Timing of Big Saves: How Much Does It Matter?

[ch1co]

So my team got bounced out of the playoffs the other night, and as usual I'm going over the good and bad of my performance and wondering what more I could have done. I did make some clutch stops but I also was weak -- even lazy -- at key points. Overall I believe I contributed mightily to losing a game that could have been ours.

Their first goal was scored a little over five minutes into the game. The shooter had time and space in the slot and was moving laterally from my right to my left. Got me with a low shot between the feet as I was shuffling, and just as my defenseman moved in front of me to screen (I didn't even have time to yell at him.) Despite the screen I'm pretty sure I was lifting my stick blade as I shuffled, so I refuse to delegate blame. I also hate giving up the first goal so early in the game.

Their second and third goals came in the second period. Goal #2 was scored from the faceoff dot. I had a clear look at it but it beat me five-hole; I believe my butterfly was way too slow on that one. The third goal was even worse: It was scored short side on a sharp angle because I didn't adequately seal the post.

We got one early in the third to make it 3-1 (our first goal in more than 10 periods), then they came right back to score on a 2-on-0. I may have started backing in a little too early on that goal, but my intent was to remain aware of the passing option and prevent the player without the puck from sneaking behind me. The shooter never passed and roofed one glove side.

One of my defensemen said during the second intermission that I was the only thing keeping us in the game, and I did stop a couple of breakaways and came across a couple of times to deny tap-in attempts. I also kept my head after the weak goals and didn't let the situation snowball as I have in the past.

At the same time, I absolutely believe I should have had goals 2 and 3, and probably the first one. I know my team only scored once and they've been offensively challenged over the past several games, but I can't help thinking what might have been if some of my big (or even routine) stops had come at a 1-0 deficit rather than at 2-0, 3-0 or 4-1. On the other hand, I've heard people say you're right where you're supposed to be at the end of the game. I take that to mean you shouldn't spend too much time dwelling on your mistakes or your good plays because there's bound to be a mix in each game, and you're only successful if the entire team makes more good plays than mistakes.

I'd usually have these conflicting thoughts out of my head by now, but my league is over and the next season doesn't start until after the new year so I have plenty of time to obsess. Lately I've been thinking more and more about how a big stop to keep the game scoreless, or at a more manageable deficit, may have turned the tide for us in various games. Then again, I haven't had the luxury of playing with a lead too many times.

Rather than remain curled up in a corner, I thought I'd push the Beerokzes off the virtual couch so I could climb on, lay down and get some psychoanalysis by comparing my thought process against that of my fellow netminders. And, with that, I hand over the floor....

[royfan33]

IMO, if you're stopping breakaways or getting across to deny tap-ins at any time, you're keeping your team in the game and that's all that matters. At this point, you're obsessing that you let the score get to 3-0 instead of holding the fort for 2-1, but to a certain extent, you're ignoring the fact that you made a bunch of stops that kept 3-1 from becoming 4-1, 5-1, and 6-1.

I subbed in a game last week with a team I've subbed for before, and like my normal team, they generally have trouble scoring goals. To my surprise, they jumped out to a 2-0 lead and I was feeling good about the cushion. Second period rolls up, and we're hit with a slashing major and a hooking penalty within ten seconds, and two minutes of 5-on-3. I made some big stops and we killed both penalties, but the other team got a goal soon after. Theoretically, big stops to kill the penalty would've kept the momentum with my team, but they couldn't get it going and we ended up losing 6-3 because the other team started to roll and my guys were dead tired due to the cumulative effect of another 5-on-3 later in the second.

I feel like besides the times a big stop is tangible (you stop a breakaway, your team picks up the rebound, goes down and scores; you hold the fort in the final seconds when you're up by a single goal), there are so many factors that go into the momentum of a game you can't focus on a big stop being the most valuable part of the equation.

Hope that makes sense.

[McTrout!]

Preparation could be a problem, the second goal sounds like what happens to me if i dont get a good warmup from my team or i dont strech properly or something effects me before hand it messes with your concentration. The second goal does sound like a bad one but weve all done it iv been 5 holed by my own forward on a faceoff before!

