Puck control

24 terms

Keeping possession: protecting the puck, winning battles and handling it under pressure.

B

Backhand win: Winning a faceoff by sweeping the puck back with the backhand side of the blade, often to a defenseman.
Battle: Any one-on-one fight for the puck or for position, along the boards, in the corners or in front of the net.
Board battle: A fight for the puck along the boards, won with body position, strong skating and quick stick work.

C

Corner battle: A fight for the puck in a corner of the rink.

D

Direct win: A clean faceoff win straight to the intended teammate, without a scramble.

E

Escape move: A tight turn away from a checker that buys the puck carrier time and space.

F

Faceoff set play: A planned play off a faceoff, where each player knows where the puck is going and what to do next.
Faceoff win: Winning possession off a faceoff by sending the puck to a teammate.
Forced turnover: A turnover caused by the other team's pressure, such as a hard forecheck or a good stick check.
Forehand win: Winning a faceoff by pulling the puck with the forehand side of the blade.

G

Giveaway: A turnover caused by your own mistake, such as a bad pass or losing the puck with no one pressuring you.

N

Net-front battle: The fight for position in front of the net, with an attacker trying to screen or tip shots and a defender trying to move them out.

P

Possession game: A style of play that keeps the puck through passing and support instead of dumping it away.
Puck battle: Two or more players fighting for a loose puck; winning it gives your team possession.
Puck carrier: The player who has the puck right now.
Puck management: Making smart, low-risk choices with the puck, like getting it deep instead of forcing a pass through the middle.
Puck possession: Having the puck on your team's sticks; teams that keep it longer usually spend less time defending.
Puck protection: Keeping your body between the defender and the puck so they cannot reach it.
Pull-back: A faceoff win where the center draws the puck straight back to a teammate behind them.

S

Stick battle: Fighting for the puck with your stick, lifting or holding down the other player's stick to win it.

T

Takeaway: Winning the puck away from an opponent with your stick or body.
Tie-up: On a faceoff, locking up the other center's stick or body so a teammate can swoop in and win the puck.
Turnover: Losing the puck to the other team, whether by your own mistake or because they took it away.

U

Unforced turnover: A turnover with no real pressure, usually from a poor decision or a missed pass.

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Backhand win

Winning a faceoff by sweeping the puck back with the backhand side of the blade, often to a defenseman.

Battle

Any one-on-one fight for the puck or for position, along the boards, in the corners or in front of the net.

Board battle

A fight for the puck along the boards, won with body position, strong skating and quick stick work.

Faceoff set play

A planned play off a faceoff, where each player knows where the puck is going and what to do next.

Faceoff win

Winning possession off a faceoff by sending the puck to a teammate.

Forced turnover

A turnover caused by the other team's pressure, such as a hard forecheck or a good stick check.

Forehand win

Winning a faceoff by pulling the puck with the forehand side of the blade.

Possession game

A style of play that keeps the puck through passing and support instead of dumping it away.

Puck battle

Two or more players fighting for a loose puck; winning it gives your team possession.

Puck carrier

The player who has the puck right now.

Puck management

Making smart, low-risk choices with the puck, like getting it deep instead of forcing a pass through the middle.

Puck possession

Having the puck on your team's sticks; teams that keep it longer usually spend less time defending.

Puck protection

Keeping your body between the defender and the puck so they cannot reach it.

Pull-back

A faceoff win where the center draws the puck straight back to a teammate behind them.

Puck control

B

C

D

E

F

G

N

P

S

T

U

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Want to work on your game?

Puck control

B

C

D

E

F

G

N

P

S

T

U

More topics

Want to work on your game?