Offensive zone question

[Beflar 53]

Left winger

Ok I'm protecting the puck in the corner. Facing the wall with one guy on me. What should I be looking for/ trying to do in this situation? What do you do?

Thanks in advance.

[nalindabenderz917 1]

use cutbacks to get the defenseman to chase you. When you think he is far away from the net, use a cutback and drive HARD to the net.

[Beflar 53]

use cutbacks to get the defenseman to chase you. When you think he is far away from the net, use a cutback and drive HARD to the net.

Just so we are on the same page. What is a cutback?:) Just making sure.

[hink9 0]

Adult league? Theres always an open dman, just look for him but dont get too extended and give up a breakaway, if noone is cycling with you, dish it behind the net if you think youre going to lose it, or drive hard to the net like said above. you shouldnt be in a 1on1 in the corner while your team just watches, call for help, if noone comes and you cant beat the guy, just pin the puck up against the boards until someone wakes up or he makes a mistake and you can burn him.

[technophile 0]

1. Look at the point. Dish it back there if he's open.

2. Put it behind the net if you have support to start a cycle.

3. Put it on net and hope for a crazy rebound.

4. If you can do nothing else, put it between your feet and tie it up until either a teammate comes to help you or you get a whistle for a faceoff.

As a side note, if #1 works -- look at the traffic. If there's a lot of traffic or the D is going to be pressured quickly, stay on the boards for a return pass. If the D has a lane and/or has time, crash the net for a rebound.

[-venom- 0]

Playing LW as well, I find alot of time that if I'm able to protect the puck from the D-man, if I start to peel up the boards and look towards our point, alot of the time the opposing team will try to jump the play and cheat "up" on the pass... I'll cut back and drive to the net, looking for an uncovered slot guy, or back-door play.

I've only been playing ice since April, but learned pretty quick to err on the side of getting the puck on/towards the net, as opposed to the point. Lots of D-men in our mens league aren't the best puck handlers with a guy putting pressure on them, lol.

[goblue9280 33]

1. Look at the point. Dish it back there if he's open.

2. Put it behind the net if you have support to start a cycle.

3. Put it on net and hope for a crazy rebound.

4. If you can do nothing else, put it between your feet and tie it up until either a teammate comes to help you or you get a whistle for a faceoff.

As a side note, if #1 works -- look at the traffic. If there's a lot of traffic or the D is going to be pressured quickly, stay on the boards for a return pass. If the D has a lane and/or has time, crash the net for a rebound.

These would be my progressions... except I'd add taking a look at the high slot in between 1 and 2. If you have 2 of their players collapsing on you, you may very well have an open man (right d sneaking in, or other forward) all alone in the high slot.

[mnpucker 33]

My initial response is in order to get in this spot you have to stop moving your feet. To that I suggest, dont stop moving your feet. Second, in the previous points the word "look" is used....That word does have a meaning and usually players forget the true meaning of it when in the heat of battle.

Higher skilled players have enough skill to allow them to keep their head up "looking" for options. Lesser skilled players do not, which is fine. just remember to actually LOOK before you throw it to the pointman....Too often players dont look and they hang the D man out to dry.

[technophile 0]

Too often players dont look and they hang the D man out to dry.

Oh c'mon, that's good cardio that is. ;)

In any case, the responses are the same whether you're standing still with the puck or you're moving; you still need a progression of where to look/go with the puck.

[Chadd 916]

Assuming you are stopped and not moving, Try to get body position between the defender and the puck. Once you get your body between him and the puck, get your feet moving away from the defender and look up to see who may be open. As previously mentioned, you may have to work him back and forth a little bit to open up enough space to get away. If the other player is smart, he has you pinned to the boards with one leg between yours. In that case, try to hold the puck there until help arrives and then try to get the puck to your team mate.

As for the passing back to the defenseman debate, three things:

1. Look to make sure he's there, nothing worse than passing to empty space.

2. Make sure he has time to do something with the puck. If he turns it over in that case, it's still your fault.

3. Make sure you give him a pass that will get to him and that he can handle, you don't want to start a breakout for the other team.