The breakout is arguably the most important part of competitive hockey, and usually one of a defenseman's more important jobs is to start the rush via the breakout. After all, if a team has incompetent defensemen incapable of getting the puck out of their own zone, how can a team get the puck into the other team's zone? Most coaches at lower levels simply the breakout as much as possible: The defenseman passes from behind the net to the winger on the boards, then have that winger hit the swinging center with a touch pass. Simple, but ineffective at most times. Think about what happens if the other team's defensemen can read this play, step up, and intercept that first pass to the winger, or maybe the second pass to the center? Than three people are temporarily out of the play (The winger, who is standing still, the center, who is probably out of the zone, and the defenseman who makes the first pass). There really is no set breakout that is completely infallible, so the first defenseman must be in a position to make multiple passes, react to the other team, and also have momentum so they can skate if they have room. The second defenseman must also help, even though he doesn't have the puck. The easiest way for the second defenseman to help is by hinging. For those of you who don't know what hinging is, imagine that the defenseman with the puck is standing on an imaginary horizontal line. Hinging is where the second defenseman stays behind that imaginary line, providing a pass option. Imagine the defenseman with the puck is under pressure, and has no room or time to make a pass up to the forwards. What can he do? He can shoot the puck off the glass, giving the other team the puck, skate behind his net, bringing the puck deep into his zone again, canceling the breakout, or he can pass back the to hinging defenseman. Also, if the defenseman with the puck ends up turning over the puck, the hinging defenseman is already back to play the counterattack.
Anyway, the player with the puck can add a few habits which can drastically improve his game. But before that, here's a few tips to get the puck in the first place. First of all, don't chase the puck; if you're going towards someone who has the puck and they pass it away before you reach them, then stick with that man for a few seconds. Of course, common sense is important, but 99% of the time you should stick with the guy you were originally going to. On the same note, don't be afraid to go above the circles if the guy you're sticking with does while he has the puck; once you commit to a one on one you have to keep playing that one on one until it's over. Try to stay in passing lanes, but when your instinct says go for the puck (usually when someone mishandles the puck, you read the pass, or most commonly there is a mini-race to a puck in the corner) you have to be aggressive and get the puck even if it means taking a hit. Be physical along the boards as well, if someone's close enough to put a body on, work the body while you try to get the puck. It's a smart idea to give a half-push with one hand while getting the puck free with your skates and stick. If you read the puck going to someone who is along the boards, time it to tie them up along the boards as the get the puck (Much like the boardplay in NHL11). For more on this, watch a player like Anton Volchenkov, an expert at this. Now time to get to when you have the puck. First of all, and I can't stress this enough, DO NOT JUST THROW THE PUCK AWAY!!! The only time you have an excuse to do this is if you are too tired and have to ice it. Otherwise, try to make passes to the tape of your teammates, or to an open area where they are close enough to get to with a little effort. Everybody knows that rule "Don't pass the puck up the middle," right? Well, if you want to make a cross-ice pass, make it from the middle of the ice, not the corner. Yes, that means the defenseman has to actually skate to center ice (Attentively, of course. It would be embarrassing if this results in a turnover right in front of your own net because the slot is clogged up with the other team's forecheckers.) It is also important to be alert of your surroundings when getting the puck. Don't stare at the puck when you're getting it, look around near middle ice to see where your teammates and the other team's forecheckers are. If you are going behind the net, throw a quick glance to the other side so you don't get destroyed.When you do get the puck, start skating fast, don't just stand there. If you have enough room, push the puck: that means you don't stickhandle, but push the puck enough in front of you so that you can see the puck and the ice with your split vision, while retaining control. Make sure you make hard, accurate passes, so at least if your teammate misses it, the puck clears your zone. However, don't just shoot the puck, and don't sacrifice accuracy for power. When you make a pass, don't stare at the person you're passing to. Look at them with the corner of your eye, because otherwise opposing defensemen are basically being invited to step up and hit the recipient of the pass. If you get the puck in your own zone, take as much room as possible before making the breakout pass, which means skate the puck up. That way, your passes are made in shorter distances making them less likely to be intercepted, and if no pass is open, you can simply rush the puck. Make sure you don't stop moving your feet to make a pass. If your team is in need of a goal, join the rush after you make the pass. That means you pass the puck, then skate hard to join to forecheck, turning a 2 on 1 into a 3 on 1, or a 3 on 2 onto a 4 on 2. Offensive Defensemen such as Scott Niedermeyer and Mike Green are famous for this. Even if you're not joining the rush, remember to skate hard anyway. You shouldn't be in your own zone while the puck is in your offensive zone. Lastly, don't panic under pressure. Stay calm, and don't just shoot the puck up the boards. If you do that, the other team gets the puck, and the breakout is canceled. Speaking of the breakout, it is important to know how to reverse when facing pressure. There are three major ways to reverse. The first is the one you want to avoid, and you should only do it when facing tremendous pressure before touching the puck. Just wrap the puck around the boards or bounce it off the boards to your defense partner. The second way is to skate behind the net and then bounce the puck off the boards to the other side while continuing to skate in the same direction. This is a good strategy when being chased around the net. The third way is what you do when the other team goes for a line change, or has a lot of players on the same side but not that much pressure on you before you get the puck. You just start skating hard around the net. As soon as you touch the puck, look up and make sure no one is in front of the net. If someone is in front of the net, and they skate around the net and plan to meet you on the other side, or stand still in front of the net after you get the puck, don't go around the net but make a sharp turn around the near post and start skating hard. If they start skating to your side, or they are backing up, or nobody is near the front of the net, skate behind the net, make a sharp turn around the net, and skate up. This turn should take you up the slot, whether you go around the far post or the close post. Either way, this beats three forwards and leads to an odd man rush. However, it is also the riskiest reverse, and requires confidence, and good judgement about whether or not to go behind the net to the far post. Also remember that you don't have to skate full speed when you have the puck. If you have a gap, feel free to jump up and lead the rush (Players like Brent Burns love to do this).
