James Reimer Pro-Read
With James Reimer
To Slide or Not? Reimer Breaks Down Backdoor Options
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James Reimer is back for another in-person Pro Reads from our visit in Kelowna this summer at the NET360 Goalie Camp, and just as he did in sessions while with the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes, Reimer doesn’t disappoint breaking down San Jose Sharks footage.
THE SEQUENCE
Reimer’s latest Pro Read features an in-zone sequence with some similarities to his previous video breakdown, which featured a pre-faceoff checklist against the Vegas Golden Knights, but this time he’s up against the New York Islanders power play, which creates a lot more time and space for Matt Barzal to circle around the offensive zone looking for options:
This play actually started from a net front rebound scramble, with Barzal skating onto a loose puck on his forehand between the top of the faceoff circles but as he spins back onto his forehand again with a chance to skate downhill, what are you looking for?
What are his best passing options? Can you afford to cheat to them at all?
Do they impact what side of the screen you would look around?
THE SAVE
There’s another key for Reimer to making this save but if we show that freeze frame you’ll know where the puck was headed above, so instead watch the entire sequence to see if what you anticipated was how it played out, and if you can spot that second key Reimer talks about:
Much like the last Pro Reads with Reimer, what do you make of the decision to stay short side on the screen before the Barzal pass, even if it means a longer path to the shooter?
Anything you’d do different?
THE PRO READ
Let’s check in with Reimer to find out how he saw things, and why he played it this way:
Watch James Reimer break down the full video for you
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- Reimer breaks down his save on a New York Islanders power play sequence, with Matt Barzal circling the offensive zone on his forehand looking for passing options.
- Stay locked on Barzal when he has possession on his forehand, with the one exception of scanning the zone as he spins at the top of the faceoff circles to read where the puck is going next.
- Reimer chose to stay short side on the screen before the Barzal pass, accepting a longer path to the shooter — a deliberate positional trade-off explained in his breakdown.
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