1. CEP Level 3 Brian Johnson
Penalty Kill
CEP Level 3
Brian Johnson

2. Choosing a Penalty Kill System for Your Team

3. Elements to be considered
Personal coaching philsophy
4-5 defensemen
6-7 forwards
Having your “next line” intact
Rink measurements
Opponent’s tendencies and systems

4. Design System To match players’ skills The players enjoy playing
To challenge your players

5. Effective Traits - Forwards
Excellent skater – quickness and strength
Excellent lateral mobility
Excellent checker with defensive skills (angling)
Intelligence – anticipation
Good face-off skills
Tenacity

6. Effective Traits - Defensemen
Excellent skater
Excellent lateral mobility
Strength in one-on-one situations
Out of corner
In front of the net
Intelligence – anticipation
Tenacity
Ability to clear the puck from the zone

7. Types of PK Forechecks
Aggressive
Controlled (read and react)
Passive

8. Aggressive

9. Aggressive Forecheck Both forwards hard on the puck.
Constantly pursuing the puck around the zone.
Little rhyme or reason in attacking the puck. Panic.
One puck carrier cannot beat both forecheckers.
One forechecker must “roll” to backup other who is pressing.

10. Controlled

11. T or Piggy-back Begins in I formation.
Fwds roll inside-out to force puck to the boards.
Semi-aggressive.
Read & attack if situation appears positive.
One pass should never beat both forecheckers.
D fills center through neutral zone.

12. Criss-Cross Works outside-in. X1 & X2 cross in parallel planes.
Timing is critical.

13. Controlled Delay Formation like the T.
X1 attacks puck carrier to force puck to be passed.
X2 delays and anticipates pass, attacking pass receiver.
X1 then comes right up the middle.

14. Passive

15. Passive X1 and X2 turn & pick-up wings covering outside lanes.
X3 and X4 fill inside lanes through neutral zone.
System is designed to force play on the defensive blue line.

16. Similar Forechecks

17. Tandem It is like the piggy-back method.
F1 forechecks the puck carrier & force a pass.
F2 then attacks the pass while F1 backchecks through the middle of the ice.
Usually do not force when behind the net.

18. T vs. Swing Breakout F1 mirrors the opponent’s swing person
This removes this option.
F2 moves down to forecheck the puck carrier.
D1 or D2 will attack any passes made to posted wingers.

19. Steer Tandem The Trap F2 is the “Hammer”
F1 is low on one side of the rink – causing the breakout to go the other way – angles off initial puck carrier up boards
F2 anticipates pass and “Hammers” receiver
F1 backchecks through middle

20. Read & React Simplest of all
High pressure based on speed & aggressiveness of forecheckers
F1 goes hard to create confusion
F2 reads & reacts to pass

21. Diamond Forecheck Mostly used in neutral zone, but can be O-zone
Concept of time & space w/ angling or steering
F1 is positioned in the middle of the rink ready to steer puck carrier to one side or the other
D1 stands up to form trap
If dumped, F2 and goalie must get puck out of zone
Pass to F1????

22. 1-3 Similar to the Diamond
Main thrust of def action occurs at def blue line
F1 may forecheck as deeply as he/she desires
Angle off puck carrier through neutral zone
Defenders form wall at blue line to force turnover or dump

23. Defensive Zone

24. Box Very passive Force opponents to work puck on the perimeter
Prevent opponents passes and the puck to move through the box
Force opponent to shoot from the outside, relinquish no rebound shots
Eyes & Butts

25. Rotation - Aggressive Read & react system
Players interchange position as they attack puck
Flood one side to shut-off passing lanes and puck movement opportunities
Each player must know others responsibilities and cover for him/her on the rotation

26. Controlled Combo of Box & Rotate
Puck is on top – rotate to “diamond” position
Puck is down low – box position with “controlled” pressure

27. Diamond or 1-2-1 Used against Umbrella Passive or Aggressive
When puck is deep in the zone, player on weak side must drop down to help cover in front of the net

28. 2 Players Short

29. Passive Tight Triangle
Like traditional box
Key = keep puck on perimeter
Give up shots outside, but nothing in slot or rebound
Goalie must have good angles and control rebounds

30. Rotating Triangle More pressure can be applied to vs offense
Tight triangle reduces area being covered
Rule of thumb: Defend no higher than top of the circles

31. Inverted Triangle
2 defenders always front the puck, with 1 on weak side
At top, 2-1
On ½ board, 1-2
Designed to put pressure on points and move puck deep in the zone

32. Keys to Remember Always face the puck
Split the ice in ½ to prevent cross-ice passes
Sticks on the ice
Keep away or ragging
1 pass doesn’t beat 2 defenders
Keep the front of the net clear
Don’t get tied up in front
Fwds sec shifts
Face-offs are crucial
Never clear puck across your zone. High & off glass
Fwds angle inside-out
Communication

33. Practice Coach the penalty kill Set goals
Make it a challenge
PP vs PK for a set period of time – have a winner
Set goals
Certain percentage
Keep statistics
Teach everyone, play everyone at youth levels