DEFENSE POSITIONAL PLAY
HOCKEY CONCEPTS - DEFENSE POSITIONAL PLAY - CENTRES
Centre In The DZ:
Playing center requires skating ability and smarts because centers have the most area to cover. In the defensive zone, they generally match up and stay with the opposing center. They have a second job, however.
Centers must support their defensemen in case they get beat out of the corner. Essential is their coverage in the slot or the area directly ahead of the goaltender – from the hash marks on each side to the top of both circles.
Generally, a defenseman will be the first to battle in the corners. This sets up the defensive coverage, or who takes the other forwards.
The first D will take the first player in the corner, and the center (who is going to support the D), will take the 2nd offensive player who comes to help in the corner. The second D, covering the front of the net, is responsible for the 3rd player who should be in the slot.
DEFENSIVE ZONE POSITION - CENTRES
(Jan 2017)
The position of the center in the defensive zone is the most difficult position and carries many different responsibilities. The responsibilities may be summed up briefly:
· Cover the third attacking forward (be a third d-man)
· Support your defensemen covering the net front slot.
· Maintain a support position during battles, look for loose pucks in the deep zone (yellow area).
· Attack puck carriers moving through seams and scoring areas (green area).
· Stay “d-side” on the open forward.
· Be available to move up through the middle during a breakout.
The defensive role of centers varies greatly depending on where the puck is and where the defensemen are.
Puck Down Low & Corners:
When the puck is behind the goal line or in the corner and a defenseman is attacking the puck carrier, the centers job is to provide support as well as prevent the outlet pass into a scoring area.
He should be available to pick up a loose puck, but he must keep his body facing both the puck and the third attacking forward at all times and maintain “d-side” against that forward.
The Near Post:
If multiple players are below the goal line, or the play is behind the net, it is common for the center to move to support the near post (on the “strong” side- where the puck is located), while the weak side defenseman supports the far post.
When the puck moves and defenders switch coverage, the center provides critical support in the scoring area during the switch.
If there are any lapses in coverage, he must pick up the open man. If the opposing team has brought multiple players into the scoring area, he should occupy passing and shooting lanes and support the front of the net.
Through the Middle:
The center is a critical position for stepping up and attacking the puck carrier in the middle of the ice.
When the puck moves through the circles, the center must be aware of which position the puck carrier has come from.
This is a critical position as an attacking forward moving through the middle of the circles is too high for a normal defenseman to cover and too low for a strong side winger to cover.
Puck Carrier Already Engaged
If the puck carrier is in a scoring area already covered or engaged by another player, the center should identify the remaining open position and cover that position instead. Normally, that means that the center drops to man-on-man coverage to engage in close checking with the uncovered player (usually the third attacking forward). He should become the third defenseman and control the crease and scoring area with “d-side” position.
In a scramble or broken play, the center will generally fall back to the slot and assist defensemen in front of the net.
DEFENSE POSITIONAL PLAY - WINGERS
Wingers In The DZ:
In the defensive zone, the wings need to stay on their side of the ice and guard their defenseman. Usually, this means staying between the blue line and the middle of the circle, especially when the puck is on the opposite side of the play.
· Wingers must cover the opposing team’s defenseman.
· Try to stop the other team’s defenseman from getting the puck and getting a shot off
· Stay in position to block shots or passes from the other team’s defenseman
· Look to intercept passes and break out
· If a teammate gains possession, set up to get a breakout pass from the defense
Recreation league players often leave the defenseman they are assigned to cover and go down low to help those on defense.
Players need to trust their teammates to do their job. Don’t get stuck in the corners. Stay above the middle of the circle.
Wanting to assist teammates is understandable. However, there is nothing more difficult to deal with defensively than a shot coming in from the point. It creates the potential for screens, tips and bad rebounds. Getting stuck low leaves the opposing defenseman open. Don’t do it!
DEFENSIVE ZONE POSITIONING WINGERS
(Jan 2017)
Even Strength Defensive Zone Positioning: Wingers
A “Sagging Zone” defensive system, which is a common and simple system for defensive positioning, used by teams at all levels
The position of wingers in the defensive zone is the most offensively focused and least complicated, but there are still several important defensive zone responsibilities.
· Cover the opposing defensemen
· Be available to initiate zone breakouts and offensive transition.
· Be a safety valve to help or prevent passes to opposing attackers.
Some advanced systems have wingers cover slightly lower to help cover seams and support defensive positions. This sacrifices the ability to initiate breakouts, unless wingers are very fast skaters.
Strong Side Position
The wingers’ primary role is to prevent pucks passed to the strong side defenseman on the point. He should also be able to grab any puck moving up the boards to the point and to be ready to initiate the breakout at any time.
Weak Side Position
In this system, on the weak side, the winger has a split role. First, to loosely cover the opposing weak side defenseman and second, to prevent shots and puck movement in the scoring zone, or passes through the slot. He is closer to the center of the zone than the blue line to be a safety valve to protect the net and potentially pick up long rebounds.
Breakout
A critical part of the wing’s position is to be available to execute a breakout. The winger should remain close enough to the half-boards to intercept any pucks rimmed up the boards, and be able to reach pucks sent up the boards by defensemen after a turnover.
DEFENSIVE ZONE POSITIONING - DEFENSEMEN
Defensemen In The DZ:
One key concept when playing defense is balance. If one D is on the left side, the other D should be on the right. If one D is in the corner or behind the net, the other should be in front of the net. If the left D is playing the person with the puck and they go behind the net and to the right side, the right side D should move over to the left side. Success on defense is all about balance and communication.
