Your ability to prevent or break up plays off of your reads is just as important as your ability to make saves: This goal, seemingly insignificant at the time, with St. Louis up 4-0, was the turning point in tonight‘s game. It also was preventable. Two important points to pick up here that will help you be ahead of the play and not chasing the play are these little points: • always be aware of the hand of the player receiving the pass, particularly below the goal line. Here, the Detroit player who receives the pass in the corner is a left-handed shot. Reading the defensive coverage that you have here, any pass that is going to get through to the weak side must have a close proximity to the crease. Knowing this off your scan will allow you to have that stick ready and to take away a passing lane if need be. Passes that go through the paint rarely end up with good results. • the importance of shoulder checks when the puck is on the perimeter. It is important to have your head on a swi...