Successful powerplays are the key to consistently winning. Certainly, puck possession in the offensive zone is important. Most powerplays that maintain puck possession are able to get the puck back to the point at the blue-line, but often do not generate offence or scoring chances from the point.
Once the puck is passed back to the point, let’s look at one of the powerplay tactics that opens up a number of options. We call this strategy the D Slide. When D2, in the middle of the ice, receives the puck, D2 fakes a shot and then skates towards the top of the circle. From this D Slide many options open up:
D2 can then pass back to D1, who is skating across the blue line.
D2 can also pass to F1, who skates from the boards towards the high slot.
D2 can also pass to F2, who steps to the back side corner of the net.
Finally and most importantly, D2 can slide wide towards the top of the circle and shoot the puck.
The D Slide play obviously creates movement. Ask any penalty killer, the two toughest powerplay tactics to defend include shots and movement. I want to re-emphasize finding ways to get shots through to the net. The Detroit Red Wings’ powerplay is tops in the NHL because they generate the most shots on net during their powerplays. Often, the best option on the D Slide is to fake a pass and shoot the puck.
Ryan Walter played 15 seasons in the NHL and is now a coach with the Vancouver Canucks.
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