Advice: Chasing a puck into the corner with a winger on your tail

[deeman]

I have a question about chasing a puck into a corner in the defensive zone. My last game I had a scenario happen about 5 times (with the same guy!) where a stray puck was sent into the corner of our zone – typically dumped in by the offense from the other team. So, I chase the puck into a pretty empty zone with this hot dog winger riding my rear. As soon as I would try to go for the puck he would lift my stick and generally outsmart me every time.

I thought of two strategies to try the next time.

1. Slow my speed. He seemed to like following me in so he could react and not have to make the first move. I figure if I slow my roll it may help to take possession easier. Also, as I slow down I can look around for my wingers and know where to make a quick pass to.
2. I could also charge the puck and then hit the brakes once I make contact and take possession of the puck and hope to shake the guy that way

Any thoughts on these tactics or other effective tactics?

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[Clint]

1. Slow my speed. He seemed to like following me in so he could react and not have to make the first move. I figure if I slow my roll it may help to take possession easier. Also, as I slow down I can look around for my wingers and know where to make a quick pass to.

Yes. Use your body to position yourself between him and the puck. If you're able to shield yourself between his stick and the puck by leaning into him as you're heading into the corner he won't be able to outmaneuver you. Just make sure you have a strategy every time to whip it around the boards or headman it to an open teammate once you reach the puck.

2. I could also charge the puck and then hit the brakes once I make contact and take possession of the puck and hope to shake the guy that way

No. This is a great way to get hit from behind and break your neck into the boards. You're no good to your team if you're paralyzed, simply put.

 

[Jarick]

Safety first, keep your head up and go into the board shoulder-first. Try and get between the puck and the forechecker. Protect the puck with your feet and try to kick it to a teammate who SHOULD be helping you out rather than staring.

 

[Beville]

Get your body as wide as possible using it as a shield...

That's what I'd recommend anyway...

 

[flyers10]

Depending on where the puck is in the corner try to go in on an angle that way you can grab the puck off the boards and keep forward momentum with him still trailing you.

 

[JR97]

Hopefully you have teammies coming back to help you out. If you do, let the winger tie up your stick and maybe try and tie up his, protect the puck, and let a teammie dig it out. If you don't have at least your D partner coming back to help you out you need to chew him/her out on the bench.

 

[Malreg]

Depending on where the puck is in the corner try to go in on an angle that way you can grab the puck off the boards and keep forward momentum with him still trailing you.

This!!!

Make sure you never take a straight line into the corner. If you do, and something happens, whether you get tripped, pushed, or just fall on your own, you'll be going head first into the boards. Always take an angle into the puck. This way if something happens you will go shoulder/side into the boards and not head first.

This also allows you to pick up the puck while in movement. Decide which way you're going to go before you get to the puck, take the proper angle into the corner and pick up the puck with speed.

 

[I Am Score*]

I was playing pick up hockey and I absolutely hate when I get people like this. Not exactly the same but I was skating back into the defensive zone and he comes screaming out of nowhere. The puck was in the corner and I was going normal speed and he books it. It was like over halfway through the game and it wasn't competitive at all. He was obviously trying to get a chance in the offensive zone but it's pick-up.

Next time i'll just nudge him and turn him if he tries it again. I would recommend as the other person said, be as wide as possible and just nudge him and possibly knock him off balance a bit.

 

[Jarick]

Depending on where the puck is in the corner try to go in on an angle that way you can grab the puck off the boards and keep forward momentum with him still trailing you.

Oh yeah, this too. I try to not ever go straight into the boards but at an angle, that way if something goes wrong I can bounce off.

 

[tarheelhockey]

This is a situation where you need to talk to your defensive partner and possibly your center when you're on the bench, and get everyone on the same page. Getting the puck away from this guy is one thing, but you probably need to move it quickly considering he's obviously a good forechecker.

Tell your partner what's going on, ask him what he's seeing from his angle, and agree on a game plan so you're not out there trying to read a play and handle the puck against a good forechecker at the same time. Chances are, a simple ring-around the boards to a waiting teammate will work fine.

 

[esidebill]

A decent strategy is use his momentum as a disadvantage. If you have a man behind you, backhand the puck up the boards to him. The puck will go right past him and hopefully to your team mate. That, or pass it further up the boards behind the goal. If you have to, slow down, put your butt in his way and square up on the puck with your skates, waiting for help.

 

[jw2]

Depends where the puck is/where its going.

Take the appropriate angle towards the puck, shielding the opponent
Control your speed - dont see it as "slowing down". I let off the gas a bit, and as soon as I feel the trailer lets off the gas, I gun it opening up a gap between the two, giving me more time to gather the puck and make the appropriate pass.

Regardless, I always suggest going at a good angle (not perpendicular to the end boards) and with speed.

You should communicate with your partner on where he will go so you know where you can play the puck if you dont have time.

If the guy catches on, purposely overskate the puck and he'll continue to follow you, taking himself out of the play. Make sure you have a center there to support and pick up the puck after.

The winger was being proactive. He knew exactly what you were going to do because there was no creativity. He controlled what you were going to do, and you let him.

 

[ColePens]

You can also use your butt to slow him down when going close to the boards. Doing that also gets your hands up just in case he bumps you into the boards from behind. I usually turn quickly so my back is never facing that player.

 

[RangersAM99]

raise a bow into his dome

 

[GmC]

If you're able to get the puck first at an angle, skate with it, anticipate his stick lift on you and raise your stick before he makes contact and bring it back to the puck. You may have to raise it a few times to deflect his checks. Watch Toby Enstrom if you can.

 

[FootKnight]

Something I use from time to time is faking that I'm going to hit the puck up the boards. I'll look over my shoulder then raise my stick a bit and position myself like I'm going to slap it around the boards, which will generally cause the guy to slow and move toward the boards, then as I get to the puck, switch and take it on the backhand. Generally works best if the puck is in the corner where taking it on the backhand goes behind your net.

I was playing pick up hockey and I absolutely hate when I get people like this. Not exactly the same but I was skating back into the defensive zone and he comes screaming out of nowhere. The puck was in the corner and I was going normal speed and he books it. It was like over halfway through the game and it wasn't competitive at all. He was obviously trying to get a chance in the offensive zone but it's pick-up.

Next time i'll just nudge him and turn him if he tries it again. I would recommend as the other person said, be as wide as possible and just nudge him and possibly knock him off balance a bit.

Man, you would hate me then. I don't actually play pick up, but my team has ice twice a week for practice and if I happen to be at forward (usually only 7 or 8 guys per side during the scrimmage portion of practice, so you end up playing everywhere), I will try to beat you to every single puck that goes into your zone and if I can't beat you, I'll be coming after you to try to take the puck or force you to move it. I never let defensemen just glide back into their zone for loose pucks. If you don't want to skate hard for it, I'm more than happy to take it.