Modern 3v2 Rush Attack: Rush Fundamentals and Puck Carrier Reads
What goes into successful 3v2 rush attacks?
Welcome to part one of a two-part series breaking down the modern 3v2 rush attack.
Part #1 = Rush Fundamentals & Puck Carrier Reads
Part #2 = Middle Lane Driver & 3rd Player Reads
On 3v2 attacking rushes, it’s important to have a player going hard toward the net. You’ll often hear coaches preach that F2 drives “hard to the net.” This pushes back the defense and forces them into making decisions. That chaos creates options and a potentially dangerous scoring chance attacking team.
While directionally correct, there are many details that go into being a great middle-lane driver.
Rush Attack Fundamental: Depth and Width
As an offensive team, the first fundamental piece that must be achieved is gaining depth on the zone entry.
Attacking players must challenge the defense to defend as large of an area as possible. If there are three players on the same plane or in a line, the defense can easily prevent a dangerous chance without much effort.
Width is also a big item in creating a larger surface for the defenders to cover. Offensive spacing should have players is different levels vertically and horizontally.
Getting more complex, we want to use overlaps, middle entries, attack on diagonal routes, switching lanes with feet and puck movement, etc.
Related:
Attack nose to nose and hold the on-puck defender inside as long as possible
Classic vs Modern
Here is the classic 3v2 attacking rush example with the common coaching points.
F1 takes the puck wide
F2 goes hard to the net
F3 goes to high ice
The classic way is a great starting point but quickly falls apart as teams and players improve. This approach doesn’t challenge the defense enough to truly be a valuable tactic under all circumstances.
Increasing the details to a modern standard forces both defenders to make decisions. When a defender makes a decision, the offense already has an answer ready to execute.
F1 stays a threat to walk in and shoot
F2 plays off D1’s heels to create a short and larger passing lane. Normally this will be toward the near dot rather than the net.
F3 makes a decision based on D2’s choice and backpressure
Puck Carrier (F1) Read… Stay a Threat
A common issue seen a lower levels of hockey is the puck carrier simply skates the puck wide and ends up wide or in the corner. Often caused by rushing through their rush attacking chance. Rather players should remain a viable attacking threat.
Puck carrier read #1 = Is D1 challenging the puck carrier?
If yes, stay wide and draw them out of a neutral position
If no, take ice open in the middle and stay a shot threat
Puck carrier Read #2 = Is D2 going with our middle driver or staying high?
With the middle driver = Look for a pass into the high-ice
Staying high = Look for a pass into the middle lane driver
Don’t rush your rushes! Make the defensemen make the first decision.
No good option?
What if there is no good option and you find yourself in a poor spot? Turn up and look for next layer high in the zone or at worst, send puck deep and start working offensive zone plays as a unit.
That’s enough for today. Stay tuned for part two next week.
Further Reading:
Using false movement to get open and create space for more passes
The first move is for the defender, the second move is for you
Modern Hockey Offensive Rush Tactics with Defenseman Roman Josi