There are many different types of players, especially on defense. These players can be grouped into broader catagories, mainly offensive players and defensive players. The biggest difference between these two types of players is that offensive players are smarter in the offensive zone and usually start the rush, while defensive players are smarter in the defensive zone and usually stop the rush. The ideal defenseman is somewhere between these types of players. In order to be in the middle of these two playing styles, you must know how to play in the offensive zone, which most defensemen don't know how to do. Unfortunately, a lot of forwards haven't realized the benefits of passing the puck to the point. So a defenseman must learn how to play the point by themself. Players like Mark Streit and Andrei Markov are considered two of the best power-play defensemen because of their hard shots and their offensive intelligence. Sometimes a team will put a forward on the point, especially if they lack offensively-intelligent defensemen (New Jersey Devils). Playing the point is an all the time thing though, and it's more important to know how to play the point when both teams have all of their players.Teams may change their forecheck, and it's advisable to listen to your coaches, but this post is for a team with an aggressive forecheck, or at least for aggressive defensemen.
The first rule of playing the point is to be aggressive when you can. Try to play low in the zone (If you ever have a chance to watch Niklas Kronwall on the Red Wings, do it, because he's good at staying low in the offensive zone.) You should try to be around the top of the circle, not at the blue line. If you see a chance to step up when you're on the strong side, do it. The best time to step up is when you're playing the point, and the winger/center on the other team is about to get a breakout pass. A good rule of thumb is don't do it unless there are at least three people down low on the other team in the zone though (Low means below bottom of circle with little momentum, in corner, or in front of the net with no momentum). If you're not going to step up and take the puck, at least try to gap up and get a stick-length away (Or two just to be safe). You shouldn't step up if you're more than two strides away also (Except under certain circumstances). Read the play; that means if there are two people on your side when you want to step up, and you are the only person on your side, even if you have support in the center, don't step up. When you step up, make sure if you can't get the puck, get the body. That means tie the person up, him them, whatever, as long as they don't pass you. If the puck is shot around the boards, try to meet it a low as possible in the zone, rather than at the blue line. Also remember your goal in stepping up is to keep your team on the attack. If you get the puck, even if you have no time, don't just dump it back in, control the puck. Eat it along the boards and get some help, or skate to open ice, or make a pass to an open person (Be wary of passing to your D-partner though). The point is to stay on the attack, not give the other team a breakout. If you can, cut to the slot (With your head up) and take a low, hard wrist shot. Defensemen have to also remember to step up even if there isn't an intended recipient of the pass, meaning that the other team just wapped the puck around the boards. Usually you should be able to get to the puck in the corner, and you should have some time to do something with it. If you do step up, the forwards should cover the point. The way to look at the offensive zone forecheck is that there are three "active" attackers and two "passive" ones. The passive ones are the ones on the point, and the goal is to get them into the play. The offensive zone is really just a cycle, where the three active attackers attack, and if one gets beat one of the passive attackers (Who are kind of in reserve) step up and make sure that whoever has the puck is pressured and covered. When they do step up in place of a forward, someone has to go back into "reserve" to cover for them. Remember that the first pass to the wingers/center usually beats the attackers, and that usually means step up. When someone on your team has the puck, and you are weak side, get open for a pass as close to the net as possible without being covered (Use your discretion). If you get the pass, shoot it hard and crash the net, then skate back to the point when the puck goes to the corner or is covered by the goalie. The hardest person to cover in front of the net is the defenseman who times the play just right enough to get the puck and get into scoring position at the same time. Remember, you should try to be open for a pass at all times without being irresponsible defensively. Depending on where all of the other players are on the ice, you should have a large area or a little to work with. And if your team has the puck, you can work with a lot more ice, so keep possession. Now that what you do when you don't have the puck is out of the way, it's time to focus on what to do when you have the puck. First off, if you have an open lane, take a couple of strides and take a hard, low wrist shot. Don't take a slap shot unless you are on the powerplay (And have time) or have a really hard slapshot. If you don't have an open lane, your first look should be back door. If someone is open, don't hesitate to make a hard pass. If it looks like no one is open, remember you can bank it off or around the boards. You don't want to throw the puck back into the corner, because then you're throwing it back into traffic. Same rule applies in the neutral zone and defensive zone; you generally don't want to put the puck back to where you got it from. If you get a pass from the corner, don't put it back there unless you have no other choice. If no one is open back door, look to your defensive partner. If he's covered, make a decision between skating it and adapting to what happens, or dumping it into the corner (Preferrably to the weak side corner). It's always a good idea to keep your feet moving on the point, and use as much ice as possible. When taking a shot, shoot it low, and try to get it back door where hopefully someone can deflect it. Also, look for the open area's when it seems no one's open (See post on passing)
Breakdown:
- Stay low in the zone
- Play aggressively on the point
- Step up when you can, but only when three people are down low on the other team
- When you get the puck, don't just throw it away, do something with it
- Time the play when you are weak side to get a pass in scoring position
- Take low, quick wrist shots in liu of hard, high slapshots
- Look back door, and to your D-partner
- Keep your feet moving, and use all available ice
- You should try to be open for a pass at all times without being irresponsible defensively
