Ever hear your favorite TV broadcaster talking about how a goalie has “great angles and is so square to the puck”? Ever wonder to yourself, well, are those not the same things?
For goalies, there is a big difference in having a proper angle and being square to the puck. Angles are where the goalie is in relation to the puck and the net. If a goalie does not have a proper angle on the shot, there is likely open net behind them. Being square to the puck should happen naturally when the goalie has a proper angle, but it is possible that we see a goalie not square to the puck even though they’re on their angle.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the topic.
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Explaining The Difference in Angles and Squareness For Goalies
Cutting down the angle is something we hear often when it comes to the positioning of goalies. While angles are very important to success between the pipes, for elite levels of play it is simply not enough to be on your angle. There are other factors at play, such as depth and being square to the puck.
First, let’s look at what it means for a goalie to be on their angle. In the graphic below, we see former New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist demonstrating what it means to have a proper angle on an opposing teams shot. To the right hand side of the graphic, we see three different puck placements inside the defensive zone.
On the furthest left puck, to be “on angle” the goalie should be inside the red lines. For the middle puck, the goalie needs to be inside the blue lines. And for the right puck, the goalie should be within the green lines. When a goalie is inside the imaginary lines drawn from the puck to each goalpost, they are playing the angle correctly and considered to be “on angle”.
Angles before Depth Concept Explained
Before we cover “being square to the puck”, one of the most important concepts in goaltending should be properly explained. The concept is simple, it’s called “Angles Before Depth”.
What does angles before depth mean? This theory states that the angle a goalie needs to be on should be achieved prior to any depth being gained.
For help explaining this, let’s take a look at the graphic below. In the scenario below, the goaltenders proper angle is outlined using green lines. As we can see in this diagram, the goalie starts in position “X”, maintaining a proper angle to an opposing player, Player A. Player A makes a pass to the other side of the rink, to Player B.
The goalie has two options. Use the pink line of travel to achieve depth and angle, or use the blue line of travel to achieve their angle first. Which would you choose?
If you chose the blue line, you would be correct. This is because the variable that often results in a goal in this exact scenario is pass speed and release of the shot from Player B. It is more important that the goalie gets the proper angle to the puck first, before attempting to gain any depth.
Taking a look at the left side of the diagram, we can see that the Blue line of travel is much shorter than the Pink line of travel. As a result of the shorter distance between two points, it is quicker for the goalie to get the proper angle first and if given time, then depth to further cut down the shooters opportunity.
Cutting Down The Angle Explained for Goalies
When we hear the term “cutting down the angle”, this is what is known as “getting depth” in the crease. The goalie has already achieved a proper angle to the puck and is advancing closer to it to reduce the available net behind themself.
In the graphic below, we have a look at a cross section of a goalie gaining depth by closing the distance to the puck. As we can see from Position A (pink line) and Position B (pink line), the goalie can reduce net behind them by getting closer to the puck carrier.
On the right side of this diagram, this is displayed with proper angle from an overhead perspective.
What Does It Mean To Be Square To The Puck?
The easiest way to visualize a goalie who is square to the puck is to think about a triangle. If the goalie is square to the puck, a perfect triangle can be drawn using their shoulders as the base, with perfect angles from the puck to shoulder. Being square to the puck will help goalies make more glove saves and control more pucks by properly executing stick saves. Staying square to the puck is a critical element of better rebound control, as pucks are more predictably redirected out of high danger scoring areas.
This is shown in the graphic below. In Diagram A, the Green position is square to the puck, as well as on the angle. Alternatively, the Pink position is on the correct angle, but the line is not square to the puck. This is a common mistake we see young goalies make. Being square to the puck is one of the most important things a goalie can do, it helps them see the puck better and makes rebound control easier.
Learning to become square to the puck is something that every elite goalie develops at a young age. With so much of the game changing quickly, shooters are constantly finding ways to outsmart goalies and pull them from the proper angle, or forcing them to be un-square.
In order to learn how to become more square to shots, you must learn how to analyze your own video. Whether you film your own practices or games, start by using a simple video analysis tool to take a closer look at how you are positioned in the crease.
At the NHL level, all of the goalies and coaches of goalies are studying their own film to learn how they can give themselves an edge in the crease and with advancements in technology, there is no reason you cannot either.
Video Demonstration Of Angle Vs. Square in Goaltending
The video below by Michigan Tech Goalie Coach Jamie Phillips shows the difference in angle versus squareness in goaltending. A goalie is in proper position when they are both on angle and square.
Drills For Goalies To Work On Angles
Becoming better at angles is the single most important thing a goalie can learn. Like any technique in sports, perfection of it is a lifelong endeavor. With that being said, virtually any drill where a shooter has a puck and is shooting on the goalie is going to force them to work on their angles.
Here are a few of our favorite drills to work on angles for goalies.
2 Shot Warmup Angle Drill
This is a warmup drill that forces goalies to shuffle, maintaining proper angle positioning, through the first and second shot. There are many variations that can be done from this drill, with various shooting locations throughout the defensive zone.
3 Shot Angle Drill for Better Angles in Goaltending
This drill is one of my all time favorites for working on your angles as a goaltender. There are a few moving parts to it, so with your younger goalies, make sure you take your time working up to all three layers.
There is no question that learning proper angles and maintaining squareness to the puck are two of the most critical elements of becoming a well rounded goalie. Consider furthering your learning inside the goalie training app.
Put a goalie coach in your pocket with the Goalie Coaches training app, built specifically for hockey goalies. The Goalie Coaches app has been used at every level of play, up to the NHL. Unlock hundreds of drills, game specific scenarios, and more inside the free app, today.
