Great goalies don’t just make saves—they control rebounds and limit second chances. Every controlled puck is one less scoring opportunity for opponents.
✅ How to Improve Rebound Control:
✔️ Absorb shots into the chest when possible.
✔️ Angle rebounds into the corners instead of the slot.
✔️ Soft hands on the blocker to deaden pucks.
✔️ Stick control to deflect low shots to safe areas.
📌 Why It Matters: Goalies who control rebounds make fewer desperation saves and face fewer high-danger scoring chances.
One of the most underappreciated aspects of elite goaltending is just how good NHL goalies are at controlling rebounds.
I watch a lot of hockey, and one of the biggest differences I notice when AHL goalies get called up to the NHL is their rebound control—or lack thereof. Many of them struggle to absorb pucks cleanly, which forces them to make extra saves they shouldn’t have to. Ultimately, this leads to more goals against simply because they’re giving up second and third chance opportunities.
This isn’t to say that rebound control can’t be developed over time—just like youth goalies improve with experience. But at the highest level, it’s a separator.
Goalies who struggle with rebound control don’t stick in the NHL. It’s one of the key factors that turns a good goalie into a great one. In this section, we will examine just a few ways to improve your rebound control that you can apply to your game immediately.
The Most Underutilized Tool: Your Stick!
Let’s address the elephant in the room—your stick!
At the youth level, the stick is one of the most underutilized tools for rebound control. I consistently see goalies—even at the AAA level—relying on their pads and sending rebounds back into dangerous areas instead of activating their stick to steer pucks into the corners.
After coaching goalies for years, I can confidently say that stick saves are a common struggle for most goaltenders.
Check out this awesome breakdown from GataGoalie on the mechanics of a great stick save!
I’ve clipped a couple of simple stick saves that might seem insignificant when watching an NHL game in real time. But in reality, activating your stick in these situations is crucial—and that’s exactly what this section of our toolbox is all about.
Stick saves are commonly used and most important on shots from angles. We hear coaches all the time telling shooters to shoot at a goalies far pad. Why? Because without proper stick activation, a far-side shot will typically deflect off your pad and straight into the middle of the ice, creating a dangerous rebound opportunity—as shown in the graphic here.
By actively using your stick, you can direct the puck into a controlled area, limit second-chance opportunities, and give yourself a better chance to reset and fully recover.
In this first clip, we see Joey Daccord of the Seattle Kraken make a simple yet effective stick save to the corner on a far-side shot from a hard angle. It is clear that Calgary’s forward is shooting for a rebound hoping to hit the streaking player to the net on the far side (#15).
Because we see plays like this countless times in the NHL, it’s easy to overlook the importance of this small detail. But here’s what we really need to consider:
What if Daccord didn’t activate his stick?
Had he relied solely on his pad, the puck would have kicked directly into the middle of the ice, creating a high-quality scoring chance with Daccord out of position.
NHL goalies make rebound control look effortless, but sometimes, the best way to learn is to ask: "What would have happened if they didn’t do that?"
Many youth goalies struggle with these seemingly simple plays, and this clip is a great example of why proper stick activation is a critical skill.
In this next clip, we see a similar play, but this time, it highlights how good stick activation can do more than just control rebounds—it can alleviate pressure and even create offensive opportunities.
On the penalty kill, a well-placed stick save can ricochet the puck out of play, relieving pressure from the power play and allowing your team to get fresh legs on the ice.
At even strength, making a clean stick save on a rush shot attempt can quickly transition into an odd-man rush the other way as it does here.
Just like in the previous clip, the Islanders forward is shooting far pad, hoping to generate a rebound for teammates crashing the net. But Jake Oettinger reads it perfectly, activates his stick, and deflects the puck cleanly to the corner.
The result? Dallas immediately transitions the other way on a 3-on-2 rush.
Good rebound control isn’t just about keeping pucks out of your net—it can also be the spark that springs your team into offense.
Managing Short-Side Shots: When to Use (or Avoid) Stick Activation
Now that we’ve covered stick activation on far-side shots, it’s just as important to discuss how to handle short-side shots.
Unlike far-side shots, where activating your stick helps direct rebounds safely into the corner, short-side shots require a different approach. In many cases, goalies are better off using their pad rather than their stick, or choosing to deaden the puck with their stick and pad, not deflect.
Why?
If you activate your stick on a short-side shot the same way you would on a far-side shot, the puck is likely to ricochet off the boards or glass behind the net and bounce right back into a dangerous scoring area.
Instead, goalies should:
✅ Deaden the puck by keeping their stick against their pad in a way that softens the impact and minimizes the rebound.
✅ Choose not to activate their stick at all, allowing the pad to naturally direct the puck into the corner given the short side angle.
Understanding the difference between far-side and short-side rebound control is crucial to preventing second-chance opportunities and keeping the play in your favor.
Blocker Saves Done Right: Steer Pucks, Control Rebounds
Proper blocker technique is essential for effective rebound control. Young goalies often make the mistake of punching at the puck rather than letting it come to them and steering it to a safe area.
I like to call this the "pinky move"—if you rotate your pinky downward, it naturally angles your blocker, directing pucks toward the corners instead of into high-danger areas. The blocker face should never be fully square to the puck at the moment of impact. Instead, it should be angled in the direction you want the puck to go, as shown here.
Proper blocker saves = fewer second-chance opportunities. Mastering this technique is key to controlling rebounds and limiting dangerous follow-up shots.
The best form of rebound control? Staying square to more pucks.
When you are square to the puck, it is much easier to absorb and/or control where the rebound goes. Sounds simple, right? In many ways, it is—but that’s why having a high Goalie IQ is so important. You need to be in the right place at the right time and know which tools in your toolbox to use for each situation. When you master that, you start to make goaltending look effortless—just like the pros.
But it’s not just about being square. Getting square efficiently and using the right technique allows goalies to absorb more pucks and limit second-chance opportunities. After all, this section of our toolbox is all about rebound control.
Absorbing Pucks with Your Chest: Common Mistakes & Proper Technique
Absorbing pucks into your chest may seem simple, but small mistakes can lead to big rebound opportunities.
One of the most common errors young goalies make is failing to secure the puck with their glove hand. Many let pucks hit their chest and bounce right back into the slot instead of properly controlling them.
The other mistake? Bringing in both hands. To absorb pucks effectively, you only need your glove hand—as shown in our clip. If you also pull in your blocker to your chest, you eliminate space for absorption, increasing the chances of the puck hitting your glove or blocker and deflecting into a high-danger area.
By staying square and using the proper technique, goalies can absorb more shots cleanly and eliminate second-chance opportunities.
Lateral Release: Staying Square & Avoid Oversliding
A lateral release is a more advanced but essential technique that helps goalies stay square to the shot while improving rebound control and overall positioning.
Instead of committing to a butterfly slide, which can lead to oversliding and pulling yourself out of position, goalies use a controlled shuffle to get on angle and square to the puck. In a lateral release, the push leg (back leg) comes down first, followed by the front leg—opposite of a traditional butterfly slide.
Why is this important?
✅ Better rebound control – Staying stationary (or as set as possible) when making a save makes it easier to direct or absorb the puck.
✅ Improved recovery – If a second save is needed, you're already in a balanced position instead of having to regain an edge after sliding.
✅ Fewer holes – Sliding across the crease can open up gaps for shooters, whereas a lateral release keeps you compact and controlled.
This clip of Mackenzie Blackwood perfectly demonstrates a lateral release on a cross-ice play instead of a slide. Mastering this technique can help goalies stay square and in control.
