2.6 - Objectives - Offense
The Power of Middle-Ice
In all three zones, middle-ice is prime territory. This is the area we want to get the puck to, but we don’t want to force it there. We want to get the puck into the middle of the ice with good possession.
The most obvious area where this applies is in the offensive zone when we are on offense. The scoring zone, or house, is where goals are scored from. Our entire game is built around getting pucks here with possession.
However, it is equally as important to gain middle-ice when on offense in the neutral zone and defensive zone. This is because if we are stuck along the wall, the opponents can essentially use the boards as an additional defender to squeeze off our attack. But if we gain the middle, we can threaten any and all directions to maintain possession, advance the puck and set up a run at the net.
Defensively, we need to also prioritize defending the middle of the ice for the same reasons. Obviously we want to prevent any shots from the scoring zone in our defensive zone, but we also want to prevent the opponents from gaining the middle in our offensive zone and neutral zone. It is much easier to defend when we can just funnel their attack into the boards and kill the play.
Primary Objective
On offense, our objective is always to attack the middle of the ice. It doesn't matter whether its on the breakout, rush or cycle, the primary goal is the same - gain middle-ice with possession of the puck. In the offensive zone, this could look like skating the puck into the house for a scoring chance. In the neutral zone or defensive zone, this means getting the puck inside the dots for optionality to go either left or right.
Secondary Objective
If we cannot gain the middle of the ice with control of the puck, our objective shifts to maintaining puck possession. If we have the puck, we can work it around the outside until we can open up a lane to the middle of the ice. Also when we have the puck, the opponents cant score. So having puck possession is a huge advantage.
Release Objective
If we are unable to get the puck into the middle of the ice. (with possession) or maintain quality puck possession outside the dots, our last objective is to release the puck as far away from our defensive zone as possible, without icing it, and then forecheck hard to get it back.
We want to dump the puck into a safe area of the ice that the defenders do not occupy. These areas are called quiet zones.
Within every offensive team system we use, we will have a release option which can be your fail-safe if you have no better plays available. If we can dump it to a pre-determined release point, we will all know where the puck is going and can get a jump on our opponents to get it back.
Recap
Primary Objective - Gain middle-ice Secondary Objective - Maintain possession out wide Release Objective - Dump to a safe area & forecheck