Beating the Trap â Transitioning with Speed and Possession - 6
Beating the Trap – Transitioning with Speed and Possession One of the most frustrating parts of the game for coaches and players is trying to get through the neutral zone with possession and speed. When the center line was removed years ago it was supposed to open up the game and make it harder for teams to trap in the neutral zone. As coaches and strategies have adjusted, the game looks the same in a lot of ways to the game when the red line was in. I often look at the neutral zone in the same way football teams’ refer to the red zone. Navigating through this area leads to scoring chances while making mistakes in this area stalls the opportunity to attack and often leads to scoring chances against. Every announcer and analyst in the NHL talks about deadly turnovers in the neutral zone leading to transition and scoring chances for the opposition. Recognizing this, should our philosophy be to dump the puck in….get rid of it so no mistakes are made? Or teach our players how to make choices and decisions which lead to possession and speed. I am for the latter so that’s what we will look at in this presentation. Tracking and Transition – I am a big believer that the harder you track back off the forecheck and the more players you have committed to coming back hard = the quicker your transition game will be. I look at this as a core staple of our team. Stripping pucks from behind on the back check or standing up the rush with a tight gap often leads odd man rushes the other way. With the opposition attacking in one direction if we can turn over the puck generally before our blue line then our speed and their inability to defend in a coordinated manner will often lead to scoring chances.
F3 Positioning • • • •
F3 must always be in position above the puck in the OFZ If the opposition moves the puck up the boards F3 should “soft lock” By “soft locking” F3 moves at the puck carrier on an angle toward the neutral zone F3 tries to pressure the puck carrier and steer him into D1 while also preventing passes to mid ice
D’s MaintainF3 Positioning and Early Gap
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman
F3 must always be in position above the puck • • If D1 and D2 are always moving in and out along the line they will be prepared to have tighter gap
All Three F’s Track Back Hard • • • •
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman
F3 attacks the puck carrier F2 /F 2 F1 take 5 hard strides to get Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman back into the play – pressuring the rush from behind If the forwards strip the puck then turn and go If D1 D2 get the puck then they can skate in transition or move it to the F’s right away
Tag and Go – When our defense go back for pucks in the neutral zone the number one priority is to turn the puck up right away. All three forwards should take back as much ice as possible and then when the D is ready to pass accelerate back toward the blue line. It is important that D1 first checks his shoulder as he is going back for the puck. Turn to the middle of the ice or up the boards and move the puck up right away. The best option might be the wide cross ice pass moving the puck away from pressure.
Short Quick Regroups •
•
•
When the puck is moved into the neutral zone from the offensive zone - D1 and D2 should be looking to move it up quick All three forwards must clear the blue line and give themselves enough room to accelerate into the pass D1 and D2 should get the puck into Formatted: List Paragraph, Bulleted + Level: 1 + the hands of the forwards as fast as Aligned at: 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5" possible
Longer Regroups Building Speed – If D1 gets the puck deeper in the neutral zone or inside our blue line then the opposition will have enough time to set up in a neutral zone forecheck. D1’s main read is how organized the opposition is – with regards to their forecheck. Once the opponent is set in some form of the trap then it is better to have all three forwards come back – gather speed and start a coordinated attack. Listed below are four regroup options. 1. Traditional Lanes 1.2.Center Swing Away 2.3.Attacking F1 Head to Head 3.4.Getting Above the Trap
1. LRG – Traditional Lanes D1 moves the puck to D2 and: ➢ D2 passes to RW who stretches ➢ D2 passes to C ➢ D2 passes to LW as he drops down low for a flat pass ➢ D2 passes back to D1 on a skating hinge
Formatted: List Paragraph, Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at: 0.29" + Indent at: 0.54"
2. LRG – Center Swing Away D1 may pass to D2 or move to mid ice with the puck ➢ C swings low and deep to one side ➢ C should come from behind the puck ➢ If C swings to LW’s side then the LW should move into mid ice ➢ D1 or D2 moves the puck to the C with speed ➢ RW and LW support the pass
