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Three-on-Five Penalty Kill

Three-on-Five Penalty Kill

Excerpt From: Hockey Plays and Strategies

The three-on-five penalty kill is a difficult challenge but at its best can also be a work of art. The three on five is one area of the team game that, when successful, can create excitement and positive bench momentum for your team. The key to defending the three on five is to have all three players totally in sync with each other’s movements and the system that you implement. Coaches have to decide how tight they want to play it or how aggressive they are going to get. The following are three approaches that different coaches like to use.

 

INVERTED TRIANGLE

This setup is suited to kill a five on three where the opponent has two Ds up top (figure 10.23). F1 and D1 (D1 could be a defenseman, although some teams like to use another forward) move up and down on their sides as the puck is moved from high to low. F1 and D1 should not go too wide or too high. D2 plays the net area and moves from post to post. D2 must deny the side-to-side pass from O1 to O2. F1 and D1 must be ready to block shots. During five on threes, it is key to stay tight and compact and be strong on rebounds.

Figure 10.23

 

SPLIT THE D’s

This set up is another option to kill a five on three penalty where the opponent has two D up top (figure 10.24). F1 stays in the middle of the ice denying any high passes through the middle and any passes between the two D. D1 and D2 play the base of the triangle. When the puck is at the bottom with O1 then D1 forces him out wide and D2 covers the net. F1 stays in the low slot. This penalty-kill setup does not give up much down low while also taking away any D-D up high passes with the stick of F1.

Figure 10.24

 

TRIANGLE, ONE HIGH

This setup is primarily suited to kill a five on three where the opponent has one D up top. F1 stays in the middle of the ice (figure 10.25). When the puck is up top, he stays head to head with the one opposing D. D1 and D2 form the base of the triangle. When the puck is at the bottom with O1, then D1 forces him out wide and D2 covers the net. D1 and D2 must also get in the shooting lanes of O3 and O4 when they have the puck. F1 stays in the low slot. Recognize where one-timer shots could come from, and have an active stick.

Figure 10.25

Continue Reading: Three-on-Four Penalty Kill

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