Coach’s Corner: Neutral Zone Transition
This week's Coach's Corner focuses on Neutral Zone play. Specifically, the Neutral Zone Transition.
As you read through, you may notice some similar terms and concepts from previous posts. Namely, creating time and space, puck support, read and react, possession. All important aspects of play to keep in mind!
When the puck comes out of the Offensive Zone into the Neutral Zone, you oftentimes see the Defenseman gather the puck and fire it right back into the Offensive Zone while the entire forward line is still in the zone, and are now off-sides. This results in the opposing team gaining possession of the puck while the entire attacking team has to skate back to the Neutral Zone to tag up and nullify the off-sides. The opposing team is then able to break out of their Defensive Zone unopposed.
Instead, the Defenseman should gather the puck and continue to skate back into the Neutral Zone, towards their Defensive Zone blue line, while maintaining possession and control of the puck. This creates time and space for the Wings and Center to hustle out of the Offensive Zone to get on-side. Once everyone is out of the Offensive Zone, the Defenseman can transition to forecheck, and start moving the puck up the ice again. This is often done similar to a Defensive Zone breakout. Wings will position themselves along the boards on their respective sides, while the Center swings thru the middle of the Neutral Zone to present a pass option and to support the puck.
The Neutral Zone Transition works best when the Defenseman moves the puck from the strong side of the ice (the side of the ice where the puck is located, and therefore, typically most of the players/traffic/etc) to the weak side of the ice, where there is more room to find a passing lane, head-man the puck and re-enter the Offensive Zone. Defenseman to Defenseman passes work well for this, and the weak side Defenseman will usually have an open passing lane up the boards to his Wing, or, if the Wing is covered, to the Center who should be reading and reacting to the play and swinging thru the Neutral Zone to present a pass option.
By maintaining possession of the puck and creating time and space, the Defenseman can allow the Wings and Center to exit the Offensive Zone, regroup, and transition back to forecheck.
One final point, if Wings are posted on the boards looking to receive that pass from their Defenseman are being covered by an opposing player, then the Wing needs to MOVE! Your Defenseman cannot get a pass to you if you are covered. Oftentimes taking a couple steps down the boards, or east-west in the zone is all that is needed to open up a passing lane and get your team back on the attack!
the linked video does a pretty good job of explaining the Neutral Zone Transition or Regroup.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NQIObmqET4
