Note: This week’s video workshop is delivered in article form with supporting clips. My Macbook in under repair and I’ve had to work on my old PC laptop.
Recently I was part of a discussion about offensive-zone play with a number of fellow coaches.
The conversation was focused on OZ stall-outs: how to retain possession when the opposing team is able to get into a Five-Tight DZ coverage in the corner.
In the example above (from Hockey Tactics 2023), the Calgary Flames influence the puck into the left corner and get into their Five-Tight, collapsing around three attackers to snuff out the possession.
At this moment the white team is on survival mode. Its numerical disadvantage (3v5 inside the orange box) and speed disadvantage (getting pushed in against the wall, about to stall out and grind to a standstill) are significant impedements to offense.
So how best to counteract the Five-Tight (or corner overload) DZC?
Let’s examine how different high-level teams across the world address this conundrum.
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