Defending the late man.

[lurkndestroy 1]

We all have been there. Two wingers coming down on you and your defensive partner when suddenly the late man comes flying by your forwards and leaving you with an odd man rush.

I find myself backed into the zone only to end up flat footed next to the net while the puck usually ends up on the late mans stick who usually walking in alone down the slot.

My question was is there a way to defend that? Do I try to anticipate the late man and try to be a little more aggressive on the puck and not get backed down so deep? If I do that it seems the puck carrier reads it well and kills time just inside the blue line to allow the other winger to enter the zone or I end up trying to play the pass and then original puck carrier just walks it in while i'm trying cover the late man.

The simple answer would be forwards covering their position, but we all know how much backchecking goes on in beer league games.

[chk hrd 164]

The best option is to not give them enough time and space forcing you deep in the D zone. Take up the passing lanes and try to force the play to the outside. If the high man does gets the puck in the center that would leave him 1 on 1 with the goalie with the D trying to take away any passing. If you can manage time and distance you can hope to slow the rush up enough for a possible offside or a back checking player.

[chippa13 1844]

At the same time, you don't want the late man coming down main street unopposed. Best case is to force him into a shot sooner than later and taking away the lane for an easy backdoor tap in.

[wrangler 157]

When playing D, I like to take charge and force the play where I'd prefer it to go, rather than waiting to let the offense choose what it likes better. With an odd man rush, decide who you want to shoot, or where you want the shot to come from. Do your best not to allow multiple passes, forcing your goalie to move a lot.

[Chadd 916]

At the same time, you don't want the late man coming down main street unopposed. Best case is to force him into a shot sooner than later and taking away the lane for an easy backdoor tap in.

I have to agree. The man on the puck has to create pressure and force the puck carrier to make a play as quickly as possible, not giving the other team time to set something up. Even if they do manage to make a play, it probably won't be on the tape.

[hunt3rsean 44]

I agree that you force the puck carrier to make a decision sooner than he would like. If you force him to shoot or pass chances are it's not at his ideal time so the resulting play won't be easy. This gives your D partner a better chance to help break up the play or start transition back up the ice.

[lurkndestroy 1]

Thanks for the input. I played a little more aggressive on the puck carrier, and it worked out well.

[ktang 34]

If your goalie is good, you could mix things up by defending with one defenseman in the high slot and the other at the top of the crease. The 2 defensemen should be able to prevent the pass across, and the goalie handles the puck carrier.

[Husker 0]

Is this happening constantly?

If it's a constant thing than your gap is off, if the third guy is constantly beating your forwards than they need to adjust their play so you can keep a tight gap and stop this kind of play.

As a rule I like to step up between the blue line and the top of the circles. Shots are relatively harmless and easy to see if they choose to shoot through you, but most the time they will dump it.

If the breakout goes to the wing and they skate it up the wall I like to step up right away in the neutral zone so long as I have a forward supporting incase the puck goes to the middle. I get a ton of odd man breaks off this because the go to play is to bank it off the boards and try to go around. Easy to anticipate and everyone is going the other way when your stepping up, makes it easy to get a few steps on the guy you stripped.

[Chadd 916]

As a rule I like to step up between the blue line and the top of the circles. Shots are relatively harmless and easy to see if they choose to shoot through you, but most the time they will dump it.

I tend to challenge right at the blue line. It doesn't take much to cause someone to be be offside on a line rush.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Sometimes if traffic is bad, I get to the office at 9:04 instead of 9:00...

oh...wait...that's not what "Defending the late man" meant!

Sorry...Carry on!!!!!

[SBRH1 1]

As a goalie, I think the best way to deal with this is to give the puck carrier a lot of shooting space near the top of the circles. Trying to knock the puck away could end up being worse if the Dman misses (takes himself out of the play) or one of the other forwards ends up with the puck. I'd rather face a shot far away than have the play right in front of me. Much easier to follow a hard shot then a chippy shot in close. Just try and block the passing lanes and force a shot from far away. Easier said than done. Just how I would like to see it happen, as a goalie.

[Chadd 916]

Sometimes if traffic is bad, I get to the office at 9:04 instead of 9:00...

oh...wait...that's not what "Defending the late man" meant!

Sorry...Carry on!!!!!

In the airline industry, 14 minutes late is still an "on time" arrival.

[Zjack38 46]

As a goalie, I think the best way to deal with this is to give the puck carrier a lot of shooting space near the top of the circles. Trying to knock the puck away could end up being worse if the Dman misses (takes himself out of the play) or one of the other forwards ends up with the puck. I'd rather face a shot far away than have the play right in front of me. Much easier to follow a hard shot then a chippy shot in close. Just try and block the passing lanes and force a shot from far away. Easier said than done. Just how I would like to see it happen, as a goalie.

That's what I've always been taught to do, take the people without the puck and let the goalie get the shooter.

[tareatingrat 4]

Ask your goalie what they'd prefer, too.

It's always good when they know what you're going to do, and you know what they're going to do.

[chippa13 1844]

Most goalies will tell you that they want the shooter but that you can't let him walk all the way in totally uncontested.

[chk hrd 164]

I agree let the goalie have shooter but you have to minimize the person with the pucks options; try to limit any passing options, try to force the play wide to limit the the shooting angles and areas. Just don't keep backing up into your goalie. There comes a point where you have to go from defending a pass to defending rebounds and second chances.