Defensive Zone Faceoff Setup

Similar to the Offensive Zone Faceoff Set Play article, this article suggests a coordinated setup at the faceoff dots in the defensive zone. Credit to beerleaguetips.com for the first writeup on this setup I’ve seen on the internet.

Issues with Traditional Setup

There are several issues we see in the traditional faceoff setup in the defensive zone. They are:

  • Defenseman is standing still when the faceoff is won
  • Board-side wing will probably stay still if the faceoff is won
  • Poor coverage at puck drop
The “Traditional”, common defensive zone faceoff setup

Defenseman in a Standstill

When the faceoff is won cleanly and the defenseman (LD in this example) retrieves the puck, it looks like the defenseman is open and in a good position to look up to make a breakout pass quickly. However, this is deceiving because:

  • The defenseman cannot pass right away. Teammates are not ready for a pass, is not in a position away from their respective checks. Therefore, this defenseman must either wait for everyone else to get ready, retreat by skating backwards (doesn’t happen well in rec league), or drop the puck behind the net for his partner to receive the pass. However,
  • If the defenseman is expected to skate, the defenseman receives the puck at a stand still. If a forechecker comes rushing in, the defenseman must quickly start skating, maybe even backwards, probably pass or skate behind the net, or worse, clear the puck up the boards potentially giving up puck possession.
Defenseman receives the puck at a standstill and is left with subpar options.

Being open with the puck while standing still is deceivingly inconvenient. On the ice, you should much rather be skating with the puck while being chased from behind.

Where should the Board-Side Wing Go?

In the traditional setup, the board-side wing (LW in this example) may see the faceoff won back to the defenseman, and assume their position for the breakout. However, the LW is already in their breakout position, covered, without any speed, therefore is a poor passing option.

LW starts the play covered, not a good passing option.

Poor Coverage at Puck Drop

In the traditional setup, the defensive coverage upon losing the faceoff is also poor. Wings are always going to be further away from their opposing defensemen in any faceoff setup, but in the traditional setup:

  • The board-side wing (LW in this example) must go around a player in order to reach their check and
  • The defenseman behind the center (LD) in this example is not covering anyone.
Distance covered and the routes taken by these three are not good enough.

The Alternate Setup

The setup highlighted by beerleaguetips.com solves these issues of 1) standstill defensemen, 2) standstill wing, and 3) poor coverage at puck drop.

See the Left Wing in front of the Goalie, while the Left Defenseman at the hashmarks.

Solving Existing Issues

As you see, the LD is now at the hashmarks and is able to skate into a faceoff win, instead of standing still to pick up the faceoff win. This way if the LD sees any pressure, they can go behind the net to find a pass to the RW (1), or keep skating to the other corner to get a diagonal pass to the Center (2).

The LW can be more assertive off the faceoff as well. Whether the faceoff is won or lost, the LW (and the RW) will take the same steps, and therefore be able to take the assertive first few steps before the puck touches the ice. LW also has an opportunity to skate more to gain speed without getting covered. Getting open usually involves skating more. You will not find yourself open often without skating.

Upon faceoff loss, the LD is much closer to their check at puck drop, and more available to get a stick on a quick shot attempt. LW is also able to get into the opposing defenseman’s shooting lane if the puck happens to get there.

On top of solving these issues mentioned, the setup has advantages, such as:

  • Wingers can be in the opposing defensemen’s shooting lanes immediately and
  • The inside-wing (LW) is able to intercept faceoff losses and turn the play around.
  • There is now a default step for the wings to take regardless of the faceoff being won or lost. This allows wings to confidently take a few strides just as the puck is dropped, shown below.
Wings have a default route to take upon puck drop.

Roles and Responsibilities of Each Position

Left Defense (Board Side Defense)

The Board Side Defenseman is the primary puck retriever. This defenseman will engage the opposing right wing first, then push off to retrieve the puck if the faceoff is won behind, skating behind the net. If the faceoff is lost, this defenseman will continue to engage the opposing right wing.

Faceoff win or a loss, engage the opposition first. On a win, break out from the other side.

Right Defense (Center Ice Defense)

The Center Ice Defenseman is not the puck retriever, and will only play the puck when the faceoff is won and the puck goes to their feet or the the opposite corner. If the faceoff is won to their feet, this defenseman should poke the puck behind the net as they shield it from the opposition, and the Board Side defenseman will retrieve the puck. At puck drop, this defenseman should engage the opposing left wing by default.

Sometimes, we see this defenseman line up behind the wings, further from the opposing left wing. There is NO advantage in doing this. Start as close to the opposing left wing as we can, and engage them as soon as possible. If the opposing left wing scores off the faceoff, it would be on you.

Always engage the opposition, do not worry about puck. If the puck comes into your feet, poke it behind the goal.

Left Wing (Inside Wing)

The Left Wing or the “Inside Wing” in this case must navigate through the faceoff circle to get to their intended check, the opposing right defenseman. The first few strides for Wings are always the same whether the faceoff is won or lost, and therefore these strides should be taken with confidence and urgency. Take the first step even before the puck hits the ice. Not enough wings do this in beer league.

On a faceoff win, turn slightly to get to the left wing side of the half-boards, but understand that there is a fairly high chance the breakout will take place on the other side. It may be wise to make a 270 toward the boards and start the breakout diagonal out of this turn if that is the case.

On a faceoff loss, because the Inside Wing skates through the “faceoff loss” zone, the puck may be “lost” to this Inside Wing’s stick for a quick rush. Keep the stick blade on the ice for this possibility and make sure the puck gets out of the zone here. A quick chip in between the two defensemen, or diagonally at the boards may be helpful. If the puck goes straight to the opposing defenseman, engage them immediately. Being close to them usually eliminates them as a passing option.

