Skills

How Many Good Things Can You See In This Goal?

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Often goals are the result of an accumulation of little things. The Maple Leafs (in blue) do a lot of good things that lead up to big goal in a playoff game.

How many good things can you see in this clip?

It all ends in a sweet cele!

How to Practice Changing Your Shooting Angle

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Auston Matthews may be one of the best in the league at changing the angle before he shoots. Just look at this snipe where he fools the defense and goalie in one motion.

Here’s a great video that explains why changing your shooting angle is so important and how you can practice it at home and on the ice.

Takeaway Skills – Pavel Datysuk

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Pavel Datysuk is the master at taking the puck away from opponents.

He uses three primary methods.

  1. The Canoe Stick Lift. This is a stick lift with a flat, horizontal blade (so it doesn’t get stuck) just under the hands of his victim.
  2. The Blindspot Takeaway. Watch how he gets in the blind spots of his victim and then waits for the moment.
  3. The Stick-to-Puck Poke Check. He suddenly extends his stick, usually with one hand on his stick to extend his reach, and jabs the puck off his opponent.

Most importantly, his feet never stop moving so he can quickly accelerate away after he gets the puck.

How many examples of each can you find in the video?

Good Defensive 1-on-1

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The key points shown in this example are as follows:

  1. Properly managed gap; two stick lengths as they cross the blue line.
  2. Good upper body posture; arms loose, but compact. Hands at the hips.
  3. Poke check, not swipe check; you can poke check and miss all day long, and still maintain proper body positioning.
  4. Stick on stick, body on body.
  5. Re-closing the gap; after the Swiss player turns back, the Russian defenseman re-closes the gap to maintain proper positioning in case of a re-entry.

Mastering the Wrist Shot

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A good wrist shot has three key positions that you’ll want to master. This video breaks down how to take a hard and accurate wrist shot.

Mastering the Slap Shot

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A good slap shot has four key positions that you’ll want to master. This video breaks down how to take a hard and accurate slap shot.

Textbook “Gagner” Move

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Artem Zub, a defenseman for the Ottawa Senators, scores his first NHL goal with a textbook example of the “Gagner” move.

Fake wrist shot off the inside foot, then fake to the backhand with a finish on the forehand. When you really need to score, it is great to have a go to move.