Structure Supports Outnumbering

The easiest play to defend against in hockey is a One on One. Players are taught to play the body not the puck, protect middle ice and stay between their opponent and their net. So, a reasonable strategy should dictate avoiding one on one situations and creating more favourable options for advancing the puck out of tight spaces and on the opponent’s net.

Outnumbering the opponent is an offensive and defensive tactic of the game to provide a player(s) advantage in an area of the ice surface around the puck.  Offensively, the ability to create outnumbered situations is necessary to be able to advance the puck on net and in or out of tight or full ice situations. Let’s look at the clip below to examine the outnumbered situations that present themselves through a half wall set up in the offensive zone on a 5 on 4 Power Play advantage.

Whether you’re setting up a Power Play Structure in the offensive zone or setting up Even Strength in the offensive zone, structure is important to being able to isolate on defender(s) to create outnumbered man advantage situations to advance the puck.

In the Power Play clip below the offensive team sets up on the half wall to create the following outnumbered situations:

• 3 on 2 above the hash marks,
• 3 on 2 below the hash marks,
• 2 on 1 and 3 on 1 opportunities above and below the hash marks,
• examine the video to identify the outnumbered opportunities presented from this basic structure.

Ability to Take the Puck to the Net

From this basic structure the offensive team has a number of different options to take the puck to the net to create the best scoring opportunity. The following are options and you may see other options:

• Walk out by F in the down low position,
• Give and Go between player on the half wall and the F in the down low position (2 on 1)
• Down low F takes the puck behind the net for a wrap around or create the option of passing to teammates driving the net from above the puck. There are lots of options to take the puck to the net in outnumbered situations and you likely see others.

Key for creating scoring chances is players without the puck setting passing lane options for the player with the puck and that is done by finding “soft spots” or open ice in tight spaces by moving their feet and isolating on defender(s).

1. Use of the width and depth of the ice surface in the zone.
2. Setting of clean (quality) passing lane options, more options the better.
3. Never rushing or forcing a pass, especially 1st pass.
4. Remaining calm, nobody panic, we’ve got this.
5. Timing of the passes and player movement in the timing of the exit play to ensure puck support necessary to advance the puck.
6. Exit route option selected.
7. Getting players to come back to the puck in the zone into the right spots.
8. Role of the player in middle ice down low to support puck offensively & defensively if need be.
9. Communication.

Technical Hockey Skills (Skating,Passing, Puck Control)

• The skill level of the players matters. The higher the skill level of the players, the easier execution of exit play.

Hard Pressure Forecheck

• A well executed breakout defeats the best hard pressure forecheck every time. Outnumbering offensively and playing 5 against 3 (forecheckers) makes good sense. Follow the keys and practice with an increase in resistance & pressure based on the execution of the players.

Net/Slot Zone Middle Ice Down Low Position

• Doesn’t have to be a Defensemen. 1st Forward back into the zone is an option but you want a skilled player with good hands and skating quickness to support the breakout. The timing of when this player leaves the net/slot zone to receive a pass is one of the keys to exit play. The player must set a good angle to receive a pass and time acceleration of speed on the exit.

It is important for a player’s development to play tactics that support playing with speed and physicality in all three zones. For a player to improve offensive skills they must have the opportunity to play with the puck more than without the puck.

One of the best things we can do to support the development of a player’s offensive skills is to teach them how to pressure up and check properly in one on one situations and as a member of a group in puck battle situations and when forechecking. The start of a good offensive play is a good defensive play. The teams that play fast, support the puck in all three zones to win the puck possession and control game. Teams forecheck in the offensive zone with structure and tactical thought but there seems to be an absence of this tactical thought and structural play in the neutral zone.

Neutral zone play is often overlooked but one of the key areas of the ice surface to defend. Forced puck turnovers in the neutral zone help you to create offence on the counter attack. Many teams do not deploy a forechecking group tactic in the neutral zone to force puck turnovers. Denying the opponent the ability to enter the neutral zone and exit the neutral zone with speed and puck control is a strategic advantage for any team.

Neutral Zone Forecheck

I am not a fan of systems or set plays. I equate a five player unit supporting the puck defensively in the neutral zone as a group tactic that requires thoughtful design and execution.

A neutral zone forecheck to support the puck defensively as a group based on strategy and tactical play for me is part of hockey fundamentals. We’ve lost possession of the puck and we want to get it back by working as a group to regain possession and control.

