D Under Pressure Half Ice Drill

We all know how important it is to have defensemen who can play under pressure. Many times we run drills that don’t really put the D under any real pressure to make passes and come game time that causes bad decisions and bad passes that can cost games. Here is a drill I use to help my defensemen learn how to compete under pressure. We use this drill to teach them how to communicate with each other and the goaltender and how to handle a hard forecheck. Make sure the D are doing proper shoulder checks while skating hard to retrieve the puck. Also listen to make sure the players are communicating with each other. You can also use this drill to let your forwards practice proper positioning for the forecheck system you use for the forwards. Personally I use this drill just as a way to help the defensemen learn how to play under hard pressure and the goaltender is used just to work on his communication skills with the defensemen, but you can have the offensive players cycle back into the zone after the successful breakout and play 3v2 against the D while the original three forechecking forwards vacate the zone. Either way it’s a great drill to help your defensemen build confidence when playing under pressure.

D-Under Pressure Breakout

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Click to Download the Drill

Defenseman Puck Support

This video does a great job of teaching Puck Support.  The key is the Dman without the puck is not rushing up ice, but providing support to his partner and giving him an outlet pass.

Thanks to IHD Partner Kevin Muller over at  M2Hockey.com & HockeyShare.com for this video.

Defenseman Puck Support

This video does a great job of teaching Puck Support.  The key is the Dman without the puck is not rushing up ice, but providing support to his partner and giving him an outlet pass.

Thanks to IHD Partner Kevin Muller over at  M2Hockey.com & HockeyShare.com for this video.

Defenseman Puck Support

This video does a great job of teaching Puck Support.  The key is the Dman without the puck is not rushing up ice, but providing support to his partner and giving him an outlet pass.

Thanks to IHD Partner Kevin Muller over at  M2Hockey.com & HockeyShare.com for this video.

2 on 1 – Full Rink

1. F need to focus on first helping out the D and setting up in a ‘break-out’ mode
2. F should also  work on good passing and puck movement to score
3. F should read the play and know when to shoot or pass in the Offensive zone
4. D should focus on a good outlet pass to start the play
5. D hustles to get in a good Defensive position
6. D should work on gap control
7. D should also work on closing the lane and allowing the Goalie to take the shooter 
   

Goalies can be used in this as well.  Allow them to come behind the net and move the puck.

Related Drills:
2 on 1 defensive gap control 
2 on 1 pass to d half rink 

2 on 1 – Full Rink

1. F need to focus on first helping out the D and setting up in a ‘break-out’ mode
2. F should also  work on good passing and puck movement to score
3. F should read the play and know when to shoot or pass in the Offensive zone
4. D should focus on a good outlet pass to start the play
5. D hustles to get in a good Defensive position
6. D should work on gap control
7. D should also work on closing the lane and allowing the Goalie to take the shooter 
   

Goalies can be used in this as well.  Allow them to come behind the net and move the puck.

Related Drills:
2 on 1 defensive gap control 
2 on 1 pass to d half rink 

1 on 1 Battles – Backchecking & Beat your Man

1. O should focus on speed with the puck so as not to get caught from behind
2. D needs to backcheck hard and get to the stick side of the O so he can ‘pop’ the stick and gain control of the play
   

Bad Puck Support Leads to Opening Goal

Once again, I watched an NHL game and found 2 common mistakes that I constantly remind my players of during practice and games.

Watch the video below and then I’ll dissect it further. Make sure you watch at :03-:05 seconds and see if you find the 2 mistakes (make it 3 if you count the Goalie, watch at :43 seconds on to see it):

In this play, I see 2 glaring mistakes that result in a bad goal.

1. Poor Puck Support by the Defenseman
2. Poor Decision by Crosby on when and more importantly, HOW to move the puck. 

How I’m teaching this play to my players, I strongly feel the Defenseman (#2) can’t jump this play and call for the puck. 

1. Letang is already at the middle of the circles
2. 2 Boston players are coming up the ice 

The second issue I have is Crosby’s play on this puck.

1. He also has to know those 2 Boston players are coming at him
2. He rushes to try to slap it out of the air.  He has to stop that puck and control it first. Once he does that, he has two options:

• Throw it back down the wall
• Push it back to the Supporting D (if he was in position)

The Penguins played rushed all game.  Trying to get rid of pucks as fast as they got a hold of them. Sloppy passes, sloppy turnovers resulted in a lot of bad goals.

The last mistake I see on this play is the Goalie.  If you watch the angle from behind the net (~:43 seconds) Vokoun starts cheating back to the middle and leaves the glove side exposed.  I’m not a goalie and maybe this is the correct play but I have to think he needs to protect that side.

Bad Puck Support Leads to Opening Goal

Once again, I watched an NHL game and found 2 common mistakes that I constantly remind my players of during practice and games.

Watch the video below and then I’ll dissect it further. Make sure you watch at :03-:05 seconds and see if you find the 2 mistakes (make it 3 if you count the Goalie, watch at :43 seconds on to see it):

In this play, I see 2 glaring mistakes that result in a bad goal.

1. Poor Puck Support by the Defenseman
2. Poor Decision by Crosby on when and more importantly, HOW to move the puck. 

How I’m teaching this play to my players, I strongly feel the Defenseman (#2) can’t jump this play and call for the puck. 

1. Letang is already at the middle of the circles
2. 2 Boston players are coming up the ice 

The second issue I have is Crosby’s play on this puck.

1. He also has to know those 2 Boston players are coming at him
2. He rushes to try to slap it out of the air.  He has to stop that puck and control it first. Once he does that, he has two options:

• Throw it back down the wall
• Push it back to the Supporting D (if he was in position)

The Penguins played rushed all game.  Trying to get rid of pucks as fast as they got a hold of them. Sloppy passes, sloppy turnovers resulted in a lot of bad goals.

The last mistake I see on this play is the Goalie.  If you watch the angle from behind the net (~:43 seconds) Vokoun starts cheating back to the middle and leaves the glove side exposed.  I’m not a goalie and maybe this is the correct play but I have to think he needs to protect that side.

Soft Defense + Soft Backcheck = GWG

I constantly work with my players on two key areas of their game.  They are so critical and can truly be the difference between winning and losing.  Last night, we saw it in Gm7 of the Hawks-Wings series.  Earlier in the game, I made the comment that when you watch the Red Wings play, it always seems like there are 6 skaters on the rink.  They are fast, they are aggressive and they are on loose pucks ALL the time.

One little breakdown in that mentality and it can send you packing.  Watch the first 15 seconds of this video and then I’ll explain.

There are two glaring failures on this play (forget about the fact if you think the hit was a penalty or not).

• Soft Defense
• Soft Backcheck

The defenseman gives way too much room here. Both are looking at the puck carrier but there is no pressure. You need to get a stick out in front and close that gap.  If you do, there is no shot on net.  The inside defenseman has to be aware his partner is right there and he should step up.  Even if he gets beat, he’s got help.

Secondly and worst of all in my opinion (especially for OT during game 7) is the lackluster backcheck.  You can’t skate and watch a player carrier the puck into your zone.  #11 almost catches him and even ‘taps’ him with a stick.   An extra push or two with the skates and he catches him and pops his stick.  I don’t care what level you are playing at, lazy backchecking should get you a ‘talking’ to from your coach.

As a coach, these are two areas that we work on constantly.  Closing the gap and backchecking. They are huge factors in the outcome of the game.