Lets Talk Bad Habits!

[Law Goalie 147]

I usually get at least one breakaway a game; and while I have the skill to deke the goalies in my league, I wimp out and shoot 5 hole. It still works around a quarter of the time, but my teammates have been giving me a hard time about it lately.

I really shouldn't be saying this (the Brotherhood will come after me), but...

Try faking shots to the 5-hole. Goalies have to respect that, to a certain extent, and you may force them to make the first move: then you've got a little more space to deke and a little more daylight to go for.

Conversely, even a little lateral fake will often open up enough 5-hole to just pop it in.

Both are initial, simple go-to moves that don't require much forethought.

There are ways for goalies to counter both effectively without surrendering much, but they'll have to be good and you'll still limit their options.

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My principal bad habit these days is over-skating the play. Since I figured out my skate issues (and dropped 15lbs), I've been skating too far too fast and allowing cut- and pass-backs.

That, and getting lazy with my depth-selection because of a regular and overly pass-happy shinny game. Goddamn Russians... :)

[15yearsofhistory 0]

My number one issue is being too patient on the breakout. I always take it behind the net and look for the open man, but sometimes it just doesn't happen so I just wait and wait and wait and am usually forced to dump it or make a dumb turnover.

The other pressing issue for me is when I go to transition to skate backwards, I bring my foot behind my leg instead of in front. Luckily I have a strict defensive coach who is breaking that one up though. I'm tired of tripping over my own leg... <_<

[ronnychencharik 0]

Thanks for the advice LawGoalie

[ISTOUT 0]

Well I am just returning back to the game after being off for a few years due to commitments that didn’t allow me to have much free time and my bad habits are many but I think my biggest bad habit is not taking advantage of all the “pass and shoot” ice time available just to work on the basics and fundamentals of my personal game. Practice, getting back to basics and spending the time running drills would defiantly help me overcome some of my personal shortcomings with stick handling, puck control, skating etc.

My second is not putting in the “off ice” or “dry land” conditioning and skills building time that I should as now that I am getting older doing this would not only help improve my game but it would also keep me healthy and keep me playing better and longer..

;) LOL Now that I have put this in writing its official so I am now obligated to myself to get off my lazy ass and fix it!

[greech 4]

Okay, new one. I can't break the puck out on my strong side as a winger anymore. It just isn't working anymore.

[DevilsFan38 0]

The second I get the puck I either pass it or shoot it. It's like I'm playing hot potato instead of hockey. I need to learn to take a few seconds to look at my options, maybe skate the puck a few feet rather than just dumping it to the nearest person I see.

[DoublinUp 0]

The second I get the puck I either pass it or shoot it. It's like I'm playing hot potato instead of hockey. I need to learn to take a few seconds to look at my options, maybe skate the puck a few feet rather than just dumping it to the nearest person I see.

i think at one point were all like that, work with the puck more...the more you get comfertable with the puck the better you'll feel when its in your possesion

[DavidT 11]

Not properly following threw on shots has been my problem as of late.

[wc19 1]

huge problem for me is when I should shoot I always pass it off