Tips on Playing the Front of the Net (5 on 5)

Some people don't need tips playing in front of the net. These people are generally 6'9, 255 lbs, and born in Slovakia. Defensively the thing is, while most defensemen shouldn't have trouble clearing the little kid out of the front of the net, sometimes there are two little kids. Or a big kid. Or worse, two big kids. Even somebody like Chara wouldn't be able to manhandle Byufuglien and Anthropov at the same time. And what happens when Chara turns into Dan Boyle? Playing the front of the net isn't as simple as pushing somebody away. This post isn't just about pushing someone out of the way though. It has to do with how to play the front of the net in general, depending on the play, and using everything to your advantage. For example, what is the point of standing in front of the net, screening the goalie, when there is nobody to clear out of the front of the net? Offensively, it's important too. As a defenseman, I'm thinking "Why do I need to be in front of the net?" Well, my playing style brings me to the front of the net sometimes. When I sneak into the zone, the point isn't to just sprint back to the blue line. Defensemen have to start getting more comfortable playing where a forward usually plays. It usually doesn't backfire. Look how well players like Brent Burns and Dustin Byufuglien transitioned to defense, just because they are comfortable playing as a forward. When a defenseman carries the puck up, they don't just have to pass it and get back to defense. They can pass it and crash the net and play the front of the net instead. So without further ado, let the tips begin.

On defense, playing the front of the net is an important skill. It's easy as long as you stay alert. Remember to have your head on a swivel, always. If someone is going Tomas Holmstrom in front of the net, as in standing in front of the goalie to screen them, first check back-door. That doesn't mean back-door immediately in front of the net. This means back door all the way up to the top of the circle. If someone is crashing back door, you have to make that person a priority. If no one is back door (And no, the corner is not back door, but you should keep an eye on someone in the corner), then move onto the person in front of the net. If you can, meaning you have the position on the other player, put your stick on their back and give a little push. Try to get them square in the back though, because if you focus on one of their sides more than the other, they can roll off of you. It's not cross-checking unless you start the motion with the stick not on the person. If the stick is on the person and you just give a little push, you won't get a penalty. If you're in a one ref game though, and the ref isn't looking, go all out on a cross-check to the back though, because it hurts like hell and may draw a penalty. If you can't push the person out of the way, start working on their legs. Give a slash or two on the toe of their skate or the back of their calves, and chances are they'll get distracted. Also, use your extensive vocabulary. In front of the net in a big game, I turn into Sean Avery. If you get slashed or something, fall down and try to draw a penalty if the puck isn't in a scoring position. Really, you should be trying to draw a penalty as much as you are trying to move the other player while tying them up. If they are immune to Sean Avery tactics however, and you can't move them, switch over to simply lifting their stick from behind them. You don't want to stand next to them and help screen your own goalie. Also, you should limit your activity in front of the net (Except for the talking) to when the player actually is a factor in front of the net. You shouldn't cross check the other player when the puck is tied up in the corner and there is no way it's getting to the front of the net. Usually you save that for when someone is setting up with the puck, shooting, or when the puck is at the point or in the slot. Also, once again, head on a swivel. If you see someone crashing back-door, or someone snuck out from the corner and set up back door, or if someone sets up high in the slot, that person is the priority, until the shot comes. That means go in a position where you can easily intercept a pass to them while staying as close to the person in front of the net as you can (Unless that person is already covered). If your team is functioning properly, whoever left the person high/back-door in the first place should cover the guy in front of the net for you. If no one is in front of the net for you to cover, you should cover the person nearest to the net not already covered. Try not to go into the corners though your defensive partner is already there. If you get caught in the corner with your d-partner, and someone sneaks in the high slot or back door, things can turn ugly. If everyone is covered, and the person who should be in front of the net on the other team isn't there, and there is no one back-door (Remember up to the top of the circle) you should be around the hash marks on the strong side, ready to either go back to cover for the person who lost in the corner, or to join in on the breakout. If the puck comes up to one of the wingers on your team, you are close enough so that you can swing and act as a center, making the rush start a couple of seconds early. If the puck is lost to the other team down low, you're in perfect position to intercept a pass to the weak side defenseman on the other team, step up and prevent someone from going to the net, or to cover someone who decides to crash back-door. If the puck is thrown around the net, you are in a good position to skate far side hash mark on the other circle and let the puck meet you there (You don't want to chase the puck, so it's easier to look around for the play while waiting for the puck, rather than looking at the puck chasing it, wasting energy and time). For the third time, the most important rule in front of the net is to be aware, so head on a swivel. If when you're on the hash mark, if you notice someone on the other team backing away from the corner to the front of the net, be ready to jump on them in case they get a pass (You should be close enough to them if they do get out of the corner that you can get to them faster than they get a pass.) Also, if the puck is dumped into the zone, and your defensive partner gets to it first, stay around the hashmarks and watch out for anybody coming into the zone late. If you get too far back in the zone, they might get a good chance. A good rule of thumb for playing anywhere in the defensive zone is to stay as high as possible in the zone while still covering your man.

