How to Beat the Neutral Zone Trap

The neutral zone trap is a defensive style of play in hockey that allows a team of less talented players to compete against a team of more skillful players. However the neutral zone trap can be beaten, if the more skillful team properly prepares for the trap and knows how to counter it.

Instructions

• 1

  Recognize the trap. The defending team will be in a 1-2-2 formation. The defending center will be up pressuring your defensemen behind the net with the puck. The defending wingers will be at the top of either faceoff circle and their defensemen will be at the blue line.

• 2

  Make the initial outlet pass. This will typically be a pass from your defensemen behind the net, to one of your forwards along the boards. The defensive team will counter by squeezing your player with the puck towards the boards to force a turnover.

• 3

  Pass twice in rapid succession; timing is the key here. The winger with the puck must get the puck back to the defenseman who originally passed the puck to him. And that defenseman, then must get the puck to the winger on the opposite side of the ice. This winger will have the ability to skate with the puck temporarily.

• 4

  Dump the puck in, after gaining the red line and begin your forecheck. The defending team will try to re-form the neutral zone trap around the winger with the puck on the far boards. If he attempts to hold the puck too long it could result in the neutral zone turnover that the trap was designed to cause. Dumping the puck into the corner behind the defending team's net will break the trap and put the pressure on them.

• 5

  Start your forecheck. Once you have dumped the puck into the offensive zone, the trap is broken and your offense can begin setting up scoring opportunities. You will have the advantage, because your skilled players will be more able to maneuver into open ice -- where your superior passing and shooting will result in the goals you are looking for.

• 6

  Take advantage of rules changes. New rules in the National Hockey League have been put into place to limit the effectiveness of the neutral zone trap, as the trap tends to lead to boring hockey games. So, offensive teams should be aware that obstruction penalties -- such as holding and hooking -- will be called more often. In addition, the elimination of the red line for two line passes means greater opportunities and more open ice to breakout of the neutral zone trap.