Reading a Down-Low Cycle: ‘You Can Smell It’

Alex Lyon was fantastic on the InGoal Radio Podcast, which debuted this week, making this a perfect time to go back to the insightful Detroit Red Wings goalie for his second Pro Reads video breakdown session.

THE SEQUENCE

Much like his informative Pro Reads debut, Lyon’s second video session focuses on some in-zone play down low, but this time against the Anaheim Ducks.

There are a couple difference sequences he breaks down, starting with this one:

With a puck battle behind the net after what started out as a retrieval, where is the most dangerous player in the freeze frame above? What factors are you looking for that would determine how you play this and in what way?

What do you think of how Lyon is using the short side the keep his eyes on the puck behind the net? How about his stick position? What’s he taking away?

Now look at the second sequence that evolves from this:

With the puck being cycled into and out of the corner, who is the most dangerous threat? Is it the player at the top of the right faceoff circle? Or the one on the far side, atop the left circle? Both are left-handed, how does that affect the read?

THE SAVE

Now watch the entire sequence and ask the same questions. Try to see how soon can you identify the primary threat on the second opportunity?

What stands out about the way Lyon plays that final opportunity? Is there anything you can identify that allows him to react to the cut back?

Did you notice how many times he looked off the puck to scan the zone?

Now let’s hear how Lyon saw both plays and why he handled them this way.

THE PRO READ

It looks like you’re not an InGoal subscriber (yet). Below we’ve included a brief excerpt from the full ProRead to give you an idea of how it breaks down in the full video. We invite you to subscribe today to see the full ProRead – and hundreds more exclusive articles.

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InGoal Radio Episode 262with Alex Lyon

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John J. Coleman on July 5, 2024 at 12:59 PM

Thank you for this. Loved every minute of Alex interview. Former Yale University goaltender. You can smell it. like a Sally’s Apizza. This was a great interview.
Remi DeSmith on August 14, 2024 at 4:54 PM

I would question if specifically in a play like this it would have been beneficial for the goalie to get back to your feet instead of staying in RVH once the player takes the puck into the corner and appears to not be an immediate shooting threat. Perhaps it’s an NHL-level threat that wouldn’t apply to my level (NAHL) that you have to stay down simply due to the skill of the shooters there.
- David Hutchison on August 15, 2024 at 9:54 AM
  
  Hey Remi – thanks for sharing your thoughts.
  
  I’d say that’s one of the things we love about the position – there are so many ways to approach different situations. I can absolutely see why you’d play it your way, and lots of goalies would do the same. But many like it Lyon’s way too – I’m thinking any Canucks goalie for sure if you ever watch them. It’s all about balancing your reads with your strengths as a goaltender.
Remi DeSmith on August 15, 2024 at 5:01 PM

Appreciate the insight very well stated