The Panda, if utilized properly, will help smaller goalies hold their edges and minimize pucks going over their shoulder on dead angle plays.
The “Panda,” the modern amalgamation of two older styles, originated as a solution to an Reverse Vertical Horizontal problem identified by goalie coaches in the Ottawa area, but got its official name from its use in the Calgary Flames system. Their Development Goalie Coach Thomas Speer and goalie Dustin Wolf further developed this technique.
I had the privilege of working with Brian Daccord (Stop it Goaltending) during the summer of 2022 in Colorado, at the Global Goalie Retreat. Under the guidance of Daccord, we reviewed “The Panda 101,” focusing on the benefits of its implementation. Note: there will be a lot of arguments for and against, I am simply presenting this save selection as a tool for the tool box.
The Panda 101
The Panda is a save selection used when transitioning from a bad angle play to a dead angle play in the defensive zone. I have found this technique most beneficial for shorter goalies or goalies who struggle with getting beat over the shoulder in the RVH. The focus is, as the puck transitions down the wall from Zone 2 (bad angle) to Zone 1 (dead angle), the goalie flows from the overlap (Zone 2 footing) to an overlap with Zone 1 footing (backside blade a few degrees off the goalie line and toes pointing up ice). The position and rotation adjust with the handedness of the shooter and the position/availability of any pass options. It is important that we understand, like the VH and the RVH, there are no absolutes, only guidelines to help influence our decisions.
In North America, I have found a lot of goalie coaches like to deal in absolutes. Meaning, if the puck is in a dead angle we use the RVH, but where are the details? The read? An RVH can be very effective on a dead angle play. However, what is the puck’s proximity to the net? What’s the goalie’s experience in using the RVH? How old (experience level) is the goalie you are teaching? What hand is the shooter? Is there pressure from the D? Is there a pass option? There are many variables at play.
Teaching The Panda
This is the summer sessions with Brian Daccord, teaching three pro goalies the Panda for the first time. Unfortunately I do not have the audio from Daccord directly, but we can walk through the drill in depth on the video. Naturally these pro goalies were sceptical about the Panda, however this being a controlled training environment they are always interested in improving their game.
The keys to success are identifying that the puck carrier is being forced down the wall (they are outside the dot lane, where we would keep our feet). Identifying good defence and the puck carriers path to the net. Transitioning from Zone 2 footing to Zone 1 footing, starting in an overlap, moving right back against the post where our short side hip would be directly on the post (in an overlap), rotating the backside shoulder and skate back just above the goal line as the player attacks. It is important that goalies learn timing!
Goaltending is a series of situations that require precise timing to have the most success. In the overlap as the player nears the bottom edge of the face off circle, the goalie can look to drop into a butterfly/RVH (short side leg outside of the post). This transition from overlap on our edges to an overlap RVH allows the goalie to cover low, take away short side, they want to shift their shoulders back into the post (hips remaining on the post once the puck enters Zone 1). The idea is that you are able to use the benefits of the overlap and the benefits of the RVH without exposing any gaps. Because the goalie is tight to the post, they are able to pivot unobstructed and drive post to post on a wrap, walk out or pass. The Panda does not replace any one save selection, what it does is allow a goalie to track back to their post as the puck carrier drives down the wall and eventually cuts off the short side of the net, minimizing holes through the body.
Some goalies struggle with the RVH and VH due to balance, timing and size, the Panda may help minimize some of these issues. The Panda is something that can be taught to younger goalies as there is not the stress on the hips from this RVH. This save selection, if executed properly with timing, can help goalies hold their edges longer.
A Wolf and The Panda
This video is of Dustin Wolf, who as per InGoal Magazine, was one of the originators of the save selection known as the Panda. The Panda was created “as a solution to a dead angle play, as Wolf was getting beat in the RVH.” (Woodley, 2022). In this video we have a series of plays where Wolf uses variations of the Panda as the play goes from a bad angle chance to a dead angle opportunity.
What we should also identify is the patience Wolf uses to draw the puck carrier toward the net and the edge work used to allow Wolf to be so patient. What’s often missed is the subtle adjustments that happen that make routine saves look easy. Wolf is not a tall goalie by NHL standards, but is able to look much bigger due to his patience and presence in the net. Before we used to believe that “smaller” goalies had to play in the white ice. The game is too fast, therefore goaltending continues to evolve and we see save selections like The Panda develop.
Milic adopts The Panda
This video is of Thomas Milic, recent Canadian hero with the U20 team at Christmas capturing gold. In these videos Milic is back with his club team Seattle in the WHL. Milic too being an under sized goalie like Wolf, has started to adopt The Panda. Milic has been quoted as saying “I started using the Panda after seeing Wolf use it so successfully.” The Panda, if utilized properly, will help smaller goalies hold their edges and minimize pucks going over their shoulder on dead angle plays.
Drills to Learn The Panda: Part 1
These are drill videos from a practice with some U18 AAA female goalies. Prior to filming these drills, these goalies had no formal experience or training with The Panda post lock. We broke The Panda technique down to a three step process on both the right and left side of the net. This video shows the goalies working from Zone 3 to Zone 2 and getting into the overlap. As the puck carrier drives from Zone 2 to Zone 1 the goalies are to maintain the Overlap, drift back so their short side hip is against the post and start to rotate their backside shoulder and edge towards the goal line.
When teaching a new technique it is important to break the play down sequentially, the goalies will have an easier time understanding the mechanics involved. We want the goalies to learn the “Read” or what to look for when implementing The Panda.
Drills to Learn The Panda: Part 2
The second phase when learning The Panda, is the Overlap/RVH. Both of these save selections were featured individually in previous articles, however The Panda is a combination of the two. By maintaining the overlap and dropping into a variation of the RVH as the puck carrier drives low on a dead angle, the goalie going from Overlap to RVH reduces the chances of getting beat between the body and the post. There are a few phases to this aspect of The Panda, the Overlap to RVH can be tricky to learn as the goalie needs to keep their short side hip on the post and follow the same mechanics as the traditional RVH. The second phase is learning how release from The Panda Post lock, in this case drive back door on a wrap or a pass. The third phase is the addition of a back door option, tracking off the puck, awareness and the ability to release on a pass are the keys success beyond just stopping the puck. Here we start to get into more game like situations, allowing the goalie to start piecing together the technique (when, where and how).