- 1). Establish a position that allows you to have access to the shooter, who may be stationed within a foot or two of the blue line. As the shooter winds up to fire the puck at the net, prepare to deflect the puck. You must have the blade of your stick on the ice and be prepared to lift it if the puck has risen a few inches off the ice. As the puck flies toward the net, angle your stick so the puck will change direction after it makes contact with your blade.
- 2). Stand between the face-off circles in the offensive zone when you are trying to deflect a shot into the net. You should be facing the shooter with your dominant hand on the bottom of the stick. If you grip the stick tightly, the puck will change direction rapidly and will not lose much speed. However, if you loosen your grip with your bottom hand, you have a better chance of controlling the deflection and putting the puck exactly where you want it to go. The downside of this technique is that the puck will slow down significantly after the deflection.
- 3). Realize that the shooter has given the puck all the momentum and energy it needs to get past the goaltender. When deflecting the puck, you are trying to fine-tune that shot so the puck changes direction or changes planes. You do not have to add power to a shot that already is traveling 85 to 94 miles per hour.
- 4). If the puck remains on the ice after the point man has shot it, you may want to angle your stick upward so the puck flies up in the air and jumps past the goaltender's pad or catching glove into the high part of the net. To do this, place the blade of the stick on the ice and angle it towards the ceiling. Your back will be towards the goalie and you will be looking directly at the shooter. If the original shot is a high one, you will want to lift your stick in the air and bat it with a downward motion. This will make the puck bounce to ice level. Changing the plane of the puck will make it very difficult for the goaltender to make the save.
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