Хоккей. Оборона: нейтральная зона : форчекинг

Neutral Zone Forechecking and Backchecking

The neutral zone has changed dimensions over the last several years, which has dramatically altered the way teams defend this area. At almost all levels and in most leagues, the two-line pass is now allowed which opens up new options in this zone. Breakout teams are able to move the puck to the far blue line from behind their own net and while skating up ice can move the puck at any time to the far blue line (figure 7.1). Teams and coaching staffs are constantly talking about how much pressure they want to apply versus how passive they want to be. There is a lot of space to cover, so it is a double-edged sword. If you pressure, opponents have less time and may make mistakes, or they may take advantage of the extra space to work with. Conversely if you sit back, opponents have more time to read and make a play, but they have less space to work with. What do you do? Coaches have several options when designing the neutral zone forecheck.

Neutral Zone Forechecking

All neutral zone forechecking systems must have the ability to shift quickly as the puck moves from one side to the other. The key player is F1 with regard to his angle and stick placement. With his stick on the ice and proper skating angles, F1 can take away passing lanes from the opposition and steer them into a space where they don’t want to go. F1 can also move the stick into different lanes to actively take away options. When the puck is moving up ice and then back or passed from side to side, both defensemen must be very good at regaining their gap. Teams that tighten their neutral zone gap (the distance between the defending defensemen and the attacking forwards) create havoc for attacking forwards trying to enter the offensive zone. Another key skill of strong neutral zone forechecking teams is that all three forwards are able to skate backward and face the play to make their reads easier. It is important to practice this with all five defensive players moving in unison.

Neutral Zone Forechecking Systems

There are five forechecking systems that teams may employ: 1-2-2 wide; 1-3-1; 2-1-2; 1-2-2 mid-ice lock; and retreating 1-2-2. Each system is described and discussed in this section.

1-2-2 Wide

This is the simplest system to teach a team and is very effective in clogging up the neutral zone. The most important factor in making it work effectively is the play of F1. He should never forecheck too deep or too wide and give up mid-ice space. F1 should take a shallow angle and steer the puck carrier to one side. If a D-to-D pass is made by the opposition, then F1 reattacks on a shallow angle once again. F1 must stay within 6 feet (1.8 m) of the blue line when initiating the push and take away the mid-ice pass with a well-placed stick. Let the opposition have the return D-to-D pass. Essentially F1 remains between the dots through this sequence to once again take away mid ice space (figure 7.2).

F2 and F3 have simplified responsibilities. They stay on their side of the ice and lock the wide lanes (by staying in their specific lanes and skating backward to take away passing options). If thepuck carrier comes up F2’s side, then he stands up (doesn’t back in) and keeps the opposition from gaining the red line (e.g., forces him to ice the puck). F3 takes the wide lane and makes sure no pass can get to a player in that lane. D1 and D2 keep a tight gap in the middle of the ice, ready to adjust to the puck (figure 7.3a). If the puck is moved to mid-ice or up the boards, then all five players react. D1 would overplay the boards when the puck comes up F2’s side. D2 stays in mid ice and F3 takes the wide lane (figure 7.3b).

1-3-1

European teams commonly used this system when they began playing without the red line, which was several years before it was removed in North America. Once the red line was removed there was now more space to cover and therefore this system was developed. When looking at the 1-3- 1 the three 3 players across the middle of the ice definitely eliminate any room up the middle but gives up space behind on the far blue line. The theory is that it is more difficult to make the long pass especially through traffic. The 1-3-1 can be played in two ways, either by designating which defenseman is up in the middle of the ice or having the defensemen react depending on which side the puck is on. We believe it is easier if one D is designated as the up player and one D is designated as the back player (figure 7.4).

F1 has the freedom to go a little deeper (and press or angle the opponent with the puck) in this system because three lanes are covered in behind. F2 and F3 play their sides of the ice—if the puck carrier comes up F2’s side, then he stands up and prevents him from gaining the red line. F3 makes sure the wide lane is locked up and also prevents any passes from going to players in behind D2.

D2 tightens up in the middle of the ice, playing as far up as the top of the circle. D2 may skate forward or accept the rush skating backward. Regardless, D2 must keep a tight gap in the middle. D1 sits back and plays like a rover in football—stays in the middle initially and then reacts to wherever the puck goes (figure 7.5).

2-1-2

This is a common neutral zone forecheck off a lost draw, but it is also used effectively by many teams who want to apply more pressure in this area (when trailing in the game or in need of a more offensive approach). The 2-1-2 system is one of the more aggressive neutral zone forechecks. It is basically a man-on-man system in the neutral zone. F2 and F3 attack the opponent’s defense in a staggered fashion. Therefore if O1 has the puck, F2 will force and F3 will be halfway to O2. If a pass is made to O2, then F3 will jump immediately. F1 locks onto the other team’s center, making sure no passes can be made to the middle of the ice, because both defensemen have outside responsibility. D1 moves up on any passes to O4, and D2 does the same for passes to O5. It is important that one D remain in the middle of the ice at all times when the other D is forcing the outside. (figure 7.6).

1-2-2 Mid-Ice Lock

This system is common at many levels because it denies teams the ability to bring the puck up the middle and forces teams to move the puck wide and try to enter up the boards. F1 starts by steering the puck to one side, and unlike other systems mentioned, he may take away either the D-to-D return pass or the wide-lane pass, depending on which is a priority (figure 7.7). This will influence the angle F1 takes and also the position of his stick. F2 challenges O1 before the red line, forcing him to ice the puck or chip in behind. F3 locks across hard on the opposing player in mid-ice. F3 does not allow passes to any player in mid-ice and forces the opposition to make the long, wide pass to gain entry to the offensive zone.

D1 is ready to recover any chips in behind F2 and ready to challenge any bank passes to O3. D2 is responsible for any wide passes to O4. D2 must be alert because this is the one way teams try to break the 1-2-2 mid-ice lock—they will pass wide to O4 and try to have him pick up speed before the pass is made (figure 7.8).

Retreating 1-2-2

This is a very defensive setup and is similar to the 1-2-2 mid-ice lock. The primary difference is that all five players tighten up, with F1 moving down to the top of the offensive zone circles and the two defensemen back no farther than the center red line. As the offensive team advances up ice, all five players skate backward and retreat in a tight pack (figure 7.9a). This creates the visual of limited space for the offensive team. F2 and F3 initially remain wide but align themselves with the dots giving up space along the boards and taking away space inside. D1 and D2 must be aware of the long stretch pass. A pass to the outside is not dangerous, but they have to protect against being too wide and allowing the long mid-ice pass.

Figure 7.9 In the retreating 1-2-2 (a) all five players skate backward in a tight group. (b) F1 angles the puck carrier as soon as the puck advances above the offensive circles.

F1 starts to angle the puck carrier as soon as the puck advances above the offensive circles (figure 7.9b). Once again F1 takes a shallow angle at the puck carrier and tries to steer the puck up one side of the ice. F1 stays between the dots, allowing the puck carrier to move into the trap. F2 will now stand up from the inside out, taking away the red line so the puck carrier cannot dump the puck in. F3 starts to lock across the middle and is ready to take away any passes to that area. D1 stays in behind F2 in case the puck gets chipped to the far blue line. D2 stays back in mid-ice but is ready to confront any wide-lane passes. All five players should move like there is a rope tying them together.