An important step toward being better at anything in life is getting out of your own way. When it comes to playing great hockey, that means thinking ahead on how to set yourself up for success on the next play.
Today, we are looking at a simple and effective strategy as a pass receiver off the offensive rush.
Opening Up
Opening up is sorting out your feet to make it easier to receive and shoot off the pass. Often, this looks like skating backward as the receiver.
This creates clean feet and a larger ‘wheelhouse’ in which you can receive a pass. Two major advantages:
Passer - The puck doesn’t have to be a perfect pass into a small area. Rather than having to master the perfect pass, the passer mostly has to worry about getting the puck past the defender and into an area.
Receiver - Given the open body orientation, the puck can easily be shot naturally and with great force (i.e., a one-timer). The puck can be handled on the forehand with a much greater range, and allows for easier adjustments.
Here are a bunch of examples:
The alternative is the receiver skates to the back post for a backhand tip/redirect. Sometimes, this is the correct play. But more times than not, it’s a much lower percentage play than simply opening up for a one-timer.
Next time you are the receiver on the rush, try out opening up and seeing all the benefits it provides.
Further Reading
Modern 3v2 Rush Attack: Rush Fundamentals and Puck Carrier Reads
Modern 3v2 Rush Attack: Middle Lane Driver & 3rd Player Reads