Now for the offensive side of playing the front of the net. As a defenseman, this only applies to me a few seconds each game (Unless my coach puts me on offense for the power play, which happens sometimes), but might as well maximize those few seconds. First of all, if the puck goes to the point, or is in a scoring position for whoever has it, step in front of the goalie and screen him. Feel free to talk to the goalie and any defensemen who tie you up as well. If the puck isn't in a scoring position, fade away up into the mid to high slot back-door. If you get the puck there, you get a gift-wrapped goal, barring the goalie turning into Tim Thomas. If you're being covered, you should try to move to the side , using the other defenseman as a screen, and hopefully to get into a position to roll off of them (Try to move to the slot, so if you get the puck, you get a better chance then you would horizontal to the net. If there's a rebound, don't hesitate to hit to the net no matter where it is (Unless you get it while crashing the net, when you have more time). When crashing the net, go straight for the goalie 100%. If he has the puck covered, give him a snow shower, and hope he gets up a little in retaliation. If the puck comes out, be a little patient unless you can guarantee a goal and wait a second to move a bit and pick a corner. If you crash and someone covers you, run them (Unless it's the goalie). Make it look like they hit into you though, so you don't get a penalty (That means don't drop your shoulder or lift your arms too much; also, make sure you don't hit them head-to-head.)

Breakdown: (Defense)

• Head on a swivel.
• Remember that back-door extends all the way to the top of the circle.
• Make sure you're not covering your goalie too
• Use the English language. 
• Try to draw penalties.
• If circumstances favor you covering someone in front of the net, try to push them with your stick (Try not to knock them down); if the ref isn't looking, unleash a cross-check on them.
• If you can't push someone, slash them around the ankles, toe, back of the calf, wherever.
• If this doesn't work, lift their stick.
• Head on a swivel.
• Chill when the puck isn't getting to the front of the net, but remember to talk.
• Head on a swivel.
  
• If your d-partner is in the corner and no one is in front of the net, stay near the hash-marks.
• Don't sink too far into the zone when covering the front of the net on a dump-in: stay near the hash-marks when you can. 

 Breakdown: (Offense) 

• Screen the goalie when the puck is in a position to be shot.
• Talk to the goalie and defensemen who tie you up.
• Fade away up into the mid slot back-door while the puck isn't in scoring position.
• Move to the side (Preferably to the slot) when you're being covered, and try to roll off of the other defenseman.
• When in front of the net, get the rebound to the net as fast as possible.
• When crashing, if the goalie covers the puck, give him a little snow shower.
• When crashing, take time to pick corners if you get a rebound, unless you're sure you'll score.
• If a defenseman gets a body on you when you're crashing, run him, but make it look like he tried to hit you.

Tips on Defending the Rush

I've been fearing the day I had to post this for days. I knew this would be a very long post; after all, there are so many types of rushes. 1 on 1, 2 on 1, 1 on 2, 3 on 1, 3 on 2, etc. So I decided to stick with defending the 1 on 1, 2 on 1, 2 on 2, 3 on 1, and 3 on 2, and nothing else. Just know that this took me almost an hour to type, so appreciate it. And unlike a skill like shooting, rushes have no set rules. There are guidelines, but they are JUST GUIDELINES. That means don't follow them word for word every time. Remember them, but react according to what is happening on the rush. Rushes are what defensemen love. A lot. Defensemen always seem to go on the line that defends the rush instead of the line that is on the rush at practice. However, they don't realize a few simple things that can make defending the rush easier. For example, they always seem to focus on the puck or puck carrier, and don't read what is going to happen in a few seconds. I'll start with the 1 on 1 first.

