Ideally, you want your team to enter the offensive zone cleanly and create scoring chances. When that isn't possible, it's important to strategically place the puck deep in the offensive zone and keep your team’s forechecking going. The goal of an aggressive forecheck is to force turnovers, which can create offensive opportunities.

In this clip, #17 Anderson of the Canadiens finds himself in a tough spot, facing one defender against five in the neutral zone. He softly places the puck into the offensive zone, away from the goalie and into the corner, allowing it to slow down. This positioning enables him to be the first forechecker (F1) and aggressively pursue the puck. I often remind our players, “Place the puck so you can get it back.” Anderson establishes himself as F1 and sprints with a second and third effort to regain possession.

Meanwhile, #85 Texier is also trying to be involved in the play as F1. As he scans the ice, he sees that Anderson is already in the F1 roll. To support Anderson, Texier moves beside the net, making himself available for a pass. Once he receives the puck from Anderson, Texier makes a play to #21 Guhle. Guhle looks for an opportunity to shoot, but after assessing the situation, he realizes there isn’t a clear path. Instead, he attempts to pass the puck to #24 Danault, who has driven toward the net and has his stick on the ice, presenting a target for a pass. The puck deflects off Danault’s foot and into the net. This turn of events is a stroke of luck for the Canadiens, but such luck often comes from getting to the net and shooting pucks on goal.

An important note for players and coaches: the key to winning one-on-one loose-puck races is to first sprint to the puck, with second and third efforts. Gain an inside position with your body, and create a wall between the puck and your opponent for puck protection. Anderson demonstrates textbook technique in winning his one-on-one puck battle. He completes the play by using part of his body to protect the puck while scanning the ice for Texier’s position (offensive support) and then passes him the puck with one hand.

Additionally, it’s noteworthy how the Canadiens have three forwards at the net while bringing their defensemen into the play. Notably, Guhle jumps into the offensive zone.

This clip provides a great learning opportunity to illustrate the aspects of offensive zone forechecking, puck placement, the importance of F1 sprinting with second and third efforts, how to win a one-on-one puck race, scanning and reading the play, and defensemen joining the offence to get pucks to the net.

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Enio Sacilotto is the President of International Hockey Camps and runs the Mental Edge High-Performance Training. Enio has 44 years of coaching experience (professional hockey in Europe and the Victoria Royals (WHL)). Currently, he coaches at the Burnaby Winter Club Hockey Academy, is the coach of the Serbian U18 men’s National hockey team, and is the Head Coach with the Burnaby Steelers. If you have questions or are interested in his services, contact Enio at enio@coachenio.com or call 604-255-4747. Website: www.coachenio.com.