3 game 1 v 1 is a great small area that players at all levels will enjoy. The game works best when your team has two goalies available for practice, but works with a shooter tutor in one or both nets as well. 

The game begins with the set up above. 

The game begins with 3 one vs one battles occuring simultaneously. Coaches, or extra players can drop the puck for a faceoff to begin the game, or the players can do N-H-L to begin. When a player scores, the puck stays in the net. The players who no longer have a puck will choose one of the other pucks in play to pursue. They may choose to both pursue the same puck, or separate pucks that are in play.

So after one puck has been scored, there will either be a game of 2 on 2 and a game of 1 on 1 occurring simultanesouly, or there will be two game of 2 on 1 occuring simultanoesly.

After a second puck is scored, there will only be one puck remaining in play, so all players will be pursuing the one puck, which means a game of 3 on 3 occurs. 

The team that has the most goals after all 3 pucks have been scored wins. 

Why this game works:

This drill is great for a number of reasons. 

Goalies need to have their head on a swivel! There are multiple pucks to track, and so you will see quite a few "highlight of the night" saves, and a lot of scrambling. 

*There is a definite safety consideration to make here. A goalie facing shots from multiple angles simultaneously presents an obvious safety concern. This can be addressed by using a ball instead of a puck. Spreaking to your players ahead of time and ensuring that they are looking where they are shooting can also prevent injuries. I have run this drill many times in practice using pucks, and have never had a goalie get hit in a vulnerable spot. Preteaching on the importance to only taking a shot when it is safe to do so will elliminate dangerous shots. 

Communication - Players will need to communicate with each other as teammates and opponents will join your game as they finish theirs. 

Offense - Defence Transitions - Players have to react quickly, and will alternate between attacking and defending throughout the drill. 

Joining the rush - This drill enforces some great ideas about joinng the rush. It is so cool to see the players immediately jump from scoring the goal in their 1 on 1 battle, to recognizing where the next closest puck is and getting involved in the play. 

Key Teaching Points

Talk to the players ahead of time on the safety considerations involving shooting multiple pucks at the goalies. 

Goalies needs to track multiple pucks. This enforces shoulder checking, and squaring up to the closest threat. 

I've never found it to be the case, but if the rep is taking too long, you could put a time limit of 1 - 2 minutes on the game, and most goals at the end of the time limit wins the round.