This is further continuation of the "Advanced Rebound Control" article.
Body Cradle with Glove Hand Trap
One of the best ways to control a rebound on a shot a foot high or higher is to use a body cradle. The body cradle can be used when a goaltender is using a butterfly or paddle down save selection. The body cradle involves proper timing and proper read of the shot release. What happens in a body cradle is that the goaltender collapses the body once the puck is about to hit the torso. Collapsing the body means that the goaltender will drop the upper body from the upright position for a normal butterfly movement; see "Butterfly Basics". The body will collapse, like an accordion, while maintaining balance and closing holes. By collapsing as the puck impacts the body the puck will become caught in the chest and arm protection controlling the puck at the body. In order to aid a body cradle most goaltenders will use the hands to trap the body in case the rebound is moving fast enough to bounce away.
Here Kiprusoff maintains balance and uses the hands to aid in rebound control.
The puck will lose momentum and stick to the torso or drop into the glove.
Even the body cradle has an advanced technique that further aids with rebound control. Rather than try to use both hands to help the body cradle the goaltender should strive to only use the glove to aid with the body cradle. By only using the glove to work with the body cradle the goaltender is able to maintain strong compactness with the blocker and body as well as keeping the stick in position to cover the five hole. The benefit of keeping the stick and blocker in position is for guarding against possible deflections. Most often a puck that is shot in the air is more likely to be deflected downwards thus a goaltender that maintains compactness and stick position will stop a handful or two worth of goals from going in per season. A few less goals against may seem insignificant but may make a big difference during the season. Take a look at the example below.
The blocker and stick maintain control while the glove controls the puck at the body.
Very little coverage is lost in case of deflection.
