Joseph Woll Pro Reads 16
With Joseph Woll
Separating Upper and Lower Body Key to Screen Management
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THE SCENARIO
After a highlight reel backdoor save in his last entry, this time Woll is facing a 5-on-3 power play opportunity against the Buffalo Sabres, with plenty of passing and screen options:
Looking at the freeze frame above, with the puck out of sight but on the stick of the player atop the face-off circle on the left side, what are the most dangerous options for Woll to consider and what factors matter the most about them?
What do you think of his decision to try to find a short side sightline around all that traffic?
What happens if the puck holder continues to skate to his left (Woll’s right)?
THE SAVE
Watch this play out in real time and again on the replay from behind the net to see the amount of traffic that Woll is dealing with, paying close attention to how he handles the screens:
What did you notice about the way Woll managed the traffic? Not just in terms of what side he looked around and when he switched, but did you notice anything about how he switched?
THE PRO READ
Now let’s check in with Woll to get his answers keys to managing this traffic.
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- Woll breaks down his 5-on-3 power play save against the Buffalo Sabres, navigating heavy traffic and multiple passing options.
- On a 5-on-3, Woll pulls back from the top of his crease because quick puck movement makes it easy to get caught out of position at depth.
- When switching sides through screens, Woll emphasizes rapid transitions — 'quick side to side' — while keeping a sound, stable base throughout the movement.
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