Most players wouldn't take their helmets off during a shootout simply because they are so used to playing with them on that it would be a distraction.
I grew up playing & watching the NHL (mostly) without helmets. The worst thing about watching the NHL when helmets started to become more popular was that it was much harder to recognize players. But players are so much bigger now and elbow and shoulder pads are so much harder that playing without a helmet just isn't possible anymore.
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