LW positioning?

[shades9323 0]

I am kind of used to playing center, so I am a little lost when playing LW. I am starting to play more wing. Where should I be in the defensive zone? Where in the offensive zone? Where should I be on the face off?

[HattrickSwayze 3]

I normally play center too, but when I play left/right wing I tend to hang out up high in the defensive zone. Stay up and cover the d-man, but don't shadow him. I normally watch down by the slot, and if somebody is floating around and hasn't been picked up yet, I'll go down and cover them. Generally if the puck goes back to the point, I can get back quick enough to put pressure on the d-man, or atleast go down to block the shot. In the offensive zone, where I go depends on where my teammates are. Go to the front of the net, high slot, behind the net, whatever. Just try to get open, or help out on the play.

Normally you'll hear that when your team gets the puck in the defensive zone to set-up at the hashmarks at the face-off circles and look for a pass, but that doesn't always work. Sometimes it's better to hang out at the point and look for a pass, but our breakouts are pretty terrible so I'm not really one to give advice there. If someone's bringing the puck out of the zone though, don't sit still. Get your feet moving and give them a target to hit for a pass. On the face-offs, just line up to the left of the center. In the defensive zone you might have one or both of the d-men line up close to you. If we're in the defensive zone, when the puck drops, I'll first check out the slot, and then move up to cover a point.

That's normally how I play when I'm playing as a winger. Whether that's all good or not is a different story.

[chippa13 1844]

You don't want to chase into the slot unless it is your point man that heads there. Sometimes, you don't even want to go then as some teams play it that the center and d-men take care of everything down low and unless they are outmanned then stay out of there as a winger.

[tdjb 0]

Depends on what skill level you are playing with I think. If you are playing with anything below "b" level players, I'd say just hang out at the hash marks in the defensive zone. That is the easiest place to start your breakout and will make it easier for your d-men to get the puck moving up ice. Of course don't let your point guy just tee off, but for the most part hang out down low.

In the offensive zone it's kind of up to you. If your team is good at cycling just try and fill in the empty spot. If you guys don't cycle the puck a lot, just look for open ice from about the hash marks down and try to fill it. Good players will find those open areas that they can sneak into and make plays so always keep your head up and your feet moving.

[selke71 0]

I played LW in high school and was always very tight on the point. It worked well enough for me, but I was a defensive forward (hence the username) and played on the grinder line/penalty kill, so I wasn't necessarily looking for breakout passes so much.

[Aussie Joe 0]

As Hattrick describes it about playing both assignments (offence and defence) plus skating to space in the right time to help create plays. Make sure you are filling your lane and helping the D as much as possible.

[Yoke 0]

I usually play LW. In the D zone I block the passing lane to the D, but I stay far enough away so that if I get the puck I have time to make a play. If you are standing too close, you're covered as soon as you get it.

In the offensive zone, it kind of depends on what your team likes to do. Sometimes the 3rd guy is high, sometimes you're low. It's really not the same for everyone.

[JJ Thompson94 0]

where ever the coach tells you to play.

But if you have no coach and don't play a specific system. Play high on top of the circle, where you can check some one on the high slot, and still be able to get the D man.

If the team has a tendency to get it back to the D, and the D is good, stay with your D man. Good tip if thats the case...when your next to the D man skate out of the zone. He's going to follow you, this way he's going out of the zone and that iliminates him as a player in the zone. Don't just stand in front of him, try to get him out of the zone.

If the team doesn't really pass up top to the D. Stay in the high slot, but just remember, in any case the D on your side is still your guy.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I play in the "suck" level, and play left wing.

For me, I try to stay within a sticks length of the D-man I'm marking when the puck is in our zone. If we get the puck from them in our zone, I try to stick my arse to the wall and get the breakout pass.

If our center is skating into the zone ahead of me with the puck, then I'll either try to drop behind him and get a rebound, or go wide to give him a passing option (which can be a high risk play given my tendency to whiff on the seemingly easiest of passes!!!)

If I'm bringing the puck into the zone, and being pressured, I'll try to dump it behind the goal for the center or RW to pick up and get my arse in front of the net.

If it's a faceoff in the offensive zone, I line up as normal, in the defensive zone on the right faceoff dot, I line up outside the D-man

Edit: I try to keep it simple. My skill level is not strong, so I try to make sure my positioning is at least decent

[Jarick 5]

For me:

I try to stay on my "half" of the ice, typically below the faceoff dots if the puck is down low and above them to prevent a pass if the puck is up higher in the zone. I don't chase the puck near the goal line or crease unless all my guys are way out of position.

For breakouts, I stand on the boards facing the play at the hash marks waiting for a pass. If the puck is on the other side, I will come out to the faceoff dot towards the middle of the ice to support the breakout. I specifically won't skate outside the zone until we have a clear breakout.

Offensively, I support the puck carrier. If he is behind the net, I will go to the boards near the goal line to give him someone to pass to. If he's on the far boards, I will go behind the net. If he's carrying the puck in the zone, I will go to the far side of the net as a target for a pass. Most importantly, if he's battling for the puck, I'll go up and battle with him.