Coming out to play the puck

Finger · Minors Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 152

OK, the puck is loose and behind the D. The opposing forward is charging hard, and will get the breakaway if they get the puck.

Even though my team wants to put a bungee cord from my arse to the crossbar, I sometimes play the loose puck.

Since the puck is moving towards me, and away from the shooter there is one stride more for him than for me. If I don't hesitate, I can make it.

It can be a spectacular play, but if you miss you look like a fool.

So lets have your thoughts.. do you stay put and stop the breakaway, or do you come out and play the puck out of the zone?

(I stay put more often than not.. but sometimes I get excited and charge after the loose puck)

montreal961 · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject:

i stay in the net...... you job is to stop the puck... its the players job to get the puck out of your end, and in to theres.. Very Happy

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Backyard Goalie · Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject:

it reall depends on the situation, I learned playing soccer goalie that you cant hesitate if you are going to go to the puck and you more often than not will beat the guy to the puck so if it is a crutial game i'd say stay put. also it depends on how good the oponent is, if he is good enough to beat you in close then go for it. There are so many factors that go with this question... i normally just stay put but sometimes i come out.... thats just me though.

montreal961 · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:40 am Post subject:

i only play the puck when we are on the PP becuase they have to dump it and change ... but if its a waves off iceing and nobodys coming... than ill do that aswell... but i always stay put in those situations.. Very Happy

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number55 · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:43 am Post subject:

More often than not I would stay put because even if you get the puck first, maybe there is a bad bounce and now you are out of position. It is good to go after it once in a while to keep your opponent guessing.

canadian_man_44 · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:43 am Post subject:

If I think I can get to the puck before the forward, I'm gone. I have practiced my puck handling so much that I'm very comfortable with it, so, there's no hesitation. Also, I skate good so if I get the jump on it there's not too many players are going to get there ahead of me.

Basically it's a matter of not hesitating if you're going to go for it. Also, you've got to know where your players are before you get to the puck so you can fire a pass without having to look around.
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montreal961 · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:48 am Post subject:

youll look right stupid infront of the crownd or scouts.. if you play the puck and you mis or give it away and they score.. but if you stay put and do your job.... then you wont look that stupid f you let it in... becuse its a breakaway and tehre hartd to stop.
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Backyard Goalie · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject:

thats y u dont miss it or give it away... just do it right. Wink

canadian_man_44 · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject:

Like I said, I'm confident in my puckhandling and my skating. I know I can get to that puck before their forward. It's not something I do if I'm 15 feet from the puck and their forward is 8 feet from it.

BTW, in the last three years I have only been beaten to a puck once and the forward turned out to be the one looking stupid since he decided to get fancy and missed the open net. Before he could pick up the puck and try again, I was back making the stop.

Anyway, if you're comfortable playing the puck and confident you can get there first, do it. If you're not comfortable, stay the heck in your net. IMO, it's better to challenge then sit back and wait. That's just me. I'm not looking for an argument, but, if you stay in your net because you think someone scoring on a breakaway makes you look less stupid, you shouldn't be playing the position. By thinking breakaways are hard to stop, you've already beaten yourself. When I go in net, I'm telling myself I can stop every shot. Letting one in doesn't break my heart though, it just makes me play harder. The main thing with me is I go in with a positive attitude. I don't ever think about someone scoring on me, breakaway or not. It must work, because I don't get scored on much on the breakaway. Not to blow my own horn or anything, but, I stoned a very good QMJHL player on 7 breakaways in one game. There's power in positive thinking.
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Finger · Minors Joined: 13 Feb 2007 Posts: 152

montreal961 · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:20 pm Post subject:

i play lke i do and im fine... i almost never give up a gaol on a break away anywase...letting in a breakaway goal does make you look better than lettin in that bad one... IMO
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canadian_man_44 · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:06 pm Post subject:

Whatever floats your boat. Wink

Some goalies are more aggressive when it comes to playing the puck. I just happen to be one of those. Of course, I don't go after the puck unless I know I can get there, but, like I said before, I'm pretty confident in my skating and puckhandling abilities. Don't get me wrong, I also like stopping the breakaway. Earlier in the year in a pickup game I had a friend of mine coming into the zone behind my defence. He's one of these glove side guys with the same move everytime. Anyway, the puck came around the boards and I stopped it behind my net just as he was getting to the blue line. I skated around the net with the puck, yelled his name and then passed the puck right to him. He came barrelling in and did his signature move just like I knew he would do and shot the puck right into my waiting glove. Just like finger I put a little added flair into it even though it was one of the easiest saves of the night, then I held my glove out to him with the puck in it and said, "Hey Luc, would you like to give that another try". Laughing

It was hilarious to see the look on his face.
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montreal961 · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:10 pm Post subject:

lol......

nice, i would have liked to see the look on his face aswell. Laughing

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canadian_man_44 · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:27 pm Post subject:

It was one of those moments when you wish you had a camera. It looked something like this. Shocked

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montreal961 · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:28 pm Post subject:

lol... did this come after : Crying or Very sad

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