Hockey is a great sport and something that many people around the world are passionate about. There are many different variations of hockey including ice hockey, street hockey, and car hockey; the basic idea is the same. The puck is like a hard ball but instead of being made of rubber, it is covered in leather and has small metal studs on the surface so that it can be easily grasped by the player’s stick.
This is what makes it so interesting when analyzing play. The actions of the players on the ice are usually very smooth and continuous but, as you will learn, there are specific stops and starts to certain moves that make up a specific play. These details make the game quite interesting to study and can be used to improve one’s game.
There are four basic lines in hockey; each one is named after a great Canadian woodworker whose work is still visible in various places around the country. The first line is the Red Line which is made up of the most skilled players in the game. They are very fast and can rush the puck forward quickly. This line is usually responsible for the majority of the game’s goals. Typically, they are also the first line on the offense and the last line on the defense.
The second line is the White Line which is made up of the second tier of players in the game. They are responsible for moving the puck quickly up the ice and creating some offense. They also defend the opposing team’s goal against any attacks from the opposing team. The third line is the Blue Line which is composed of the least skilled players in the game. This is the line that creates the odd-man rush that results in a goal or an assist.
The fourth line is the Black Line which is named after another great Canadian woodworker whose work is still visible in various places around the country. This is the line that is there just for defensive purposes and to clear the puck from the rink when a stoppage in play occurs. They also hit the opposing players to make that extra bit of chaos on the ice.
As you can see, the hockey lines are very interesting and can be quite unique in each game depending on the strategy of the coach. However, the game tends to follow certain patterns which makes studying it a bit easier. Knowing these patterns is important for any hockey player or enthusiast because it allows you to plan your plays ahead of time.
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The Red Line’s Pattern
The red line’s pattern is a generic name for a specific play that can be used by any NHLer (National Hockey League player). If you are on the red line and in possession of the puck, you have every intention of giving the puck to a teammate who is waiting in the neutral zone. One of the key pieces of this play is a clear ice pick-up by the center. The center begins the play by pulling back into the zone slowly while taking a hard look at the opponent’s goaltender to determine where his teammate(s) are positioned. Once he knows this, the center begins to circle the puck slowly as he looks for a forward who is open and has the puck.
As the center begins to circle the puck, the defense slides down towards the goal line in an attempt to impede the progress of the puck. The farther back they go, the safer they will be while still having the ability to contribute to the stall.
The center finds a forward who is open and has the puck and, as he begins to pull the puck to his fore with one hand, he uses the other to indicate where he will pass the puck to before completing the pass. Once the puck is transferred, the line then breaks into a fast burst towards the opposing team’s goalie, shooting towards the net for the first scoring chance.
This play has several variations. If the puck is at the far side of the ice, the center will typically make a right-hand pass to his left. If the play is started from the point, the pass will be made to his right. If the opposition chooses to rush the puck (attacker) towards the goal, the line will begin to move towards the front while in possession of the puck.
The White Line’s Pattern
The white line’s pattern is another popular play amongst NHL players (National Hockey League players). Again, like the red line’s pattern, this one is also easy to plan. Once you know what it is, you can simply adjust your play to fit the situation at hand. This is especially useful for newer players who do not yet have all the customizations necessary to adjust their plays to fit any situation.
Like the red line’s pattern, the white line’s pattern also begins with the puck being controlled by the center in the neutral zone. In this case, the puck is moved up the ice a little quicker and the defense does not have to be pulled back as far as in the red line’s pattern. From the point position, the puck is moved out towards the right wing where a right-to-left pass will put the puck in the attacking team’s corner for an easy shot at the net.
The difference in this play is in the receiving team’s (attacker) forward movement. Instead of keeping low and circling the net as they did in the red line’s play, the forwards in this play take a more direct approach, rushing the puck to the net. As a result, the play has a shorter lifespan. The line will typically use this play only once or twice during a game before reverting back to the previous method.
The Blue Line’s Pattern
The blue line’s pattern is named after a color but it is more useful when referring to a specific play that can only be used by NHL players (National Hockey League players) who play on the third line. This is one of the more complicated plays in hockey but it is a play that is worth learning. Once you know how to do it properly, you can use it effectively in almost every situation.
This line’s pattern begins with the puck being controlled by one of the team’s forward on the right half of the ice. The puck is then moved up the ice towards the corner where a reverse scooping motion will leave a pass open for the teammate waiting there. The forward then quickly changes directions and heads towards the opposite corner while puck-handlers (center and left wing) skate towards the net in an attempt to deflect the puck and get it into the play.
This pattern is similar to the other three plays in that the puck is pulled back for the initial pass. The main difference is in the receiver’s (attacker) forward movement. In this case, the players will not be moving towards the net in a direct line like the white line’s pattern but, rather, will be moving in the opposite direction, towards the corner. This creates a bit of a maze for the defenders who must now chase down the player(s) while also paying attention to the puck.
The result of this maneuver is that it opens up a lot of space for the attacking team in the neutral zone. If executed correctly, this play can leave the opposing team’s defense confused and off-balance while the incoming forward moves towards the corner to make the pass.
The Black Line’s Pattern
Finally, we arrive at the black line’s pattern. This is the line’s pattern that was mentioned earlier in the article for the defensive players but it also applies to the goaltender. This particular play can only be performed in the last minute of a game when a goaltender’s assistance is required. The goalie will skate towards the corner to join the rush and the puck will be passed to the nearest defenseman who will carry it the rest of the way to the bench.
Like the other three patterns, the puck is moved forward for the initial pass in this play. However, in this case, it will come from behind the net, rather than from the point as in the other plays. The result of this is that it creates a lot of confusion for the defenders while the team’s goalies try to figure out which players to cover on the rush. The play begins with one of the goaltenders throwing the puck towards the corner where it will be picked up by a defenseman. The goalie will then follow shortly after to provide help in netting the puck. Once the puck is in the defensive zone, both goaltenders will join the rush, leaving the other team’s defense scrambling.
This play was originally developed for the World Hockey Association (WHA) but it has since found its way into the NHL. One of the advantages of this play is that it can be used in a variety of situations. If the puck enters the zone from above or below the goal line, it is always passed to the back in an attempt to confuse the defense. If the puck is behind the net but between the goal lines, it is often pulled back and passed to the back. Another great advantage of this play is that it forces the opposing team’s defenders to turn around and play the puck, keeping their eyes peeled for the sneaky outlet passes that can leave them open for a goal.