Horrible at 1-on-1's

[Husker 0]

If you want to be a puck moving D-Man your goal shouldn't be to beat people, but rather to draw people.

Let's say you block a puck at the lower circle, pick it up and go stright out of the zone. You'll prolly have one, if not two opposing forwards deep in the zone. They will chase you 99.9% of the time, a forward up high will play the puck carrier 95%. No hockey moves involved, just skate up and away from them, draw them to you, make a pass for odd man rushes.

If you get the puck behind the net. Use the boards/hockey stops to beat the forward, angle him out behind the net, next forward tries to forecheck you, skate up and away from the two forecheckers, make the pass or a good dump.

Of course this is all my opinion and the way I play the role, but the best way to consistently create chances is to have numbers/odd man rushes, and not losing the puck trying to deke 5 guys.

[doodman 0]

I never thought of it that way, thanks for that.

Follow up question then...when u watch an NHL game how come sometimes a Dman will try to beat people and other times the same Dman will chip it out? I don't see any consistency to what they're doing...

If you want to be a puck moving D-Man your goal shouldn't be to beat people, but rather to draw people.

Let's say you block a puck at the lower circle, pick it up and go stright out of the zone. You'll prolly have one, if not two opposing forwards deep in the zone. They will chase you 99.9% of the time, a forward up high will play the puck carrier 95%. No hockey moves involved, just skate up and away from them, draw them to you, make a pass for odd man rushes.

If you get the puck behind the net. Use the boards/hockey stops to beat the forward, angle him out behind the net, next forward tries to forecheck you, skate up and away from the two forecheckers, make the pass or a good dump.

Of course this is all my opinion and the way I play the role, but the best way to consistently create chances is to have numbers/odd man rushes, and not losing the puck trying to deke 5 guys.

[Husker 0]

I never thought of it that way, thanks for that.

Follow up question then...when u watch an NHL game how come sometimes a Dman will try to beat people and other times the same Dman will chip it out? I don't see any consistency to what they're doing...

East-West passes are very dangerous coming out of your zone, more so in the NHL so most of the time it's better to just get it out up the boards rather than risk a turn over in the middle of the ice while your team is breaking out. Sometimes it has to do with shifts. If I'm at the tail end of a shift I might opt to toss the puck out, if I'm at the beginning I typically try to make something happen by skating the puck. Other times the forecheck is just on you and you need to get it out.

[wrangler 157]

I never thought of it that way, thanks for that.

Follow up question then...when u watch an NHL game how come sometimes a Dman will try to beat people and other times the same Dman will chip it out? I don't see any consistency to what they're doing...

Watch where all the other players are. It's about position, momentum (which direction and how fast everyone's moving), room to accelerate, open space, etc. Sometimes it's better to keep and rush, sometimes to hit a forward breaking for a gap, maybe with a defender leaning the wrong way, and sometimes it's better to just pass it up the boards to an unguarded waiting forward, who can relay it to another player (maybe even you) rushing forward up the slot, for a breakout and rush. Just make sure that the forward on the boards is on your team -- you hear me, Turco?

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

Since I play D how do you beat people one on one to get out of the zone? I want to be the 'puckmoving' D-man not the stay at home shut down D.

I'm really frustrated with my game right now because I'm a great skater and I can stick handle but I just can't consistently make the moves I need to.

It's frustrating, I can toe drag, spin away, deke etc. but when I get in a game I DON'T do those moves. In games or pick up I see guys do moves and I know I have the skill to do it but I DON'T, I'm mental I know.

I rarely try to carry it out of the zone myself. The only time I will is if the opposing forwards put little-to-no pressure on me, I'll skate it up until a passing opportunity opens up. As for beating the first forechecker, if you have the speed and a step or two on them, just go hard to the outside and look for passing options. If they've got the jump on me and I know I can't beat them, I'll cut hard towards the middle if there's no traffic in front of the net.

I will rarely just throw the puck up the boards. I'll either angle/bank a pass to a forward in the neutral zone, or look for the far side if I'm close to the blue line. In general, you want to keep everything to the outside in the defensive zone, though.

