Pro-Reads: Craig Anderson – reading the shooter
With Craig Anderson
We loved this read as much for his description of the somewhat unconventional save selection as for the situational read itself.
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T oday we bring you another read from Ottawa’s Craig Anderson. It’s a situation that at first glance looks rather routine – a solo rush from an angle with plenty of support by his teammates. What inspired us though was Anderson’s read of the shooter and his save selection – one fitting his individual size and style.
The Scenario
First let’s look at the scenario Anderson faces in a simple static shot. Montreal’s Charles Hudon is coming down the left wing, to Anderson’s right. At this point it’s not entirely clear what is about to develop but it’s a good opportunity to consider all the variables at play in a game, in this case at NHL speed. Things can change in an instant but you still have to make your read.
What do you see here? What are Hudon’s options? What hand does he shoot with? Are you aware of his assets as a player? Is he a shooter? Does he have speed? Who is he with in support? As always in a relatively straightforward situation there are all kinds of variables at play; yet, the goaltender has to keep it simple and “just play.”
The Save
Now that you have taken a moment to assess the situation, let’s look at Anderson’s save. Did the playu unfold as you might have expected from that first static shot? Did he handle it the same way you would have? Can you see the wrinkle in his save selection that few goaltenders today would have employed? It’s not the only way to handle this situation, and not the only way for Anderson to handle it successfully but it worked for him and he’d probably go there again in a similar circumstance.
The Pro-Read
Now that you have considered this save, let’s hear from Craig Anderson himself on what he saw here and more importantly, how he chose to play it.
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- Anderson breaks down his save on Montreal's Charles Hudon attacking from the left wing on a solo rush at NHL speed.
- Anderson made his save selection based on his own size and the specific techniques in his personal skill array — not a universal response to the situation.
- Reading the shooter before the play fully develops — including shot hand, speed, and offensive tendencies — is central to Anderson's decision-making process.
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