Goalies practice with blinders

Technology aimed at improving puck-tracking skills

When it comes to goaltending these days, Matt Murray has tunnel vision. So does Erik Källgren. For that matter, so do all the other netminders in camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs thanks to new goalie coach Curtis Sanford’s innovative approach.

Murray and Källgren wore goggles in training on Sunday, designed with blinders to reduce peripheral vision. It’s a puck-tracking technique.

“It’s just a tracking aid, basically forcing you to use the middle of your eyes and the strongest part of your eyes,” said Murray. “It gets you in the rhythm of turning your head, tracking the puck.”

Goalies wore the blinders — manufactured by Swivel Vision and used in several sports, including baseball and football — before the practice ahead of Monday night’s pre-season game in Montreal.

“It narrows down your visuals on the sides,” said Källgren. “You’ve got to be even more precise tracking the puck.”

The term puck tracking entered hockey’s everyday lexicon about a decade ago. Obviously the goalie needs to know where the puck is. Any device that can help is a valuable part of their arsenal.

“It’s something that’s gaining a little more traction, from what Curtis Sanford told me, around the goalie community,” said coach Sheldon Keefe. “So I think you’ll see more of it probably happening around the league. I know we’re not the only team using that device.”

The Leafs aren’t shy about trying new ideas, having jumped headfirst into creating an analytics department and, more recently, toying with positionless hockey by putting a forward on defence. And when Sanford — a former goalie who played 144 NHL games — replaced Steve Briere over the summer, it was generally assumed there would be changes in approach.

“I had a great start with him,” said Källgren. “He’s very detailed and ... he’s got a lot of good (ideas).”

At rookie camp in July, goalie prospects practised on their own, away from the main group. It was a better use of their time. Practice goalies (a.k.a. shooter tutors) filled in on drills with the skaters.

Goaltending, especially in the playoffs, has been a sore point for the Leafs of late, part of the reason Briere was replaced. Relationships are starting from scratch.

“We’ve hit it off pretty well,” Murray said of Sanford. “He’s a very detail-oriented guy and obviously played for a long time in the league, so he’s very relatable. He’s been just a real treat to work with.”

Murray is on track for two more pre-season starts, Monday in Montreal and probably next Saturday in the exhibition finale against Detroit. Ilya Samsonov will get the other start in Detroit on Friday. They’ll operate as a tandem early in the season as the team adjusts after Jack Campbell’s departure as a free agent.

“I think we’re definitely building a good, strong relationship,” Murray said of Samsonov. “He’s an awesome, hardworking guy. Goalies always tend to get along pretty well. So, I definitely think that we’re still building that relationship, but it’s been great so far.”

But all that really matters is performance. Murray says everything feels like it’s rounding into form.

“I tried to make the most of today and I’m looking forward to getting back in there (against Montreal) and just try to keep progressing, keep building,” said Murray. “I want to keep making the most of these exhibition games.”