Stand-Up vs Butterfly Goalie

A lot of people wonder weather it is better to be a stand up goalie or a butterfly goalie. The answer is butterfly goalie. There are a lot more reasons to be a butterfly goalie than to be a stand up goalie. Most goals that are scored in the NHL are scored down low. If you can eliminate those goals then all you have to worry about is getting beat up high. So that you don't get beat up high make sure that you come out of the net far enough that if the puck goes over your shoulder, it will go over the cross bar too. If you watch some of the top goalies in the NHL, almost all of them go down on almost every shot. If the shot is taken from a long way off and you have time to stand up and move into the puck, then do that but anything in close I would say that your best bet is to go down.

The Butterfly Slide

The butterfly slide is probably the most used save in the NHL today. It's so common because you cover the complete lower part of the ice and if out far enough you can have the whole net covered. When balanced and in control it is very easy to make saves from the butterfly slide.

When doing the butterfly slide there are a couple of things that should be remembered. First you want to load your push leg by crouching down for lots of power on your push. Next you want to look where you are going and make an explosive push across the net. Keep your stick on the ice and your glove and blocker up and out so that you are ready to catch anything or block anything. Make sure that your legs are flat on the ice and keep your body compact so that no pucks can slip through you. Always have a wide butterfly so that you get maximum lower net coverage.

The Basic Butterfly

The butterfly is the most used save in hockey. It's used so often because most shots that come your way will be low. If they are high, they will most likely hit or go over your shoulder if you challenge the shooter. Most goalies use the butterfly because then you go down and are tight and compact, there is really no where to shoot and score. The butterfly is often used on close range shots because it's more of a blocking shot than a catching shot and if the shooter is in so close you will not have any time to react so you just need to make yourself as big as possible.

Here are a couple of key things to remember when going into the butterfly:

- Keep your knees on the ice

- Keep your stick in front of your pads on the ice

- Knees together but toes as far out as possible (covers more lower net)

- Glove and blocker just above the pads, out in front, and close to your body

- Keep your body upright

- Body should be square to puck to get maximum net coverage

- Challenge the shooter so there is no net showing

If you do these things every time you do your butterfly, it can increase your performance greatly.

Here is a picture of a good solid butterfly