Penalty Kill

1. Penalty Kill CEP Level 3 Brian Johnson

2. Choosing a Penalty Kill System for Your Team

3. Elements to be considered • Personal coaching philsophy • 4-5 defensemen • 6-7 forwards • Having your “next line” intact • Rink measurements • Opponent’s tendencies and systems

4. Design System • To match players’ skills • The players enjoy playing • To challenge your players

5. Effective Traits - Forwards • Excellent skater – quickness and strength • Excellent lateral mobility • Excellent checker with defensive skills (angling) • Intelligence – anticipation • Good face-off skills • Tenacity

6. Effective Traits - Defensemen • Excellent skater • Excellent lateral mobility • Strength in one-on-one situations • Out of corner • In front of the net • Intelligence – anticipation • Tenacity • Ability to clear the puck from the zone

7. Types of PK Forechecks • Aggressive • Controlled (read and react) • Passive

8. Aggressive

9. Aggressive Forecheck • Both forwards hard on the puck. • Constantly pursuing the puck around the zone. • Little rhyme or reason in attacking the puck. Panic. • One puck carrier cannot beat both forecheckers. • One forechecker must “roll” to backup other who is pressing.

10. Controlled

11. T or Piggy-back • Begins in I formation. • Fwds roll inside-out to force puck to the boards. • Semi-aggressive. • Read & attack if situation appears positive. • One pass should never beat both forecheckers. • D fills center through neutral zone.

12. Criss-Cross • Works outside-in. • X1 & X2 cross in parallel planes. • Timing is critical.

13. Controlled Delay • Formation like the T. • X1 attacks puck carrier to force puck to be passed. • X2 delays and anticipates pass, attacking pass receiver. • X1 then comes right up the middle.

14. Passive

15. Passive • X1 and X2 turn & pick-up wings covering outside lanes. • X3 and X4 fill inside lanes through neutral zone. • System is designed to force play on the defensive blue line.

16. Similar Forechecks

17. Tandem • It is like the piggy-back method. • F1 forechecks the puck carrier & force a pass. • F2 then attacks the pass while F1 backchecks through the middle of the ice. • Usually do not force when behind the net.

18. T vs. Swing Breakout • F1 mirrors the opponent’s swing person • This removes this option. • F2 moves down to forecheck the puck carrier. • D1 or D2 will attack any passes made to posted wingers.

19. Steer Tandem • The Trap • F2 is the “Hammer” • F1 is low on one side of the rink – causing the breakout to go the other way – angles off initial puck carrier up boards • F2 anticipates pass and “Hammers” receiver • F1 backchecks through middle

20. Read & React • Simplest of all • High pressure based on speed & aggressiveness of forecheckers • F1 goes hard to create confusion • F2 reads & reacts to pass

21. Diamond Forecheck • Mostly used in neutral zone, but can be O-zone • Concept of time & space w/ angling or steering • F1 is positioned in the middle of the rink ready to steer puck carrier to one side or the other • D1 stands up to form trap • If dumped, F2 and goalie must get puck out of zone • Pass to F1????

22. 1-3 • Similar to the Diamond • Main thrust of def action occurs at def blue line • F1 may forecheck as deeply as he/she desires • Angle off puck carrier through neutral zone • Defenders form wall at blue line to force turnover or dump

23. Defensive Zone

24. Box • Very passive • Force opponents to work puck on the perimeter • Prevent opponents passes and the puck to move through the box • Force opponent to shoot from the outside, relinquish no rebound shots Eyes & Butts

25. Rotation - Aggressive • Read & react system • Players interchange position as they attack puck • Flood one side to shut-off passing lanes and puck movement opportunities • Each player must know others responsibilities and cover for him/her on the rotation

26. Controlled • Combo of Box & Rotate • Puck is on top – rotate to “diamond” position • Puck is down low – box position with “controlled” pressure

27. Diamond or 1-2-1 • Used against Umbrella • Passive or Aggressive • When puck is deep in the zone, player on weak side must drop down to help cover in front of the net

28. 2 Players Short

29. Passive Tight Triangle • Like traditional box • Key = keep puck on perimeter • Give up shots outside, but nothing in slot or rebound • Goalie must have good angles and control rebounds

30. Rotating Triangle • More pressure can be applied to vs offense • Tight triangle reduces area being covered • Rule of thumb: Defend no higher than top of the circles

31. Inverted Triangle • 2 defenders always front the puck, with 1 on weak side • At top, 2-1 • On ½ board, 1-2 • Designed to put pressure on points and move puck deep in the zone

32. Always face the puck Split the ice in ½ to prevent cross-ice passes Sticks on the ice Keep away or ragging 1 pass doesn’t beat 2 defenders Keep the front of the net clear Don’t get tied up in front Fwds 30-40 sec shifts Face-offs are crucial Never clear puck across your zone. High & off glass Fwds angle inside-out Communication Keys to Remember

33. Practice • Coach the penalty kill • Make it a challenge • PP vs PK for a set period of time – have a winner • Set goals • Certain percentage • Keep statistics • Teach everyone, play everyone at youth levels