How to Stop a Breakaway in Ice Hockey

A goalie must be mentally and physically prepared to stop a breakaway.

In hockey, there is nothing like a breakaway to test the skill of the goaltender. Breakaways can be intimidating for a goalie, but the key is to be practiced and know how to handle a breakaway before it comes down to it in a game situation. As a goalie, you need to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses and use your strengths to your advantage in a breakaway situation.

Instructions

1. Come out far from the net. This will help to cut off the shooter's angle and will usually force him to deke. Don't come out too far from the net if you are not comfortable hustling back. You need to keep pace with the shooter to eliminate the possibility of angles opening up as you both move.

2. Back up. When the shooter reaches the top of the circles, you should begin moving backward toward the net.

3. Keep pace with the shooter. Move back at a rate that is comparable to the rate the shooter is coming in on you. The idea is to not allow the shooter to have any available holes through which to score. If you move back too fast, the shooter will see holes open up rapidly. If you move back too slowly, the shooter can deke around you and score.

4. Watch the shooter to tell when he's ready to make a move. Generally, skaters will start to glide, pull the puck to one side, and widen their stance before they shoot. This will give you a visual cue that the shot is about to take place, and you can be ready for it.

5. By this point, you can read the shooter and figure out the angle he will be shooting on you. From this, you need to decide (quickly) what type of save needs to be made. If the shooter is carrying the puck to the side, he is likely close to shooting. If he's carrying it in front, he will probably try to deke you again.

Tips & Warnings

• Know what your strengths and weaknesses are as a goalie and use those to your advantage.

• Always keep your eyes focused on the puck.

• Beware of the off-side wing coming in for a drop pass. The incoming shooter could pass the puck off and give the winger a shot on your open side if he realizes he doesn't have a good angle on you.

• Don't go back toward the goal too slowly, or the incoming shooter will be able to skate around you easily. Conversely, don't skate in too fast toward the net or you will give the shooter a lot of open space on both sides of you.

Resources

• Hockey goaltending videos
• John Elkin's Goalie Schools