Hitting the Net and Scoring

Hitting the Net and Scoring Is a Direct Correlation

I continually preach to my students to hit the net. I hear pucks ringing off the glass all day and I ask the kids: is that the art of scoring? It is not. Missing the net is a wasted opportunity, plain and simple. Every shot that misses is a chance you handed right back to the other team.

My Penguins Coach Kevin Constantine benched me for an entire period because I hit the crossbar on the power play. I thought it was a great shot and almost went in, but he said you need to hit the net or you will not play. That lesson stuck with me for the rest of my career. Coaches at every level will pull you if you cannot put the puck on target when it counts.

My mentality when shooting on goalies is score or put a serious bruise on his body. Probably a little mean, but hey, it was my job. I tell my students if you miss the net you owe your parents $5 or five pushups for every missed shot, and then all of a sudden they start hitting the net. Accountability changes behavior fast.

It is a game changer.

Scoring Tips Every Player Needs to Work On

These are not theories. These are the things I coached at every level, from youth players just learning the game to guys with serious college and pro ambitions. Work through each one and be honest with yourself about where you are weak.

Shoot to Score, Not Just to Shoot

Shoot to score, do not just shoot to shoot. There is a big difference between firing a puck because you have space and firing a puck because you see a scoring opportunity. Train yourself to pick a spot before you release.

Get Pucks to the Net

Get pucks to the net even if you have to take a little off the shot. A puck on net creates chaos. It creates rebounds, deflections, and scrambles in front. A puck sailing wide creates a breakout for the other team.

Change the Angle

Change the angle when shooting left or right to get the goalie moving or to open up his five-hole. At our development camps we are always moving laterally and shooting. A stationary shooter is easy to read. Make the goalie adjust, then shoot.

Get Your Shot Off Quickly

Get your shot off quickly. Quick release, wrist shot, do not let the goalie get set. The longer you hold the puck, the more time the goalie has to square up and take away your options. Practice releasing the puck in one motion until it becomes automatic.

Follow Through on Every Shot

When you shoot, follow through. Your hands should go right to the net when you release the puck, just like a pitcher throwing to home plate where his hand goes toward the catcher's mitt. If your follow-through is sloppy, your shot will be sloppy. This is one of the most common flaws I see in young players and it is one of the easiest to fix with repetition.

Strengthen Your Hands and Wrists Daily

Strengthen your hands and wrists daily, even in the car ride to the rink or school with a wrist gripper. Stronger hands and wrists mean more power on your shot and more control on the puck. This is something you can work on every single day without ever stepping on the ice.

Use Your Backhand

Use your backhand or at least add it to your arsenal. It is one of the hardest shots for goalies to save because they have a hard time reading the release. Most youth players completely neglect their backhand. If you develop it, you immediately become a more dangerous player.

Keep Your Eyes Up

Get your eyes up when you shoot, do not get buried looking at the puck. Head up will change your game and give you so many more scoring options. When you can see the ice, you can pick corners, find a screen, or adjust to what the goalie is giving you.

Use Your Whole Body

Incorporate your lower body when you shoot. Too many youth players use just their upper body, are off balance, and do not get full power into the shot. Use your core and lower body along with your upper body to really step into the puck. The legs drive everything in hockey, including your shot.

Go to the Net for Rebounds

Go to the net for rebounds. In practice, shoot the puck and go to the net every time, touching the crossbar with your stick to build the habit of crashing for rebounds. Goals in front of the net are the ugliest and most effective goals in hockey. Get there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do coaches care so much about hitting the net, even on bad-angle shots?

Because a puck on net does something a missed puck never can. It tests the goalie, it creates rebounds, and it puts pressure on the defense. Coaches want to see players who understand that getting the puck on target is always the priority, even when the shot is not perfect.

How can a young player improve their shot accuracy at home?

Repetition off a shooting pad is the most direct answer. Set up targets and work on your release and follow-through until it is automatic. Add wrist gripper exercises daily to build the hand and wrist strength that powers an accurate shot.

At what age should players start working seriously on shot mechanics?

As early as possible. The habits you build between ages eight and twelve are the ones that stick. If you are teaching bad mechanics early, you are creating problems that take years to undo. Get the fundamentals right from the start.

Is the backhand shot worth developing in today's game?

Absolutely. Goalies train constantly to read forehand shots. A player who can score off the backhand with a quick release gives goalies a completely different problem to solve. It is an underused weapon at the youth level and it can separate you from players with similar forehand ability.