The 1 on 1 is the easiest rush to defend. Ever. It is actually easier for the defenseman to defend a 1 on 1 than for the forward to win a 1 on 1. The first rule of a one on one is to focus on the logo of the other player. People learn this at a young age, but don't know why you should focus on the logo. That is because it helps you play physically, which you can't do as a mite. Of course, looking at the logo also helps you not get fooled by dekes. Next, you should use gap control. This means skate up, and get close enough to hit the other players stick with your stick. It's not too close, which I think gapping up to be able to get your stick behind the other player is (that's what I learned when I was younger. Also when you gap up, you should be as close to the middle of the ice as possible. A good rule of thumb is that you should never pass the dots (Unless if the other person is fumbling the puck). Never is a bad word, because it is limiting, but it's more like 95% of the time never pass the dots. If you are playing against someone bigger than you, then you should stay closer to the slot then they are, but stay close enough to step up and stop them. For smaller guys, you can give them the outside, but if you give a bigger guy the outside, they can muscle their way to the slot and get a good scoring chance. So you should be able to step up and slow them down, or even better knock them down to keep them away from the net. When you're playing against someone who skates forward faster than you skate backwards (which happens often,) give them room on the outside. But stay in the middle of the ice. You should gap up though, even though you may not be able to reach them on the outside. They should be perpendicularly vertical to you at the hashmarks if you gap up properly. However, for them to get a good scoring chance, they need to cut into the slot, where you're already guarding. And if they cut up, you can slow down and play them. If you see them at the hashmarks, you should start stopping so you don't hit your goalie, and look for trailers. If the player with the puck tries to cut behind you, lay them out. If they try to deke, just keep them out of the slot, giving them a shot, but not from the slot. When you're playing against someone on a one on one where you are gapped up and can reach the puck, you should poke check the puck (Not wild poke checks, but enough to keep them focused on the puck.) When they drop their head, you should be close enough to explode into them and level them, or at least push them with your hand. Remember when you skate backwards to keep your outside hand up, and don't be afraid to use that hand. Even if you're on the boards, use that hand to push them into the boards. If you're playing a one on one against someone who refuses to move from the slot, slow down when you're near the top of the circle so they get closer to you, and level them as soon as they're within reach. Also remember to be aware of backcheckers from your team. If they cut to the outside when they're close enough to be touched by your free hand, step in front of them, get low, and hit or flip them. You really need to be physical to be successful. Remember when you poke-check or go to hit to not lose your square to the puck-carrier. Square basically is facing them. If you poke-check and they get around you, you should be able to put a body on them. Also remember to use common sense, since these aren't rules but more of tips or guidelines. Don't follow these word for word.

Next is the two on one. On a two on one, gap up on the puck carrier before the blue line and throw a pokecheck or body check on them at the blue line where they can't pass, but don't commit to them. Don't gap up though if the person without the puck ends up behind you. Once you get into the zone, stay in the slot. Don't let the player with the puck in the slot, but don't commit to them. Put your stick in the passing lane between the two players you're facing on the rush. If the puck carrier tries to cut into the slot, leave your stick in the passing lane, but hit the puck carrier when they get close enough to you (Don't skate into him, let him skate into you). Also, try to slow down the play as much as possible so backcheckers can help you out. Try to learn to dictate a play without the puck. Try to make the player with the puck make a pass so you can intercept it. Then jump up and carry the puck up. That way for a short time you outnumber the other team 5 to 3. Also remember to use common sense, since these aren't rules but more of tips or guidelines. Don't follow these word for word.

Now for the two on two. Simply put, if you are playing the player with the puck, call out to your defensive partner (Communication), and play it like a one on one. If you're playing the player without the puck, stay in between the player with the puck and player without the puck while staying as close as possible to the middle of the ice. If the player with the puck passes to the free man, pressure him as much as possible if you can't intercept the pass. And if the puck carrier cuts into the slot with his head down, level him. Also remember to use common sense, since these aren't rules but more of tips or guidelines. Don't follow these word for word.

