AN: Midway through the second period and the game was still in the balance when a bad shift change left our blue line wide open in the middle. I spotted one of their fastest forwards pick up the puck and head towards my net. In a flash he was across the blue line and into our zone.
Gino: I don’t exactly remember how I picked up the break away, I think someone had sauced a pass up the middle as one of your defenseman pinched on the wall? Not too sure.
AN: This play, like many break aways didn't develop in a way that let's me analyze the threat and set up with options. When a break away happens like this I barely have time to get moving towards the shooter and start trying to pick up anything I can use to make a save.
Gino: My initial thought was to shoot. First instinct was top right, I already had the puck on my forehand (right handed) and I thought I could clear it.
AN: I saw him carrying the puck right-handed to my glove side which made me a little more confident. I saw that he was coming in head-on which cut down the options I had to cover. I was pretty sure he was going to shoot because of how fast he was heading to the net.
Gino: As I saw you square up, I decided at the last minute that I'd shoot down low, seeing as you had the top covered. It was too late for a deke and I had too much speed to try, I would have lost the puck.
AN: That left me guessing it was going to be a glove side shot and that's what I decided to play. Or else it was going to be a blocker side shot, or five-hole, or a deke. You see the problem.
He shot quickly and I dropped to the butterfly just as quickly but kept my gloves forward and high. I didn't really track the puck well at all but felt it hit some part of my glove and then I had no idea where it was. I looked down and saw the puck sitting between my pads like a chick in a nest and knew I'd made the save.
Gino: If I had that same opportunity, I don't think much would change. It would be up to chance again. That kind of opportunity with that speed and little amount of time, I’d more than likely always try to shoot it and a solid goalie will see that and be able to shut it down.
I think that this two-sided narrative in different scenarios including saves and goals is fascinating and I will try to get other players to contribute when I can coax them into the spotlight.
Thanks again to Gino for his help with the entry.