Breaking Down Luongo

Foreword, this is my first FanPost so I hope everything came out all right. Enjoy!!

                Roberto Luongo. If this name doesn’t resonate with you then you need to come out from the rock you’ve been living under. In this fan post, I will attempt to give Preds fans a little history and glimpse into the strengths and weaknesses of Roberto Luongo. Understand, however, when I say history, I am not talking about his former teams and accomplishments (just google him); I am talking about his history from a goaltender development standpoint (don’t worry, I’ll keep that part short). Also, coming from a goaltender myself, who has worked with and coached clinics with Ian Clark, the man who made Luongo, goaltending does not get enough comment on ONTHEFORECHECK.

                Roberto Luongo’s development took off in 2001-02 in Florida when he began working with a goaltender consultant named Ian Clark. Clark, a master of the art of goaltending, would later coach the goalies of Canada’s World Junior Championships to the gold medal in 2005, 2006, and 2007. Clark provided Luongo with the structure Luongo lacked previously through eliminating post save delay, faster back-side recoveries and pushes, and full extensions and explosiveness in his skating, body cradling (to control rebounds), an active stick (also rebound control), forward leading gloves, as well as the difference and usage of a wide butterfly vs. a narrow butterfly (just to name a few). Luongo continued to work with Ian Clark until the 2009-10 season. However, Clark was not liked much by the Vancouver staff and was not always available due to family complications in Dallas. As a result, Vancouver let Clark go and hired Roland Melanson this season. Melanson believes more in a blocking style of goaltending and does not break every aspect of goaltending down like Clark did. This resulted in Luongo losing some of his technical strengths.

                So with all that being said, Luongo’s strengths outweigh his weaknesses but of course, he is human.  

Strengths:

·         No Holes- Luongo plays tight. He keeps his elbows close to his side preventing pucks going through him and his use of the narrow butterfly eliminates pucks going through his 5-hole. Where he gets into trouble with his 5-hole, like all goalies, is moving laterally while down. He drags his backside leg opening the 5-hole.

·         He uses a technique taught by Clark called proper flexion in the knee. This is when he is in his stance, minus his knee bend (he is in his stance but standing almost straight up, leaving a slight bend in his knees). This allows him to see over forwards when the puck is at the point and when the shot does come, he is ready and only needs to bend his knees.

·         Another technique from Clark is the VH-position. VH stands for vertical-horizontal. When the puck is in a “dangerous” position near the goal line, a bad angle, or if there is a chance of a pass to a forward close out in front, the VH allows Luongo to keep one legs upright against the post and prevent a shot, as well as a position to push out quickly with the leading leg already flushed to the ice for a quick, low shot.

·         Luongo builds from the ice up. He keeps his leg pads flushed to the ice and prevents any low shots from going in (however he sometimes struggles with shots just above his leg pads).

·         Luongo also has an incredible visual attachment to the puck as well as body cradling the puck in his chest to prevent rebounds.

Weaknesses:

·         Luongo tends to play deep at times, leaving more space and angles for the puck to find the net.

·         At times Luongo forgets his post save response to backside push to the puck and begins to scramble.

·         Due to Melanson believing in a blocking style, Luongo has lost some quickness in his glove and blocker and drops them while in the butterfly. He also sometimes forgets to rotate while backside pushing and losses his balance, causing him to drop his glove to the ice for balance or he drops forward completely.

·         Does not always have an active stick and will kick rebounds out.

So how do the Preds score? Don’t be shy about shooting the puck and crash the net hard!! Also, shots from the point and rebounds need to be put in Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard (just ask Duncan Keith about those point shots). Screening Luongo takes away his vision when the puck is released from the point, he will drop into a blocking butterfly and leave his glove and blocker on top of his pads. If the corners aren’t available from the point, keep low (leg pad low) and crash for rebounds. Also, make him move!!

GO PREDS!!!!