Lingo
Library

Attacking puck carrier

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Forcing opponent into less dangerous space

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Understanding positioning

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Skating hard back toward your own end to help defend. Backchecking is one of the most important habits in hockey. The best players in the world backcheck. When a player does not backcheck, it creates an odd-man rush, which is one of the highest percentage scoring situations. Players who refuse to backcheck will find themselves on the bench.

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When forwards skate back hard to get between the puck and their own net, helping defensemen prevent odd-man rushes against. A non-negotiable habit at every level.

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Weak-side scoring position

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Defending weak-side scoring threat

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Defensive pressure applied from behind the puck carrier

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Skating back defensively

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Competing for puck

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Losing puck contest

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Four-player defensive square

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A player with a clear path to the goalie with no defenders between them. Breakaway goals require skating speed to get free, puck handling to maintain control, and finishing ability to beat the goalie. Some players prefer to shoot while others prefer dekes. The best breakaway scorers can read the goalie and adjust their move based on what the goalie gives them.

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Exiting defensive zone with control

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The set of passes and movements a team uses to move the puck from their defensive zone up the ice into the offensive zone. A clean breakout creates odd-man rushes and scoring chances.

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Exit path from zone

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A backwards skating push (also known as the backwards C-cut) where the inside edge of one skate carves an arc shaped like the letter C, generating backward power while the other skate glides. It's the foundation of all backwards hockey skating, used by defensemen reading the rush, forwards backchecking, and any player who needs to move backward with speed and control. The technique works by starting with your feet together, pushing one skate out to the side while angling the blade so the inside edge carves a C-shape into the ice. As you push, you transfer your weight to the gliding foot and recover the pushing foot back under your body to repeat on the other side. Done correctly, you generate speed going backward without ever turning around. Every defenseman needs this skill. Every crossover, pivot, and transition in backwards skating starts with a clean C-cut.

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Lightly advancing puck past defender

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Controlled puck handling

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Remove puck from defensive zone

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Tight positioning near puck for quick passes

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Reduce space to attacker

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Defenders protecting net area

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Intensity in puck contests

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Holding position defensively

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Entering zone with possession

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Leaving zone with possession

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Defensive failure

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Moving the puck along the boards in the offensive zone while teammates rotate positions. The goal is to tire out defenders and create openings. A good cycle wears down the defense because they have to keep turning and chasing. Eventually someone gets caught out of position and a lane to the net opens up.

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Interrupting opponent cycle

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Scoring opportunity from sustained play

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Maintaining puck movement along boards

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An offensive strategy where players continuously move the puck along the boards in the offensive zone, using their body to protect it while wearing down defenders and creating open shooting lanes.

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Pass between defensemen

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Defensive zone responsibilities

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Understanding defensive play

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Holding puck before clearing

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Loose or contested puck control

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Lane attacking net

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Shooting the puck into the zone and skating in to retrieve it. Used when the defense is set up at the blue line and there is no lane to carry the puck in. Dump and chase gets a bad reputation but it is effective, especially against teams that play a tight neutral zone trap.

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First forward pressuring puck

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Second forechecker support

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High forward providing balance

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Unsuccessful attempt to exit zone

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Initial control of puck upon receiving it

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Create puck loss by pressure

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Pressuring the other team in their defensive zone to force turnovers. Teams use different systems. A 1-2-2 sends one player in deep while two support. A 2-1-2 sends two in aggressively. Aggressive forechecking teams are hard to play against because they never let you make a clean breakout.

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Applying pressure to the opposing team in their own defensive zone to disrupt their breakout and force turnovers. Aggressive forechecking systems like 2-1-2 or 1-2-2 define a team's identity.

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Attacking opponent forward

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Defensive pressure from front

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Reducing space to attacker

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Managing space between defender and attacker

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A defensive concept where a player maintains the right distance from the puck carrier — close enough to apply pressure and take away speed, far enough to avoid getting beaten one-on-one.

