Casey DeSmith Pro Reads
With Casey DeSmith
East-West Keys Even When You Feel ‘Late’ Laterally
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Casey DeSmith has not just been one of the best backups and value contracts in the NHL since signing with the Dallas Stars before last season.
DeSmith has been a top-15 goalie in the League since. After signing a three-year, $3-million free agent deal — and that’s $3 million total, not per season — the 34-year-old has an adjusted save percentage of plus-0.6%, according to Clear Sight Analytics, which is tied for 14th in the NHL.
DeSmith was kind enough to sit down with InGoal after a morning skate earlier this season to share some of the tactical and technical cues that have allowed him to play so well during this Pro Reads video breakdown session.
THE SEQUENCE
DeSmith is facing Edmonton Oilers forward Vasily Podkolzin from close range after a puck squirted out to him from a battle in the left corner:
At this point, what is your primary focus if you are DeSmith?
What other threats do you need to consider?
What factors are you considering?
The Save
Now watch the save below and ask yourself those same questions:
What stood out to you about the way DeSmith played this cross-ice pass?
Were you surprised to DeSmith double push across the ice?
Any idea why that might have happened? As much as that double push stands out, watch it again and look for what you think are the key factors that allowed DeSmith to make a tough save on Evan Bouchard look somewhat easy?
THE PRO READ
Now let’s hear from DeSmith on how he saw and managed this chance:
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- DeSmith breaks down his save on a cross-ice pass from Vasily Podkolzin to Evan Bouchard after a broken play along the left corner boards.
- DeSmith stayed square to Podkolzin because Podkolzin effectively sold the shot, making the pass read late — a challenge DeSmith acknowledges he had to recover from.
- DeSmith leads his cross-ice recovery with his eyes, picking up Bouchard's stick as the primary cue to trigger his double push across the crease.
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