The Delayed Hockey Shot


As you keep climbing the ranks in ice hockey, the one thing you’ll notice, is that the skill level increases very rapidly.  Not only for skaters, but goalies as well.  Simply put, it becomes harder to score on goalies the older you get.


What once used to seem like a gapping opening when taking a hockey shot, the older you get, that opening becomes smaller and smaller.  This results in players searching for secrets or tips on how to score more goals and get an advantage over the goalie.


Let’s take a closer look at how players score goals in hockey.  First, is having a hard and accurate hockey shot.  In this example, the goalie has clear site of the puck and it’s basically a 1 on 1 duel.  Can you over power the net minder with your shot, or will his cat like reflexes win that one shot battle?


Next, players will use defenders at screens.  They’ll try to shoot between the player’s legs or under the stick, resulting in the goalie having a delayed reaction in being able to track the puck.  In a lot of cases, the original shot will defect off the defender or be redirected by a teammate closer to the net.  If the first attempt doesn’t score, but reaches the goalie, it typically will generate a 2nd or 3rd scoring opportunity.


Another common way to score goals is on odd man rushes, where passes are made from one side of the net to the other.  These seam passes are difficult for the goalie to defend, especially if the shot off the pass is a one timer.  


One way to improve your chances of scoring is to understand what the goalie is doing as you enter the offensive zone.  Goalies are taught to get out of the blue paint in order to cut down the angle.  They’ll move up the ice, put on the breaks and start back peddling toward the net, trying to match the puck carrier’s speed.


What you need to do is disrupt the goalie or defenseman’s movement rhythm of skating backwards.  Prior to releasing your hockey shot, make a quick lateral push, pulling the puck either in toward the body, or pushing it out.  This simple technique is a challenge for the goalie, as they can’t get set on their terms to make the save as quickly as they’d like.


Finally, you can also try delaying your shot by stopping briefly, as you fake the shot, pull the puck back, changing the angle and then ripping it on net.  For this last shooting option, I’ve made a short video to give you a visual of what you can work on off the ice.  Thanks for stopping by and remember to Work Hard and Dream Bigger than Everyone Else!!


Coach Pitlick

 

 

December 05, 2017 — SEO Team

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