Analysis: The Kuznetsov ‘slow goal’ and how goalies can to stop it in shootouts

Mike McKenna
Mike McKenna(MikeMcKenna56)
Analysis: The Kuznetsov ‘slow goal’ and how goalies can to stop it in shootouts

Speed kills. And for Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov, sometimes that means a snail’s pace.

Like on Monday night, when Kuznetsov used a super slow-mo approach to dramatic effect in a shootout when he scored on Carolina Hurricanes netminder Frederik Andersen.

Yes there’s a lot of fancy stickhandling going on. Kuznetsov has his head up the entire time he’s skating towards Andersen. He never once looks at the puck once he crosses the blueline. And that’s plenty impressive.

But all that wizardry with the puck is just a distraction. Kuznetsov wants Andersen to focus on the puck, not the speed with which he’s approaching the net.

By the time Kuznetsov releases the shot, Andersen is almost on the goal line. He’s wide and low in his stance. The Hurricanes veteran goaltender is giving Kuznetsov way too much open net to shoot at. And it’s all because of the snail-like approach Kuznetsov takes.

Every goaltender plays shootout attempts differently. I liked to get outside the crease, almost to the hash marks. I wanted to have some backward flow. And I knew that I wasn’t the best reactionary goaltender. So I wanted to force the player to make a move.

Andersen is different in his shootout approach. He likes to be passive. Andersen barely gets his heels outside the blue paint as Kuznetsov approaches with the puck.

Different strokes. Different folks. But Andersen gets burned on this attempt because he does a poor job of managing the gap between him and Kuznetsov.

I’ve been in Andersen’s skates when a shooter puts on a stickhandling clinic. And I can tell you first hand, it’s really difficult not to get completely puck-focused, especially once your opponent gets to the hash marks. The more the puck moves, the harder it is to find any clues indicating what the shooter might do next.

From 15 feet away, any shot can beat the goaltender cleanly if it’s well-placed. And I’m sure that weighs heavily on Andersen’s mind during this attempt. By constantly stickhandling, Kuznetsov is repeatedly changing the angle of the puck.

Andersen knows that he can’t keep up with the speed of Kuznetsov’s hands. No goalie can. So he’s forced to widen out his stance as the Capitals forward comes nearer. Andersen is effectively hedging his bets. He knows Kuznetsov could shoot anywhere. And at any time.

It’s an understandable tactic. But Andersen needed to stay closer to the top of the crease in order for it to work. Kuznetsov is going so slow. There’s no way he should be able to go around the Hurricanes goaltender. Yet Andersen ends up deep in the blue paint with a sizable gap between himself and the puck.

To me, that’s why Andersen has been mediocre in shootouts during his 10-year NHL career. He’s too passive. Anderson’s lack of initial depth makes it difficult for him to properly manage the gap.

In 41 career NHL shootouts, Andersen has won 18 times and lost 23. Among NHL goaltenders with 30-plus games of shootout experience, Andersen ranks 35th out of 51. Not horrible. But also not intimidating.

Compare Andersen’s results with Marc-Andre Fleury, who won his 62nd NHL shootout on Sunday when the Minnesota Wild defeated the Chicago Blackhawks. The victory, which included this save on former teammate Patrick Kane,  made Fleury the NHL’s all-time leader in shootout wins.

Kane’s attempt on Fleury isn’t a carbon copy of Kuznetsov on Andersen. But there are similarities worth pointing out. Kane might start off flying towards the Wild crease, but he eventually puts on the brakes around the hash marks.

But so does Fleury. Instead of backing into his net, Fleury slows down his retreat and stays tight to the Blackhawks’ top offensive player.

Fleury is at the top of the crease when Kane releases the puck. Compare that to Andersen, who’s a foot deeper inside the blue paint when Kuznetsov reaches the same location on the ice.

Proper gap management is important, and Fleury excels at it. But he’s also willing to think outside the box. The Wild backstop will throw a fake pokecheck. Or try to bait a shooter. Fleury is unpredictable. And I think his career shootout .735 save percentage stands as proof that Fleury’s creativity gives him an advantage.

I’d like to see more of that from Andersen. Be a little more freeform in the net. But also mindful of keeping a proper distance to the shooter.

Shootouts are not an exact science. Unexpected things can happen in the few seconds it takes for the puck – and player – to travel from the center ice dot to the goal line.

For shooters and goaltenders alike, awareness is everything. It’s not just about seeing the puck. Or an open spot to shoot. It’s about creating variables and doubt for the opponent.

Kuznetsov accomplished both on Andersen. His stickhandling and speed were big variables. And he made Andersen doubtful of what would happen next.

It’s no wonder Kuznetsov has scored on almost 41 percent of his career shootout attempts. He attacks with a plan. And Kuznetsov has the skill to execute it with confidence.

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