Positioning

Open Ice: Defensive Zone

Behind the Net/Net Front

Now that we've gone over some of the fundamental mechanics, its time to learn about a more important aspect of the game; Positioning. Even if you're not Gubby levels of good on offense, defense is a much easier, and much more important aspect of everyones game.With the surge of new players, the meta is being challenged by players who decide to be dedicated goaltenders, and while I won't argue against that style of play, it does make it more challenging for offense on both sides. Regarding the other two players, its generally advised not to bunch up when you're out on the ice. I say generally because there may be board battles that result in a stalemate of sorts, and a second player may come in and apply that extra pressure to break it up and win possession of the puck. In most other cases though, players will want to be spread out to cover passing and shooting lanes.I have attached a couple positioning examples for basic defensive plays.In the defensive zone you want to play the back check often, which means applying pressure to the opposing team in hopes of forcing a turnover. While one player is playing the back check you'll want a player in the middle ready to shut down any passes at a moments notice.You can see that Blue 1 has the option to continue to carry the puck to the net, or pass to blue 3 who can shoot from their positioning, but because of the red teams positioning, red 1 and 2 will be able to shut down the shot in most cases. If Blue 1 decides to pass, Red 2 will flex in goal, Red 3 will begin the back check, and Red 1 will shift to the net front.Behind the net, things get a little more hectic. Board battles are more common, wraparounds create dangerous scoring potential, and plays can fall apart or form quickly. We look at Blue 1 who is in control of the puck behind Reds net. Red 1 is playing an aggressive back check trying to force a turnover which means Blue 1's only option is to continue to carry the puck and possibly lose it, or find an open passing lane to Blue 2. Unless Blue 1 can manage a wraparound against 2 possibly 3 players, it is probably Blue 2 that will make the play happen here. Another option Blue 1 has is to cut back to the other side, where Red 3 is waiting to apply pressure while Red 1 takes his place on the left side once Red 3 is successfully engaged with the check.While these position guides are again basic in nature, the takeaway is you don't want to bunch up on each other too often and leave the opposing team open for passes and shots. Knowing when to play the zone and when to play the check is an important step to a good defensive strategy.