Next is the three on one. This is the toughest one to play. Gap up before the blue line like it was a two on one. But then as soon as the puck crosses over into your zone, get to the slot. Your goal is to stall the play as much as possible. Meaning keep the puck out of the slot. Usually players on a three on one go into a triangle. If this is the case, stay in the middle of the triangle. Make sure the high man does not get the puck, he has the most options if he does. Don't play the puck carrier unless he tries to shoot or cut into the slot. If the players don't go into a triangle and instead go into a straight line. Play the puck carrier only if he's the middle man. If he's not, just make sure you're in front of the middle player, and make sure the weak side winger doesn't sneak behind you and cut into the slot since you can't hit him if he does since he doesn't have the puck. Also remember to use common sense, since these aren't rules but more of tips or guidelines. Don't follow these word for word.

Next is the three on two, which is my favorite. The player defending the puck carrier plays a one on one with him, and tells his defensive partner he is playing the puck carrier. The player playing against the two players without the puck stays in the middle of the two possible passing lanes the puck carrier has, while staying as close to the middle of the ice as possible. If the puck carrier cuts in, level him like on a two on one. Also remember to use common sense, since these aren't rules but more of tips or guidelines. Don't follow these word for word all the time.

Breakdown

• Not happening. Read the post.

Tips on Checking along the boards

For the fourth post I thought I'd do something special. After all, it's the number worn by myself. It has also been worn by legends such as Rob Blake, Scott Stevens, and Bobby Orr. So if you haven't read any of my other posts by now, check out the first three, then this post. You may realize what I did. Anyway, I've decided to do another post on checking. Though this one is not for open-ice hitting, but for checking along the boards. If you want to know how to do it, watch Matt Greene or Robyn Regehr play, because they're the best at it. There are a couple of differences between open-ice hitting and checking along the boards. First off, you don't try to lay people out along the boards. In open-ice, you try to lay someone out, but if you try to do it along the boards, you'll bounce off of the other player. Checking along the boards is more about trying to seperate the man from the puck. Notice how I call it checking along the boards, but I consider open-ice hitting a hit. Hits should be noticed, intimidating, and big. Checks, however, shouldn't be noticed. It's all about getting the puck from someone else, and you probably won't be rewarded for being good at it. The first thing about a good checker is that good checkers want the puck. That puck is theirs, and they know it. They don't get the puck and then give it away, they try to score after they get it, or give someone else on their team the chance to score; it is also important for checkers to not be intimidated by size, and to be willing to put forth the physical effort neccessary to do an unapprociated job. Now time for the tips.

Checking is an important part of any hockey team. Good checks can stop offensive rushes, create turnovers, create chances, and ultimately lead to a goal. A check is simply seperating a player from the puck, no matter how big or small they are. There are two types of checks: a simple push, and a regular check. The first thing to do in a regular check is to get low when you go to hit someone. Unlike on open-ice hits, you shouldn't explode up. You stay low, and this lets you take as much space as possible. When you go to check someone, you should aim between them and the puck. I like to try to hit their logo, or the top of their stick. When you hit their logo, you can stop them cold, and when you hit the middle of their stick, they lose control of the puck. Try to skate into them as quickly as possible. Be aware that you shouldn't be checking someone on a rush where you are skating backwards. You should be skating the same way they are so that you can come up from behind and surprise the puck carrier. Don't kill the puck carrier, just get between the puck carrier and the puck. And remember to use angles. Take away the slot, and make it so that the puck carrier has to go through you to get to the slot (See the post on open-ice hitting for more information on angling.) Don't go straight at the puck carrier. When pushing someone however, it's more for when the puck is down along the boards, and you're along the boards too, but don't really have an angle, or when the other person is protecting the puck in open ice so that you can't reach it with a poke check, and you're too close to them to hit them (See picture for an example). Simply push someone with one hand. It's not a hard push or anything, it's just a push to distract someone while you take the puck. Try to push more than once too. If your fighting with someone along the boards while they eat the puck, it also works for that too. Just push them laterally, and move them, distract them. If your trying to get the puck, just push them four or five times to move them, and keep them distracted. If someone is protecting the puck, push them so they lose control or can't get to the net. Pushing someone, if utilized properly, can be an effective defensive tool. Also, if you ever feel like you're not getting the most out of your strength, make sure you're more on your heels when you make a hit, not your toes. Your weight when you're about to hit into someone should close to the back of your blade, not the front, but you also shouldn't be leaning back. Try experimenting with this to find out where you are most comfortable.

