Charlie Lindgren Pro Reads 3
Importance of Proper Reverse Mechanics on Backdoor Plays
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Much like his ascension to the starting job with the Washington Capitals, Charlie Lindgren has quickly climbed the ranks of reader favourites with his first two Pro Reads, so we didn’t want to wait too long to get back to him for a third video review session.
THE SEQUENCE
This time Lindgren is facing a Detroit Red Wings power play late in the season, in a game that was crucial to their late season push into a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He’s yet to see a shot in a game loaded with pressure, something he talks about in his breakdown below, but before we get to that, look at what he’s seeing from the Red Wings:
With the puck on the stick of the right shot above the left face-off circle, can you identify the most dangerous threats? What factors matter the most at this point?
What do you make of Lindgren’s positioning relative to it all in the photo above?
Skip ahead less than a second and the puck is down near the goal line and Lindgren is transitioning into a Reverse on his right post, with passing options at both the short-side hash mark and cutting hard to the far post: Which one is more dangerous?
What do you need to know about both of those options?
What do you make of the decision to transition into Reverse?
If the pass goes through the crease to the backdoor at Robby Fabbri, should Lindgren target his push out at the shooter, or straight across to his left post?
THE SAVE
Watch the sequence play out in real time and replays, ask yourself the same questions, and see if you can identify Lindgren’s keys to making this save:
First off, were you able to predict which of the two passing options was most likely? Why?
Second, did you foresee how this was going to play out even after that back door pass, with Fabbri cutting back across the crease rather than shooting? If so, what were the tells?
Lastly, what key elements in how Lindgren played this allowed him to make the save?
THE PRO READ
Listen in now as Lindgren explains those keys himself:
Watch Charlie Lindgren break down the full video for you
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- Lindgren breaks down his save on a Detroit Red Wings power play late in a pressure game during Washington's playoff push, facing his first shot of the game with the Capitals' playoff spot on the line.
- Lindgren explains his decision to transition into a Reverse on his right post, managing two passing threats simultaneously — a short-side option at the hash mark and a backdoor cut to the far post.
- Lindgren identifies the tells that Robby Fabbri would cut back across the crease rather than shoot, a read that was central to making the save.
More Charlie Lindgren on InGoal
Charlie Lindgren Pro Reads 2
InGoal Radio Episode 260 with Charlie Lindgren of the Washington Capitals
InGoal Radio Episode 180 with Charlie Lindgren
InGoal Radio Episode 66: Charlie Lindgren
Pro-Drills: Stephane Waite and Charlie Lindgren – drill for puck off end boards
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