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Allowing too much space defensively

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Distance between defender and attacker

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Forceful puck advance

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Rigid puck handling causing loss of control

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Cycling puck near blue line

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Blocking opponent lanes

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Providing outlet in lane

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Trailing offensive player

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Weak defensive marking

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Competing for free puck

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Securing contested puck

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Cycling puck below goal line

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Attack through center lane

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When to attack net for rebound

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Path taken toward the net to create scoring chance

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Defending area in front of goalie

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Occupying space near goalie

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Resetting play in neutral zone

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Middle ice formation

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Defensive system clogging middle ice

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Offensive zone formation

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Attack with more attackers than defenders

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Applying attack in zone

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Understanding offensive play

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Shooting the puck immediately as you receive a pass without stopping it. The puck comes to you and you swing at it in one motion, like a batter hitting a pitch. One-timers are almost impossible for goalies to stop because they have to react to the pass and then immediately react to the shot with no time to reset. One-timers from the faceoff circles on the power play are one of the most dangerous plays in the game.

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Pass to start transition

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Excessive puck handling

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Stacking players on one side

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Scoring on own team's net

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Rushed decision under pressure

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Holding back defensively

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Defenseman moving down to keep puck in zone

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Change in puck control

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Duration of puck control

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Moment to aggressively challenge puck

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Escaping defensive pressure

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Knowing puck location at all times

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Anticipating puck deflection

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Area of possession dominance

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Getting puck out of danger

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Losing control of puck

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Calmness with puck under pressure

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Shielding puck from opponents

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Recovering loose puck

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Providing close passing options for puck carrier

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Moment puck is lost

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Fast defensive zone exit

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Rapid change of possession direction

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Pressure from behind opponent

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A puck that bounces off the goalie or posts after a shot. Rebound goals are some of the most common goals in hockey. Smart players know that every shot is a potential rebound opportunity. Being in the right position to collect a rebound is about anticipation. Some of the best goal scorers in history built their careers on scoring rebound goals.

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Managing loose pucks after shots

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Attempt to regain puck

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Resetting play in neutral zone

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Resetting defensive structure

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Switching puck direction behind net

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Scoring opportunity off rush

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Defensive play against attacking rush

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Positioning yourself between the goalie and the shooter to block the goalie view. Screens are one of the most effective ways to score, especially on shots from the point during power plays. Setting a good screen means getting close enough to block the goalie view without interfering with them.

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Quick look over shoulder to assess pressure

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Smooth puck handling skills

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The high-danger scoring area directly in front of the net. The slot is the area between the faceoff circles in front of the goalie. It is the most dangerous scoring area because the shooter has a clear angle and the goalie has less time to react. Defensively you want to keep players out of the slot. Offensively you want to get yourself or the puck into the slot as often as possible.

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Competing in scoring area

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Defending high-danger area

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Attacking slot area

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Gentle puck advance

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Ability to cushion puck on reception

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Open space without pressure

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Defender challenges attacker early

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Long passing lane

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Side with puck

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Stacking players on puck side

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Lane for assisting play

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Three-player support formation

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Long offensive zone time

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Close defensive marking

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Dominate possession

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When to deflect puck

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Redirecting a teammate shot by getting your stick on it to change direction. Tip-ins are extremely hard to stop because the change of direction gives the goalie almost no time to adjust. They are also very difficult to execute. The timing has to be perfect. Players who are good at tipping are incredibly valuable on the power play.

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Pull puck to change angle

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Using the toe of your stick blade to pull the puck across your body. The toe drag is used to pull the puck away from a defender stick or create space for a shot. Players like Patrick Kane made it famous. It is effective because the puck stays close to your body and the movement is subtle enough that defenders often cannot react in time.

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Best offensive forward line

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Immediate pass without settling puck

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Interrupting transition

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Switch from offense to defense or vice versa

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Focusing only on puck

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Loss of puck possession

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Frequency of losing puck

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Player strong offensively and defensively

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Power play formation

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Dumping puck into zone

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Insufficient puck control

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Area goalie sees puck

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Side opposite puck

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Offensive play from far side

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Gaining offensive zone with control

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Clearing puck from defensive zone

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Applying pressure in zone

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Time spent in offensive zone

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