Scoring Slump

[chrisehyoung 14]

What do you do when you're mired in a scoring slump? I go through these 3-4 week slumps about twice a year. I'm in one now. I'm usually one of the top scorers on my ball hockey team and on the ice but i've done more shovelling shots into the goalie's pads or missing the net lately. Usually my first reaction is to change sticks and either go back to one of my old sticks or find a new one. Last time that didn't work so I bought some new gloves. I went on a tear the next few weeks. I ended up scoring 10 goals in a 12-5 win the first game with the new gloves. I fear now though that i've used all the goals in those gloves and I need to change something.

I'm sure it's purely psychological but when I go 4 games without scoring it starts to weigh on me. The last two games i've really focused on being a setup man and making good passes. I've also concentrated more on playing well defensively. I play a Thomas Holmstrom type of role though. Goalies still hate me so I still have that. LOL

[Chadd 916]

I couldn't tell you how many points I have without looking it up on the league website. Not caring exactly how many points you have is the key to not worrying about being in a slump. 10 goals in a 12-5 game, seriously? My guess is that the slump is karma.

[Souldriver 64]

I'm sure it's purely psychological ...

Yep there you go.

Had a guy on my team that went 3 season without a goal or an assist zero points in all. And he easily led not only our team combined but maybe the entire league with scoring chances, things like wide open nets just would not go, too many post shots to count. He was frustrated to say the least but out of no where he got 2 goals in one game and it made the past 3 seasons disappear.

But the one thing he did the whole time was play hard. Like Chadd said there are other roles and responsibilities on a team than just scoring.

[chrisehyoung 14]

I couldn't tell you how many points I have without looking it up on the league website. Not caring exactly how many points you have is the key to not worrying about being in a slump. 10 goals in a 12-5 game, seriously? My guess is that the slump is karma.

I didn't say that was a common game, just my slump breakout game. Even at hockey last night I hit 3 posts and a crossbar. I know the tide will turn soon enough but when you're used to scoring and can't, you start to squeeze the stick a little tighter and it mentally gets to you.

[deathb4dismount 11]

I was just in a slump for about 10 games. It's funny that you said changing the stick is the first thing you thought about because that is always where my head goes first. I am shopping for a new stick now.

I did get out of my slump this weekend thankfully, had 3 helpers and one pretty dangler.

Here is some advice from a teammate that helped me. Try scoring in different ways than you normally do. It might not be what you're doing, maybe it is that the other teams have figured you out. I would say 90% of my goals are garbage. I love battling in front of the net beause I am the strongest on my skates of anyone out there and love to battle and wear defenders down in front of the net. Rebounds are usually easy pickings. The other 10% of my goals come from low angle one timers or wristers from below the hashmarks on my offwing side.

Well I did not notice but the other team had adjusted to me. They started matching up their biggest D Man (6'4 250) and getting the weak side winger to harass me as well when I was in front of the net. If set up low on the wing when the puck was on the other side or at the point they would get someone in the passing lane.

So I changed my game. Instead of battling in front I started to rotate out and make myself availble higher in the slot for a pass which lead to my teammates being open because they had more bodies trying to deal with me. Instead trying to wait for that prefect pass for the one timer or whipping a shot at a bad angle I took the space available when I had the puck and used my skill more than my strength (not easy for me) but it worked and I netted a pretty goal which felt good.

Try that and I am sure you will be lighting the lamp in no time at all. And then when they think they have you figured out again go back to your old bag of tricks.

[chrisehyoung 14]

I honestly think that my game has changed since returning from my back injury. I'm finding myself hesitant to go to the spots I used to go to and be as aggressive in front of the net. The goalies also know that they can get me to back off with the threat of a poke check now as that's how I injured my back in the first place. At 38 years old with a job and a bunch of kids to feed, I find myself over thinking getting hurt again. I need to get that out of my head and go back to my game. In the meantime I will try setting up in different areas and adjusting my game to suit.

[deathb4dismount 11]

I honestly think that my game has changed since returning from my back injury. I'm finding myself hesitant to go to the spots I used to go to and be as aggressive in front of the net.

I need to get that out of my head and go back to my game. In the meantime I will try setting up in different areas and adjusting my game to suit.

There is your answer. If you can still play that physical game, get back in there and the goals will definitely come.

[Souldriver 64]

Though I don't score much from it oblige getting in front of the net and battling there. It takes at least 2 of there guys to get any type of control on me plus it usually distracts the goalie as well. This frees up other players nd even if I don't touch the puck it help keep the puck down low and gives up a couple scoring chances.

