GAP CONTROL
No defenseman likes to get beaten one on one. The most embarrassing
moment for a defenseman is when a forward skates by him. To compensate
for this, defensemen tend to back up into the offensive zone and allow
the opposing player time and space with the puck (figure 8.1). All players
want time and space to make plays, especially when entering the offensive
zone. It is very difficult to be a good defenseman if you don’t have good
gap control.
Gap control usually starts when a defenseman leaves the offensive blue
line. Often when the puck is in the offensive zone, defensemen will stand
near the offensive blue line regardless of what is happening in the zone.
The blue line is there for one reason and one reason only—offsides. The
only time a defenseman should be standing on the offensive blue line is
when his team has complete control of the puck. This will allow more space
for the forwards when they have the puck as the defenseman becomes an
outlet for them.
The blue line does not determine where gap control begins. A defenseman’s
gap when leaving the offensive zone should be established by how
high the opposing forwards are. The longer the play is in the offensive
zone, the deeper the opposing forwards tend to be. It is much easier to
establish a good gap leaving the offensive blue line by using the opposing
forwards as a measuring point. By establishing a good gap, the defensemen
can slow down the opposing team’s transition game. When the
defense can slow down the opposition leaving their defensive zone, they
allow the defensive team to apply back pressure (back pressure is when
the defensive team’s forwards are able to pursue the puck carrier from
behind; see figure 8.2).
The gap established when leaving the offensive blue line is the gap
established through the neutral zone and entering the defensive zone.
FIGURE 8.1 The defenseman (D) maintains the gap as the forward (F) moves up the ice.
FIGURE 8.2 Forward on the defenseman’s team provides back pressure on the opposing
forward who has the puck. The defenseman’s ability to slow the forward helps his teammate
provide pressure from behind.
A good gap leaving the offensive blue line allows the defenseman to come
through the neutral zone and enter the defensive zone with speed. It is
difficult to play a one-on-one attack if the defenseman has to slow down
as he enters the defensive zone. While he’s slowing down, the opposing
forward is usually picking up speed. That is when a defenseman is most
susceptible to getting beaten one on one. A good gap allows the defenseman
to maintain the same speed as the opposing forward. It also will slow down
the forward entering the offensive zone, making him less dangerous. It is
difficult for a forward to create offense when a defenseman has established
a good gap entering the defensive zone.
Also, if the forward is flying out of the zone, the defenseman might have
to get going quickly by first skating forward and then pivoting backward
once the proper gap is established. And finally, with regard to vertical gap,
the defenseman wants to maintain the good gap from blue line to blue line.
This requires that he judge the forward’s speed and adjust his own while
using good C-cuts, not crossovers.
Sometimes the forward might be skating very fast but in more of a
serpentine route. In this situation, his velocity made good (or VMG, a
common sailing term) up the ice will not be as fast as it looks. Defensemen
must not be fooled. They must judge their opponent’s VMG and adjust
their speed accordingly.
When talking about gap control, people immediately think of the gap as
the space between the forward and the defenseman vertically. What often
gets overlooked is the lateral gap. When a defenseman has established a
good vertical gap, most forwards will then take the puck to the outside.
The mistake most defensemen make is to keep backing up as the forward
goes wide. Once the defenseman does this, he loses the advantage he had
by establishing a good gap. He’s now given the puck-carrying forward time
and space to make a play.
Therefore, it is just as important to keep a good lateral gap as it is a
vertical gap. The wider the forward goes with the puck, the wider the
defenseman should be (figure 8.3). The defenseman should always try to
keep his outside shoulder in line with the forward’s inside shoulder. This
will prevent the forward from cutting back inside and will force him to
the outside. There, the defenseman can pivot and take the proper angle
at the forward.
FIGURE 8.3 Maintaining good lateral gap control means the defenseman moves wide
with the forward.
Eventually the defenseman will run or angle the forward into the boards.
Good gap control by defensemen will cause turnovers inside the defensive
blue line and help the defensive team’s transition game. Unexpected
turnovers are a great way to create offense for a team.
Another way to establish good gap control is following the play up
ice. Once the puck is broken out of the defensive zone, the defenseman’s
responsibilities are to either jump into the play to create an odd-man
rush offensively or to follow the play in case a turnover occurs, in which
case he needs to create a good gap defensively. The defenseman’s job isn’t
finished once the puck has left the defensive zone. He must always put
himself in the best position possible to play defense and establish a good
gap. An unexpected turnover in the neutral zone can quickly turn into a
scoring chance for the other team. If the puck is turned over in the neutral
zone and the defenseman hasn’t followed the play up ice, it will be very
difficult for a defenseman to establish a good gap because of the amount of
space between himself and the forward. The defenseman must always be
conscious of creating a good gap. It is one of the most important aspects
of playing good defense.
PLAY THROUGH PEOPLE, NOT TO PEOPLE
Too often defensemen get to the man they’re defending and they stop.
Instead, when the defenseman gets to the opponent, she must keep skating
and stop only when the defenseman has played through the opponent.
When a defenseman moves the legs and keeps one hand on the stick and
in the proper position, she gives the player being defended less time and
space. It will cause the opponent to hesitate and limit the number of plays
she can make. If the defenseman moves her feet and keeps her stick on
the ice when defending, she’ll be surprised by how many passes and shots
she can deflect.