U. Michigan: Rebounding key for Michigan goalie in playoffs.

(From University Wire)

Byline: Ian Herbert

For a hockey goalie, rebounds are important. There's a constant focus for a netminder to control rebounds and stop opposing teams from getting second and third shots. But that's the obvious stuff, and a goalie has to rebound from a lot more than that.

During Friday's semifinal game against Alaska-Fairbanks in the Super Six, Michigan goalie Al Montoya faced just 12 shots -- six in the first period and six more in the next two combined.

"It's a tough game for a goalie to play in because you're not taking a lot of good shots," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "Al was good. This was a game of staying focused for a goalie." So what does a goalie do to keep his focus while facing one shot every five minutes? Montoya's backup, Noah Ruden, explained that it's tough for a goalie in a situation like that, but there are things that they do to stay involved in the game. Ruden said that a popular solution for a goalie is to come out of the net a lot -- either to play the puck or to skate around in between whistles.

"And from night to night, it's not that much different because when you finish one game, the next day you start your refocus again," Ruden said. "And he does a good job of getting himself ready for every night." The next night, against Ohio State, Montoya faced 29 shots -- 28 from the Buckeyes and one that ricocheted off ...