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The majority of successful hockey teams have an aggressive style of defensive play. This, invariably, leads to penalties and therefore shorthanded play.
Penalty Killing is mentally, physically and strategically demanding and requires intense effort to have a chance to succeed.
The primary objective is to stop the opposition from scoring. This can be achieved by:
The use of tactically correct end zone positioning to ensure shots come only from a distance whilst trying to allow your net-minder a clear field of vision. You would also have to ensure that rebounds and loose pucks are recovered.
Creating turnovers and maintaining control of the puck for as long as possible
Initiating offensive play when the opportunity presents itself.
Using fast, disruptive fore-checking tactics with strong defensive positioning from their End Zone through the Neutral Zone and, at your own Blue Line, delaying them, thus reducing their chances of achieving an advantageous offensive position.
Penalty Killing success is in the hands of the on-ice players and depends on their knowledge of techniques, awareness of their surroundings and anticipation.
A good quality penalty killer would need to have good anticipation, judgement awareness and reactions. He should be able to check aggressively, have good defensive skills, eg. angling, gap control. His skating should be powerful, fast and agile and he should be willing to block shots. An additional benefit of course is the ability to win face-offs.
The Penalty Kill can be played in two distinct forms: Pressured or Contained.
The 'pressured' system requires the short handed players to vigorously fore-check the puck and the most dangerously positioned opponents. This can be done by any number of players on the ice, 1 to 4, depending on the coach's choice.
In the 'contained' system no fore checking is used. Instead players rely on positioning themselves in such a manner that the opponents are unable to penetrate to an advantageous position. This is best described as 'concentrating' the defence and 'containing' the offence.
The ideal Penalty Kill would be the ability to play both a combination and variation of the two systems.
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