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Ice Geography: Using The Dots To Your Advantage

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Ice Geography: Using The Dots To Your Advantage

Utilizing The Dots

Greg Revak
Feb 26, 2023
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Ice Geography: Using The Dots To Your Advantage

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Last week we covered the concept of middle ice and the dot lanes. Today, we’re going to illustrate examples of how players are using the dots themselves to their advantage.

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Zone entry

High-level hockey does not insist on “F2 hard drive to the net” during a zone entry. Instead, many players aim for the offensive zone dot. These routes allow for area passes, requires the weakside defensemen to make a decision, and opens the ice spacing for the offense.

In the example below, Patrick Kane heads to the dot instead of the net. This allows Dylan Strome to make a high-danger pass.

Animated GIF
3/5/2022

Jack Hughes takes a similar route to the dot during New Jersey’s zone entry.

Animated GIF

In-Zone Offense

This is a personal favorite of mine. The faceoff dot can be used as a guide to support positioning and spacing. A support player can yell “Dot!” and the player makes an area pass to the dot, almost blindly.

The Flyers forecheck hard and create a battle. The third offensive player surfs over and supports the battle on the faceoff dot.

Animated GIF
3/13/2022

Dot positioning has great spacing and allows the support player to react well on a lost or won battle. This play ends up loose and the support player on the dot is in great spot to make a play. But even if Montreal would have won the puck, the dot player is in a good defensive posture.

Animated GIF

Here, John Tavares presents himself as a support option to the puck retriever and then ends up being in a great position to take the backhand pass from behind the net. Great positioning habit leads to a quality goal.

Animated GIF

Another example on a puck recovery during a power play. Both strong-side and weak-side flanks are using the dots to perfection.

Animated GIF
2/16/23

This is something to notice when you’re watching a game or something to try out when playing your next game. Remember, great routes and spacings revolve around the dots.


Further Reading

  • Rink Terminology

  • Centers using the dots as support positioning in the defensive zone

  • Area passes are the elite passes

  • Want to improve your shot? Start with body shape


Hockey IQ Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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Ice Geography: Using The Dots To Your Advantage

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