[doodman 0]

Since I'm getting so many good answers I'll toss out another question I have then :D

What frustrates me is I see guys who are slower than me, or can't stickhandle well go through the other team and I KNOW I should be able to do the same...What's he seeing or looking at that I'm missing?

I rarely try to carry it out of the zone myself. The only time I will is if the opposing forwards put little-to-no pressure on me, I'll skate it up until a passing opportunity opens up. As for beating the first forechecker, if you have the speed and a step or two on them, just go hard to the outside and look for passing options. If they've got the jump on me and I know I can't beat them, I'll cut hard towards the middle if there's no traffic in front of the net.

I will rarely just throw the puck up the boards. I'll either angle/bank a pass to a forward in the neutral zone, or look for the far side if I'm close to the blue line. In general, you want to keep everything to the outside in the defensive zone, though.

[xFortune 0]

Attitude.

[dayroc 0]

Since I'm getting so many good answers I'll toss out another question I have then :D

What frustrates me is I see guys who are slower than me, or can't stickhandle well go through the other team and I KNOW I should be able to do the same...What's he seeing or looking at that I'm missing?

Thats just heart man. He's just going for it.

[doodman 0]

What I mean is the D is able to poke check me or run me off to the boards.

I practice skating, stickhandling, playing with my head up so much it's really starting to bug me after all the work I'm not getting the result I want.

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

It's honestly all a confidence thing, at that point. Maybe have a friend film a game so you can see it with your own eyes? I know I have the pieces, I just don't have the confidence I did back when I was 20.

I have a FlipHD cam I stick to the glass behind our bench sometimes with a suction cup mount and record the games. The other thing you can do is watch your teammates and see what they do that works. One of my fellow teammates probably goes at half his actual potential and just makes everything look like a breeze. If you keep your head up, or take a quick glance at the ice ahead before the puck is on your stick, it'll do wonders. I've noticed in mens league, you don't have to be the fastest, best player, so long as you keep your head up and see the openings.

What I mean is the D is able to poke check me or run me off to the boards.

Honestly, they're just playing good position/angling you well if that's the case.

[xFortune 0]

What I mean is the D is able to poke check me or run me off to the boards.

I practice skating, stickhandling, playing with my head up so much it's really starting to bug me after all the work I'm not getting the result I want.

Can't just bounce it off the boards, do a quick stop and dish it off, do a head shake and use momentum/weight transfer? Stop thinking advanced moves. Usually, it's all the basic little stuff that helps.

[wrangler 157]

Since I'm getting so many good answers I'll toss out another question I have then :D

What frustrates me is I see guys who are slower than me, or can't stickhandle well go through the other team and I KNOW I should be able to do the same...What's he seeing or looking at that I'm missing?

Maybe their puck movement is at least in part a reaction to which way the defender is leaning or moving (body or stick), and yours is not?

[Jarick 5]

I found a few things have helped me with 1-on-1's.

First, I use a shorter stick now with a bit of curve. My main stick for a while has been a Drury that's cut a little over my chin in skates, but playing with a Sakic that's cut a little under the chin, I'm able to really do a lot more with the puck, especially in tight. I'm not talking about a pure toe drag (i.e. put the puck way out, put the toe of the blade perpendicular to the ice, and pull it back), but kind of a half toe drag, more when the puck is in close and you lower the bottom hand and have to handle the puck with the toe, it's a lot easier.

Second, I've been watching and patterning my game after Marty Havlat since he's come to the Wild. I'd say my skillset is similar (obviously not at the same talent level, not even close)...not a lot of N-S speed, very strong on the puck and good balance, soft hands. So instead of what I used to do, skating up ice and trying to beat guys with speed, I'm snaking around a bit more, getting the puck into the zone and then trying to find some open space to pass it off or else drive to the net and bring defenders with me.

Third, I make my move a lot earlier than I used to. A few years ago, I'd skate right at the defender, then at the last second try and deke, and he's strip me of the puck 9 times out of 10. Now, I skate up but start to do head/shoulder/lean fakes, just a flinch, just to throw him off and start making him second guess what I'm about to do. Once I get closer, I will see if he starts biting on any moves, and if he does, I fake in that direction to make him try and commit and will go around the other way. And if all else fails, getting the puck in deep then stopping short or cutting back to look for a passing lane is an option.

