Breakout 102 – Variations

Here we cover some variations of the breakout and some things to keep in mind as we execute the breakout. If you haven’t read Breakout 101 about the basics of the breakout, it’s suggested that you do.

Variations of the Breakout

Standard: “Up” Defense to Wing to Center

This is our standard breakout, but with a small improvement (of nobody stopping or standing still) that we should’ve implemented a long time ago.

• Complete the setup, taking a step deeper into our zone.
• The Puck Carrying Defenseman will skate just past the net and pass diagonally to the Strong-Side Wing who has completed their curl up the ice and is skating away.
• The Strong-Side Wing with the puck then passes laterally to the center.
• Center keeps skating in a straight diagonal, the Weak Side Wing is the next option.
• Strong-Side Wing will join the rush following the Center and the Weak-Side Wing.

Important Notes

• Puck Carrying Defenseman: Try to look up over the net to make sure the Strong-Side Wing will be open. Pass immediately once skated past the net.
• Safety Defenseman: Try not to skate away from the slot too early. Maybe wait until the puck gets to the Center.
• Strong-Side Wing: Present your stick blade toward the inside of the face-off circle, not against the boards. Lefties on the left side will present the forehand, while righties on the left side will present the backhand. Evaluate your passing options – Center, Weak-Side Wing, or bounce off the boards.
• Weak-Side Wing: Once the pass from the Puck Carrying Defenseman leaves their stick, skate as fast as you can diagonally to the middle of the blue line toward center ice. Get off the wall.
• Center: Curl low enough and do not skate too fast through the curl. Accelerate after the curl. Call for the pass if/when the lane is there.

Twist 1: Defense to Center to Wing

This is a twist to our standard breakout, where there isn’t an immediate diagonal pass from our Puck Carrying Defenseman to the Strong-Side Wing. Instead of ringing it around the boards, Puck Carrying Defenseman will keep skating into the corner to find a seam to the center.

• Complete the setup, take a step toward your own zone.
• The Puck Carrying Defenseman will skate and see that there isn’t a pass to the Strong-Side Wing, but an opportunity to skate further into the corner.
• The Puck Carrying Defenseman gets to the corner and makes a diagonal pass to the Center turning up the boards.
• The Center has two options after the pass is received, wings on either sides.

Important Notes

• Puck Carrying Defenseman: Try to look up over the net to check for pressure. Time the pass to the Center.
• Safety Defenseman: Try not to skate away from the slot too early. Maybe wait until it looks like the Center can make the pass to the wings.
• Strong-Side Wing: Do not stop at the half-wall, keep skating up the boards. Bump into a defender if you have to. Once you see the Center get the puck, come off the wall slightly.
• Weak-Side Wing:
• Center: Curl low enough and do not skate too fast through the curl. Accelerate after the curl. Call for the pass if/when the lane is there. If there’s no lane, call for a “reverse” to go the other way, or “boards” to shove it up the boards.

Twist 2: “Reverse” – Defense Skates, Reverses, to Wing, to Center

• Complete the setup, take a step toward your own zone.
• The Puck Carrying Defenseman will skate just past the net and see that there isn’t a pass to the Strong-Side Wing, there is incoming pressure, and there isn’t an opportunity to skate further into the corner.
• The Puck Carrying Defenseman will protect the puck from incoming pressure, and reverses the puck behind the net to the Safety Defenseman. This pass is the “reverse”.
• Safety Defenseman skates behind the net, recovers the puck, passes diagonally to the Weak-Side Wing (technically now this is the strong-side), who passes to the Center.
• This requires all skaters to be flexible and able to make the read on the reverse. This breakout does not have to be quick, just has to react before the defenders.

No Option: Clear the Puck

• Complete the setup, take a step toward your own zone.
• The Puck Carrying Defenseman will skate just past the net and see that there is no clean passing option to the Strong-Side Wing, there is incoming pressure, there is no opportunity to skate further into the corner, and they’ve been on the ice for too long.
• The Puck Carrying Defenseman should shoot the puck at the corner glass with all their strength to get the puck out of the zone. This is the “clear”.
• When the clearing attempt is made, it is vital that the Strong-Side Wing assumes a defensive position to try to give the eventual puck receiver the toughest time to hold the puck, whether it’s at the blue line (contest to shove the puck out of the zone) or in the neutral zone.
• The Strong-Side Wing being able to shove the puck all the way to the other end is very helpful here.

No Pressure: “Wheel” – Defenseman Skates Up

• Complete the setup, take a step toward your own zone.
• The Puck Carrying Defenseman skates just past the net, sees no pressure, and keeps going.
• The forwards should skate forward with the Puck Carrying Defenseman, but with some depth (not the same speed). Wings can skate ahead, while the Center might skate next to the Puck Carrying Defenseman at the same or slower speed.
• The Safety Defenseman should remain closer to the goalie.
• The Puck Carrying Defenseman should skate until there is incoming pressure, and pass it to one of the skaters skating up with them.
• A pass to one of the forwards should be made either when the Puck Carrying Defenseman feels pressure coming, when they cross the red line, or after they gain the offensive zone.
• If the pressure forces the Puck Carrying Defenseman toward the boards, the puck can be shot in hard along the boards. This is a dump in.
• A pass to a forward just before gaining the blue line should be avoided, as the forwards must slow down/stop to avoid being offside. If the Puck Carrying Defenseman must get rid of the puck just before the blue line, the puck should be dumped in.

When Things Go Wrong

Forecheck is Too Strong

Some teams may employ a strong forecheck to keep us in our zone. This means that the Puck Carrying Defenseman must skate quicker with the puck and the pass first must be made early. However, strong forecheck usually means after one good pass, our team will be able to go in for an odd-man rush. Look for the right pass, it will work.

Pass Could Not Be Received

There are a few scenarios where a pass cannot be received properly during a breakout.

• If the pass is too far from the receiver, we want all five skaters to make the same read and assume a defensive position quickly.
• If the pass is too bouncy to take the risk of bouncing over the receiver’s stick, the receiver should try their very best to smack the puck out of the zone. If they can keep the puck bouncy, that’s a plus.
• If the pass is obviously too hard for the receiver to handle, receiver should either try their very best to smack the puck out of the zone, or get a little touch on an open stick blade to let the puck start bouncing to make it difficult for the opposing defenders to recover the puck cleanly and quickly.

Conclusion

1. Be aware of situations and transitions.
2. Skate deep first!
3. Priority is to make sure the other team does not get the puck.
4. Try not to encroach into other skaters’ routes.