Breakdown

• Checks should seperate a man from the puck, not send someone to the hospital.
• Be interested in doing something with the puck when you get it, don't just throw it away.
• Stay low when you hit someone. You shouldn't be exploding upward.
• Aim for the logo, or the top of the stick.
• Skate fast when you go to check someone, and keep your feet moving until the last second.
• Only check someone when you are both skating the same way.
• Try to overtake someone from behind, and skate into them.
• Use angles; don't go straight at someone.
• Use the push
 

When you should push someone center ice

Tips on Playing Defense

"The point of playing defense is to try to play offense"--Me

Welcome to the world of the defenseman. Long, frequent shifts shutting down the other team's best offensive players, and if you make any mistake, no matter how big or small, then the other team scores. And you get benched. Or yelled at. Or both. Nobody blames the goalies (EVER), and nobody blames the forwards for a lapse in defense, even if it is their fault. So the defenseman gets the blame. Playing defense requires perfection, skill, and luck. However, nobody can be perfect. That's why being a defensive-defenseman is wrong. Now before you curse me out for saying this, read this. As much as we defensemen love playing defense, shutting down the forwards, you can't win everything. And even if your line lets up one goal a month, you will get benched for that one goal. That is, of course, unless you can be relied on for more then defense. That's right, you have to do the forbidden thing; Play Offense. But that doesn't mean turn into a forward, and for the most part ignore your defensive responsibilities. Instead, learn to become a two-way player. Look at the NHL First and Second all star teams. Since 05-06, the defensemen to appear on either of those were Nick Lidstrom, Scott Niedermeyer, Chris Pronger, Dan Boyle, Dion Phaneuf, Brian Campbell, Zdeno Chara, Mike Green, Drew Doughty, and Duncan Keith. Out of all of these defensemen, all of them have been able to put up solid offensive numbers while still playing defense. Making the first or second all-star team means you are recognized as one of the top four defensemen in the league that year. And not one of these defensemen were traditional stay-at-home defensemen who don't excel at offense. Instead, all of them scored points and played defense. In fact, the last defensive defenseman to make the second all-star team was Derian Hatcher. In 02-03. And the last defensive defenseman to play on the first all-star team was Chris Chelios. In 01-02. Where he managed 40 points. The point is, offensive is an important skill for defensemen. So learn to become a two-way player. Also, this is more of a general post, so it won't go too much into specifics.

