Is the Two Pad Slide Dead?

[profly_coach]

I'm seeing fewer pros using it (back when there was an NHL). I myself used it extensively back as a youth but less and less as I butterflyed more.

The move tends to put the goalie in a bad spot with regard to rebounds due to recovery time and the inability to put a shot into a corner; rebounds tend to head back out front.

What do you think?

[puckstopper31]

I use it only on very rare occasions, in part because I'm lousy at it and in part because (and possibly contributing to that lousy at it part) I have better luck with a butterfly slide. Recovery is easier and faster and I'm much less likely to lose track of the puck. Mainly it has to do with time, it takes so long to recover retarget and reposition from a a pad stack that in the game today there's just not that much time anymore.

I do use a pad stack on drives to the net from the corner. It's not the only way I do it, but I've had success with it in that situation.

[kohomcm]

I love the 2 pad slide! gets me out of jams all the time!

[sloth2946]

Pad stack/slide has its place. But it should rarely be something that is the first thought.

[Berg]

I tend to use the 2-pad slide alot, especially on quick plays getting caught in close. I even use on breakaways on occaision when I have to slide over to my glove side. I Grew up playing street hockey and switched to ice in my early 20's with no formal training so I may tend to use it too often (kohomcm can confirm this), but it works for me.

After the 2nd or 3rd time I stacked the pads in my last game, I had a revelation that I shared with one of my d-men. "I think I know what my problem is. There's no NHL to watch, and I've been watching my 'Miracle' DVD to much, so I'm stacking 'em all the time!"

[ouch!]

I use it occasionally in situations where a shooter is breaking in hard, but I have a D catching up on them from behind. The D can clear the loose puck if I don't manage to eat it. I've noticed that I only use it when the shooter tails off to either side - never use it straight on.

[masksbyoldbear]

This move was much more common in times past, when the head and upper body protection was next to none. Rather than dive with a poke check, or drop into a butterfly position, goalies would through their legs and feet at the puck.

Having said that, there are certain times in today's game for an effective use of the pad stack.

[ctcrease]

It certainly has its place, but its place has grown fewer and fewer as goalies have found ways to make saves on the same plays with their chests up. As goalies have become better skaters and better students of the game, they have realized that they can often get their with a butterfly slide or even paddle down that leaves them covering at least as much net (all most always more) while being able to use your hands and shoulders as well as your feet in order to react to small adjustments. Also, when you are on your knees rather than your side, you can dig in and stop your slide should the play not develop quite as you originally thought.

The two pad stack is a desperation move. Always has been. Goalies have gotten to be better atheletes, better skaters and better students of the game which means there are less desperate times, which leads to less desperation saves.

[profly_coach]

Sounds like the consensus is that it's a last chioce move on the decision tree.

How many of you still teach the two pad slide and how do you advise your goalies to use it?

[CoachJester]

The 2 pad slide is a tool in the goalies bag... and it has application. However as goaltending techniques have progressed its role becomes smaller and smaller.

In modern goaltending we teach the obvious low ice coverage saves (full Bfly, 1/2 Bfly) but we add to that the component of getting in front of the shot. I have found that goalies that buy into this concept, and work at it, can move deceptively quick. Many circumstances that were once covered with the 2-pad slide are now more effectively covered with a sliding, or 1/4 turn 1/2 bfly.

These techniques don't cover the low ice better than the 2-pad slide, but they have additional benefits. The goalie is upright, so recoveries are quicker. Because they are upright, they cover more of the arial angle which is the downfall of the 2-pad slide. Their hands are also free, and their stick can be much more involved for rebound control.

So why use the 2-pad slide at all? Well, there are still applications. Its tough to beat a hard 2-pad slide on a back door pass to an attacker close in. It is also quite effective in cutting off passes. It can also be used to shut down a crossing attack by taking possession of the puck and depositing the attacking player in a pile in the corner... Lets face it a good hard save with a 2-pad slide is a crowd pleaser.....

[ctcrease]

I definitely teach it. I teach it to the younger goalies at the start so that they can get a feel for sliding rather than jumping. This tends to help when they learn butterfly slides as there is a tendency to jump for a butterfly slide.

As for when I tell them to use it. I tell them to use it whenever they don't feel comfortable sliding in any other position. If they don't think they can get there on their feet or in a chest up position, use it. It just means they use it more at younger ages because there are more instances where they can't (or don't think they can) get their on their feet or in a chest up position.

[CubanPuckstoppr]

In this thread, starting at post #21, lots of discussion about two pad stack

worst goalie move ever

[Hounsy]

The only reason I stack the pads is when I need to take up space while flying back into the net at full speed from the corner where I just coughed it up(happens alot). That is the only time I stack the pads.

[TIMMAAYY]

I use it maybe in a desperation move, or maybe in a penalty shot/shootout situation where a rebound is of no concern... other than that, I can't recover fast enough to make it worthwhile. Getting old sucks.

[oldgoalie]

Used one this morning. It was a desperation move, but it stopped the puck.

Not quite as much fun as the diving head save I made or the sprawling reach behind me as I am deked out of my pants and drag the puck off the goal line save, but amusing to the rest of the crowd none the less.

Damn i stopped a lot of puck today! I FEEL GOOD