How to Run a Penalty Kill in Hockey

One of the more difficult things to do in hockey is to kill off a penalty. Playing a man down for at least two minutes is a difficult proposition. However, if you can learn how to run a penalty kill in hockey, your team should be able to kill around 85% of your penalty situations. In this article we are assuming you are playing in a five on four situation.

Instructions

    • 1

      Pick your players. You must have a penalty killing unit with your two best defenders on the back line and your two best skaters to play on the perimeter. Start every penalty situation with your top unit to increase your chances of having a successful penalty kill in hockey.

    • 2

      Set up your formation. Your four players should form a box in your zone of the ice near each corner with your two best skaters near the blue line and the two best defenders near the goal line. One player should be responsible for moving into the middle if the puck is in the middle of the ice. Without setting up correctly, you are going to will have a difficult time running a penalty kill in hockey.

    • 3

      Sag off the puck on the perimeter. Do not try to jump out and pressure the puck. Hang back and try to block the passing lanes. In order to successfully run the penalty kill in hockey you would much rather have shots come from near the blue line than from in close. Passing around the perimeter takes time off the clock. Once a team gets a pass in the slot the penalty killers must collapse into the middle and the frame of the defense is lost.

    • 4

      Block shots. Always keep your stick on the ice and when a player is about to shoot, or even pass in some situations, lay down on the ice and make an obstacle. Just make sure that you turn your face away from the shot.

    • 5

      Move with the puck. When the puck is on one side the defenders on that side should shade towards that half of the ice. The other two defenders should slide over to the middle.

    • 6

      Hustle your little buns off. In order to successfully run a penalty kill in hockey you must outwork the other team. There are five of them and only four of you.

    • 7

      Clear the puck. Every time you clear the puck it takes at least fifteen seconds off of the clock and usually more. Do not try to skate through a hoard of opponents, just clear the puck.