First of all, you need to practice your skating, passing, and hands. Those are the three most important skills for a defenseman. If you step up and lose the puck, there is an odd man rush the other way. If you can't skate to where you need to be, there is an odd man rush the other way. If you make a bad pass which is intercepted, there is an odd man rush the other way. My next tip is mainly for those big defensemen such as myself. You NEED to win 1-on-1 battles once you commit to one, no matter where it is on the ice. Most of these battles happen on the boards and in corners, and you need to come out of these with the puck as soon as you decide to go for it. There are other times you may have a 1-on-1 battle, such as when you play the puck, and how aggressive you play (How often you initiate battles for the puck with other people) is based on preference of you and your coach. But no matter how you play, whether it's like Lidstrom or like Chara, you need to win these battles, either with your skill or with your body. Now, most defensemen would lose the skill battle against forwards, so you should usually use your body more, especially if you're big or unskilled. If you're not winning these battles still, simply put, you're probably lazy. If you've ever seen a small tenacious player go into a corner or step up along the boards, he gets low and fights hard. He forces his body between you and the puck, and he makes it so you can't get control of the puck. When us big defensemen go into a corner, we stand tall and use our size. But what happens when we play against strong, aggressive forwards in the corner? They get the puck, and we don't. So remember to get low when going into a corner, and more importantly, to WIN THE 1-ON-1 BATTLES ONCE YOU INITIATE THEM. Force your body between the other player and the puck. If you are unable to, at least get the puck closer to your body than to the other players body. You may get hit, but your team will come away with the puck. Another thing I notice big guys (And to be fair, small guys to this too) do is skate lazily up the ice after our forwards go on the rush. As soon as you make your breakout pass, start skating hard up the ice and join in on the rush (Use your discretion; don't do this 100% of the time). Or at least be a trailer. If you're hit with a pass near the blue line as a trailer, you have a perfect screen and a ton of time. So show off your hard slapshot, or sneak in a wrist shot. Either way, you'll feel pretty proud after that goal. And you may start seeing some powerplay time. When the puck is settled in your offensive zone, and your team has the puck, you should be near the top of the circle. When the other team gets the puck, you should not back up too far; stay around the wingers on the other team, and if you see a breakout pass coming, that's when you start backing up. If the puck is ever shot around the boards, then step up, and your first priority is to get into such a position that you will come out with the puck 100% of the time, whether you have to put the body on someone or meet the puck in the corner. If it's a real pass where the defenseman has some time, you usually shouldn't step up, but when it's wrapped around it's fair game. And another great thing for offense also occurs in the offensive zone. I don't know what it's called, though I've heard floater a couple of times. When you're the weak side defenseman, sneak down low into the zone back door, and start calling for a pass near the hashmark if you notice a gap in coverage. When I play defense in the zone, it is one of the hardest things to defend because I don't see it coming. Remember this, and you'll triple your goal total. Also, don't forget that if you have an open lane, feel free to lead the rush. Now for the defense (FINALLY.) You should never be alone and not covering someone or some passing lane in the defensive zone. If nobody's in front of the net in the defensive zone, look for the closest person near the front of the net when you're weak side, and cover them (Stay between them and the net). Remember to look back door, and keep your head on a swivel. Also don't fall back too far when the other team gets the puck. Stay in the play. I like to think of it this way; stay on the same half of the ice as the puck. If the puck is in the other team's defensive zone, don't sink back further than the red line. In fact try to half it again and stay in the offensive zone. Always be in the play. And always be prepared to jump up. When the other team makes stretch passes, it's incredibly easy to intercept the pass, and jump on offense. But more importantly it takes away the other team's chance to score. Remember to step up as soon as possible, especially on odd man rushes. If you challenge the puck carrier at the blue line, it forces an offside or bad pass. You're too late to step up if you're already in the defensive zone, so at that point take away the pass, don't challenge. Or if the other team manages to stay onside, you can skate back, since you have a better angle to the net. Another thing is to avoid wild poke checks. Wild poke checks = A Tripping penalty. When poke checking, use the "Ken Daneyko poke check." What that is is when you poke check, you point the toe of the blade towards the puck. That way the puck doesn't deflect off your stick, and it's actually much more effective than a poke check with the blade angled back. When defending a rush, it's actually better to keep your stick steady, and if there's a pass, that's when you move it. However, it's preferrable to play the body and not the puck if you can (Instead of poke checking) but I'll talk about that when I post about defending the rush. And good forwards can avoid these and beat you in one fluid motion. Use controlled poke checks and your body to stop a forward, not uncontrollable motions. Remember to keep your head on a swivel as well. Know your surroundings. Lastly, in the defensive zone don't sink too far down. Unless the puck is below the goal line, you shouldn't be below the bottom of the circle, and if the puck is at the point, you should be near the faceoff dot. You should almost always be covering someone in the defensive zone. If you're not, then find the open man, unless you're covering the front of the net, in which case you stay near the hashmarks with your head on a swivel. Lastly, you should try to keep your stick in a passing lane when you can.

Breakdown

• Be a two-way defenseman.
• Practice skating, puck control, and passing.
• Don't be afraid to lead the rush if you have an open lane
• WIN 1-ON-1 BATTLES ONCE YOU COMMIT TO THEM
• Get low and be aggressive in the corners. Force your body between the other player and the puck.
• Skate hard on the forecheck and join in the rush.
• Be a floater or whatever it's called.
• Don't fall too far back in the neutral zone when the other team gets the puck.
• Anticipate passes and jump up and intercept them.
• Avoid wild poke checks.
• Ken Daneyko poke check
• ALWAYS Keep your head on a swivel.
• Don't sink too far down in your defensive zone.

Tips on the Breakout for Defensemen

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).

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.