Lightning

Hockey's backhanded complement

Early edition: Since the 1960s, the backhand shot has been on the decline. But it can still be an important tool for an offensive player wanting to disarm the opposing goalie.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published November 12, 2006

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Drik Shadd] Vinny Lecavalier scores on a backhanded shot in a shootout against Atlanta Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen during the season opener in Atlanta. Video Lecavalier's backhanded shootout goal

For one split second before starting his shootout run against the Thrashers, Vinny Lecavalier said he thought of his dad.

Twice a week, Yvon Lecavalier took his 6-year-old son and about 20  friends to one of Ile Bizard, Quebec’s numerous rinks to practice and play.

Vinny said Yvon demanded the kids practice backhands.

“He always told me it surprises goalies,’’ Vinny said. “So I’ve always practiced it and still do.’’

But many do not. Said former Blues great Red Berenson: “It is nearly a lost art.’’

It is easy to blame the curved blades that became prominent in the 1960s and made controlling the puck more difficult on the backhand.

But Lightning founder Phil Esposito, one of the all-time great scorers, said the shot lost favor because players simply don’t shoot as much. They try to make the perfect play, Esposito said, and most of the time they believe that is to the forehand.

Former Maple Leafs star Dave Keon agreed. He said composite sticks put so much zip on the puck, the forehand became the shot of choice.

But Berenson, acknowledged as having one of the best backhands of his era and who used it to tally twice during his six-goal game in November 1968 against the Flyers, said the decline began in the ’60s, when goalies in large numbers started wearing masks and no longer flinched at the unpredictable shot.

“Those goalies,’’ said Berenson, now coach at the University of Michigan, “were a little jumpy on those backhands tight to the net.’’

Now, Berenson said, the shot is rarely taught on any level. Even he admitted he could stress it more with his team.
All agree the loss of the shot is to the players’ detriment.

“If you have a good backhand, you are dangerous from both sides,’’ said Keon, who played for Toronto from 1960-75. “You don’t always have to work to get the puck on your forehand, and you can catch the goalie by surprise.’’

That is because the shot can be gotten off quickly, and its speed rarely correlates with the follow-through of the stick.

“It’s almost like facing an off-speed pitch,’’ Lightning goaltender Marc Denis said. “It’s like a catcher trying to catch a curveball or a batter trying to adjust to a changeup.’’

The NHL still has some great backhanders such as Lecavalier, Nashville’s Paul Kariya and Vancouver’s Brendan Morrison.

And Esposito said mask or no mask, “Any goalie will tell you they hate backhands because they really don’t know where the hell the puck is going.’’

Former no-mask goalie Gump Worsley agreed, and said of shooters, “They didn’t know where it was going either.’’
Even more so because of curved blades. That is why Berenson and Esposito said they shot backhands with the puck on the flat part of the blade between the heel and middle, where their curves began.

Lecavalier, who said he uses a curve close to the  three-quarter-inch limit, said he also shoots with the heel of his stick.

He said going backhand was his intention as he closed in on Atlanta goalie Kari Lehtonen in the opening-game shootout.

“I was trying to fake him out with a fake wrist shot to make him bite on that,’’ Lecavalier said. “But then you go hard on the backhand. I saw his pads go down. I put it up, and it went in.’’

Lecavalier did it again Wednesday on his winning breakaway goal against the Penguins.
His father would be proud.

Damian Cristodero can be reached at (727) 893-8622 or cristodero@sptimes.com.

[Last modified November 12, 2006, 20:13:26]