Between his 11 year playing career and continuous coach career, Calgary Flames Assistant Coach Cail MacLean is a specialist when it comes to coaching his players on how to unlock the middle of the ice. 

The middle of the ice is called the hard ice for a reason: 80% of an NHL game is played outside the dots. Quality chances are the best predictor of scoring goals - high danger chances occur close to the net in the slot line, and teams are doing everything they can to keep their opponent’s as far away from the net as possible. This is why it is important to find ways to get to the middle of the ice to create scoring chances. 

To accomplish this, MacLean preaches one important thing: being predictable. Making simple predictable plays to get to the inside of the ice allows supporting teammates to best align themselves and get into positions where they can attack the middle of the ice. Timing plays is important to be able to attack with pace and be able to attack the inside and create scoring chances. A great way to attack the middle is to use speed to pull the defenceman to the middle and then take the wide lane to the net. Working towards the middle of the offensive zone is key so taking a plan of strategic routes to get there is the most effective way to find scoring chances inside that ice. Taking the best route to the middle comes from reading the open ice and moving forward with speed. As a forward you want to attack on the defenseman's heels and get them put into positions that are less favourable for them moving backwards. Pace produces quality and the team that can do that most will have the most success.

According to MacLean, as a coach the best thing you can preach is predictability with your players. From there work on adding timing, which is another teachable asset, and then add speed, which is a skills area that coaches should be harping on constantly. What those three elements lead to is pace and rhythm and teams that attack at a high pace can get to the interior ice and generate high danger scoring opportunities and score goals.

Noteworthy Timestamps:

• 0:50 Intro to unlocking the middle
• 2:30 Hockey is transition game
• 6:30 Fragments > Pace > Quality: Predictability
• 9:10 Timing
• 11:50 Speed
• 16:10 Inside the offensive zone
• 17:55 Offensive Zone Pace: Mentality
• 20:15 Routes
• 23:40 Quality
• 27:15 Creating pace and rhythm