Хоккей. Большинство: с укрепленным флангом

Zone Setup

Once the players gain possession, they can set up in the zone and use one of the following formations. This section discusses the options for three different power-play formations: the overload, 1-3-1, and split power play. Within each are the descriptions of the various plays and responsibilities of each player. As mentioned earlier, coaches can pick which option suits their players and team. During the season you may change to another setup, but it does take a while to learn all the options and execute properly. Give the players time to get it right.

Overload Power Play

When using the overload power play, either side can be the strong side, with left-hand shots quarterbacking from the half boards on the right side and right shots on the left side. This gives the player a shooting and passing advantage from that area. As the name implies, the setup is overloaded to the strong side, with four players on that half of the ice. In this setup, much like most power-play setups, net presence is critical for success. It is important that the net player be in a screen position most of the time but also available to pop out into a scoring area. When setting up the overload and moving the puck, the team should try to twist the box around by having the strong-side D move quickly across the blue line and even go beyond the halfway point before passing back to the half boards or over to D2.

Half-Boards Player

The half-boards player is the key quarterback of this setup, with D1 playing a secondary role. The half-boards player must slide up and down the boards, distribute the puck, and shoot from the outside, all while under pressure. He has to be calm and poised with the puck and quick to recognize where to move the puck. Penalty killers will either force the half-boards player with their D from down low or their forward from the top, so this player must be able to move with the pressure, protect the puck, and make a play.

Strong-Side Point Man

The strong-side defenseman is the other key player in this overload setup. He along with the half-boards player will have the puck the most and be the ones to settle the play down and set up. Keep your feet on the blue line to create space between yourself and the penalty killers. This extra room will give you time to make decisions or step into a shot, while drawing out the penalty killers and creating seams in behind. This player needs to have a shooting mentality and always be a threat to shoot. The number one way to score and create chances on the power play is still to take a point shot with net traffic. Sometimes the shot can be a wrist shot, and other times the D should shoot hard. The penalty killers shouldn’t know whether the D is going to shoot or pass—have good deception. When pressured, move the puck to the half-boards player or the back-side D, or make a quick, low play.

Low Walk Player

The low walk player should have his feet on the goal line and stay close to the net in order to attack quickly and also move in to screen the goaltender or get a rebound. If this player drifts too far to the outside, he cannot do either. The low walk player must be versatile and quick. At times he will switch with the half-boards player, usually when there is no option available as the half-boards player drives the net. This tactic forces the penalty killers to adjust quickly and often creates passing options. Before the game, find out how the other team forces—will they pressure quickly with the low defenseman, or will they hold the front of the net? This information will help determine what option might be available and where the pressure will come from.

Net Man

The net player’s main job is to screen the goaltender on all shots and then be ready to play rebounds. Although it sounds simple, it requires courage to stand in front of shots and a lot of skill to deflect them. When the puck is moved low, the net player should slide out to the low slot or back door (on the back post away from coverage) to wait for a pass. Either option is good, but it should be predetermined before the game so the low player knows where to pass the puck. Sometimes the net player is so anxious to get available for a low play that he loses the screen position when players above him are ready to shoot. The screen is very important because you want the opposing goaltender to have to work to see the puck. Make the goaltender’s job tough.

Sliding Back-Side D

The back-side defenseman initially provides a release to get the puck away from pressure and also supports the strong-side D when he is under pressure. He will be a threat to score because he is outside the vision of the penalty killers. He sometimes gets lost as the penalty killers focus on the overload side. Move up and down the far side of the ice, staying in line with the position of the puck. Go down as far as the goal line and up as high as the blue line. If you recover a loose puck on the far side, set up on the half boards and then briefly work the setup from there.

Zone Options for the Overload Power Play

The following are the options for the overload power play. All need to become automatic in practice in order for them to be executed well in the game. Depending on the skill level of the players involved and also on how the opposing penalty killers force, certain options will be more successful than others. Coaches should prepare the players for the resistance they may face from the penalty killers so they know ahead of time what plays to concentrate on.

BACK-SIDE D SLIDE AND SHOOT

Move the puck around to D2, who slides down the back side and looks to shoot and score, shoot for a deflection, or pass across to F1 for a one-timer (figure 5.11). The play back to F1 is a more difficult play to execute because of the skill required to shoot off the pass. F1 should be wide and prepared to receive a pass around the top of the opposite circle.

STRONG-SIDE D SHOT

Move the puck from F2 to F1 to D1. D1 slides across the blue line, looking to take a slapshot or wrist the puck through to the net (figure 5.12). F3 must be in a tight screen position. F2, F1, and D2 must be ready to converge on rebounds. D1 must fake the shot against teams that block and look to get the puck by the screen. Establishing a shot from this area on a consistent basis always results in the most power play chances but D1 must have deception along with a good shot.

HALF-BOARDS SHOT

F2 moves the puck up to F1, who passes to D1. D1 walks across the line, drawing a penalty killer with him (figure 5.13). D1 fakes a shot and passes back to F1. F1 should have followed D1 up the half boards, initially staying wide . Once F1 receives the pass he moves off the boards and shoots. F3 screens while F2 and D2 converge for rebounds.

LOW PLAY OPTION

F2 passes to F1, who passes to D1 (figure 5.14). D1 fakes a shot and passes back to F1, who rolls off the half boards, fakes a shot, and passes to F2. F2 now has the option of taking the puck to the net and shooting, taking the puck to the net and passing to F3 on the back side or to F3 in the slot area. The decision for F3 to be on the backdoor or in the slot depends on how the other team plays this situation. It is best if teams vary where F3 goes so the opponent never knows where he is going to be. D2 should move opposite to F3 and move to the slot or back side. F2 also has the option on this low play to take the puck behind the net and pass out to F3 or back to F1 or D2.

HALF-BOARDS INTERCHANGE

After the players learn the previous options, it is important to add some interchange so that the penalty killers job becomes more difficult. Whenever F1 passes the puck to F2 and no immediate play results, they should get in the habit of switching positions. F1 passes to F2 and drives the net, looking to get the puck back (which he may). If there is no play, F2 cycles up the boards and starts to look for new options. F1 replaces F2 low (figure 5.15).

SLIDING D INTERCHANGE

This is a more complicated maneuver, but it adds a lot of confusion to the penalty killers alignment. After D1 slides along the blue line and passes back to F1 (figure 5.16), he may move to the net (this should be predetermined). As D1 goes to the net, F3 slides out to the side, and D2 moves up top on the blue line. F1 now makes a quick play as this is happening. F1 may use any of the previous options because the alignment is the same. D1 holds a strong position at the net and remains there until a goal is scored or the puck is cleared.