VICIOUS CYCLE OF CONSERVATIVE DEFENSE
As you can see, the percentage of carry in entries against the defensemen occur largely when the defense does not have the assistance of any forwards through either the neutral zone forecheck or aggressive backchecking.
This also shows that when a forward was able to help pressure the zone entry with the defenseman, for the most part, the opponent was not able to carry the puck into the zone and either the entry failed or became a dump and chase situation.
Teams that are conservative in their defensive zone approach often do not recover the puck from the attacking team unless it comes loose inside of the box. The rationale behind this is that shots will come from the perimeter and be less dangerous.
Teams that use a more aggressive approach in the defensive zone prioritize puck recovery. Their system anticipates that players will move outside of the faceoff dots and slot to challenge for the puck.
GIVING UP THE BLUELINE (PASSIVE) – 2 ARTICLES
But therein lies a major part of the problem, which is the Rangers are conceding the zone entry, often with speed. The defense has continually given up the blue line to opposing rushers, choosing to stand up and challenge at the top of the circle.
The Rangers are conceding the blue line in an attempt to keep the puck to the outside, an aspect of “playing it safe.”
The Rangers, in conceding the blue line, are allowing the opposition to gain the zone with speed. This works against their current defense personnel, who still struggle with foot speed.
Because the blue liners struggle with foot speed and are allowing the opposition to enter the zone with speed, they are out of position, which opens up slot line passes and dangerous opportunities
Rushes that begin through the neutral zone with speed lead to more successful offensive zone shifts, as opposed to passing to a guy standing still at the blue line. Speed rules.
No matter what the personnel is, they won’t be able to overcome a system that continually allows skilled players to enter the zone with speed.
The Rangers are giving up the blue line, playing too passively, and appear to be unwilling to go after loose pucks for fear of being out of position.
PLAYING THE GAP (AGGRESSIVE)
POSSESSION STARTS WITH GOOD DEFENSIVE GAP CONTROL
In order to minimize their exposure to defensive-zone breakdowns and to maximize the team’s speed and skill, the Penguins have been playing a very tight gap across the neutral zone, funneling San Jose puck carriers toward the end boards and standing up at the red line in order to encourage the Sharks to dump the puck in.
This philosophy is akin to that of a soccer team choosing to play a high off-side line. You are banking on the speed and execution of your defenders in order to goad the opposition into doing something which isn’t to his advantage in the long term (giving up possession).
ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF THE MODERN DEFENDER
(Oct 2020)
An area of the modern defensive game that has become incredibly important is defence through the neutral zone: gap control, cutting plays off early, and making the correct defensive reads off the rush.
A vital component for offensive players in the modern game is attacking the middle of the ice
From a defensive standpoint, gapping up properly needs to mirror that offensive phenomenon. If you gap up towards the boards right away, you’re instantly giving up the middle of the ice, and potentially, a more dangerous opportunity in the moments that follow.
SWARM DEFENSE (AGGRESSIVE)
LOOKING AT THE SWARM
Moreover, this system isn’t necessarily limited to the defensive zone.
A swarm is an aggressive variation on the overload. Where the overload is designed to force players into a single, less desirable option, the swarm is designed to take away even that choice.
The defenders play between their check and the net in a collapse style defense, rather than between their check and puck as in the swarm above. The ‘collapse’ aspect actually means that the defenders work inside-out.
Why use a swarm?
The swarm is part of a possession system
Control where the puck goes, and you control the game.
The collapse system, for example, is focused on opportunity through control over one particular area of the ice. Limit the number of opportunities at or near your net, and you might win the scoring chances battle.
The swarm can be used to support defenders in battles by avoiding one-on-one situations
Classic swarm formation,
is between the puck and the next opposing player. Everyone is between the puck and their check, and focus is on the puck and its carrier.
THE LEAFS SWARM DEFENSE
(2015)
The Leafs’ “swarm” defense brought their wingers low, which created a negative domino effect with other facets of the game.
Hockey’s default D-zone: It’s 2-on-2 down low, man-on-man in shooting lanes, with help options when there are breakdowns.
Outnumbering your opponent can be a super effective way to acquire the puck, but as you can see around the rest of the zone, if you don’t acquire it, you may have some issues.
Even if you do come out of the battle with the puck, you can see how using all that manpower to do it would hinder your breakout
If you lose a battle, and the opposing team gets a touch and can make a play to a teammate in all that open ice, it’s a free bomb on net.
The wingers have to sag so low to protect the front of the net and to help outnumber skaters on the wall, so when the puck squirts to the top, whether it’s passed intentionally or not, you’re boned.
The forwards creep low in case THE SWARM is activated and they have to help (basically any time there’s a semi-loose puck), and opposing teams know that if the puck goes from low to high against the Leafs, they’re laughing.
All this affects more than just the in-zone play. Both D-men being stuffed in one corner eliminates an out for whoever comes up with the puck, which basically leaves our puck carrier with a winger on the strong side who’s already in traffic, and the weak side winger.
CREATING OFFENSE AGAINST THE SWARM
The defining feature of the Swarm is that the second defenseman (D2) sprints to help D1 on the puck instead of holding the net-front.
By investing both Ds into the corner battle and by having all three Fs low in the zone, the defending team maximizes its chances of creating a stop as it collapses around the puck.
However, it also exposes itself to puck movement after all five players get set.
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