3. LRG – Attacking F1 D1 picks up the puck and moves to mid ice: ➢ D1 takes the puck back and begins to move directly at F1 ➢ C swings low to one side ➢ D2 moves low to the other side ➢ LW and RW come back to at least center ➢ All players move together – D1 can pass to D2 C or winger moving into mid ice
Formatted: List Paragraph, Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at: 0.29" + Indent at: 0.54"
4. Getting Above the Trap • • • •
D1 passes the puck to D2 or moves it himself C RW and LW all button hook high C tries to find a soft area above the trap Once the puck is moved up the forwards should have a quick 3on2
Percentage of Even Strength Entries – Pittsburgh 2015 (60 games)
CARRY 30%
DUMP 35%
PASS 35%
Percentage of Successful Even Strength Entries - Pittsburgh 2015 (60 games) 21.0%
19.1%
19.0%
18.8%
17.0% 15.0% 13.0% 11.0%
8.3%
9.0% 7.0% 5.0%
CARRY
PASS
Carry and Pass Rate for Centers - Pittsburgh 2015 (60 games)
DUMP
CARRY + PASS RATE 100%
91% 90%
88%
80% 70% 60% 50% 40%
61% 49%
F3 Positioning • • • •
F3 must always be in position above the puck in the OFZ If the opposition moves the puck up the boards F3 should “soft lock” By “soft locking” F3 moves at the puck carrier on an angle toward the neutral zone F3 tries to pressure the puck carrier and steer him into D1 while also preventing passes to mid ice
D’s MaintainF3 Positioning and Early Gap
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman
F3 must always be in position above the puck • • If D1 and D2 are always moving in and out along the line they will be prepared to have tighter gap
All Three F’s Track Back Hard • • • •
Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman
F3 attacks the puck carrier F2 /F 2 F1 take 5 hard strides to get Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman back into the play – pressuring the rush from behind If the forwards strip the puck then turn and go If D1 D2 get the puck then they can skate in transition or move it to the F’s right away
Tag and Go – When our defense go back for pucks in the neutral zone the number one priority is to turn the puck up right away. All three forwards should take back as much ice as possible and then when the D is ready to pass accelerate back toward the blue line. It is important that D1 first checks his shoulder as he is going back for the puck. Turn to the middle of the ice or up the boards and move the puck up right away. The best option might be the wide cross ice pass moving the puck away from pressure.
Short Quick Regroups •
•
•
When the puck is moved into the neutral zone from the offensive zone - D1 and D2 should be looking to move it up quick All three forwards must clear the blue line and give themselves enough room to accelerate into the pass D1 and D2 should get the puck into Formatted: List Paragraph, Bulleted + Level: 1 + the hands of the forwards as fast as Aligned at: 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5" possible
Longer Regroups Building Speed – If D1 gets the puck deeper in the neutral zone or inside our blue line then the opposition will have enough time to set up in a neutral zone forecheck. D1’s main read is how organized the opposition is – with regards to their forecheck. Once the opponent is set in some form of the trap then it is better to have all three forwards come back – gather speed and start a coordinated attack. Listed below are four regroup options. 1. Traditional Lanes 1.2.Center Swing Away 2.3.Attacking F1 Head to Head 3.4.Getting Above the Trap
1. LRG – Traditional Lanes D1 moves the puck to D2 and: ➢ D2 passes to RW who stretches ➢ D2 passes to C ➢ D2 passes to LW as he drops down low for a flat pass ➢ D2 passes back to D1 on a skating hinge
Formatted: List Paragraph, Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at: 0.29" + Indent at: 0.54"
2. LRG – Center Swing Away D1 may pass to D2 or move to mid ice with the puck ➢ C swings low and deep to one side ➢ C should come from behind the puck ➢ If C swings to LW’s side then the LW should move into mid ice ➢ D1 or D2 moves the puck to the C with speed ➢ RW and LW support the pass
3. LRG – Attacking F1 D1 picks up the puck and moves to mid ice: ➢ D1 takes the puck back and begins to move directly at F1 ➢ C swings low to one side ➢ D2 moves low to the other side ➢ LW and RW come back to at least center ➢ All players move together – D1 can pass to D2 C or winger moving into mid ice
Formatted: List Paragraph, Bulleted + Level: 1 + Aligned at: 0.29" + Indent at: 0.54"
4. Getting Above the Trap • • • •
D1 passes the puck to D2 or moves it himself C RW and LW all button hook high C tries to find a soft area above the trap Once the puck is moved up the forwards should have a quick 3on2
Percentage of Even Strength Entries – Pittsburgh 2015 (60 games)
CARRY 30%
DUMP 35%
PASS 35%
Percentage of Successful Even Strength Entries - Pittsburgh 2015 (60 games) 21.0%
19.1%
19.0%
18.8%
17.0% 15.0% 13.0% 11.0%
8.3%
9.0% 7.0% 5.0%
CARRY
PASS
Carry and Pass Rate for Centers - Pittsburgh 2015 (60 games)
DUMP
CARRY + PASS RATE 100%
91% 90%
88%
80% 70% 60% 50% 40%
61% 49%