Maybe because it was the playoffs you let it get to you? You said your not used to holding a lead, like with anything you need experience at doing something before you get good at it. Dont beat yourself up about it though just work on it nxt season

[luckey13]

Hey, in the championship game last night..we're up 4-1 in the 3rd with 7 minutes to go....I guess I will save all the drama cuz you know whats coming....YES-4-4---OT and a shootout!! It wasnt even a matter of being great in the end, when I tell you this team could not have gotten any better bounces to tie it up, It was unreal....I HATE shootouts first of all...I was a bit fatigued to begin with and it seemed all the goals were through my 5 hole..I was getting so pissed...I played so passively, I should have been alot more aggressive with a poke check here and there to throw off other shooters, but I didnt and i am so frustrated with myself!!! tell me, how do you guys play this shootout junk??? I beleive its a big mind game, you have to set a tone with the first shooter...It is really hard though...I think I wasnt backing in fast enough to meet the shooters speed...Anyways, any help??? I always say to myself "dont go for the first move" and I always seem to, i dont know why?? And i hate to get beat 5 hole so much b/c i think it should be easy to defend that part with the butterfly drop.....Anyways, suggestions welcomed!!

[RebelGoalie27]

Two weeks ago, after running the table in our league, we took a 13-0 record into the playoffs against the 4th seed. They were 6-6-1. We had already beaten them 4-0.

Lost 2-1 in OT.

I am Peyton Manning.

[rhanz]

Wasn't it Fuhr that said something about focusing on stopping the even-numbered goals? If I remember right, his theory was that those were always the "swing" goals, and if you didn't let those in, you'd keep your team in the game.

[ch1co]

Gee, that's funny, I thought I had read about it being the odd-numbered goals.

Anyway, there's lots of times I feel like I'd just like to stop any goal.

I had a game earlier this season that was probably my strongest in a very long time. The saves I made early weren't necessarily of the highlight-reel variety, but I counted them as big saves because they kept the game scoreless until my offense got going. I also viewed the saves I made when we were up 1-0 and 2-0 as big because it prevented them from gaining momentum by tying us, then cutting our lead in half.

You know, maybe I made more big saves -- and maybe even some highlight-reel saves -- when we stretched our lead, but I don't really remember them because by then the outcome wasn't in doubt. We would up beating them 6-2; they never got close once we scored our second goal.

On the other side, there are games when we've been totally outgunned but I still wonder what might have been if I was able to make a few (or a few more) highlight-reel saves.

[KBeats]

I have let in all of the 4 goals you described. Actually, the 3rd didn't happen to me, but something similar. I didn't seal the post completely and someone from behind the net shot it off my knee and deflected into the net. My team wasn't good at all last year... last place. Maybe this season.

I know what you mean about stopping some of those goals that could've led to something, like a kick save to the side w/ someone there to take it to the other end and score. That never happened for me, infact it was usually the other way around... it would happen to the other team. It wasn't uncommon for the shots to be somewhere like... 50-15.

Has anyone had anything like what Niittymaki did during the Flyers/Penguins game when Talbot scored from center ice because Niittymaki wasn't paying attention?

[themax101]

Originally Posted by KBeats

Has anyone had anything like what Niittymaki did during the Flyers/Penguins game when Talbot scored from center ice because Niittymaki wasn't paying attention?

In my first year, i let in about 10-15 goals like this, except:
I actually was paying attention, it would always bouce funny and just totally crush my confidence

[Golden Eagle #2]

Originally Posted by KBeats

Has anyone had anything like what Niittymaki did during the Flyers/Penguins game when Talbot scored from center ice because Niittymaki wasn't paying attention?

All the time but that's because I play on a playground with friends rather than the big leagues, that was just shameful by Nittimaki

[KBeats]

Yesterday there was a 2 on 1 and from just inside the blueline the guy shot a somewhat low shot so I went into butterfly to trap the puck on my chest (I prefer butterfly chest saves over high pad saves). I thought I trapped the puck between my glove and chest so I was wondering why the ref didn't whistle it after a few seconds. I pulled my glove away and I didn't see the puck in my glove, but I saw the puck down on the ground, a few inches infront of my body. My legs were split appart, saw a stick come and whack the puck through my legs and into the goal. That killed my confidence and killed our chances of a small comeback from 4-2. The score was 4-3 then that happened and it went to 5-3 w/ a couple minutes left.