D1 gets the puck behind the net (figure 5.1). D2 swings in one corner, and F1 swings in the other. F2 waits at the near blue line, F3 at the far blue line. As D1 begins to advance up the ice, F2 and F3 start to move across the ice, with both players looking to get open early. Options for D1 are to pass to F1 with support from F2, pass to D2 with support from F3, pass to F2 or F3 early (may use a long bank pass to F3), or skate the puck and rim it to either side.

D1 stops behind the net with the puck (figure 5.2). D2 swings in one corner. F1 and F2 swing in the other, with F1 slightly ahead. F3 stretches. The primary option and one that sometimes can result in a breakaway is for D1 to pass to F2 on the inside angle, trying to split the seam between the defenders. The reason this pass is so effective is that by D1 faking a pass to F1 wide and then passing quickly to F2 on the inside it freezes opposition defense and allows F2 to split the seam with speed. D1 also has the option of passing to F1 who carries the puck in with support from F2; pass to D2, who gets support from F3; pass to F3 early if uncovered; or rim the puck to F1 or F2.

D1 starts with the puck (figure 5.3). F1 and D2 swing to opposite sides. F2 swings slightly higher on the same side as F1 and looks to get the puck in the middle of the ice. F2 carries the puck through the middle and uses F1 or D2 for support. F3 clears a lane for F2 by stretching across the far blue line. F2 tries to enter the zone with possession and then lay the puck to the outside once defenders are drawn to him.

All players come back to the puck. Once the last player is back, all five players start to advance up ice together (figure 5.4). F2 and F3 take the inside lanes while F1 and D2 move up ice along the boards. D1 has the option to pass to the inside players (F2 and F3) or to the outside lanes (F1 and D2). D1 tries to draw the PK’ers into the middle and then dish the puck to speed wide. If D1 skates the puck to center, he can continue into the zone or rim the puck to either side.

The key here is for the late forward to delay long enough to be an option once the defense carries the puck up over the blueline. D1 starts by skating up the middle with F2 and D2 moving up the outside (figure 5.5). F3 stretches and F1 comes late from deep in the zone behind the play. When D1 crosses the blue line he should try to drag the first penalty killer to one side and then lay the puck over to the area where F1 is skating into. The penalty killers who have been backing up with the initial rush now have to slow down and adjust to F1. F1 has too much speed and should be able to weave his way into the zone. F2, F3, and D2 have to be careful not to go offside.

There are times on the power play when the offensive team doesn’t have to go all the way back and break out from their own end. If the puck is in the neutral zone or just inside the blue line, it is often a waste of time to go all the way back behind the net. Have a plan to break out using half of the ice in a neutral zone counter. The following two plays are great options in this situation.

In this option, D1 picks up the puck. F1 and F2 swing to opposite sides and build up speed (figure 5.6). F3 stretches and D2 supports D1. D1 has the option to pass to F2 or F1 with speed on the outside; pass to F3, who may enter the zone or redirect the puck to F1 or F2; or skate the puck and rim it to F1 or F2.

In this option, D2 takes the puck up the ice in a wide lane hoping to draw a defender outside (figure 5.7). As D2 advances, he looks to pass inside to F1, who comes from behind the play and moves with speed through the middle of the ice. F2 and F3 stretch. When the first penalty killer is drawn outside, the middle opens up for F1 to skate into. The second option is to use F2 or F3 on the stretch.