The problem is that with less talented chippy teams they starts to get real aggressive and with poor refs this can be a problem. I can't tell you how many times they start to do that "ass first" skate backwards into your knees or they start cross check shoving you and hit you up way too high. last game this happened and they put their 6'4" 300lbs guy on me for faceoffs, but not to body, just to elbow me in the face and collar bone. I told the ref on the side to watch out for and after a couple more times I realized they won't do anything. So on the next faceoff I saw him load up so I got down low and be went over my head and from the momentum of it he took himself down.

Later in the game two of their bigger guys decided to not only check our smallest guy (he is like 5'4") into the boards while getting the puck but to keep puching him in while battleing against the boards so I decided to help him. I go in start playing on the puck with one hand in the stick and then use the other open palmed to push a guy off it and I get called for roughing.

[chrisehyoung 14]

The game we played on Monday their goalie just kept yelling that he couldn't see. That's my favourite because then I don't even have to keep checking that i'm in the right spot. At one point the goalie dove out of his net and cross-checked me in the lower back. Being that I was just out for 8 weeks with a fractured pelvis, bulged disc, and pinched nerves in my lower back I took offense and turned to give him a mouthful. His defenseman promptly elbowed me in the Adam's Apple. Needless to say it was game on from there on in.

[deathb4dismount 11]

I love when it gets physical down low and the opposing team tries to goon it up. Go ahead stick that big guy out there on me who cant skate well, I will literally skate small circles around him which will piss them off even more and usually lead to some sort of stick check penalty

[chrisehyoung 14]

The other day they were putting 2 guys on me down low and leaving a guy wide open in the slot. I beat them both 3 times to set up goals. Gotta love it when they focus on me at the expense of covering everyone.

[bwhockey17 12]

I just broke out of one, and my advice is change up your pre-game routine. Normally I have the same stuff I wear to games, eat the same stuff, tape my stick the same way and such but after not scoring for 3 games I decided to switch things up a bit. Just changing your routine should help. On ice/floor, go to the net. Good things happen to people that go to the net, and make sure you don't just plant yourself there - move around, get open and elude the defender so your teammates will be able to get it to you. Hopefully this helps!

[shooter27 116]

Just don't worry about it, it's not that big of a deal, nobody is paying you to score goals. Or are they?

If you need a pick me up, I had three almost no way to miss scoring chances last night and fanned on all three shots. One of them actually led directly to a breakaway and goal for the other team. This stuff happens.

Though it may seem counter-intuitive, back when I did play games that mattered, I found playing better defensively always leads to more offensive chances. You'd be shocked how often some little things like getting lower on the breakout so you can receive a pass with speed or providing close support to a teammate end up in great scoring chances and goals.

[kovalchuk71 212]

I think people dive WAY too deeply into "superstitions" and I think we can hold pro athletes partially accountable for that. I get to the rink, go out there and just play. I'll have streaks when crap doesn't work out for me, and streaks when nothing can go wrong. I look at it as more of a law of averages type of thing. But the moment I stop having fun playing hockey is the moment I hang it up.

[Hordie Gowe 17]

When all else fails there is always the Mark Grace "slumpbuster".

[MountainKing 10]

You guys have it easy, I haven't scored a goal since returning from injury..22 games ago. Lots of goal posts, including on an empty netter last game. It's become a running joke now, at least other guys on my line are putting it in so I'm just dishing it over for now.

[chrisehyoung 14]

I hit 2 posts and a crossbar in the first half of today's game. Missed another half dozen chances too. Second half a scored on a nice deflection then 2 more one-timers went in for me. I may be on the cusp of breaking out.

[chippa13 1844]

10 goals in a 12-5 game? So you're saying you're a dick.

[chrisehyoung 14]

10 goals in a 12-5 game? So you're saying you're a dick.

Pretty much.

Tiebreakers in this league go by goals for. Not a great system for running up scores but it's what we play by.

[Chadd 916]

Pretty much.

Tiebreakers in this league go by goals for. Not a great system for running up scores but it's what we play by.

Things like that are why I lobbied our league to use goals against as a tie breaker instead of goals for or goal differential.

[chrisehyoung 14]

Things like that are why I lobbied our league to use goals against as a tie breaker instead of goals for or goal differential.

They're going to use goal differential next season. Not sure how that will work. That particular game we weren't trying to run up the score. I put one in dumping it from my own end. Another I tried to dump it into the goalie's pads and he just stepped out of the way. I also happened to have two bounce off my backside that game. Just a total fluke but everything I touched went in.

[Crossen463 8]

I scored one goal in my entire high school hockey career, and now I haven't gone a single game without getting at least a goal and a helper. I don't try too hard to make things happen, I just like to settle myself into the flow of the game and pucks start coming my way. My coach always just said to let the game happen every once in a while instead of trying to force the things that may have worked for you before.

I also feel that people who live and die by superstition end up screwing themselves over. If you feel well, you play well. Why bring so many superstitions in that can get in the way of feeling well?