When a goalie learns to wait at the top of the crease until the play passes the red line and then step out a few feet from the crease, he will apply the right pressure to the opposition. Most shooters look up to see what the goalie is doing as they approach the blue line and then put their heads down until it is time to shoot in the slot area. If the goalie steps out and sets at the right time, the shooter sees space taken away and a goalie who refuses to back in early. The goalie doesn't need to back in until the shooter gets past the bottom hash mark or the bottom of a face off circle. Playing inside out puts pressure on the shooter while playing outside in makes the shooter's life easy.
Many goalies try to center their bodies on the puck at all times.
If a player approaches the short side on the forehand and the goalie centers his body on the puck, it will be easy for the shooter to get the goalie to lean off the short side. Most goalies lean with the shooter's body as he cuts to the slot. The stick will still be facing an empty short side if the goalie plays this way. For example, if the puck is on the left side, the goalie's right foot lines up on the puck and if the puck is on the right side, the goalie's left foot lines up on the puck. Once the puck moves between the hashmarks, the goalie will center the body on the puck to eliminate as much space as possible.