Jaroslav Halak Pro Reads
With Jaroslav Halak
Patience Key to Rush Chances Against Elite Players
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Jaroslav Halak is wrapping up an impressive first season with the New York Rangers, going 10-8-5 despite some tough situation starts and posting a +1.5 adjusted save percentage that ranks eighth in the NHL (slightly ahead of playing partner Igor Shesterkin’s +1.4) to close within five wins of 300 in his NHL career, an impressive milestone that listeners of the InGoal Radio Podcast will know means a lot to the 5-foot-11 goalie from Slovakia.
Halak sat down for an extended video session in Vancouver in February, and it was no surprise a goalie who prides himself on making good reads had a lot of great insights to offer in the Pro Reads format. Halak is back to share more of them in his third installment.
THE SEQUENCE
This time Halak is facing a pure 2-on-1 led by Vegas Golden Knights sniper Jack Eichel.
As Eichel hits the top of the right faceoff circle, what keys factors are you looking for in terms of reading the likelihood or a pass or shot?
How are you choosing depth based on those indicators?
What do you make of Halak’s positioning and posture?
THE SAVE
Like most rush chances, speed matters when making those reads, so rather than posting more freeze frames, watch the entire save sequence and ask yourself the same questions:
Seeing how this unfolded, what stood out to you about the way Halak managed it?
At what point did you realize Eichel was going to drag it into the middle?
Did you notice how Halak changed his depth at that point?
THE PRO READ
Let’s hear how Halak read the attack and his keys to managing it:
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- Halak breaks down his save on a 2-on-1 rush against Vegas Golden Knights sniper Jack Eichel, who drags the puck into the middle before shooting.
- Recognizing the shooter matters: Halak identifies Eichel early and prepares for an extra move, knowing elite players will often take one more action before committing.
- Rather than retreating on the rush, Halak stops his backward movement, takes more ice, and avoids making the first move — holding his position until Eichel declares his intention.
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