Three-Layer Vision Approach to Mastering Reaction Saves

Calm, controlled save execution on perimeter shots is a defining trait of high-level goaltending. It may look effortless from the outside, but that composure is built on layers of technical skill supported by patience, timing, and precision.

Goalies who develop this skill don’t just make saves—they control rebounds, manage pressure, set the pace of play, and turn tough situations into routine ones.

These are the key layers of the Read & React process that help goalies execute saves with real composure.

Step 1: Identify the Shot Release

One of the biggest breakdown points in save execution happens before the puck is even shot.

Many goalies react to the shooter’s body—not the puck. Leg lifts, stick pulls, blade angles… these are triggers, not reaction cues

The difference between reacting to the shooter and reacting to the puck is the difference between desperation and composure. By patiently waiting for the puck to actually leave the stick, goalies build trust in their reaction ability and avoid being “fooled” by false triggers.

The solution is simple: wait for the puck to actually leave the stick.
Trusting your reaction ability and reading the release—not the shooter’s triggers—removes guessing and stops you from overreacting.

Step 2: Identify the Line and Elevation

Once the puck releases, it becomes a reading exercise.

Elite goalies instantly recognize two things:

1. The Line – the left/right path away from center the puck is traveling
2. The Elevation – the height it will arrive at

This isn’t guesswork—it’s a trainable skill built through quality reps and deliberate practice. When a goalie reads the trajectory accurately, everything improves:

• Reactions become more direct toward the puck’s destination
• Hands move efficiently in straight, controlled lines
• Save selections become cleaner, producing positive, predictable rebound control

This is where patience meets precision, resulting in cleaner saves and controlled rebounds that stay out of dangerous areas.

Step 3: Lead with the Eyes

In reaction saves that involve the hands, the hands may make the save—but the eyes make it efficient.

The coaching cue, “Leading with the eyes” means keeping uninterrupted visual contact with the puck:

• From the release
• Into the stick blade
• Through to any redirection of the puck

Breaking visual contact early disrupts timing, slows reaction, and reduces control. Staying locked on the puck produces sharper timing, cleaner rebounds, and faster recovery

Final Thoughts: Composure Is a Trainable Skill

A quiet, focused mind allows goalies to execute the three essential steps with consistency:

✔️ Patiently read the release
✔️ Accurately identify line and elevation
✔️ Lead every save with the eyes

When these layers work together, goalies build the kind of quiet confidence that elevates every save. Great goaltending isn’t just stopping the puck—it’s mastering the way you stop it.