Staying centered in the net.

I've been experimenting with staying more centered in the net, lately. It's better I think in the long run because you are in much better position for any rebound or pass or sudden shift in play direction... BUT....

I find when a player goes glove side, and I throw a half butterfly and glove-snap, that there's a lot of rooom upstairs. I had that happen a couple times last night. I threw perfect form at the deak but he roofed a backhand over a very well executed glove-snap to the top corner.

A little frustrating, without my body there, I feel a little defenseless. Any ideas?

AB

[badgerit]

If I'm reading this post correctly, then you're keeping your body in the center of the net. If this is a correct assertation, then let me be the first to say, "What are you doing?!" Being centered on the puck means your BODY is lined up with the puck's path to the center of the net! It doesn't make sense to stay in the middle of the net because problems like you're having arise. Your body SHOULD be there! Keep it there!!!

But I see guys like Patrick Roy and Cujo (ie GOD) do it all the time. They, granted, have quicker hands than me but I think it comes from playing the butterfly.

I see them drop into the butterfly (full butterfly) even on bad angle shots. I think the short-side leg prevents them from getting closer to the bar on the short side. Mmm.

Good point about being centred though.

Puck Numero Uno

Ab

[Ryano42]

Were you CENTERED on the puck (not the shooter) when he took the shot? Also (this one gets me all the time) were you far enough out? When I play with bad or non-existent defense, or practice, where everybody crashes the net, I find myself playing closer and closer to the goal line. In that position, even at my size (6ft 3in, 215lbs) its easy for them to go top shelf.

I establish center when the play is out of the zone, I sneak a peak at the the corners of the pipes or drape my trapper over one corner. As the play enters the zone, I move out aggressively to AT LEAST the top of the crease if not much farther, in a very wide inverted V stance, covering the low corners. (see Khabibulin) As the play comes in, I go backwards a little, narrow the stance a bit and TRY to pivot in a nice semi-circle from the place I started from, the center of the net.

This is what I'm thinking and trying to do, but of course making it actually happen...

To make sure I'm centered, I'll tap the posts and I also have little reference points to help me know where I am. ALWAYS STAY CENTERED WITH THE PUUUCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKK! And I REALLY would not advise staying in one place, and butterflying, popping your hands out and hoping to catch a puck. Patrick Roy and Cujo DO NOT just sit in the net and pop their hands out... or are you like watching a computer game? They move around and cut of angles as well as center themselves properly.

[daemyn75]

Aaron Roy and Cujo are Pro's they can get away with stuff like that. Stay centered on the puck like we are all telling you.

[This message has been edited by daemyn75 (edited December 03, 1999).]

I play regularly in pick-up games with no defense.
When there is no defence the tendancy is to lay back on the goalline.
That's a toughee to work yourself out of, but it's really important.

I'm not 6'3, I'm 5'10 but I don't think that matters too much. If you're in the net, everything opens up for the shooter.

It's fun to be aggressive anyway.