Strategy crucial in art of the shootout
Slava Kozlov doesn't really like to talk about shootouts. Sharing
the secrets for his success, well, that's downright unlucky.
"Every time when I talk about shootouts, I miss the next
one," Kozlov said.
Kozlov and some other Thrashers did provide a few details to
offer a little insight into the NHL's tiebreaker from the shooter's
perspective.
The order
Thrashers coach John Anderson says when given the chance to
choose, he always elects to be the first team to shoot.
"If you score, it puts pressure [on the other team],"
Anderson said. "The other side of the coin is if you don't score,
the other guy is a little more free."
Anderson said that he believes the second position is
pivotal. That's why you'll usually see Kozlov in that spot.
"If you score on the second one, it means you are always in
it or you are putting pressure back if their first guy doesn't
score."
Study hall
Kozlov is the NHL's all-time leader in shootout goals with 27
and game-deciding shootout goals with 11. His 58.7 shootout
percentage is tops all-time among players with more than 13
attempts.
In addition to working on shootouts nearly every day with
goaltender Johan Hedberg, Kozlov says he studies the opposing
goaltender just in case the game comes down to a tiebreaker.
"I know who is playing [in goal] and if I've gone against
them before, what I did the last time," Kozlov said of his pregame
study session. "I try to do something different every time with the
goalie than what I did before."
Kozlov said he also watches how the goaltender performs
during the game, or he will ask one of his goaltenders for their
thoughts.
Last week, the Thrashers went to a shootout against the
Rangers. New York goaltender Chad Johnson gave up the game-tying
goal to Jim Slater through the five hole. That's where Kozlov went
in the shootout and found the back of the net.
To plan or not to ...
Kozlov said he has a planned move before he picks up the puck
at center ice. However, others ad lib more.
Rich Peverley said he used the same move with success while
in Nashville. Now, he's changing things up. "Now I come in slow and
try to read the goalie," Peverley said.
The important thing is to get the goalie moving to open up a
shooting hole.
"When you come in to shoot, you want to change the angle, get
the goalie moving so he isn't at his best angle," Peverley said.
"You have to make him move, because if you don't make him move,
he's going to be set in a good position."
Multiple options
Peverley said he watches a lot of shootouts, and the best
performers have one thing in common: choices.
He cited Kozlov and Paul Kariya, who take the same angle at a
goaltender.
"They can shoot either top left, low blocker or five hole,"
Peverley said. "That's really spreading out the goalie. Whatever
way he flinches, that's the way they shoot."
The pressure is on
With an extra point in the standings riding on the results of
a shootout, players say they are aware of what's at stake but feel
no extra pressure.
"I've been third, first and second," Kozlov said. "I think
third is the most pressure because if you don't score, they win."
The extra point is so valuable that some teams sign players
for their shootout skill, Peverley said, pointing to the Carolina
Hurricanes' Jussi Jokinen, who is second only to Kozlov in all-time
shootout goals.
"Those guys are rare, but we've got one in Kozzy," Peverley
said.
