Applying Offensive Pressure in Hockey

(This post is transcribed from How to Play Hockey: Our Minor Hockey Video Coaching Course.)

Offensive Pressure

Applying offensive pressure means taking the puck at the defense with speed and with quick puck movement.

 If you’re always slow and one speed it’s very easy for the defensive team to play man-on-man coverage. This seems logical, but so often we see the offensive players playing at a slower pace and become easier to check by those aggressive and impassioned defensive players.

Naturally we all know that the puck moves quicker than we can skate. So if we can move the puck 1, 2, 3, 4 passes in the neutral zone the defensive team starts to scramble and can’t keep up. If you’re in the corner and you are tight turning and coming up the wall and cycling the puck the opposing D has to work really hard and eventually you’re going to create that split second or one second opportunity to create some offense. In applying offensive pressure think about being quick and agile both with your footwork and with the puck movement.

One example at a really high level where this really helps is if you’re on the powerplay and facing a really aggressive penalty kill. A way to disrupt that is to keep the puck moving quickly around the perimeter.

Keep The Puck Moving

I had a coach in Switzerland once with a great rule. He said, “As you get the puck, by the count of three you should be moving it again.” And I thought about that and I thought, “I receive it one second I’m getting my feet moving, next second I have my head up, and the by the third second I’m moving that puck.”  So within three seconds I’ve received it feet moving, moving 1…2 pass the next player, 1…2 pass next play for play or maybe 1.. and pass that way IT keeps the D moving and they don’t have that time to set up and be working together as a tight compact unit of five applying that pressure. Every time the puck moves it’s a new scenario.

That’s the great thing about hockey. The puck moves from player one to player two. The other team has to adjust. Player two to player three, they have to adjust again. So, quick puck movement makes for great high pressure and high intense offense.