Penalty Kill

OVERVIEW

The wedge is the most complex of PK systems. It is aggressive with the pressure and overloads the slot. If done correctly, you should always have a small triangle in front of the net with one player pressuring the puck carrier hard.

HOW TO

Essentially, you are forming two triangles in this system. For explanation purposes, we’ll assume the puck is at the right point. For this, the right forward would attack, the left forward would fall (or sag) into the high slot, and the two D cover low. The overall shape with the attacking forward is somewhere between a scalene and oblique triangle, while the inside/low triangle is more like an isosceles or right triangle depending on location of players.

As the puck moves, the closest player rotates or pushes out on the attack while the former attacking player sags back inside to help out the slot. The objective is to contain inside – picking up bodies and not allowing cut throughs – and force bad plays on the outside into turn overs.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS AND CONCERN

With this being aggressive out wide, the biggest issue becomes allowing too much time and space, and is particularly vulnerable when the puck rotates or switches sides. Players caught looping will automatically cost the team chances. Similarly, players that are selfish and/or become the “chaser ” (the only one that pressures) will tire quicker and leave the team open as they will surely fall behind the play. This penalty kill is best used with mature, self-less, patient teams, with a good command of starts & stops.

Video from Jeremy Weiss on the Wedge (or Wedge +1 as he calls it).

OVERVIEW

The diamond penalty kill is essentially the box but rotated. This is one of the more effective PKs against the umbrella because it puts players in a much more direct man to man situation up high.

HOW TO

Imagine drawing two diagonal lines from each blue to their opposite corner. Each of these is a defensive zone for a PK player and should match up (if the team is using an umbrella) with a player up top and one on each wing. In this coverage, the weak side winger is responsible for covering both their board side player and helping in the slot since we are out manned down low/inside.

If understood and played correctly, players should be able to fluidly rotate between a box and diamond as it is the same thing just rotated on a center axis. Principles of coverage are the same – don’t over commit, control and contain space, starts and stops instead of loops.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS AND CONCERN

Quick starts and stops are almost more important in the diamond than the box because of the potential for extra pressure down low. If you loop, someone will cut into the diamond and have a great scoring opportunity. Additionally, with the weak side wing helping in the slot, cross diamond passes for the one-timer in the opposite circle (Ovechkin’s sweet spot) need to be met with quickness of read and attack. If you hesitate or delay at all, we’re dead in the water.

Here’s another Jeremy Weiss video. This is focused on “defending the umbrella” but it uses a diamond-box rotation strategy.

OVERVIEW

The box penalty kill is the most simple, basic, and easy to understand of all penalty kills, making is the go-to for nearly every team exclusively or as part of a kill package. The concept is to contain space and force plays from the perimeter.

HOW TO

The box is simple to set up. It’s essentially the 4+1 without the +1. Alternatively, you can think of it as splitting the zone into 4 quadrants and each play has a quadrant – two high, and two low. Each player is responsible for their quadrant, area, or zone, covering players that come through or post up within.

As the puck moves, players need to keep their heads on a swivel for any players that “cut through the box” and pick them up. They also need to flex within their zones to help cover passing lanes.

For our purposes, we’ll use a medium to tight box with our high players using the tops of the circles as home base. This plays on the concept that it is easier to go forward than backward, so give more space outside or up top for the opponent to feel comfortable and giving more room for us to attack and adjust. The tighter box also limits the feeling of space through the box, minimizing cut through or pass through options.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS & CONCERN

Not being patient enough to let it happen is very important! Time and time again over the years of coaching I see players that are not patient screw up a perfectly good penalty kill because they have to be the one to get the puck out, or they feel like their teammate is not moving fast enough or working hard enough to make something happen. You have to work together and not over commit. If you’re selfish or think you can do it all, you’ll get beat and hang your team out to dry.

Starts and stops are critical. If you loop, you give up space. If you start and stop (toward the direction of play) you set yourself and your teammates up to gain possession or at least minimize chances.

Here’s a great explanation video from Jeremy Weiss (he’s also showing an overload PP here).