Feature Story
Power plays (part III )
Let’s Play Hockey Columnist
This week we will look more closely at my
favorite power play — the TOP UMBRELLA
The top umbrella is pretty simple. It
starts (in the offensive zone) with three high (out near the blue line) players
and two low (at the net) players, so the initial 3-on-2 (advantage) takes place
on the outside. The key is to isolate the outside situation into a 2-on-1, then
convert the 2-on-1.
The basics that make the TOP UMBRELLA
work are:
• The basic
philosophy of the top umbrella is to get a great number of shots on net from
the 30 to 50-foot range — and to deflect and rebound with the inside two
players.
• The two
inside players should be good sized — and be scrappy and aggressive around the
net. Sometimes defensemen can work well in these positions.
• The inside
players should not “mix it up” with defenders in front of the net until just
before a shot is to be taken from the outside.
• Shots
should always be low and not too hard from outside — to take advantage of
deflections and the screen of four people congesting the front of the net.
• The two
inside players are after the rebounds no matter where they go.
• If control
of the puck is lost after a shot, both inside players must go hard after the
puck.
• If the puck
control is lost, the outside players must immediately rotate (see Diagram 1) to
assist in regaining control. The idea is to force or push the puck to the
outside and up the boards to the newly positioned teammates that have rotated
to that side. This rotation “overloads” the side that the puck is on.
Once control
is regained, the outside players rotate back to their original positions and
the inside players return to the front of the net.
• The tighter
the V is on the outside (top), the more advantage gained, but the more
susceptible the pattern becomes to steals and breakaways by the penalty
killers.
• The three
high players are working on 2-on-1 situations to get one player free for a shot
— preferably from a good angle and from about top circle. Any of the three may
shoot.
The basic pattern for maximizing
possession of the puck and shots is shown in Diagrams 1, 2, 3, and 4.
In Diagram 1, the puck is in the corner
and the two “front-of-the-net” players (1 and 2) pursue it aggressively; along
with the right side high players (3).
Once they get the puck, facing the boards, they just ring it around to
the right side (high player (3) who is also facing the boards.
In Diagram 2, the right side high player
(3) moves it along the boards, to the blue line where the middle high player
(4) is waiting. The middle high player
(4) is the quarterback (QB).
In Diagram 3, once the right side high
player (3) starts back toward the blue line, the middle high QB player (4)
starts quickly along (just inside) the blue line with the puck.
In Diagram 4, the middle high quarterback
has three options based on how the top two penalty killers (C and D) react. If
Killer C goes with the QB (with the puck) the QB quick-passes the puck back to
the right side player (3) who can move in for a shot. If Killer C tries to drop
back to cover right side player (3) to cut off the pass, the QB keeps the puck
and cuts quickly in toward the net. If Killer D comes over to help, the QB
passes to left side player (5), who then moves in with a shot.
It is pretty hard to beat this power play
if the QB is good and smart. The primary shooter is generally the right side
player (3). Of course, this can be set up on the left side as well if the
players feel more comfortable there. One side should be chosen for the
“standard.” I call that “leaning right or leaning left.” The inside players (1
and 2) can force the puck around the boards to whatever side the team leans.
Practices will always be from that side.
Of course, there are other variations,
including passes from the QB to the left outside player (5) after the QB has
cut for the net.
The obvious “solution” to this power is a
diamond kill (instead of a box). This puts three players more or less
face up on the three outside power players. This leaves a 2-on-1 at the net,
however, that can be taken advantage of by “passing” the puck quickly to the
net where the two inside players (1 and 2) collect it and attack the net.
Next week in the last of this four-part
series, we will assess the
John Russo, Ph.D., is founder and
director of the
