Question 3
How can we create offense against a Swarm DZ coverage?
First, an explainer:
A Swarm DZC is a high-pressure defensive scheme designed to kill plays quickly following an entry or a shot against.
The defining feature of the Swarm is that the second defenseman (D2) sprints to help D1 on the puck instead of holding the net-front.
When D2 joins the battle, the three forwards collapse and prevent the puck from going into the slot.
Essentially, the Swarm is the hockey equivalent of a Chinese finger trap.
The harder you pull away, the tighter the hold.
The more you try to “beat” the collapsing defenders by moving the puck quickly toward the point or toward the opposite corner, the more effective they will be at forcing a change of possession.
The solution is counter-intuitive.
Embrace the pressure; let them swarm
By investing both Ds into the corner battle and by having all three Fs low in the zone, the defending team maximizes its chances of creating a stop as it collapses around the puck.
However, it also exposes itself to puck movement after all five players get set.
As long as the puck carrier (blue F1) shows poise, protects the puck and saves a bit of room to operate along the wall initially, the offensive team can have multiple options to move the puck out of the pile and to get the DZC on the run.
Not only will the defending team be forced to give up one of the three plays (Low-to-High, Dot Support or Change Side), but it’ll also be hard-pressed to counter-attack from a collapsed state.
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