Scoring ruts happen to every hockey player—from mites to NHLers. The key is shifting focus from goals to process. Here are practical, player-driven ways to break out of one.
1. Change the Definition of “Success”
When players chase goals, they often squeeze the stick.
Instead, focus on controllables:
- Win puck battles
- Get shots on net (any kind)
- Drive the net hard
- Make the right play, not the highlight play
Goals usually follow when pressure drops.
2. Simplify the Shot
During a rut, players overthink shooting.
Try this:
- Shoot earlier, not harder
- Aim for pads → rebounds
- Stop looking for corners
- One-touch shots instead of dusting the puck off
“Ugly” goals count the same.
3. Get to Scoring Areas Without the Puck
Many ruts aren’t shooting problems—they’re spacing problems.
- Arrive at the net early
- Find soft ice in the slot
- Stop at the crease instead of looping past it
- Be available for rebounds and tips
You can’t score where you aren’t.
4. Do Something That Builds Confidence (Non-Scoring)
Confidence is cumulative.
- Throw a big hit
- Block a shot
- Win a key faceoff
- Make a clean breakout pass
- Draw a penalty
One positive shift can flip the night.
5. Change One Small Habit
Not your whole game—just one variable.
Examples:
- Different stick lie or tape job
- Shoot off the opposite foot more
- Crash the net instead of curling wide
- Start shooting on 2-on-1s instead of passing
New inputs often reset old patterns.
6. Watch Video of Your Best Goals (Not Misses)
Players in ruts often obsess over what’s wrong.
Instead:
- Watch clips of goals you have scored
- Notice where you were on the ice
- Notice how quick and simple the play was
Your game already knows how to score—remind it.
7. Stop Talking About the Rut
Ruts grow when they become a storyline.
- Don’t count games without goals
- Don’t joke about it
- Don’t explain it to teammates
Treat each shift as independent.
8. Get Pucks to the Net Early in Games
Early shots settle nerves.
First 2–3 shifts:
- Shot from anywhere
- Net drive
- Rebound attempt
Even a weak first shot helps.
9. Lean Into Practice Reps
Not more reps—better reps.
- Game-speed shooting
- Catch-and-release drills
- Net-front tips and rebounds
- Shooting while tired
Confidence comes from repetition under pressure.
10. Remember: Ruts End Automatically
No one stays in a scoring rut forever unless they change their behavior because of it.
The players who break out fastest:
- Don’t force it
- Keep competing
- Trust the process
One Line to Tell Players:
“Do the things that lead to goals, not the things that look like goals.”
By Andrew Trimble
