming.
- Ovechkin's stick features a deep curve with an almost 90-degree notch at the toe, which directly influences how the puck leaves the blade and why it moves differently than any other shot.
- Ryan Miller, who faced Ovechkin 34 times and allowed 19 goals, warns that a half-save isn't enough—the spin and velocity mean a partial stop can still result in the puck skipping in.
- Even full advance knowledge of the shot doesn't help goalies stop it—former teammate Holtby confirmed it 'doesn't go where it's supposed to,' making anticipation largely ineffective.
Alex Ovechkin is the greatest goal scorer in NHL history, thanks in large part to one-timer that is probably the most unpredictable and hardest to read because it sometimes actually curves.
That was the consensus among the half dozen goalies InGoal Magazine talked to over the past decade about the famed Ovechkin one-timer, a shot so effective it often didn’t matter if everyone in the building, including the goalie, knew it was coming.
INGOAL
Unlock the rest of this premium breakdown
Join thousands of goalies, parents, and coaches who train smarter with InGoal.
15+ years as the #1 goaltending resource
$49.99
CAD / YEAR · ≈ $35 USD
Less than a few skate sharpenings
Already a member? Log in