The ability to transition quickly from defence to offence is the margin of difference in many hockey games today.

Let's look at how teams must use speed and smart decision-making to create odd-man situations in order to create offensive opportunities.

Now, let’s take a closer look and break it down…

• This play starts with the puck 200 feet away from the opposition’s net.
• The puck is played in front of the NYR net and a simple accident sets the entire play into action…
• NYI16 & NYI91 cross feet and fall in front of the NYR net and immediately – four NYR players jump into the rush with speed.
• Important to note that NYR18 – the third player is a defenceman and NYR73 is a forward who has beat his check off the wall and this created a 4v2 rush.

• NYR40 establishes middle lane presence  with the puck.
• This forces NYI2 & NYI3 to stay narrow and protect the middle of the ice.
• NYR40 & NYR13 identify and create a 2v1 mismatch within the 2v2
• NYR40 ‘kicks’ the puck wide to NYR13 who is skating through the dot-line with speed

• NYR13 enters the zone wide  pulling NYI2 outside the dot-line and creating space in the middle of the ice.
• NYR13 also slows and delays once he has gained the blueline, setting up the following:
• NYR40 drives the middle lane into space behind NYI2 and this forces NYI3 to back-peddle.
• NYR18 drives the dot-line on the weak-side
• NYR73 enters the zone in the middle of the ice into open space in front of NYI3

• NYI73 receives the puck in space in the middle of the ice in space
• NYI25 is applying back pressure but is still a couple of strides behind
• NYI2 is completely out of the play, well outside the dot-line
• NYI3 is at a decision point – step-up to face NYR73? Or; continue to retreat backwards and limit passing lanes to NYR 18 & NYR40?

• NYR73 elects to shoot on net keeping the puck low
• NYI3 is trapped in ‘no-man’s land’ and does the only thing he can in this situation, tries to block the shot
• NYR18 & NYR40 continue to drive to the net to the post on their side with their sticks available on the ice.
• NYR73’s low shot creates a rebound – effectively an indirect pass – and NYR40 puts the rebound into the net.

Watch the video again to see the importance quick transition from defence to offence and creating odd-man situations by having the 4th man join the rush and how defencemen must read when and how to jump in on the attack.

Video Coach is a series of articles which reviews a video clip from game action and then breaks down the sequence into frames identifying key skills, individual and team tactics, strategy and hockey IQ. Video is a great teaching tool that can be used by both players and coaches.