This post addresses how to use the 2-1-2 forecheck in different situations. In the 2-1-2 forecheck you see two FWD’s ahead, a third FWD behind and the two D at the back. So in all scenarios, F1 and F2 are covering their own sides of the ice. They’re not actually attacking the puck together.
(Audio transcribed from How to Play Hockey: Our Minor Hockey Coaching Course.)
2-1-2 Forecheck vs All Forechecks
Quick Up:
- F1 is pressuring the opposing D1 who has the puck.
- That D1 makes a pass up to their W on the wall.
- Our F2 forces the opposing W to stay wall side.
- Our strong side D1 then jumps down to close anything off against the W.
- Having our middle lane, high F3 slide up and over to cover our D1.
- F1 can then come back through the middle of the ice as well, to support.
D to D:
- Our F1 takes a good route forcing the opposing D1 to make the D to D pass.
- F2 is ready to jump right away, their D2 probably doesn’t have a lot of time and space.
- Our F3 is ready anticipating a loose puck, or being ready to cover anyone of our active D if they need to jump on a loose puck or jump on a W who receives a pass.
Wheel:
- The opposing D1 is going back to retrieve a puck in his/her end.
- Our F1 forces their D1 to wheel behind the net out to the weak side
- We want to be aggressive so we jump right when that D1 is getting around the net with our F2
- This should force the D1 to put the puck up the boards, either a direct or indirect attempted pass to his/her W
- Now our D1 is ready to jump and pinch on that W and puck
- F3 activates and slides up and over to cover
- Our weak side D2 can come middle lane and stagger just outside the blueline in defensive positioning
Reverse:
- We have forced their D1 to head behind their net and he/she reverses the puck
- Our F2 sees this happen and comes across switching lanes with our F1 to pressure the opposing D2 who now has the puck. Forcing them to make the pass up the wall.
- Our D1 jumps and pinches down on the opposing W
- F3 slides up and over to cover,
- Weak side D2 slides back middle lane for that defensive positioning
- F1 who was the original forechecker comes back hard into either the F3 spot, or if D2 for any reason is forced to slide over then the are back hard watching the far side of the ice.
Rim:
- F1 has pursued their D1 who rims the puck and again, it probably beats our F2 as an option to pick up the puck.
- It’s going to have to be the strong D1 that goes to try and pick up the puck off the rim.
- F3 coming in behind.
- Weak side D sagging back to cover.
- F1 coming back hard to fill the F3 spot.
In all of these scenarios you saw the D1 pinch. If you’re playing against a really good team and you’re getting caught with odd man rushes going against you the other way, or it’s late in the game and you don’t want your D to pinch. Try having your high F3 read this a little bit and have them engage, allowing your D to stay back and be defensive minded.
But to be really aggressive on a 2-1-2 it’s the D1 going and putting pressure on that opposing W and the more conservative way would be to have F3 trying to get to the boards. But with some quick passing it may be too late and that forward gets beat in which case you have to start recovering and we’ve given up the blue line but at least we’re not getting into on one against us.
That was all the scenarios on a 2-1-2 where the two FWD’s are staying wide and taking a side of the ice to put quick and spread out pressure on the on the team breaking out.
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