Some tactics and strategies to create space and generate offence.

It is no secret that today’s players are more skilled than ever.

The amount of resources available and frequency of on-ice training is at an all time high, but this doesn’t automatically equate to more offence. With advances in video availability, coaching structure and again, skill development, players and teams have become much better defensively, especially in their ability to suppress shots from high danger areas.

What this can then lead to is all of that skill and offensive ability fizzling away along the wall or in the corners and settling for lower percentage chances. The goal is then to identify tactics and strategies that can be deployed in order to create space to utilize our skills effectively to create more offence. Hockey is an invasion game, and like all invasion games, it comes down to controlling space.

Below are four possession tactics that we can use manipulate space and control the offensive zone.

1. Puck protection and initiating contact

Hockey is a game of 1v1’s and when in the offensive zone, there will be a minuscule amount of time when the puck carrier is not confronted by at least one defender.

In order to maintain possession of the puck, players are taught from a very young age that they need to protect it, which is exactly true. The problem lies, however, when players always protect pucks outside of the dots, stop moving their feet, and spend the entire sequence in low danger areas, without ever working to get to better space.

Instead, while still applying the key principles of puck protection, players should look to initiate contact with their defender. This will allow the offensive player to “cut the hands” of the defender, and change their posture, making them less effective to create a turnover.

The offensive player can create space in front of them to attack, and to the side of them, which allows them to roll off their defender. In the following video you’ll notice the deliberate actions by the puck carrier to initiate contact with their defenders, while protecting the puck to create space for themselves and the next play.

2. Creating small area 2v1’s

One of the fundamental pillars of offensive play is puck support, but often times, especially at a young age, support is misinterpreted. Players spread out far away from the puck, getting “open,” however this leaves our puck carrier alone and creates longer, more challenging passing options.

There is plenty of need for a longer support option, both in transition and in zone play, but having at least one short support option is critical to puck possession. Short support creates shorter passing options, and quick relief for the puck carrier. Additionally, this provides the potential to create 2v1 situations versus a defender.

These 2v1’s are much more difficult for the defenders to sort out, and can often lead to the defender overplaying one offensive player, creating space for the other or the defender becomes passive and is in between decisions. This now allows both offensive players time and space to make the next play.

Two examples below illustrate offensive players moving to the puck in support, creating small area 2v1’s, forcing the defenders into quick decisions, all the while opening up space for the offensive attack.

3. Movement off the puck and decoys

In close relation to the principles presented in creating small area 2v1’s, movement off of the puck in the offensive zone can be an excellent tactic to create space.

This can create space for the player moving themselves, but more often than not these movements can act as decoys posing as threats. Low dives, high climbs, and lateral movement can serve as ways to manipulate defenders and create open ice for the puck carrier or other player off the puck to move into.

In the clips below, notice the movement off of the puck and how it influences the positioning of the defenders. Space is created by this movement, and then filled by teammates, leading to dangerous attack options.

4. Threatening an option with body language

The use of body language is another way players can create more space for themselves as it can serve as a deception tactic.

By threatening a specific action through where you are looking, the positioning of your feet, stick, or upper body, defenders are forced to react and carry out actions to best defend you, given the information that you are providing. Players can often sell an action, perhaps a pass or a shot threat, which causes a defender to react a certain way, thus opening up space to skate into or a passing lane.

The following video illustrates deception created through the puck carrier’s body language and how it impacts the defenders, including the goaltender.

Above are four tactics that individuals and teams can use in order to manipulate space in the offence zone, and create high percentage scoring chances. It is important to note, that success in the offensive zone isn’t just limited to these tactics, and other principles directly impact their success.

Winning battles and races to loose pucks, shooting skills, and winning the net-front all contribute to successful offensive zone play. When combined with space manipulation and possession tactics, teams become incredibly challenging to defend against in the offensive zone.