Puck Positioning With Scorer’s Intent
I really enjoy this mic’d up moment between Adam Nicholas and Cole Caufield.
They’re talking about getting the goalie to move their weight/body in order to open up the 5-hole/short side post. They chat about how Auston Matthews would handle and present the puck (on one leg, never centered) to set up the goalie how he wants.
By Cole holding the puck in a static dual-threat position he allows the goalie to set his feet. Goalies love that. By selling a pass option, Cole would have a better shooting opportunity as the goalie moves and adjusts his positioning.
Then that evening, Teuvo Teräväinen gives us a great game example
And if you go far enough in the depths of YouTube, you can find a scrub doing the same thing
The battle between shooter and goalie is never-ending. Finding ways to throw off the goalie via deception and puck positioning is advantage shooter.
Give it a try the next time you are on the ice and notice if Cole Caufield scores off of this type of concept in the last 2 games of the season or early next season.
Further reading