How NHL teams utilize a net-front presence to score goals (VIDEOS)

Having a net-front presence is crucial, even in 2020.

Sometimes in hockey, we overthink things and forget about the fundamentals. Remember, it’s hard to stop something that you can’t see. It allows the offensive team to create more scoring chances.

• See also:
  • 8 set face-off plays used at the World Juniors this year
  • 5 ways NHL players score goals off deflections
  • Shoot to pass: How NHL players create rebounds to score goals

Like Team Canada head coach Andre Tourigny said during his presentation at our Hockey Coaches Conference in 2019: “It’s not net presence, but goalie presence. We need to be in front of the goalie, not the net. The net is big, it’s easy for a player to stand around the net.”

From here, I wanted to take a look at the 2020 NHL playoffs and see how effective players were at being a “goalie presence.”

1. Power play

Most teams play a typical 1-3-1 power play with a player stationed in front of the goalie. I’ve focused on these clips because of the goalie presence of the net-front player and the impact they have on the goal, without even touching the puck.

Take a look on how they “blind” the goalie, when the shot comes from the point or the flank.

Mitch Giguere

Mitch Giguere ChPC, is the father of four children and a passionate hockey coach. Assistant Coach for Carabins Université de Montréal (USports W). Former Assistant and Video Coach in the KHL. Mitch has his High Performance 2 from Hockey Canada and has an Advanced Coaching Diploma (NCCP4) from the Canadian Sports Institute. You can reach out to Mitch via email at [email protected] or SMS 450-578-1187

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