Anyway, the player with the puck can add a few habits which can drastically improve his game. But before that, here's a few tips to get the puck in the first place. First of all, don't chase the puck; if you're going towards someone who has the puck and they pass it away before you reach them, then stick with that man for a few seconds. Of course, common sense is important, but 99% of the time you should stick with the guy you were originally going to. On the same note, don't be afraid to go above the circles if the guy you're sticking with does while he has the puck; once you commit to a one on one you have to keep playing that one on one until it's over. Try to stay in passing lanes, but when your instinct says go for the puck (usually when someone mishandles the puck, you read the pass, or most commonly there is a mini-race to a puck in the corner) you have to be aggressive and get the puck even if it means taking a hit. Be physical along the boards as well, if someone's close enough to put a body on, work the body while you try to get the puck. It's a smart idea to give a half-push with one hand while getting the puck free with your skates and stick. If you read the puck going to someone who is along the boards, time it to tie them up along the boards as the get the puck (Much like the boardplay in NHL11). For more on this, watch a player like Anton Volchenkov, an expert at this. Now time to get to when you have the puck. First of all, and I can't stress this enough, DO NOT JUST THROW THE PUCK AWAY!!! The only time you have an excuse to do this is if you are too tired and have to ice it. Otherwise, try to make passes to the tape of your teammates, or to an open area where they are close enough to get to with a little effort. Everybody knows that rule "Don't pass the puck up the middle," right? Well, if you want to make a cross-ice pass, make it from the middle of the ice, not the corner. Yes, that means the defenseman has to actually skate to center ice (Attentively, of course. It would be embarrassing if this results in a turnover right in front of your own net because the slot is clogged up with the other team's forecheckers.) It is also important to be alert of your surroundings when getting the puck. Don't stare at the puck when you're getting it, look around near middle ice to see where your teammates and the other team's forecheckers are. If you are going behind the net, throw a quick glance to the other side so you don't get destroyed.When you do get the puck, start skating fast, don't just stand there. If you have enough room, push the puck: that means you don't stickhandle, but push the puck enough in front of you so that you can see the puck and the ice with your split vision, while retaining control. Make sure you make hard, accurate passes, so at least if your teammate misses it, the puck clears your zone. However, don't just shoot the puck, and don't sacrifice accuracy for power. When you make a pass, don't stare at the person you're passing to. Look at them with the corner of your eye, because otherwise opposing defensemen are basically being invited to step up and hit the recipient of the pass. If you get the puck in your own zone, take as much room as possible before making the breakout pass, which means skate the puck up. That way, your passes are made in shorter distances making them less likely to be intercepted, and if no pass is open, you can simply rush the puck. Make sure you don't stop moving your feet to make a pass. If your team is in need of a goal, join the rush after you make the pass. That means you pass the puck, then skate hard to join to forecheck, turning a 2 on 1 into a 3 on 1, or a 3 on 2 onto a 4 on 2. Offensive Defensemen such as Scott Niedermeyer and Mike Green are famous for this. Even if you're not joining the rush, remember to skate hard anyway. You shouldn't be in your own zone while the puck is in your offensive zone. Lastly, don't panic under pressure. Stay calm, and don't just shoot the puck up the boards. If you do that, the other team gets the puck, and the breakout is canceled. Speaking of the breakout, it is important to know how to reverse when facing pressure. There are three major ways to reverse. The first is the one you want to avoid, and you should only do it when facing tremendous pressure before touching the puck. Just wrap the puck around the boards or bounce it off the boards to your defense partner. The second way is to skate behind the net and then bounce the puck off the boards to the other side while continuing to skate in the same direction. This is a good strategy when being chased around the net. The third way is what you do when the other team goes for a line change, or has a lot of players on the same side but not that much pressure on you before you get the puck. You just start skating hard around the net. As soon as you touch the puck, look up and make sure no one is in front of the net. If someone is in front of the net, and they skate around the net and plan to meet you on the other side, or stand still in front of the net after you get the puck, don't go around the net but make a sharp turn around the near post and start skating hard. If they start skating to your side, or they are backing up, or nobody is near the front of the net, skate behind the net, make a sharp turn around the net, and skate up. This turn should take you up the slot, whether you go around the far post or the close post. Either way, this beats three forwards and leads to an odd man rush. However, it is also the riskiest reverse, and requires confidence, and good judgement about whether or not to go behind the net to the far post. Also remember that you don't have to skate full speed when you have the puck. If you have a gap, feel free to jump up and lead the rush (Players like Brent Burns love to do this).
Breakdown
- Remember to hinge if you don't have the puck.
- Don't make passes through the slot. Instead skate to the slot before you make the pass. Don't worry, you'll have the room to do it.
- Don't throw the puck away.
- Look around before getting the puck, especially if the puck is in the corner. You should always know where your teammates and the other team's forecheckers are.
- Don't stand still while you have the puck. If you have the room, push the puck.
- Make hard, accurate passes, so that the puck clears the zone if your forward misses the pass. However, don't make a pass so hard that it loses accuracy.
- Don't stare at the intended receiver of your pass.
- Take as much room as possible before making a pass.
- Don't stop moving your feet before a pass.
- Stay calm under pressure.
- Reverse in one of three ways, or be creative and make up a reverse.
