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Pressuring the Entry

Pressuring the Entry

Excerpt From: Hockey Plays and Strategies

The entry is one area of the penalty kill where you should focus your time as you develop the special teams unit. If you stall the PP – at your blue line or as soon as they enter your zone – and clear the puck, you have effectively killed about 20 seconds off the clock and have a chance to change, while the PP unit will generally stay out and try to enter again. Teams may challenge the entry by making an immediate stand at the blue line, forcing the puck carrier at the half boards, or pressuring the dump-in. Described here are ways to contront the setup of the PP unit, depending on the forecheck used.

 

TANDEM PRESSURE

D1 confronts the puck carrier, at the blue line if possible, while F1 goes after any pucks chipped in (figure 10.13). F2 holds the slot. D2 retreats to the net or as an option for F1 to bump the puck to. If the PP unit carries the puck deeper, then D1 confronts the puck carrier at the half boards, and F1 seals up top. F2 holds the slot area and D2 the net area. If the puck is dumped in, then D2 goes hard to the dump-in, F1 and D1 also go to the puck. F2 holds the slot area.

Figure 10.13

 

FORWARDS WIDE

D1 and D2 stay up in the middle where the PP unit will try to bring the puck (figure 10.14) if the pass is made to the wide lane, then F1 and F2 challenge the outside lanes. On the dump-in, F2 and D2 go to the corner along with D1. F1 supports the net

Figure 10.14

 

RETREATING BOX

F2 or D1 tries to confront the entry at the blue line (figure 10.15). D2 goes after pucks chipped in, and F1 holds mid-ice. If the PP unit skates the puck in, then D1 or D2 confronts the entry at the half boards. F1 and F2 hold the top positions. If the PP unit dumps the puck in, then D1 and D2 both go to the puck. The closest forward tightens up, and the other forward holds the slot.

Figure 10.15

 

SAME-SIDE PRESS

F1 angles the puck carrier to the outside (figure 10.16). F2 tries to force the entry at the blue line or force the puck carrier to dump the puck. D2 goes after any pucks chipped in. With pressure from F1, F2, and D2, the PP usually cannot skate the puck in unless a pass is made to the wide side. On dump-ins, D1 goes to the corner with support from F1 and D2. F2 holds the slot.

Figure 10.16

 

PASSIVE 1-3

This is a similar setup to the tandem press. D1 confronts the puck carrier at the blue line if possible, while F2 goes after any pucks chipped in (figure 10.17). F1 holds the slot. D2 retreats to the net or as an option for F2 to bump the puck to. If the PP unit carries the puck deeper, then D1 confronts the puck carrier at the half boards and F1 seals up top. F2 holds the slot area and D2 the net area. If the puck is dumped in, then D2 goes hard to the dump-in. F2 and D1 also go to the puck. F1 holds the slot area.

Figure 10.17

Continue Reading: Defensive Zone Play

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