Scoring a goal in hockey is one of the most thrilling moments in sports. Beating a goaltender with a shot to the 6-by-4-foot net is a difficult task. It can be done with a series of fakes, often referred to as "dekes" in hockey. It can be done with a powerful slap shot, a quick wrist shot, a deflection or by getting a rebound and pounding it into the net. Top goaltenders want time to get their shot off and space to maneuver in order to produce a great scoring opportunity.
Step 1
Take a slap shot from the slot area in order to score a goal. The slot is the area 15 to 30 feet in front of the goaltender and between the faceoff circle. A slap shot is the hardest shot in the game. This will give you the opportunity to send a shot that may approach 95 to 100 miles per hour towards the net. While there is no element of surprise since the goaltender is right in front of you, your shot may be too hard and fast for the goaltender to kick out or catch.
Step 2
Fire a quick wrist shot at the goaltender. With the wrist shot, there is no windup. When you get the puck on the blade of your stick, pick out one of the four corners of the net to shoot at. Quickly fire the puck at the net by twisting your wrists, getting the puck on its way to the net before the goaltender even knows you have it. If you can fire the puck at an open corner, you have a great chance of scoring a goal.
Step 3
Fake the goaltender out of position when you go in a breakaway. One of the keys in hockey is to get the player with the puck out in front of the defense so he goes in one on one against the goaltender. As the player skates in, he continuously shifts the puck from his forehand to his backhand. The player is attempting to force the goaltender into going after one of these moves. That will allow the player to cut back the other way and shoot the puck at a relatively unguarded net for an easy goal.
Step 4
Deflect the puck into the net. In many cases, a player will stand 3 to 10 feet in front of the net as a teammate further out takes a shot towards the goal. The player who is closest to the net will attempt to deflect or redirect the puck into the net past the goaltender. This requires tremendous hand-eye coordination. It is similar to the skill needed to hit a pitched baseball with a bat. A skilled deflection will not only change the direction of the puck, it can also send it up or down and make it an impossible shot for the goaltender to stop.
Step 5
Go to the net after the shot has been taken to gather up the rebound and power it into the net. A shot on goal may require an acrobatic save by the goaltender to keep the puck out of the net. However, after the goalie makes the save, he may be out of position to stop a second shot. This second shot is called the rebound. Players who can find these rebound shots are often affectionately referred to as "garbage pickers" because another player has done the work by firing the shot, and putting the rebound into the net is relatively easy. However, players who excel in this area must absorb a lot of physical punishment from opposing defensemen in order to make this play. These so-called garbage goals are often the difference between winning and losing. Despite the disparaging nickname, players who can score "garbage goals" are respected as effective and tough hockey players, and every team wants players with this skill.
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