Well, they say any goal is a good goal. While I don’t necessarily agree with that one, if it goes on the scoreboard I guess it is a goal. This holds true even if the net ends up all the way back against the boards with the goalie embedded in the mesh and a player is lying top of him.
When I see a player coming into me, I usually take one of two approaches:
EJECT! EJECT! EJECT! I’d rather play another day than have some bozo land on my knee and snap some tendons. Sure, they get a goal, but they also find that the cold steel post leaves a lasting memory.
Elbows Up and Hold On! When ejecting from the crease is not an option, I have (finally) learned to tighten up, lead with the elbows (or blocker, or stick) and hold on for the ride. While I tend to be a little softer than a post, the least I can do is help remind skaters that I’m a big guy and I have sharp skates and elbows.
In the following sequence, I don’t think I even had a chance. I pretty much remember simply ending up with my back against the netting and the net all the way back against the back boards. I’m glad Jason was there to capture this one, ’cause it confirmed my suspicion that my ‘D had something to do with it.
(Oh, and somewhere in that tangle, you can see that the bloody puck found a way in! )
Bret Sewell carrying the puck, Frank Savino heading for himBret Sewell carrying the puck, Frank Savino on himBret Sewell knocked off his skate by Frank SavinoBret Sewell knocked off his skate by Frank Savino, into Red. How'd the puck get there?Bret Sewell knocked off his skate by Frank Savino, flying into RedBret Sewell knocked off his skate by Frank Savino, flying into both Red and the postBret Sewell knocked off his skate by Frank Savino, flying into both Red and the entire net now heads to the boardsBret Sewell knocked off his skate by Frank Savino, flying into both Red and the post with the entire net against the boards and the puck (and Red) both inside the net.
We goalies get called a lot of things, some of them congratulatory, some of them not so much… here’s a random list of things I’ve been called or had said to me
You see, the score might determine who wins or loses, but it doesn’t tell the story of how it got that way. Nor does it tell the story of how any one team member played. I’ve had some of my best games in net on the losing side of the battle — there is only so much you can do.
