The Spread Power Play

By Enio Sacilotto, President International Hockey Camps and Assistant Coach, Victoria Royals, (Western Hockey League)

“The Spread” Power Play is one of the best weapons versus a high pressure penalty killing system. It is very difficult to defend against. With this system all Power Play Principles apply. In this article we will look at the basic set up of “the spread” and all the different options.

BASIC SET UP

1 – Left handed player – D man with a good shot /
passer.
2. – Right handed player – D man with good shot /
passer.
3. – Right handed Forward – can shoot and pass.
4. – Left handed Forward – can shoot and pass.
5. – Left or right handed, for this position, ability to
1 time and stand in front for tips and rebounds.
In this example player 5 is right handed.

VS. A LOOSE PUCK

 

This is where the spread can be a very useful weapon vs. an aggressive penalty killing system. The trick is to pass puck to areas and keep circulating the puck in the same direction. Keep the puck circulating eventually something will break down and/or the penalty killing unit will have to settle down and get into a box/diamond. The power play can start working from here.
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POINT SHOT OPTION

When players 1 or 2 have the opportunity they should take a low hard point shot to the net.
Player 5’s job is to be a bad goalie and get in front of the puck and opposing goalie providing a screen. Players 3 and 4 must go immediately to the net to collect all rebounds.
In this example player 1 has the shot, the pass can come from player 4 or player 2.

OPTIONS for PLAYER 5

Any time Player 3 has the puck Player 5 must go to the goal line and be an option for Player 3. Once Player 5 has the puck, he has the option of giving the puck back to player 3, going to the quiet area to player 4 or if available, 5 should take the puck aggressively to the net. This is call the “low walk” or “low stuff”.

OPTIONS for PLAYER 4

When player 4 has the puck, player 5 (in this example player 5 is right handed), he pops into the slot and is available for a pass from player 4 for a quick shot from the slot. If available 4 can shoot the puck on net, pass back to player 1 or pass to the “quiet area” to player 3. Player 4 can also go to player 3 who is going to the net (see next diagram).

Player 4 can also go to player 3 who is going aggressively to the net for a back door crease pass.

OPTIONS FOR PLAYERS 3 AND 4

If the seams are available, Player 3 can go across to player 4 for a shot on net, or vice versa.