Joseph Woll Photo Gavin Napier/Icon Sportswire
When Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll joined the InGoal Radio Podcast to talk about his evolution to a successful NHL debut this season, he talked a lot about reading the game.
So, it made sense to have Woll, who went 3-1-0 with one shutout and a .911 save percentage in four games with the Maple Leafs, to make his Pro Reads debut right away and the rookie delivered with an insightful breakdown of a 3-on-1 chance against the Winnipeg Jets.
What didn’t make sense is waiting this long for Woll, who hasn’t played since sustaining a shoulder injury with the AHL Toronto Marlies in mid-March, to add his second entry.
THE SCENARIO
his time Woll is facing the San Jose Sharks in a game that ended with him stopping 34 of 35 shots, including the result of this regroup attack that starts just outside the Toronto blue line and quickly becomes a 2-on-1. The question is whether it will finish as a 2-on-1, so looking at the Sharks forwards as they enter the zone below, what clues are you looking for?
What do you make of Woll’s positioning at this point?
THE SAVE
Since it’s a rush chance, judging Woll’s positioning from a freeze frame isn’t enough to tell us whether he’s managed to get any backwards flow, which is usually tougher when it’s not a pure breakaway from outside the blue line, or whether it’s needed based on the speed of the attack, so watch the entire sequence below before we turn things over to him for a breakdown:
THE PRO READ
Now let’s check in with Woll for his explanation, as well as a fun little note about how his extra-long toe ties can become a puck-swallowing “secret hatch” on some low shots:
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Yes, #19 was playing the man with the puck the whole time. His body was shifted to that player with the puck.Leaving him to pass the puck to man breaking down the ROYAL ROAD. Joe did a great job holding his position and not going down to soon.