Introduction
Here are some pointers to keep in mind to play proper, systematic team defense.
Never Join the Rush with your Partner
Especially when there are three people in the rush already, do NOT join them to make it a four-man rush. Instead, delay your zone entry to provide depth int he attack.
Stay behind as a late man joining the rush unless you have the puck or have a clear-cut scoring chance. We tend to join the rush just because we need a goal, disregarding the fact that we don’t even have the puck anymore. Even if we have the puck, we don’t need four guys rushing into the offensive zone in a straight line.
Never Encroach the Winger’s Position
I see us encroaching the winger’s position. As a defenseman without the puck, when our partner has the puck behind our own net, go to the front of our net. We should NOT be asking for a pass up the ice at the half-wall. This is greedy defenseman positioning. Let our forwards do this. Our job is to be a safety net when things go wrong during our breakout.
Don’t Give Space on an Attack Against
Don’t be too far ahead of an attack against us. When we are defending a rush, don’t wait in one spot for the opponents to attack you. Instead, move toward them a little bit, turn with them, match speed and go with them toward our goal. You get more opportunities to bother them. If you stayed one spot, or created a head-on collision, they get past you after one move. Skate with them instead.
Make Early, Assertive Decisions Getting Off the Ice
Make early decisions getting off the ice. Once we lose possession in the offensive zone, it’s usually too late. That’s goal greed guys.
Do Not Get Married to the Puck
We have the puck, and then get stripped. It happens to all of us. Once you get the puck stolen, it may be smarter to let your partner handle the new puck carrier, and for you to check somebody else. If your teammate is checking a guy, you should find another guy to check. He’s probably right behind you.
Retreat with your Partner
When your defensive partner is retrieving the puck, be at most, slightly ahead of him. I’d say we should be around the same distance from our own net, unless the puck is behind the net. Don’t ask for a pass up the ice. That’s not our job. This is also encroaching our wingers’ positions.
Pass Early
Try to make early decisions and let the forwards carry the puck. Read the checking around you and make the right pass. You wait too long, and you get stripped.
Don’t Get Married to the Goalie
Don’t get married to the goalie. We find ourselves next to our goalie to give him… security? This is not necessary if 1) there’s nobody backdoor, or 2) we have the puck.
Certain Distance Between your Partner
When the puck is not on “your side” of the offensive zone, you should be near the middle of the blue line, not in your corner. The pass will hardly ever go there, and you will be late if there’s a turnover put he middle of the ice. You’re too far from your partner.
Conclusion
In conclusion, playing defense is about balance. We must keep a certain distance from our partner, not drift too far away from each other, but being too close to each other is not a good idea either.
When our team is without possession, we must stay near a check, instead of being in a certain “spot”. Don’t guard grass. Defense is always dynamic.