Is a rolling puck actually easier to backhand top shelf when close in?

Is a rolling puck actually easier to backhand top shelf when close in?

Game 1 Eastern Conference finals of what surely is going to be a brilliant series. Games is pretty even, and then one Carter Verhaeghe decides to take matters into his own hands. To call it a beautiful backhand is an understatement.

The puck rolls on its side after a tape to tape Barkov pass and Carter decides to roof it like a lacrosse shot in some insane technique. We have played a bit of hockey through the times and are by no means NHL caliber, but the statement struck us as odd.

Our thought has always been that training with volatility, such as a Xenopuck on a rough asphalt can help train your skills. The assumption is that you can “control” the puck even in the most volatile circumstance. Key word is control, what Verhaeghe did was use volatility to it’s advantage. Using the rolling puck like a lacrosse player was an insane move that required immense talent and was very impressive.

So the simple answer may be that it is not so simple. Using volatility to your advantage is definitely a hockey skill. Something that many coaches might label as a qualitative skill. Something that is hard to quantify but easy to describe. Some players just have a knack of getting that puck no matter the bounce or what your efforts may be.

Training and reps are the only way to effectively develop this intuition on the ice. Not only practice the fundamentals that key, but in addition you must work on the edge cases. This is the area where you are uncomfortable. Test your limits and see what your body does. Just be careful in understanding the risk involved in either side. There is a balance where only you know the center.

These have been great playoffs and we are so very excited for the future of hockey.