Whatever tactical structure you deploy to forecheck in the neutral zone to corral the opponent into an area to create a puck turnover should be based on the situation. Whether as a group you play a one-two-two or a two-one-two, alternating or another structure it should be based on situational hockey. What matters is the players know they have to work together as a group to regain puck possession and control and create scoring opportunities off the counter attack game. The players should also know when to use the best structure for the situation which is a coach’s role.

A neutral zone forecheck should be run off every face-off loss situation and any loss of puck possession in the neutral zone. A basic structure to pressure the puck in the neutral zone has the following elements:

•  F-1 pursuit of the puck,
•  F-2 preventing a weak side exit option,
•  F-3 provides secondary support puck side or middle ice for F1,
•  D1, D2 GAP control to support the forechecking forwards.

Neutral Zone Play Skills & Tactics

• Proper Angling
• Effective Use of Body & Stick
• Puck Separation (ability to separate a player from the puck without the need for a collision)
• Forechecking Structure
• Counter Attack off Puck Recovery

Performance Measurement

•  # Forced Turnovers
• # NZ Counter Attack Scoring Chances off Forced Turnovers

Conclusion

Players get better offensively as individuals and as a team when they play with the puck more than without the puck. When your players play more in the offensive zone than the defensive zone you are likely winning more hockey games than you’re losing and your players are happy they’re playing with the puck and being chased rather than doing the chasing.

Focus on defending the neutral zone with a speed and physicality and win the puck possession and control game.

Video Link|Neutral Zone Play Often Overlooked

 

Here we find ourselves in February, already! It's hard to believe, and with just one month remaining before we dive into our playoffs, our team is still grappling with making that critical four or five foot pass through the opposing teams sticks or skates while under pressure. The players are positioned correctly, the support is there, yet we struggle to move the puck against quicker teams. Over the past three months, I've felt like I've tried every strategy, from half-wall battle drills while looking to pass to your suppport player, to consistently integrating wall retrievals drills in practice, and so much more. In closely reviewing our games against what the top teams in our league are doing that we aren't, it struck me. We fail to recognize all of our options and simply turn the puck over to their forecheckers under pressure while trying to make the next play.

So, what do I do next? Naturally, I head to the search tab on The Coaches Site. I stumbled upon an on-ice presentation I attended two years ago in Ann Arbor, which hadn't quite resonated with me at the time. Yogi Svejkovsky and Kris Beech delivered an underrated presentation called Situational Passing and Receiving Progressions. Despite the various types of passes we can execute under heavy pressure and traffic during a game, Yogi makes an excellent point about teaching young players to have the ability to play defense while still understanding their offensive options if the puck were to come to them. As illustrated in the video clip of the Winnipeg Jets vs. NY Rangers, the Jets transition from offense to defense and back to offense, scoring a goal with less than a second of decision-making. So, how do we incorporate this skill into our practice plans, ensuring that by playoff time, we are playing fast and thinking even faster?

Movie; The Hustle

In this scene from the movie "Hustle," you can hear Adam Sandler's character saying, "Good players know where they are on the court, great players know where everyone else is." The issue with youth sports, particularly hockey, is that we train kids using pylons, which teaches them from a young age to focus solely on the puck while maneuvering around an object, instead of learning to use their peripheral vision to find teammates.

How Do We Practice This?

SITUATIONAL PASS/RECEIVE DRILL

DESCRIPTION

• One player and one coach. Player starts up ice stick handling with two pucks. Player passes one puck to coach when his stick is on the ice. Coach passes it back.
• Player and Coach continue passing until far blue line. Player shoots 1st puck and executes pre touch route for 2nd shot.

KEY POINTS

• Vision. Heads up stick handling.
• Pretouch route skating.

Skater begins the drill by skating behind the net to pick up a rimmed puck from the coach. Skater continues with the puck around far barrier and passes back to the coach. 

Skater then works through transition, finding lanes, and opening up hips to pivot and attack the net. Coach has moved down the wall and Skater looks for back side pass for a scoring chance. 

Goaltenders should track the puck throughout the drill, discourage them from awaiting shot from back side. They should be working on tracking the puck from the corner and across the crease. 

As youth hockey coaches, we’re always looking for ways to boost practice intensity and keep players engaged in practice. One highly effective way is to “flip the script” by starting practice with small-area games instead of saving them for the end. For teams of all ages, this adjustment can make a significant difference in how players approach the rest of practice, raising the overall competition level and creating an atmosphere of excitement that endures through each drill.

Why Start with Small-Area Games?
The concept is simple: by starting practice with a competitive, high-energy game such as 3v3 neutral ice or 3v3 in one zone, players are instantly immersed in a fast-paced, competitive setting that challenges them to make quick decisions and work hard. The goals are twofold. First, beginning with a small-area game captures players’ attention, ramping up engagement so they’re focused and invested from the start. Second, this early competition “flips the switch” on intensity, setting a standard of hard work that carries through to the rest of the session.

