Game situation... what would you do

[fawn111 0]

Skating alone with puck across the blue line with a single Dman between me and goalie....

The Dman is backing up and not playing me so no chance to skate around him....

I had a wing trailing me by about 15 feet....

In this instance I tried to use the Dman as a screen and got off a decent snapshot. Didn't score but we ended up with the puck down low and had a couple of other chances after we chased the puck in the corner.

So what else could I have done?

- Circled back and let the other wing catch up? But doing this would also let them regroup on D....

- Continue skating forward while the Damn kept backing up till he was about in his own net then shot?

- Stop cold, and see if he comes out to play me, then ditch or make a move on him?

whatcha think

[Chadd 916]

I probably would have done the same thing. Depending on how close the trailing forward was, I might have gone a little wide and slowed down to make it a 2 on 1.

[reyno2ac 0]

I would have done exactly what you did. Use the Dman as a screen and try for a high shot right between Dmans legs. It's gotten me a couple goals.

[HattrickSwayze 3]

I probably would have shot too. I'm pretty blind and deaf on the ice when I have the puck in a 1-on-1 situation, so if the guy trailing wasn't yelling for it or putting himself in a good position for a pass I normally take the shot. Put it through the D's legs, and maybe go low and look for the rebound. If the d-man would've forced me wide then I most likely would've curled and looked for the trailer in the slot, or my d-man coming into the play. If nothing happens from there, hold on to it and move, throw it on net, or put it in the corner and hope for a cycle/give-and-go.

[fedorov#91 0]

As the others have said, I think its was the best option using the dman as a screen.

[psh 25]

Use the D as a screen and shoot low to create a rebound if you don't score.

If my winger was the next guy coming in and no one was going to catch him, I'd edge a little wide to see if the D would follow me and give my trailer an opening in the slot.

[The Mafia Line 0]

As everyone noted, you chose your best option. But if the second D man was no where near the trailer, you could have stopped, hoped the D man would come to you and give the trailer a breakaway. If the D man doesnt come to you, put a low shot on net and hope theres a juicy rebound.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I probably would have done the same thing. Depending on how close the trailing forward was, I might have gone a little wide and slowed down to make it a 2 on 1.

Wait a minute...when you slow down...you kinda stop, don't you? :P

j/k

[chippa13 1844]

If the trailer is close enough then slowing down to create the 2 on 1 is a better option because it creates options. One on one with a sagging defenseman, your only option is what you did, take the shot.

[shotty 7]

the screen was probably your best play... if your winger really wanted the puck, he wouldn't be 15 feet behind you.

[lampliter87 8]

Depending on the positioning of the other team's backcheckers, I Gretzky curl and try to spring my teammate. If the play isn't there, I take a Lidstrom half slap shot low and hard and make sure its on the goalies pad, creating a rebound for my guy to collect.

[Chadd 916]

I probably would have done the same thing. Depending on how close the trailing forward was, I might have gone a little wide and slowed down to make it a 2 on 1.

Wait a minute...when you slow down...you kinda stop, don't you? :P

j/k

Bad habit from playing with my friends in a low level most of the time, there's no need to rush to do anything. The job killed whatever conditioning I had, I really need to work on getting that back. That said, slowing the game down when you have the puck can do wonders for you offensively. The biggest issue here is the premise that I would have had a 1 on 1 with anyone.

[sitzlejd 0]

Let's see...a triple aerial, with a double hamill-camel (that should split the D), then a pirouetting half toe-touch for the goal. My friend Kenny told me about that move.

[lampliter87 8]

Wu, Wu, Kenny Wu by any chance?

[sitzlejd 0]

Yeah, but as I recall it didn't work out that well for him. Might work one on one though.

[farhanshak 1]

I would have done exactly what you did. Use the Dman as a screen and try for a high shot right between Dmans legs. It's gotten me a couple goals.

this works wonders for me. i try to shoot between the dmans legs or if i step on the outside on him and a good angle i might even shoot around him/his legs most guys arent expecting that or it will deflect off thier skate or shin pad...weird to explain. shoot right play left wing (sometimes rw or d). i have scored alot of goals like this too using the Dman as a screen. i usually try to aim if possible and keep the puck about 2 feet off the ice or go high.

worst comes to worse, get the puck on net and a good rebound for your center or wingman, and i keep going to the net after i shoot to pick up the rebound or battle it out in the corner if I dont score.

[mrruin 0]

nm misread original post.

it was the right choice like many others have stated! A shot will maybe give you two chances on a goal (shot + rebound) while a pass that you are not sure about will most likely give you zero. If you are not a very good passer who is confident in making the difficult plays I would always opt for a shoot first approach.

[SolarWind 23]

... slowing the game down when you have the puck can do wonders for you offensively.

I'm second to this. Any specific tips on how to accomplish this though?

[Scotty 8]

I probably would have done the same thing. Depending on how close the trailing forward was, I might have gone a little wide and slowed down to make it a 2 on 1.

Exactly, but it would depend on my speed, the trailer's speed, and how easy it would be to cut to a side to let him catch up slightly.

Overall, I'd have done exactly what you did.

[Powerfibers 8]

Usually I go wide and pass or put it on net in hopes the winger is going for it.

[Chadd 916]

... slowing the game down when you have the puck can do wonders for you offensively.

I'm second to this. Any specific tips on how to accomplish this though?

Find a hole in the defense and go there, fake a move to the middle of the ice and curl to the outside like Gretzky did and sometimes you have to stop skating. A lot of coaches want you to go balls out all the time, but you use up your time and space too quickly sometimes when you have the puck.

[Aussie Joe 0]

It never hurts to take a look at the ice. Sometimes this does mean slowing down (or stopping) like what allot of guys are talking about. Speaking personally; using the D as a screen has been very effective, even if it buys you a second or two on the goalie it can be a difference.

Delays are something I have been trying to work into my game, especially when playing with guys who are slower of foot. The only issue is when playing on a tiny ice sheet you sometimes don't have time/space to do it. There are allot of variables in hockey afterall. ;)

If you get a chance at scrim or pick up, try using a delay just as you come into the Off. zone. You don't have to follow a set formula always, just try it and see how you go.

[Dubbs 0]

As it's been said I agree with your take on it, take the screened shot. One other option which I didn't see, although i looked pretty quickly through each post, you could circle behind the net if the dman sinks that far down, chances are the dman will be looking at you and not your man who should be busting his ass to get down for any possible rebound/forecheck opportunity. IN that instance you can pass it across to him if he's gotten down deep enough, and if not, you could have an opportunity for a quick turnaround shot once you come back in front. Or you could just maintain possession of the puck, which is never a bad thing.

[Jarick 5]

I'd also take the screen shot, aiming short side so the puck is less likely to whip around and out the zone if I miss. Then again, I'm not much of a passer :P

[Chadd 916]

Keep the screen shots low and drive the net for the rebound, if there is one. A lot of people forget that part.