I occasionally hear from coaches who deplore the conservative nature of NHL tactics. Many such complaints are valid, though I would argue that NHL hockey is as dynamic and creative as ever. All four remaining teams in these Stanley Cup finals give their players permission to make plays off the rush, empower their Ds to join as F4 and employ various set plays to manufacture powerplay chances.
Still, these teams definitely don’t play all-out offense, all the time. Some potentially useful plays are never given the time of day by coaches due to one simple but seldom-discussed rule of thumb.
Consider the following Edmonton Oilers powerplay goal (1-0, G5).
EDM2 Bouchard passes to EDM29 Draisaitl, who steps off the halfwall and threatens the middle.
EDM97 McDavid rotates to the goal line, receives the puck and goes low-to-high for Bouchard, who drills a heavy shot on net.
EDM93 Nugent-Hopkins, EDM18 Hyman and Draisaitl crowd the low slot. Nugent-Hopkins scores on the rebound.
Soon after this goal I receive an email from newsletter subscriber Matt L., who wonders why this overload play isn’t used more often.
The reason is the rule of thumb that I alluded to earlier:
NHL coaches typically avoid set plays that expose their teams to an immediate 2v1 against.
Let’s freeze-frame right before Bouchard shoots the puck.
Under the yellow line, the Oilers have a 4v2 advantage. Great.
Above the yellow line, however, EDM is out-numbered 2v1.
If Bouchard’s point shot is blocked by any Dallas player (F, D or G), the ensuing rebound could potentially spring both DAL forwards against a single Oilers defender.
In this instance, an important mitigating factor does exist for EDM.
EDM97 McDavid is undoubtably the fastest player on the ice. He is also in a slightly better posture than DAL’s F2 (toecaps pointed toward EDM’s zone, as opposed to pointed toward the side boards). If the puck does hit a shinpad, McDavid could probably recover quickly enough to even up the counter-attack.
Not every player has McDavid-type speed, which is why NHL coaches prefer to have two or even three players above the puck at all times.
Here’s a 5v5 example from the Hockey Tactics 2024 ebook.
D2 is the last man back.
F3 (EDM93) must immediately abandon his position and become the second player back if there is a change in possession.
F1 (EDM18) is fully committed to protecting the puck and making a positive play, but if he fails he must sprint hard through the middle as the third player back.
F2 (EDM97) and D1 are obviously not off the hook defensively, but they have an extra second or two to get back into structure thank to their three teammates’ quick reaction.
A 1v1, 2v2 or 3v3 counter-attack is easily neutralized. A 4v3 against isn’t much of a disadvantage. As long as a failed play doesn’t immediately result in a 2v1 the other way, NHL coaches can be quite tolerant of skilled players trying to make something happen.
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