The best way to practice special teams is when your players are unaware they're practicing special teams. The game is adapting to the skill and creativity of today's individual players, so it's more important than ever to build in decision-making and problem-solving skills. Anyone can run a predetermined route in practice - but what happens when that route is eliminated in a game? This is true on both sides of the puck, and both primary special teams: power play and penalty kill. 

The quicker you can anticipate on the penalty kill, the more pressure you'll put on the power play and the quicker you'll disrupt the play and clear the puck. Not every route is defined, but there are commonalities we can exploit as killers. This drill protects dangerous east west passes without relyng on predetermined power play routes. It's a fun way to start practice, too. It's not often when players get fired up about the penalty kill to the same extent they do regarding the power play, but this drill accomplishes that.

PK Push-Down Warmup

• X's get one point for east west pass
• Only one O can forecheck, two protect east west passes (two could forecheck, but they'll get roasted)
• O's try to knock down passes and pass to coach at blue line
• Players aren't shooting or trying to score, so the goalie is optional

Key teaching points

• Killers: active stick, one hand, quick stops and starts
• Power play: get puck off wall and on hip quickly, sell false info