CAR OZ Forecheck vs TBL

How CAR's 1-2-2 causes problems for playoff rivals

As I explained in Hockey Tactics 2022: The Playbook, the Carolina Hurricanes are the best forechecking team in the NHL.

The speed of their F1, the tenacity of the F2 and the read & react prowess of F3 make CAR one of the toughest teams to break out against.

For the offensive team, the best way to negate such an aggressive 1-2-2 OZ FC is to change side early and beat the pressure by moving the puck toward the weak side of the ice. The Tampa Bay Lightning has been doing exactly that, but a wrinkle in CAR’s forecheck may spell doom for TBL in a potential first-round playoff matchup.

Consider the following GIF (TBL in blue and CAR in Red):

• By bumping the puck behind the net, TBL creates a controlled exit through the weak-side winger

• CAR’s 1-2-2 is successful at forcing TBL wide, but CAR’s LD still needs to take a good angle toward the puck carrier and defend the rush across the neutral zone

Here is the same play from the TBL winger’s perspective:

• Quick shoulder check to scan the ice coming back into the DZ

• Take an efficient route to the right half-wall to catch a pass in motion

• Scan the ice again while sprinting up-ice with the puck

CAR’s LD is gapped up and TBL’s winger will soon have to make a high-end move to retain possession, but at least he’s out of the DZ with speed and support.

However, CAR regains the initiative with a simple tweak.