Key Considerations for Success
Starting practice with a small-area game requires some planning to ensure players are physically and mentally prepared. Since players may initially feel less warmed up, emphasize a strong off-ice warmup, similar to a pre-game routine, to make sure they’re ready for intense competition. With younger players, it’s also essential to keep the energy lighthearted; a small loss in the game shouldn’t affect morale. Fun incentives like a quick down-and-back for the losing side can keep the competition friendly while maintaining a positive atmosphere.

Transitioning to Game-Like Drills and Battle Stations
Once the small-area game concludes, flow directly into game-situation drills and station work. Players who start with a game tend to carry that focus and intensity into other parts of practice. By following up with battle-oriented drills like wall battles, corner battles, and net-front battles, we ensure they maintain that competitive spirit. Each drill should feel like a natural extension of the initial game, with players seeing each exercise as a challenge and an opportunity to develop the skills that will serve them in real game scenarios.

Adding Gamification for Extra Motivation
To keep engagement high, incorporate scorekeeping and other gamification elements throughout practice. For younger players, add in races to the puck, relay races, or “first to three goals” challenges to drive competitiveness. For example, starting a drill with a race for puck possession that immediately leads into an offensive/defensive battle reinforces the idea that every part of practice simulates real game pressures and stakes.

Results from Flipping the Script
Starting practice with a small-area game can yield impressive results for your team. Players are more engaged and ready to continue for the rest of practice with a ready-to-compete mindset. Intensity levels increase allowing players to take the following drills more seriously, treating each one like an extension of the initial game. Perhaps most importantly, players’ attitudes become noticeably more positive; beginning with a fun, fast-paced game makes practice more enjoyable, and that energy translates into greater receptiveness to coaching and a higher overall work ethic.

Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to raise the level of competition and engagement in practice, consider flipping your routine and opening with a small-area game. Whether it’s a fast-paced 3v3, a neutral-ice battle, or a zone-based scrimmage, starting with competition primes players for a productive, high-energy session. Trying this approach could bring a new level of intensity to your practices, fostering a competitive mindset that benefits players both on and off the ice.

Click to download the PDF

OVERVIEW: 2V2 + 4 Support Players, Score on Either Net

KEY TEACHING POINTS: Great high-paced small game to focus on: give and goes offensive players moving away from Pressure to get Open/Attack encourage creative thinking and movement by the Offensive Players help develop Speed of Thought in Offensive Attacks Remind players to work hard to get open to attack, work together on offense. Defensively players need to get sticks in passing lanes, and communicate which player they are covering as the offensive players have Options. Point of emphasis is taking pride in your passes (to the support players) and return passes to the players in the game.

 

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In episode 287 of the Glass and Out Podcast, Head Coach of the Coachella Valley Firebirds Derek Laxdal stops by.

His coaching career has seen him climb from the now defunct Western Professional Hockey League to the Central Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League, the Western Hockey League, the American League and finally, to the show.

During that time he's successfully navigated the ebbs and flows of his coaching journey with his trademark optimism and enthusiam.

Today Laxdal is the Head Coach of the AHL affiliate to the Seattle Kraken. No different than any other team he’s coached, he has the ‘Birds in contention as they make their way towards another playoff run. 

Listen as he shares why the skill of defending is lacking in today's young player, how to change the narritive after a tough loss, and how to stay optimistic through the challenges of a coaching career.

Video Timestamps:

• 0:00 Golfing/Living in Palm Springs
• 6:00 Collaborating with a new staff
• 11:00 Communication with new players
• 14:50 Common missing habits for young players/improving defending
• 17:30 Creating a hard practice
• 19:50 Junior hockey career
• 24:05 Playing for John Brophy
• 30:40 Catching the coaching bug
• 37:35 Wife's support
• 40:40 Last year's OHL conference finals
• 45:00 Coaching in Wichita/Showing players you care
• 51:30 Coaching the Edmonton Oil Kings/Greatest coaching moment
• 53:20 Getting buy-in
• 59:45 Shifting the focus after a loss
• 1:01:30 2012 Memorial Cup lessons
• 1:04:50 2014 Memorial Cup
• 1:09:00 Experience in taking risks/Teams getting better in second half
• 1:12:45 Coaching influences
• 1:15:45 The bubble
• 1:20:20 Creating a family culture
• 1:23:35 The power of Optimism

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