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WALKING ACROSS THE SLOT
!
This is a very dangerous situation and if you have poor lateral motion
you will have problems. As the player moves the goaltender is forced to move as
well, which causes the legs to open and balance to shift to the trailing leg. When
you have your weight on the trailing leg it can be very difficult to snap your foot
out. This is precisely why shooters will commonly try to shoot back at the post you
are now moving away from. They will also try to snap the puck through your legs
as you move with them.
How to handle it
!
First of all you must get out to the top of the crease and take small, rapid
shuffles, which will keep the 5 hole small and hopefully scare them away from that
area. You must make sure you stay lined up square on the puck, not the body. Try
to stay on your feet because shooters love to see the goaltender drop so they can
hesitate a split second longer and then drill it over you.
Advanced Tip
!
After perfecting this next tip in practice you can force a player to shoot
exactly where you want on this play. As the player cuts across delay your
movement a little which will give the shooter area on the far side to shoot at. Keep
shuffling with him just slightly off where you should be and they will think they can
beat you. Since you know what they are looking at, you can make the save just
after they release it.