Hockey is a fast-paced and dynamic sport that requires teams to have effective offensive strategies to score goals and win games.
A well-executed offensive strategy can create scoring opportunities, confuse the opposition’s defense, and ultimately lead to victory.
Offensive strategies in hockey include:
- Forechecking
- 1-2-2 Forecheck
- 2-1-2 Forecheck
- 2-3 Forecheck
- Cycling
- Crash the Net
- Odd-Man Rush
- Power Play
- High Slot Presence
- Quick Breakouts
- Net-Drive
- Cross-Ice Passes
- Offensive Zone Faceoff Plays
Below we’ll look in more detail at a complete list of offensive strategies in hockey, backed by research, examples, and statistics.
1. Forechecking
Forechecking is a crucial offensive strategy that involves pressuring the opposing team in their defensive zone to regain possession of the puck.
There are different types of forechecking systems, including:
- 1-2-2 Forecheck: In this system, one forward aggressively forechecks the puck carrier, while two forwards support in the middle and defensive zones respectively. This strategy aims to disrupt the opponent’s breakout and force turnovers.
- 2-1-2 Forecheck: Here, two forwards initiate the forecheck, with one forward pressuring the puck carrier and the other covering the passing lanes. The remaining forward and two defensemen provide support in the middle and defensive zones.
- 2-3 Forecheck: This strategy involves two forwards pressuring the puck carrier, while the remaining three forwards position themselves in the neutral zone to prevent easy breakouts.
Forechecking can be an effective offensive strategy as it puts pressure on the opposing team, disrupts their flow, and creates turnovers that can lead to scoring opportunities.
2. Cycling
Cycling is a strategy used by offensive teams to maintain possession of the puck in the offensive zone.
It involves players moving in a circular pattern along the boards, passing the puck to each other while looking for scoring opportunities.
Cycling can tire out the opposing team’s defense, create confusion, and open up passing lanes or shooting opportunities.
For example, the Detroit Red Wings, known for their successful offensive strategies, often utilized cycling to control the play and create scoring chances.
They would use their skilled forwards to maintain possession along the boards, drawing defenders towards them and creating openings for teammates to exploit.
3. Crash the Net
Crashing the net is a strategy where forwards aggressively drive towards the opponent’s net, aiming to create chaos and scoring opportunities.
This strategy requires players to position themselves in front of the net, screening the goaltender and looking for rebounds or deflections.
Statistics show that teams that consistently crash the net have a higher chance of scoring goals.
For instance, back during the 2019-2020 NHL season, the Tampa Bay Lightning led the league in goals scored, partly due to their ability to crash the net effectively.
4. Odd-Man Rush
The odd-man rush is a situation where an offensive team has more attackers than defenders, creating a numerical advantage.
This can occur due to a quick transition from defense to offense or a turnover by the opposing team.
Teams can capitalize on odd-man rushes by making quick and accurate passes to create scoring opportunities.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, are known for their ability to convert odd-man rushes into goals.
5. Power Play
The power play is a strategy used when a team has a numerical advantage due to an opponent serving a penalty.
This offensive strategy aims to take advantage of the extra player on the ice and create scoring opportunities.
Teams often employ different power play formations, such as the umbrella, overload, or diamond, to confuse the penalty-killing unit and create open passing lanes or shooting opportunities.
The Washington Capitals, with their lethal power play unit, have consistently ranked among the top teams in power play efficiency.
6. High Slot Presence
The high slot presence strategy involves positioning a player in the high slot area, between the faceoff circles in the offensive zone.
This player becomes a scoring threat and can receive passes from teammates or take shots on goal.
Having a player in the high slot can create confusion for the opposing team’s defense, as they need to account for this additional threat.
The Chicago Blackhawks, during their Stanley Cup-winning seasons, effectively utilized players like Patrick Kane in the high slot to generate scoring chances.
7. Quick Breakouts
Quick breakouts are offensive strategies used to transition from defense to offense rapidly.
These strategies involve defensemen making quick and accurate passes to forwards who are already moving up the ice, allowing for a fast and effective counter-attack.
Teams that excel at quick breakouts can catch the opposing team off-guard and create odd-man rushes or scoring opportunities.
The Nashville Predators, under the coaching of Peter Laviolette, were known for their quick breakouts and ability to generate offense from their defensive zone.
