Scoring Off the Goalie’s Push Leg
One of my favorite things about coaching is challenging my players to think about the game in a different way.
One way I like to do that is by adding constraints in practices. For example, “you can only score without lifting the puck.”
Challenging the Shooters
It’s a fun challenge to see how players read the goalie and problem-solve them in real-time.
Do they think the goalie is getting a strong or weak push?
Should they look to go around or through the goalie?
If going through the goalie and keeping the puck on the ice, where should a player place the puck?
Understanding The Goalie
This is where knowledge of goalies and their limitations help make an elite scorer. There are two legs we need to understand:
Leading leg = The leg that leads the goalie’s movement. This leg will go down first into the butterfly
Push/Trailing leg = The leg that pushes the goalie to where they are going. This leg will go down last.
Here is an example of a goalie within movement, heading into a butterfly. Which pad falls flat and takes away the ice first? Last?
Off The Push Leg
Players can look to take advantage of this fact/limitation when placing their shot. Here is an example on a breakaway, placing the shot between the push leg and the goalie’s stick.
In tight this location is an extremely valuable spot and may be the only spot a goalie will realistically give up.
Adding in Deception
Alex Kerfoot gave us a perfect example of this in a shootout attempt. You can see the goalie actively go to make the save on the wrong side of where the shot ends up.
Pledge: Shooting blocker side via open blade and puck positioning (showing shot to the low blocker)
Turn: Wrist roll
Prestige: Goal on the ice
Next time you’re at the rink, attempt to score by only scoring on the ice. We guarantee it’ll make you a better goal scorer.
Further Reading
Did you enjoy this newsletter?
Help us spread the ideas within and share it with the people you care about