In these two videos, you’ll see two amazing net drives (by the same player) that result in two beauty goals. One drive is executed without the puck where she scores off a great pass, while the other is an amazing individual effort featuring some fantastic puck skills and body control while she goes through two opponents on the way to the net.

Goal #1 – Net Drive Without The Puck

This 1st goal isn’t flashy but it sure is “clutch”. This is an OT winner that completed a 3rd period comeback from down 2-0 to win 3-2 in overtime.

While it’s not a fancy goal, it is played perfectly by the non-puck carrier on the net drive. Players often struggle to get the timing and body positioning right when they are driving the net on their off-wing. We work on this skill of opening up properly in every practice that includes net drives.

As you can see in this clip, the eventual goal scorer is the puck carrier as we cross the blue-line. She makes a great pass to advance the play while under pressure and then she KEEPS MOVING to get to the net for her teammate. Many players would stand still and watch at this point. By driving to the net immediately after making the pass, she shakes her defender and scores what looks like an easy tap in (which of course, it’s not).

As you can see in the picture below, her hands are perfectly positioned away from her body, and she’s in a lunged position which allows her to open up to the pass without losing any speed. This is textbook net driving without the puck on your off-wing.

Goal #2 – Net Drive With The Puck

This is just an unbelievable individual effort.

There are 4 keys that make this so effective.

1. EAST-WEST: She does a great job of cutting back east-west on the D, thereby forcing her opponent to skate east-west instead of her preferred north-south skating. The slide under the stick is done to perfection here.
2. 2ND EFFORT: Once she reaches the 2nd defender, our goal scorer make a great 2nd effort to keep the puck and play alive. Many players would give up at this point or show less confidence in pushing the puck forward into space to pick it up later.
3. BODY CONTROL: This is what truly makes this player and this play exceptional. The amount of composure and control she shows in the moment before shooting is impressive. Even with one knee down, she’s able to adjust her body positioning to get off a great shot in tight.
4. THE SHOT: The puck placement here is perfection. The goalie plays it correctly, but the shooter finds the perfect spot just above the goalie’s outstretched pad. This is a great spot to shoot for whether you’re in tight on a net drive or shooting in full stride.

Watch these clips a few more times to see how it’s done by a national team level player. Focus on the key details on stick & body positioning when driving the net hard and you’ll fill the net at your next practice & game.

Work Hard. Dream BIG.

Your friend and coach,

Kim