8. Net-Drive
The net-drive strategy focuses on players aggressively attacking the net, aiming to create scoring opportunities through deflections, rebounds, or screens.
This strategy requires players to position themselves near the crease and be ready to pounce on loose pucks.
Teams that effectively execute the net-drive strategy can create chaos in front of the opposing team’s net, making it difficult for the goaltender to track the puck.
The Boston Bruins, with their strong and physical forwards, often utilize the net-drive strategy to generate offense.
9. Cross-Ice Passes
Cross-ice passes involve players making passes from one side of the ice to the other, creating scoring opportunities by exploiting gaps in the opposing team’s defense.
These passes can catch defenders off-guard and create open shooting lanes or backdoor opportunities.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, with their skilled forwards like Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang, often utilize cross-ice passes to create scoring chances.
Their ability to execute these passes accurately and quickly has contributed to their offensive success.
10. Offensive Zone Faceoff Plays
Offensive zone faceoff plays are strategies used to gain possession of the puck immediately after a faceoff in the offensive zone.
These plays involve set plays and positioning to create scoring opportunities directly from the faceoff.
Teams often have specific faceoff plays designed for different situations, such as a set play for a one-timer shot or a play to create a screen in front of the net.
The San Jose Sharks, formerly under the coaching of Peter DeBoer, were known for their effective offensive zone faceoff plays.
Basic Hockey Neutral Zone & Offensive Strategy and Positioning | NHL 101
Q&A – Offensive Strategies & Tactics in Hockey
1. What is forechecking in hockey?
Forechecking is an offensive and defensive strategy in hockey that involves pressuring the opposing team in their defensive zone to regain possession of the puck.
It aims to disrupt the opponent’s breakout and force turnovers.
2. How does cycling work in hockey?
Cycling is an offensive strategy used in hockey to maintain possession of the puck in the offensive zone.
Players skate in a circular pattern along the boards, passing the puck to each other while looking for scoring opportunities.
3. What is crashing the net in hockey?
Crashing the net is a strategy where forwards aggressively drive towards the opponent’s net, aiming to create chaos and scoring opportunities.
Players position themselves in front of the net, screening the goaltender and looking for rebounds or deflections.
4. How can odd-man rushes benefit an offensive team?
Odd-man rushes occur when an offensive team has more attackers than defenders, creating a numerical advantage.
Teams can capitalize on these situations by making quick and accurate passes to create scoring opportunities.
5. What is a power play in hockey?
A power play is a strategy used when a team has a numerical advantage due to an opponent serving a penalty.
It aims to take advantage of the extra player on the ice and create scoring opportunities.
6. How does high slot presence contribute to offensive success?
High slot presence involves positioning a player in the high slot area, between the faceoff circles in the offensive zone.
This player becomes a scoring threat and can receive passes from teammates or take shots on goal, creating confusion for the opposing team’s defense.
7. What are quick breakouts in hockey?
Quick breakouts are offensive strategies used to transition from defense to offense rapidly.
These strategies involve defensemen making quick and accurate passes to forwards who are already moving up the ice, allowing for a fast and effective counter-attack.
8. How does the net-drive strategy create scoring opportunities?
The net-drive strategy focuses on players aggressively attacking the net, aiming to create scoring opportunities through deflections, rebounds, or screens.
This strategy creates chaos in front of the opposing team’s net, making it difficult for the goaltender to track the puck.
9. What are cross-ice passes in hockey?
Cross-ice passes involve players making passes from one side of the ice to the other, creating scoring opportunities by exploiting gaps in the opposing team’s defense.
These passes catch defenders off-guard and create open shooting lanes or backdoor opportunities.
10. How do offensive zone faceoff plays work?
Offensive zone faceoff plays are strategies used to gain possession of the puck immediately after a faceoff in the offensive zone.
These plays involve set plays and positioning to create scoring opportunities directly from the faceoff.
Summary
Effective offensive strategies are essential for success in hockey.
Forechecking, cycling, crashing the net, odd-man rushes, power plays, high slot presence, quick breakouts, net-drive, cross-ice passes, and offensive zone faceoff plays are just some of the strategies teams employ to create scoring opportunities and win games.
By understanding and implementing these strategies, teams can increase their chances of success on the offensive end.
