This technique was developed to help defend against dead angle plays, while sealing off the short side of the ice and allowing the goalie to anchor themselves to the post.
The Reverse Vertical Horizontal (RVH) developed in the early 2010’s in northern Sweden. It was first introduced in its current form by Linda Blomqvist, goalie coach at Lulea in the SHL. Blomqvist is tasked with the development of the U18 and U20 goalies on the men’s side. Lulea has a very rich tradition of goalie development and has recently produced Jesper Wallstedt, 1st round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2021. The RVH was developed to help defend against dead angle plays, while sealing off the short side of the ice and allowing the goalie to anchor themselves to the post.
RVH Origins
Leading up to the 90s, goalies would stand straight up on their post to cover the dead angles, aka the space starting at the bottom of the circles to the goal line in the defensive zone. This positioning provided full coverage short side, but limited the goalie’s ability to control the shot, place the rebound and limited mobility on any passes back door. This position was great until the game started moving more east/west. Teams, especially on zone entries, developed plays that would see forwards driving wide on a 2-on-1 and looking for the second forward driving down low to the “back door” creating a cross crease pass.
When Francois Allaire started working in Anaheim he and J.S. Giguere developed what is the Vertical Horizontal (VH). The VH was to help goalies defend against a dead angle attack BUT be in a half butterfly. Vertical meaning the post leg is upright against the post sealing the short side and Horizontal as the back leg is lying on the ice in a half butterfly. The vertical leg allows the goalie to position their anchor foot (skate against the post) so that they could push directly across the net in the full butterfly and have a chance on a back door pass. This save selection was revolutionary and soon most goalies we using it globally.
The RVH came in the early 2010s from Sweden as they found that on jam plays to the short side the goalie had a hard time holding their post in a scramble and had a difficult time smothering loose pucks in their feet/5 hole. The RVH is technically the opposite (positionally) to the VH, where the short side leg is in a half butterfly and the back side leg is anchored almost vertically allowing the goalie to drive their body into the short side post. This position offers the best of the 90s vertical position with maximal short side coverage, while also being able to articulate your body position on the post with the back side leg/skate acting like a rudder. Goalies would also learn how to push off the post with their skate on a cross crease pass, simultaneously releasing the back side leg into a butterfly position.
Martin Jones example
We have a below the goal line situation featuring Martin Jones of the Seattle Kraken. I chose this clip as it shows the versatility of the RVH position. If you watch closely you’ll see Jones’ RVH on his right and left post, how he transitions post to post following the play. We can also see how Jones articulates with his back or inside foot on the post based on the pucks position.
RVH Drill 1
I like to use the boards to help teach this save selection in the beginning, as it allows the goalie to warm up anywhere on the ice. The principles are the same that you would be using in the net (some holes are harder to close off on the boards) and the boards make an excellent base to push off from, allowing the goalie to work on their lateral movement off the post. Using the boards also allows of the goalie the time to work on their seal short side, without worrying about the net moving. Most rinks outside the NHL have substandard pegs holding the net in place. Most coaches now carry a set of Anchor Pegs, that solve this problem (there are game pegs available as well).
RVH Drill 2
Transition to the net, this video is about using what we learned or worked on at the boards. I elected for a front view to show the goalie dropping into their RVH on the post, maintaining contact and sealing short side. It was also important to see the goalie’s back foot or anchor leg. The RVH need to only be used on a dead angle or tight play from below the goal line. The anchor foot is key to stability, balance and articulation. If the anchor foot is too far forward, the goalie risks opening up space short side or being off angle on any passes. The primary focus is sealing the short side and blocking any shot. Elite goalies will also look/track off the puck to identify the location of F2 and F3, then make subtle adjustments to their positioning to be able to have the shortest path on a pass. Articulation on the post is essential based on the puck carrier AND the nearest scoring threat. It is more important to be able to move to the new angle and square verses gain depth on the pass.
RVH Drill 3 & 4
Simple shooting drills to focus on technique, balance and transition from feet to RVH. The keys to an effective RVH are positioning, balance, technique and timing. Timing can be the most important aspect of the RVH. If the goalie enters the RVH too early (the shooter is not at a dead angle to the net) the goalie risks being exposed far side or in the top corners. If the goalie is late entering the RVH (The shooter is tight to the net and at a dead angle) the goalie risks getting scored on short side between their body and the post as they transition from their feet to their knees.
The focus of these drills is the fundamentals of the RVH technique, transition, balance and body positioning. The RVH is a blocking style of save, used to eclipse the short side of the net forcing the shooter to make an impossible shot or have to pass the puck. On the shot the goalie must focus not only on the save but controlling the puck off the body. The primary focus is to contain the puck on the body, if the puck falls off the goalie must then quickly freeze it on the ice. With the RVH being a blocking save, it does not mean the goalie cannot be reactive to the shot. Save selections cannot be positions of HOPE!
