Roasted on cross crease passes

I have developed a problem lately with cross crease passes. I am getting consistantly scored on when facing 3-0, 2-0, 3-1, & 2-1 beakaways. I come out and play the puck carrier until my skates hit the crease line, I then stand my ground and wait for the shot or pass. If the opposing player waits to pass until he is very close to the crease I am in trouble. I have tried stack pad, only to get top shelf'd or have it slip between the skates and the post. I have tried half butterfly slide only to give up a 5 hole as I stride arcoss. I have tried a full butterfly slide or streatching post to post ( I am 6'4 ) only to get toasted top shelf. HELP ! ! any suggestions?

first of all, your defensemen are really terrible if you're facing those situations on a regular basis! I've got two suggestions;

1)POKE CHECK!
2)Play the puck carrier and the open man. Watch the puck carrier's stick to see what he's gonna do with it. See if he's telegraphing his move by staring at his partner in crime with his stick ****ed for the pass.


And if all else fails, BLAME THE DEFENSE!

[Bernie]

You have to grasp the concept of the back-door. On a one-on-one situation, you can come out past the crease line if you want, and well you should. But on a 2-0, with the second guy breaking to a side of the net, you still, of course, play the puck carrier (actually the PUCK, not the puck carrier) but you must cover your back door too, which means even being at the top of the crease, or even a foot below trhe crease may be too far. You need to be closer to the goal so the pass doesn't leave a wide opening at your back door.

More difficult done than said for sure. You must adjust the back door based on how close to the goal the receiver is. If he's right at the mouth at the far side of the net- maximizing his distance from the puck carrier, you need to be almost on the goal line. If he's standing only a few feet from the puckcarrier, you can be more aggressive. You gotta have periphreal vision for that second guy sneaking into your back door to help you determine how far out to play.

Aaron's diving poke check method may be good but if you miss, or he fakes the pass you can 100% count the goal. I believe getting a feel for the "back door" method is more consistent but this IS a 2-0, which means you're going to get beat very, very often no matter what you do.

Bernie

[TartanBill]

I would like to meet the goalie who doesn't get beat consistently on 2-0 or 3-1.

First, as Bernie said, don't chase out too far on this play.

Second, it is important to be patient and not commit too soon. Easier said than done, but the trick is to learn the keys to shoot vs. pass.

Third, one way to use the stick is to put it bewtween the skaters while executing your pad stack. This often can break up the pass. Don't try this every time or they will catch on.

Last, when making a save to catcher side consider trying a kick save motion while dropping into a paddle down block. I prefer this to a pad stack. I find I can execute this VERY fast by driving with my blocker side leg, the stick covers low, I can cover to the far post with a little extra kick, and it unlikely that the shooter can come back high blocker side. Oh yeah, try to "jam the shooter". I am describing a blocking motion not a reaction save.

[daemyn75]

Jester,

I have a new way to handle the odd man and break away. Skate out after the shooter and slap him in the back of the mellon with your stick this will eliminate the pass and the shot and make for a great offensive break for your team. You will also start to hold the record for most penalty minutes by a goalie

I really appreciate the advice about watching the back door on 2 on 0s. Last night in a practice game I came out way to far on a 2-0 and got beat like a redheaded step child. As I lay sprawled on the court, Bernie's words of wisdom echoed through my cheap Franklin helmet. On the next 2-0 I stayed closer to home followed the pass and stoned the guy. The next time (what defense!) it was the same two guys and they were not sure what to do. This time the puck carrier held on too long and I pokekd it away. When you hold your ground and play smart good things happen not only during the play at hand, but for the rest of the game because you now have them guessing.

[Kuzma]

we've discussed the 2-0 now how in hell do you play the 3-0.

[Bernie]

I'm really glad that worked for you Skitch- You have demonstrated just how much it goes to show that technique is much more important than reflexes! I believe you'll find this technique useful in other situations too!

As for 3-0 I have only seen maybe two or three in the last several years! Again, you're not gonna stone em every time, or even most of the time. Play it like a 2-0 to force that pass to the third guy- remember the more passes, the more likely for an error to be made by your attackers. The pressure is on them, not you! So make it as hard for them as possible to finish!


Bernie

[daemyn75]

For a 3 on 0 Pray they screw up. seriously, place close to home like Bernie said and follow that puck like a hawk. watch for a fake move they will try this to force you to drop or make a mistake so they can deek you out. good lukc and hire some good D

I really appreciate all of the input. I have a practice tomorrow and will probably see these situations again. Although I did enjoy the "whack him in the mellon" approach, I am not ready to get thrown out of a game yet (ie brodour)

I have only one other issue that seem to plauge me regulary. The lone break away, coming straight down through the slot. The shooted sliding the puck very quickly back and forth the full reach of his stick, only to come in and seemingly at will go low to either side, or high to either side. I have only beat this a few times, once with a poke I pulled out of my a** and once with a highlite reel stack pad. One kid does this to me regularly, and he NEVER shoots from inside the crease.

What do you do you face this? Fade back to the goal line and scare-crow between the posts? Butterfly and keep your arms high? lunge poke and pray you get it? or just make a dive and try to cover while its still on his stick?

[daemyn75]

your best bet on a break away is to challange and play the puck not the shooter and bye all means stay up if you drop down to early he'll just go right around you. follow the puck (not the shooter) and back up with him. The closer he gets to the goal the less time he has to make a move. Once he commints to a side he will probably be too close to you to do anything except shoot right into you. this is not 100% but it is the next best thing to a spining kick to the dome and will keep the penalty minutes down.

[badgerit]

What is this, Daemyn?? This is hockey, not Ultimate Fighting...smack 'em in the melon? spinning kick??

[TartanBill]

I faced some 3-0s during a practice filling in with my old college team. They were 3-0 warm-up drills. I also seem to get these a couple times a season in adult league as well.

Funny thing is they are easier than 2-0s! The shooter almost never crosses the slot, and the extra skaters just seem to confuse everyone.

[TartanBill]

The penalty shot type break away has been discussed before. I liked Bryan's description. Try doing a search on "break away"

[daemyn75]

Badger isn't that what hockey is going to now a days just trying to fit in with the big leagues.