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Cam Talbot Image Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire

Last week we honored Frederik Andersen’s victory in the NHL All-Star Game by making him the feature guest for Pro Reads. This week we celebrate Cam Talbot’s first All-Star Game by going back to the Minnesota Wild No.1.

Talbot was the first goalie able to do an in-person video session with the return of direct access this season as some teams allowed access at the rink, and the Minnesota Wild No.1 didn’t disappoint with his live breakdowns. 

THE SCENARIO

Talbot is facing an Anaheim Ducks power play, and there are two elements we’ll take a closer look at with Talbot, starting with a pretty good look off the rush, and continuing with a screened shot from the point. 

As the puck comes across to Ducks forward Max Comtois (and a nice little blind backhand pass from captain Ryan Getzlaf in the middle), we can see Talbot gets his head on this chance quickly. What do you think are the key pieces of information he is processing in this moment? Can he afford to lock in on the shooter here, even on the PK?

Talbot breaks it down for us in the Pro Reads video below, but let’s look at another scenario first:

What do you make of the way Talbot is managing this screen from Comtois as the one-timer from the point is about to be delivered? Goalies hear a lot about picking the short-side lane when looking around traffic, but Talbot seems to have a pretty good look at this without needing to abandon a more neutral position and looking over Comtois.

Any thoughts on his positioning or depth here?

THE SAVE

What you can’t see is Comtois is moving into that middle lane as the shot comes, adding to the degree of difficulty, so let’s watch the entire sequence in real time before turning it over to Talbot. 

THE PRO READ

Now let’s hear how Talbot breaks down both chances and how he managed them.

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