Facing Kucherov: Visual + Stick Keys Behind the Net with Dylan Garand
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Dylan Garand has already endured some ups and downs early this season — literally.
But after being sent down to the AHL (and somewhat surprisingly clearing waivers) despite a .948 save percentage in his three-game NHL debut late last season, Garand responded to an early season call-up after Joonas Korpisalo was injured by posting his first NHL shutout, making 22 saves in a 2-0 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.
After also impressing InGoal with the offseason skating and edge work drills he shared this summer, it felt like a perfect time to go back to Garand for his second Pro Reads. Much like the first NHL stretch he analyzes, the 24-year-old did not disappoint with his insights.
THE SEQUENCE
Garand is dealing with a couple low-high plays during this extended breakdown of a Tampa Bay cycle featuring two-time MVP and three-time NHL scoring title champion Nikita Kucherov:
Looking at the freeze frame above, what do you think of the way Garand is playing this chance with the elusive Kucherov behind the net? Does anything stand out about his choice of post anchor (right) combined with sightline (left shoulder)?
What are the advantages to this method, which we broke down a few summers ago on the ice with Los Angeles Kings goaltending director Bill Ranford?
Is Kucherov a scoring threat? If not, ask yourself what are the primary threats and how does Garand’s positioning set him up to manage the other threats?
THE SAVE
The freeze frame was just one of two plays from behind the net on this sequence.
Watch both play out below, asking yourself those same questions for each:
What stood out about the way Garand handled the second pass out compared to the first? Did you like the way he approached it, or would you have been down sooner in a reverse-VH on that left post for the second one? If so, why?
THE PRO READ
Now let’s hear how Garand saw and managed both pass outs on this play:
Members see the full video with Dylan Garand breaking down the play in detail.
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