Inside Wing should be quick on their first steps, and be disrupting the play on a faceoff loss

Right Wing (Outside Wing)

The Right Wing or the “Outside Wing” in this case can skate forward at their intended check, the opposing left defenseman. The first few strides for Wings are always the same whether the faceoff is won or lost, and therefore these strides should still be taken with confidence and urgency. Take the first step even before the puck hits the ice.

On a faceoff win, after taking the first few steps forward to the intended check, turn out towards the right wing half-boards to get ready for the breakout pass. Understand that there is a high chance the breakout will take place on this side, and therefore be open and available for a pass from the defenseman from just behind the net.

On a faceoff loss, keep skating and engage the defenseman immediately. Being close to them usually eliminates them as a passing option.

Outside Wing should be quick on their first steps, and be ready to hustle over on a faceoff win

Center

Main job for the center is to contain the other center. Trust the other teammates to run the play properly, and there should be nothing to worry about.

On a faceoff win, support the puck carrier to receive a pass at any time. DO NOT retreat to pick up the puck, let your outside defenseman pick this up. Instead, engage the other center so that they cannot pick up this puck. This means tie up the other center just enough until your teammate gets the puck, bounce off this defender and skate to get open, skate in front of checks (not hiding behind) and maintaining a passing lane between the puck carrier and yourself with your stick down.

On a faceoff loss, the main job is to stay on the opposing center. Many centers will be tempted to chase the lost faceoff. DO NOT chase this puck. Admit that you lost this faceoff, focus and stay on the opposing center. Chasing lost faceoffs is the wings’ responsibility.

Engage opposing center first, and on a faceoff win, watch the timing and break out from the other side

Example Scenarios

Here are some examples of where the puck ends up after the faceoff is taken.

Faceoff Won Behind

First steps should always be the same, then break out from the other side.
  • The Board Side Defenseman (LD) engages the opposing right wing and then skates behind the Center to retrieve the puck. Then keeps skating behind the net and as soon as there is a lane to the half boards where the Right Wing is, send a direct pass (instead of a bounce off the boards) to their tape.
  • The Inside Defenseman (RD) engages the opposing left wing and becomes a safety net for a possible turnover.
  • The Center tangles with the opposing center, wins the faceoff, and then -while being mindful of the timing- skates his route on the breakout. The route should be low and slow, almost kissing the crease, but not too close to the boards.
  • The Inside Wing (LW) skates through the soft spot, recognizes the faceoff win, sprints to the boards to recognize his role in this breakout is the weak-side wing, and turns aggressively up toward center ice.
  • The Outside Wing (RW) takes a few steps toward his check, recognizes the faceoff win, sprints to the boards to recognize his role in this breakout is the strong-side wing, pivots and receives the breakout pass.

Faceoff Contested

When the faceoff isn’t won or lost clearly, engage our checks and gain body position
  • Center, Board Side Defenseman (LD), and Inside Defenseman (RD) all engage their respective checks, keep body position and stay engaged.
  • Either the Inside Wing (LW) or the Board Side Defenseman (LD) can swipe at the puck to get it behind the faceoff dot for the Board Side Defenseman (LD) to retrieve and skate behind the net with.
  • Once we have puck possession, it is the same breakout play.

Faceoff Straight to the Boards

When faceoff goes to the boards where it can be contested, breakout may need some improvisation.

In this example, the puck goes straight to the boards, where the Board Side Defenseman (LD) and the opposing right wing can contest for the puck, few things must happen.

  • Board Side Defenseman (LD) engages the opposing right wing first and gets body position, boxing out the opposition to gain puck possession.
  • Center engages the opposing center first, STAYS ENGAGED and stays between the opposing center and the net until LD gains (or has a high probability of gaining) puck possession.
  • Both Wings skate up to the respective checks until a breakout play is initiated.
  • Board Side Defenseman (LD) gains possession and pokes the puck back behind the goal line. This is where the Center must stay between the opposing center and the net, to win the race to this puck. Center retrieves the puck and goes behind the net. The Center’s first step toward this puck down low is the cue for a breakout play.
  • As the Center goes back toward the puck behind the goal line, the Inside Defenseman (RD) must fill the void created by the Center in the breakout and be ready for a rush.
  • While this happens, the Board Side Defenseman (LD) must skate back to the middle of the ice to be a safety net for a possible turnover.

Faceoff Won toward the Goalie

Puck goes to the goalie, if possible, poke the puck behind the net.

In this example, the faceoff is won but straight to the goaltender. If the puck is manageable and there is time and space, the goaltender can guide the puck to the back of the net with his pads, glove, or stick. This pass will be for the LD to pick up to head behind the net. If there is no time or space, the goaltender should cover the puck for another faceoff.

Opponents Lining Up Differently

When the opponents move their wing behind their center thinking they can get a quick faceoff win back to this “shooter” to get a shot on goal, make an adjustment by swapping our Board Side Defenseman and the Inside Wing. This way, we start with both of our defensemen in front of our goalie to crowd the shooting lane and hopefully get a quick jump on the potential faceoff loss that turns into a shot. Since the “shooter” (in this case, the opponent’s RW) vacated their spot, this allows our Inside Wing (LW) a free path to their check.

When their wing moves behind the center, get our defenseman to the middle.

Conclusion

In this defensive zone faceoff setup, body position is everything. Before we gain puck possession, situate ourselves where our goal is to get the puck behind our goal line and use body position to make it close to impossible for the opposition to gain puck possession before we do. We also make opportunities for ourselves to skate more without giving up body possession, and skating more leads to safer, more open passing options.