Last night I was playing against a guy who told me beforehand he was going to shadow me the whole game and is a pretty good defenseman...but with the short stick and little bit of curve I was able to pull the puck really quick across the body, throw a little head/shoulder fake and cut around, put the puck out wide and protect with my body, etc. Really a lot of fun burning a guy who used to school me a couple years back.

[dayroc 0]

This is a pretty good thread.

Any drills at home you guys like to do to make the 1-1's a bit better?

[Hradsky 1]

This is a pretty good thread.

Any drills at home you guys like to do to make the 1-1's a bit better?

Just get a skill pad and a green biscuit and get better hands. It helps with everything. Yesterday at practice I had the puck on a string. It not only helps with dekes but it helps with your confidence in keeping your head up and other stuff.

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

How do you attach the puck on a string?

I would think something like this would help:

http://www.hockeyshot.com/SweetHands_Stickhandling_Trainer_p/stickhandling-aid-005.htm

Obviously, you could probably make one yourself a lot cheaper.

[BenderHockey 127]

How do you attach the puck on a string?

I would think something like this would help:

http://www.hockeyshot.com/SweetHands_Stickhandling_Trainer_p/stickhandling-aid-005.htm

Obviously, you could probably make one yourself a lot cheaper.

Having the puck on a string is just an expression. Like saying one can't lose the puck.

[jjtt99 0]

The only move I have that works at a decent rate is as follows:

Situation: The D shoots right. (I shoot left.)

Move: Skate in with speed. Fake left. Go right hard. Move puck to back hand. Release bottom hand from stick to swat D's stick away if it comes in. Cut in, both hands back on stick. D should be behind you or hanging on you which may draw a penalty. Depending on how the goalie plays it, shoot for top right corner from backhand or switch to forehand and shoot 5 hole when the goalie moves or wait goalie out and shoot forehand over him when he's down and out.

If you're too slow, or the D is good, they'll stay with you and push you to the boards. If that happens, hopefully reinforcements have arrived and you have someone to pass to!

[Chadd 916]

If you're too slow, or the D is good, they'll stay with you and push you to the boards. If that happens, hopefully reinforcements have arrived and you have someone to pass to!

That's when you follow up with the tight turn to the boards and come out on your forehand, allowing you to pass to the help or get the shot yourself.

[MyBoxersSayJoe 133]

The only move I have that works at a decent rate is as follows:

Situation: The D shoots right. (I shoot left.)

Move: Skate in with speed. Fake left. Go right hard. Move puck to back hand. Release bottom hand from stick to swat D's stick away if it comes in. Cut in, both hands back on stick. D should be behind you or hanging on you which may draw a penalty. Depending on how the goalie plays it, shoot for top right corner from backhand or switch to forehand and shoot 5 hole when the goalie moves or wait goalie out and shoot forehand over him when he's down and out.

If you're too slow, or the D is good, they'll stay with you and push you to the boards. If that happens, hopefully reinforcements have arrived and you have someone to pass to!

I'd think something like that is where it's essential to drop the shoulder. Then there's not much the D can do but pull a penalty if you have a stride on them.

[Jarick 5]

If you're going to do that move, do it early, so you don't run out of room when you cut around. But yeah, that's a really successful move for the better players in rec league.

[jcp2 2]

If you're going to do that move, do it early, so you don't run out of room when you cut around. But yeah, that's a really successful move for the better players in rec league.

As a defenceman in beer league, I hate that move. But only when used against my team. I'm all for it when we score.

[Jarick 5]

Same here, against the faster guys, I have to turn to face them (toward the wall) and then my back is to the middle of the ice, so if my D partner doesn't catch that guy it's a freebie one-timer.

[jcp2 2]

Your D partner gets back? Mine is usually still trying to get onsides.

[dayroc 0]

I went back to basics for the past week and worked on my fakes.

Let me tell you, the 2 games i play at the end of the week, i was pulling out fakes like crazy and it worked about 95% of the time. The other 5% was lost because of my over stick handling during the fake.

I think if you are having trouble with 1 on 1's, just go back to basics.