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Nashville Predators goalie Kevin Lankinen in butterfly stance at post during post play and pop passes drill

Pro Drills: Post Play and Pop Passes

Kevin Woodley | | 3 min read
Key Takeaways
  • Push off the post and come to a complete stop before the shot — drifting makes it harder to track and react to the puck.
  • Use a toe bridge post seal to eliminate holes and create a clean, consistent foundation for pushing out.
  • Work a 45-degree angle when the puck is in the corner or moving from behind the net, avoiding being too square on the strong side.
  • Square up toward the goal line during a quick play behind the net, then explode out at a 45-degree angle as the puck pops to the middle.
  • Lankinen and goalie coach Ben Vanderklok drilled both glove and blocker-side variations to reinforce tight, repeatable angles under playoff conditions.

Nashville Predators goalie Kevin Lankinen was gracious enough to sit down with InGoal Magazine during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the locker room to review footage of a drill he’d done with goalie coach Ben Vanderklok during the series.

It was a simple drill with a couple variations, one designed to simulate a quick play behind the net, with a pop pass up into the zone from below the goal line:

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