Alex Lyon Pro Reads 11
Rush Reads and Importance of Not Setting Up Too Early
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Alex Lyon was an immediate Pro Reads favourite for his insightful breakdowns while with the Detroit Red Wings, delivering on technical, tactical, equipment and even psychological levels during a one-hour sit down. He’s been working his magic with the Buffalo Sabres mid-season revival back into the playoff race, which started right around the time he sat down with InGoal to review a couple save clips.
THE SEQUENCE
Lyon and the Sabres are hanging onto a late lead in this clip against the Toronto Maple Leafs when a turnover inside the blue line at the left point leads to this rush-style scenario with Auston Matthews attacking from the opposite side:
What’s your first thought as Matthews opens his hips with this puck on his stick?
Is he a shooting threat? What are the most dangerous passing options? Why?
What do you make of Lyon’s positioning at this point?
How about now, with the puck passed all the way across to Matthew Knies on the left? Is he a primary shooting threat now? Or are you worried about another pass?
What do you make of Lyon’s positioning here? Does it tell you anything about what he might be thinking in terms of what the most dangerous threat is.
The Save
Watch the sequence below to see how it plays out, with the same questions in mind, and pay attention to the sound the puck makes and what happens next:
Did it play out the way you anticipated with the second pass? What did you make of the way Lyon played this? What stood out about his movements?
THE PRO READ
Now watch Lyon explains how he played this chance, and his mindset:
Watch Alex Lyon break down the full video for you
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- Alex Lyon breaks down his save on an Auston Matthews-to-Matthew Knies cross-ice rush chance while protecting a late lead against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
- Lyon identifies 'setting up too early' as a critical error on rush plays, explaining that committing to a position before the play develops causes goalies to lose their net angle.
- Lyon describes staying further back in the crease on rush plays — waiting until the puck is in zone before finalizing his setup — as the key adjustment behind this save.
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