Improving Ice Hockey Performance by "Managing The Lines"
Finding rhythm through intelligent puck management
The offensive and defensive bluelines are a big deal. Due to their importance in the rulebook, they dictate a large part of a hockey game. The neutral zone (NZ) lines, including the redline, each hold an advantage for the players and teams that play them well.
Each NZ line is a natural barrier that needs to be overcome. Good teams make playing in these specific areas of the ice difficult.
Unlocking More Space
The more space you ask a defender to cover, the worse they will naturally be. The smaller the space, the easier it is to play defense.
To unlock space in hockey, players must gain depth. This new room to work and operate in makes the game much easier.
Taking away that space and forcing play into a small area is an advantage for the defensive team.
A defensive team is doing well and an offensive team is struggling when players are consistently getting “stuck at the offensive blueline” where they must slow down or come to a stop due to the offensive blueline.
Managing Vulnerability & Gaining Momentum
Making proper plays to remove the NZ lines as barriers is important. This also allows your team to “stack shifts” and leave the ice better than when you found it. It’s a quick way to build momentum.
Stacking shifts = when one good shift leads to the next good shift. The player coming off leaves the ice in a better spot than they found it. Added up, these make a difference.
When, where, and how player changes matters. If you are not fully sold on the importance of line change details, just ask Brad Marchand about his Game 7 line change…
New Coach, Simple Priority
As the new head coach behind the Chicago Blackhawks bench, Anders Sorensen’s first message to the team was around line changes and “managing the line.” His first team talk before his first game:
“Push the pace early, lots of good changes, manage the lines… in and out if we need to. Let’s get in rhythm here”
Here is an example of a teaching moment with Connor Bedard.
“Gotta make sure right around those lines. They’re pushing and pushing. We had it a couple of times now where it screws this line (the one up after you) because they can’t get on the ice half the time. Gotta be better there.”
Managing the lines refers to each NZ line, mainly each blueline and especially the offensive blueline. This is where defensive teams can set up a barrier of entry. Turnovers in the space can also be costly going back in the other direction.
“Gotta get in the rhythm of the forecheck. Can’t turn it over on their lines so our next line cannot get on.”
If depth isn’t gained, it is often difficult to change players and create issues such as mixed lines and tired bodies/minds. Rather than shifting advantage to your team, you are slowly giving it away. A ”death by a 1000 paper cuts” type issue.
While gaining the offensive zone with possession is prized, there can become an over-reliance on the tactic. Depending on the situation, often dumping the puck in and getting to your forecheck is the better option. When giving the puck up there are many effective strategies to choose from… Hard rims, soft chip and chase, opposite corner bank, etc.
Anders follows up his initial message talking more about line management and stacking shifts.
“Line management. We’ve talked about it. We’ve had some turnovers, right? From all the feedback, that’s where it’s (the turnovers/difficulties) are coming from. So around the lines, let’s be aware of what is going on. Read the pressure.
… make the right play at the right time. Cause it’s not fair to some guys. It’s hard to get in a rhythm as a team if we get certain guys on the ice that can’t get in a rhythm because there is a turnover and now we get pinned in our zone.
… we drew a penalty (and), it started with the forecheck. Let’s get on the forecheck. There is nothing wrong with it (our forecheck). Let’s keep it on the forecheck and keep it (the puck) away from our goalie.”
We grabbed the quotes from this YouTube Video:
Other Sorensen points of emphasis from his first game:
Quicker + harder on pucks… get there faster, stop on battles, and win more battles.
F3 (the 3rd forward) high in the OZ… good for defense and also offense
Use speed to pin back the opponent
F2 tracks the weakside of the ice to neutralize the opposition’s weakside defenseman jumping/joining the rush up ice.
Avoiding over-backchecking by finding the late arrivals to the OZ.
Avoid puck-watching and being puck focused. Head on a swivel to find opponents.
As with most things in life and hockey… many current player and team issues come back to a lack of technical and tactical empathy via puck management. Manage the lines well to improve your performance and your team’s performance.
Further Reading