Copyright Ó 2004 Jukka Ropponen

     Once again there's no one definite patent answer on how to play shots from tight angles, but I can try to give a few pointers that you may find helpful.

     The general rule, that you should not go down if not required by the situation, is a good one. If not needed, don't create extra work for yourself.

     Shooters like to go upstairs a lot these days when more and more goalies are using the butterfly technique and taking the lower part of the net away effectively. Too often, goalies do this on tight angle plays as well when they really didn't have a need to do so.

     I see a lot of goals also being scored from tight angle situations when a goalie prematurely moves and opens space on front top corner (in the video below this would be the catch glove top corner).

     If there is a pass, you are in a lot better situation to follow it if you are on your feet instead of already being down. As a general rule of thumb, you can think of anything below the face off dots as being shots that can be stopped while staying on your feet instead of going down. If you play these shots standing up you will also make it a lot easier for yourself to play the possible rebounds.

     In the photo to the right, you see the goalie down in the butterfly from the right side shooter's view. Notice how the shooter now sees the open space on the top corners and will most likely aim there as the goalie has taken away the lower part of the net totally. From this position, it will also be a lot harder for the goalie to follow the play if there is a pass or rebound.

     In this video you can see how the goalie remains on his feet and is ready to move if there is a pass. Once he sees that the forward will take a tight angle shot he effectively closes any open angle for the forward to score.