Cheat Code
The Goal Scoring Cheat Code
This week's video is about the Cheat Code. All 3 of these goals from last night use the Cheat Code to score. This term refers to shooting the puck 12-20 inches off the ice and inside the post on either side of the net in order to score. This is labeled a cheat code because it is one of, if not, the hardest puck placements for a goalie to make the save. Goalie pads can be a legal width of 11 inches in the NHL. Additionally, a goalie's ready stance places their hands out and locked at the elbow at about 90 degrees, which puts the blocker and glove between hip and chest height. When the goalie drops into the butterfly, there is a gap between the top of the leg pads and the glove or blocker, which remain about 20 inches from ice level, as well as a window between the hands and post in many cases. Furthermore, the shape of the glove leaves even more of a window than the blocker side does. If a shooter can catch the goalie in the transition of stance to butterfly during a shot, they've got an even greater advantage.
Any goalie will tell you, they hate when players with a quick, deceptive release shoot for this location on either side because of the challenge it presents them to make the save. Elite goal scorers understand this and use this knowledge to their advantage. It's not always about going bardown or shelf...it's about scoring goals. Players need to be proficient at shooting in all areas of the net, and work on their recognition skills to pick the right spots against the goalie.
As an exercise, watch warm ups or practice at your local rink next time and see how many players are shooting in the lower areas of the net...it's very few. You don't even need to watch...just listen. It's all the sound of the puck hitting the crossbar and the glass.
Make sure players are aware of and using the Cheat Code!
I also want to revisit a previous article from this blog that I wrote a couple years ago around the holidays on a few hockey concepts that relate to one another...
https://www.playmakers-hockey.com/presence-present-presents
Hope you enjoy and Happy Holidays!
