How to Beat a 1-2-2 Forecheck

How to Beat a 1-2-2 Forecheck

Defensive Zone, Team Systems
How to Beat a 1-2-2 Forecheck I've had a few questions come in recently on the 1-2-2 Forecheck. Specifically, coaches are looking for ways to beat it. The 1-2-2 is a great forecheck, but, as is the case with any system, it's beatable. Your objective is to control the puck, drawing players out of position, then beating them with a pass. Here are the key points: How to Beat the 1-2-2 Forecheck 1. Defenseman carries the puck to open ice 2. Defenseman walks the puck until someone comes to get him (if nobody comes, he walks all the way down the ice!) 3. As soon as F2 or F3 leaves their coverage to attack the Defenseman, he or she moves the puck to that side of the ice, hitting the…
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Q&A on the 2-3 Press Forecheck

Q&A on the 2-3 Press Forecheck

Coaches' Corner, Offensive Zone, Philosophy, Team Systems
How to Convert the 2-3 Press into Offense after the Transition I recently received a question on the 2-3 Press Forecheck. The question looked like this: Jeremy, How do you transition from forecheck to offense when you create a turnover in the 2-3 press? It seems tough to run a cycle because you will draw players out of good defensive position. Nick I decided to answer it in a post, rather than to try to explain it via email or blog comment. Here's a quick summary of how it works: How to Convert the 2-3 Press into Offense after the Transition 1. F1 Drives deep and hits the puck-carrying defenseman 2. F2 Reads the play, and supports F1 3. F3 sets up on the blue line, between the two defensemen…
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Using the Triangle to Open Up Space on the Attack

Using the Triangle to Open Up Space on the Attack

Coaches' Corner, Offensive Zone, Philosophy, Team Systems
Using the Triangle to Open Up Space on the Attack A few years ago, I did a quick video dissection of Joe Pavelski's over time goal against the LA Kings. This video shows perfect execution of one of the Attack Triangle options we outline in the Coaches' Training Course and in the Playbook. Here's a quick summary of how it works on this play: How the Sharks used the Attack Triangle on this Play 1. F1 drives the puck wide, while reading the gap of the strong-side defenseman 2. F2 realizes he has an inside lane to the net, and drives straight through the middle, pulling the weak-side defenseman with him, and opening up space in the high slot 3. F3 (Joe Pavelski) reads that the weak-side defenseman has been…
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1-2-2 “Foosball” Forecheck: IN ACTION

Coaches' Corner, Offensive Zone, Philosophy, Team Systems
Here's a great example of the 1-2-2 "Foosball" Forecheck in action The 1-2-2 "Foosball" Forecheck can be a great set-up if you have the right type of team for it. This forecheck requires speed and discipline. If you lack either of those attributes, it'll probably fall apart for you. Here are the main key points on this set-up: 1-2-2 "Foosball" Forecheck 1. F1 "flushes" outside in, and chases the puck no matter where it goes 2. F2 and F3 set up at about the tops of the circles, slightly narrower than the dots 3. D-men set up the same distance apart as F1 and F2, but they're at the blue line 4. As the play moves up the boards, the strong-side forward hits the receiver, strong side d-man seals the…
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2-1-2 Spread: In Action

Coaches' Corner, Offensive Zone, Philosophy, Team Systems
How to Execute a Proper 2-1-2 Spread Forecheck In our last post, we talked about beating a 2-1-2 with a D to D pass. In the footage, we saw the NJ Devils using an aggressive 2-1-2 "Stack" against the Rangers. In this post, we'll show you the LA Kings using another variation of the 2-1-2, the 2-1-2 "Spread." 2-1-2 Stack vs Spread There are two types of 2-1-2 set-ups; the "stack," where the first two players enter the zone on the same side of the ice, the first player hits and pins, the second player takes the puck; and the "spread," where the first player attacks the puck carrier, and the second player eliminates the D to D pass (this is what the Kings are using in this clip). See…
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