Penalty Kill
CEP Level 3
Brian Johnson
Choosing a Penalty Kill
System for Your Team
Elements to be considered
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Personal coaching philsophy
4-5 defensemen
6-7 forwards
Having your “next line” intact
Rink measurements
Opponent’s tendencies and systems
Design System
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To match players’ skills
The players enjoy playing
To challenge your players
Effective Traits - Forwards
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Excellent skater – quickness and strength
Excellent lateral mobility
Excellent checker with defensive skills (angling)
Intelligence – anticipation
Good face-off skills
Tenacity
Effective Traits - Defensemen
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Excellent skater
Excellent lateral mobility
Strength in one-on-one situations
Out of corner
 In front of the net
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Intelligence – anticipation
Tenacity
Ability to clear the puck from the zone
Types of PK Forechecks
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Aggressive
Controlled (read and react)
Passive
Aggressive
Aggressive Forecheck
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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.
Controlled
T or Piggy-back
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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.
Criss-Cross
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Works outside-in.
X1 & X2 cross in
parallel planes.
Timing is critical.
Controlled Delay
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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.
Passive
Passive
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X1 and X2 turn & pickup wings covering
outside lanes.
X3 and X4 fill inside
lanes through neutral
zone.
System is designed to
force play on the
defensive blue line.
Similar Forechecks
Tandem
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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.
T vs. Swing Breakout
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F1 mirrors the
opponent’s swing person
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This removes this option.
F2 moves down to
forecheck the puck
carrier.
D1 or D2 will attack any
passes made to posted
wingers.
Steer Tandem
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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
Read & React
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Simplest of all
High pressure based on
speed & aggressiveness
of forecheckers
F1 goes hard to create
confusion
F2 reads & reacts to pass
Diamond Forecheck
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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????
1-3
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Similar to the Diamond
Main thrust of def action
occurs at def blue line
F1 may forecheck as
deeply as he/she desires
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Angle off puck carrier
through neutral zone
Defenders form wall at
blue line to force
turnover or dump
Defensive Zone
Box
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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
Rotation - Aggressive
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Read & react system
Players interchange
position as they attack
puck
Flood one side to shutoff passing lanes and
puck movement
opportunities
Each player must know
others responsibilities
and cover for him/her
on the rotation
Controlled
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Combo of Box & Rotate
Puck is on top – rotate
to “diamond” position
Puck is down low – box
position with
“controlled” pressure
Diamond or 1-2-1
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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
2 Players Short
Passive Tight Triangle
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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
Rotating Triangle
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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
Inverted Triangle
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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
Keys to Remember
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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
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Don’t get tied up in front
Fwds 30-40 sec shifts
Face-offs are crucial
Never clear puck across
your zone. High & off
glass
Fwds angle inside-out
Communication
Practice
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Coach the penalty kill
Make it a challenge
 PP vs PK for a set period of time – have a winner
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Set goals
Certain percentage
 Keep statistics
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Teach everyone, play everyone at youth levels