Finding Space: Leaving the OZ
Overcoming mental barriers to find space and create advantageous conditions
In the modern game, it’s difficult to find space. Finding ways to create that space and turn them into advantageous situations is crucial.
Once the puck is in the offensive zone, the blue line basically becomes irrelevant for the players off of the puck.
Yet, for most players, the blue line often acts as a barrier that players mentally stay within. This is a hard mental barrier that players have to overcome in order to expand their vision of offensive possibilities.
Problem Creator
Everyone wants players that are good problem solvers.
I want problem creators.
I want players that are able to put defenders in awkward spots and force them to make decisions. Within both of those situations, there are offensive opportunities.
Leaving the Offensive Zone (OZ)
Finding space in awkward spots puts defenders in places they’d prefer not to be or forces them to ask questions to themselves.
Offensive players leaving their OZ and having the opposition defending in the neutral zone while the puck is in their own defensive zone is definitely an awkward spot for a defender. What would you do?
Leaving the OZ is a similar move that “Maverick” pulled in the original Top Gun movie. Disengage, only to reengage but with advantageous conditions. This preparation for a puck touch is a key offensive concept. Those that do it well tend to manufacture offensive at a high rate.
So, what does this look like in practice?
Example #1 - Austin Matthews #34
Matthews starts by skating/walking up the board with the puck. He passes across and then re-routes out of the OZ.
He then skates into the OZ with some momentum into clean ice where he was able to unload a rocket of a shot. His defensive check glances at Matthews skating outside of the OZ, but doesn’t head out of the zone and allows Matthews acres of space.
The reply does a really nice job of spotlighting Matthews’ reroute. He almost touches the center ice dot!
Example #2 - Mason McTavish #23
McTavish is being defended in a man-on-man situation. By leaving the zone, the defender slacks off and starts to puck watch. This allows McTavish to move around freely and find open space.
Example #3 - Mitchell Marner #16
Playing away from the strong side on this power play, Marner leaves the zone to set up favorable conditions for his eventual puck touch.
By leaving the zone Marner is able to create an easy passing lane and attack downhill into the offensive funnel with momentum. Notice how the defender cannot get his stick in the passing lane then Marner is easily able to bypass that defender to create a 3v2 lower in the offensive zone.
Example #4 - Leon Draisaitl #29
Here, Draisaitl makes a pass, exits the zone, and re-enters the zone again after building up a speed differential. He attacks and causes a defensive breakdown before laying a pass for an easy backdoor goal.
Breaking the mental barrier of the blue line is a great way to expand offensive possibilities. Next time you’re at the rink, give it a try.
Further Reading
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