If the play is near the boards, the weak side D should be watching out for:
· Where the 3rd offensive player is… that is the person they need to cover;
· Players trying to sneak in “backdoor.”
NEVER chase the puck up the wall to the blue line.
DEFENSIVE ZONE POSITIONING - DEFENSEMEN
(Jan 2017)
Even Strength Defensive Zone Positioning
The basics of defensive zone positioning for defensemen are very simple.
· When the puck is in your corner, fight for it
· When the puck is in the other corner, fight to own the front of the net
· When the puck is up high, cover the forwards near the net, keep the net front clear.
· When not engaged in the corner, control the players closest to the net on your side or in front.
· There should always be at least one defenseman in front of the net when the puck is in the zone.
Positions to avoid:
· Don’t chase behind the net (usually)
· Don’t chase above the dots (usually)
· Don’t screen your goalie unless it’s required to engage an open attacker.
When the puck is moved behind the net from the corner, the defender follows to the net.
If he tries to chase behind the net , the forward may use the net as a pick and get a clean shot or create an outnumbered attack in the crease. This is especially true if you’re trailing the puck carrier.
Instead, he takes up his place in front of the net and his partner engages the puck carrier as he comes around the net.
In a scramble or in a broken play, retreat to your side of the net and take away the space of the opponent closest to your post.
DEFENSIVE PUCK MOVEMENT
(Jan 2017)
Defensive puck movement
When recovering the puck, the d-mans first job is to clear the “danger zone” (in red below). This is the most important part of a defenseman’s position and takes priority over everything else.
Once clear, the puck should not be passed or moved back into this zone, especially at a lower level of play. Off the boards and out is a safe play. Using the boards and glass at the half-boards will help avoid icing calls and will make it harder for attacking d-men to hold the puck in the zone.
Things to remember:
· Clear the “danger zone” (red area)
o Try to get possession
o If you can’t, get the puck to the walls
o Try to avoid up the middle unless you’re sure
o Use your hands and feet if necessary
· Gaining possession:
o Move your feet first
o Find the space, don’t skate to traffic
o If unsure, head to the “quiet zone” (behind the net)
· Once moving and clear of pressure, find a pass
o Don’t try to pass while standing still – move first
o without the puck re-entering the danger zone
o Do not force it
· If no clean pass is available, Clear the zone
o Put it high and off the boards or glass.
o Better to put it behind your own net or in the corner than up the middle blindly
o Rim it as a last resort
If you are the last man back, pass or dump the puck with any pressure. Don’t be that guy who turns the puck over with no support. Clear the zone.
OVERVIEW OF ZONE ACTION
In the Defensive Zone
1. Get Off The Wall
The goal of defensive-zone coverage is to force play to the outside, turn 0% possession into a 50/50 puck battle and then create 100% possession.
The best way for the defending team to transition out of the zone with possession is to force a low battle under the goal line, then get off the wall by finding a play into the ocean of blue in the middle
2. Beat F1
Instead of merely making continuation plays on a DZ retrieval, they give their teams a mini-power play by beating F1 and finding high-value real estate in the middle.
In the Neutral Zone
Against a well-executed 1-2-2 or 1-1-3 NZ forecheck, it is not sufficient to have the three forwards lead the rush and have the Ds sit back and cover the potential counter-attack.
1) Create Width
it’s a matter of threatening all three lanes and using change-of-side passing to access the best option available.
2) Create Speed Differential
The way to do that is to send both Ds up-ice, have them anchor near the far blue line and have the Fs curl back, build speed, and quickly exchange the puck to open a seam into the OZ.
In the Offensive Zone
the high-value playmaking area shrinks quickly once a team enters the OZ due to defenders sorting out their assignments and collapsing to the slot.
On rush plays (0 seconds since entry), the high-value area in yellow is almost twice as big as it is on extended OZ cycles (10+ seconds since entry).
There are two tactics teams can employ to conteract this phenomenon.
1) Move Through the Funnel
By placing three skaters high and by giving up the net, Tampa can cycle players in and out of the offensive funnel in the middle of the rink.
2) Shoot and Retrieve
The possession style relies on accurate passing and purposeful movement.
But ultimately hockey is still a shoot-and-retrieve game.
Finding the right balance between carrying and dumping, cycling and shooting; possession and pressure.
STRATEGIES TO BEAT SHOT BLOCKING DEFENSEMEN
(Dec 2017)
How the modern-day defenseman is changing how teams attack in the offensive zone.
Three ways teams have found a way to attack collapsing defenses, because every defense in the NHL now is a collapsing defense with a shot-blocking mentality.
There is a growing trend in the League to activate the defensemen, making them more of a free radical on the ice to be part of the attack, and to change the strategy for the third forward. By doing this, teams are creating opportunities to set up chances. The rest is unscripted.
1. Third forward at top of circle.
We often see two-man battles for puck control in the corner. The third forward used to always shade toward the slot. Now we’re seeing him shade out to the top of the circle.
2. Stretching out the team’s collapse
To counter against the collapse, coaches are telling the third forward to move even higher, in between the two defensemen, who spread apart to make room for him. Now there are three guys high, so a defensive player has to come out and cover that high forward.
3. Using the area behind the net
Strongside defenders will swarm toward the puck in the corner or along the wall and weakside defenders will turn in that direction. As the puck moves up or down the wall, the swarm follows it. But one of the attacking forwards will linger behind the net. If the attacking team gains possession, they’ll try to pump it around to the forward behind the net. This forces the goalie and the defenders to turn and look behind them, leaving them vulnerable to the other attacking forwards or defensemen slashing toward the net.
Now, instead of being active members only on the rush, these defensemen are active members of the offensive zone attack.
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