5 Ways to Boost Offensive Output (Continued)

Last week I wrote about working at 5 areas with teams over the past month to create more scoring. They are:

1) Shooting to create secondary scoring chances

2) Playing in front of the net

3) Looking for and getting to the back door

4) Creating scoring chances out of the corner

5) Creating scoring chances from behind the net

My last blog post talked to the first two points. Here are some thoughts about the other three.

I will start with creating scoring chances out of the offensive zone corner. If a player has the puck in the corner they really only have three ways to move 1) up the boards towards the blue line 2) down the boards towards the back of the net and 3) straight to the front of the net if there is room and a seam. Let's look at options on all three of these scenarios and tie in the back door and behind the net.

First, moving up the boards from the corner towards the blue line really gives a player three options with the puck. The best option is to find a seam in the defenders and cut to the front of the net through the faceoff circle for a chance to score. Second, pass back to the defenceman at the blue line as an outlet pass and third, cycle the puck back to the corner for a teammate to pick up. We practice coming off the boards with speed into the slot area for a shot in our regular battery of shooting drills. We also practice cycling the puck back into the corner and try to anticipate, but not over anticipate, that dump back into the soft spot just below the goal line.

Second, taking the puck below the goal line and behind the net can be a very effective offence generating position. We work hard from the back of the net on our power play. It is a confusing place for the puck to be for many defenders and goalies. Players often don't know if they should chase behind or not, and goalies often don't work very much on their positioning when the puck is behind the net. When players take the puck behind the net from the corner they must have their head up at all times looking for a teammate's stick on the ice for a one timer. Everyone should be ready to get the puck when possession is behind the net. We also do a "wrap around" drill where players start in the corner and can either come out to score on the near or far side of the net. The key I teach to this is that you have to get your feet to the goal line before you try to score to get a better angle on the shot.

Third, players need to look for openings to go to the net at all times. Often players don't make that first step towards the net and an opportunity is lost as the defence close the open seams. Players need to always be aware of the "red sea parting" and an opening left for them to go right to the net for a scoring chance. This also leaves opportunity for a teammate to set up at the back door for a quick tap in!

I believe that the "back door" play needs to be a set play in every teams offensive playbook. That player can be open so much of the time and it truly can be a very easy tap in for a goal. Players need to not only look for openings to go to the net with the puck but actively look for the quick pass to the far post (or the back door).

Our practices often include setting up these scenarios from the corner with defensive pressure and without. As I have said before, we spend so much time as coaches practicing our defensive play but truly, we need to attend to our offensive play as much or even more.