Why don't players lift the puck with their stick and just toss it in above the goalie?

Like any sport, Hockey is a series of split second decisions. Players are more apt to take a quick shot at an open net without any concern where the puck goes. It's how a player makes those split second decisions that separates the middle of the pack from the good players, and the good players from the greats. If a player doesn't lift a puck on a nice wide open shot, it's usually because they rushed their shot because they only had so much time to take their shot.