What is a Slot?

The slot is a rectangular area in hockey that extends toward the blue line. In ice hockey, the slot is a strategic position in the crease. The word slot is related to the verb sleutana, and is cognate with the German Schloss. A hockey slot is an area where the puck has the best chance of getting past the goaltender without deflection.

A slot is used for several different functions. One use is to manage the flow of traffic at a busy airport. This feature prevents repeated delays. One type of slot is a named slot, and the other is a generic slot. Various attributes are used to designate which slot will be used for a particular purpose.

Slot machines can be played with cash or paper tickets that contain barcodes. The player pulls a lever to activate the slot machine. The reels then spin and if they land on winning combinations, the player receives credits. Symbols on the reels vary depending on the game theme, but classic symbols include fruit, lucky sevens, and bells. The game can also have bonus features aligned with the theme.

A slot receiver can line up on the outside or inside side of the offensive line. The NFL has recently seen a resurgence in the slot position with players such as Branden Cooks and Tyreek Hill stretching the defense vertically off of pure speed. Typically, slot receivers run short routes on the route tree, such as slants and quick outs.