A Detailed Analysis of the Winnipeg Jets’ Penalty Kill Forecheck and Defensive Zone Coverage Setups
In this video we walk through a detailed analysis of the Penalty Kill Systems the Winnipeg Jets are using. Remember, systems play is very subjective – everyone has their own opinions… this is my two cents worth!
Here’s a quick breakdown of what to look for:
FORECHECK:
1-3 Forecheck: F1 tends to commit too early, allowing the Wild defenseman to walk out from behind the net uncontested.
F1′s Angle: Breaks my cardinal rule for trap-style forechecks – DON’T GET BEAT BEHIND YOU!
NZ Transitions: Jets rely too heavily on picking off passes in the neutral zone, and not enough on solid angling and positioning. This won’t work as well against the better teams.
PK DEFENSIVE ZONE COVERAGE:
Triangle +1 against Umbrella: Not a good systems match-up in my opinion. Angles are off, and it allows the opposing team’s “Quarterback” to easily pass to whomever he wants.
Standard Box against Overload: Good systems match-up, but the Jets need to tighten up on a few things (see next few points)
Weak-side Forward: Tends to over commit, leaving the opposing far defenseman open
Net-front Coverage: Jets are letting a player sit right in the middle of their coverage, in front of the net
A few Defensive Zone Faceoff options that have worked well for me in the past
I like to have VERY structured positioning and responsibilities in my defensive zone play––including faceoffs!! This particular set-up will leave you in great position for a breakout if we win the draw, and great position for defensive zone coverage if we lose the draw. Either way we are covered!
This set-up also allows for a few “more aggressive” options that I like to use every now and then to catch the other team off guard.
The Expanded Wedge +1 is strategically very similar to the “Sagging” Zone Arrow d-zone coverage
The Expanded Wedge +1 is even more aggressive than the Wedge +1, and is very similar to the “Sagging” Zone Arrow defensive zone coverage set-up.
You need fast players that anticipate well to use this one, but if executed properly, it can be extremely effective. Remember, if the opposing team brings a second man to the front of the net, you either have to switch to a different PK system, or concede one of the passing lanes.
The Wedge +1 is strategically very similar to the “Sagging” Zone d-zone coverage
The Wedge +1 is a more advanced, more aggressive penalty kill, that operates similar to our “Sagging” Zone defensive zone coverage set-up. This set-up allows the closest “corner” of the box to challenge the puck carrier, while the other three players remain in front of the net.
Make sure your players understand when to “force” the puck carrier, and when to “contain” the puck carrier. Reading this incorrectly will cause problems for you! Also, remind your weak-side forward and defenseman to keep their heads on a swivel, and not to let anyone creep in behind them on the backdoor.
The Simple Box is strategically very similar to the Box +1 d-zone coverage
Our penalty kill set-ups closely mirror the characteristics of each of our defensive zone coverage systems. In this case, our Simple Box is very similar to the Box +1. It is great for covering the front of your net, but it is not very aggressive. So don’t expect to get the puck back very quickly.
This can be a great “starter pk” for youngsters or inexperienced players. However, you should quickly work toward implementing one of the more advanced penalty kill set-ups such as the Wedge +1 or Expanded Wedge +1.
Sign up below to receive our FREE Drills of the Week!
Email:
Close
Sign up below to receive our FREE Drills of the Week!
Welcome to Weiss Tech Hockey!
We are committed to providing hockey coaches with solid, useful information. We do this by offering free instructional videos, hockey drills, and other great stuff that should be important to hockey coaches!
Join our mailing list and receive our free drills of the week! Simply enter your email address below:
on 
