Power Play Read Drill
Decision Making
Legend
- player
- partner / opponent
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Train power play decision making by reading the penalty kill structure and identifying the open shooting or passing lane.
What you need
- hockey stick
- puck
- ice
Your focus
Power play efficiency depends on players reading and exploiting the penalty kill's weak point rather than forcing play into covered areas. Training this read with live defenders develops the pattern recognition that converts power play units from passive puck movers into active threat creators. Reading the penalty kill correctly is the highest-value decision-making skill on the power play.
Set up a 5-on-4 power play in the offensive zone.
Power play unit must make minimum 3 passes before shooting.
After the 3rd pass, puck carrier must verbalize their decision before executing.
Penalty kill team plays live; debrief on correct and incorrect reads after each segment.
Goal
Success is exploiting the open passing or shooting lane the penalty kill gives up, not forcing the one they're taking away.
Helpful cues
- The open lane is where the penalty killers are not, find the gap
- Read the weak side defenseman, when they collapse, the high slot opens
- Say your decision out loud, it commits you and helps your teammates
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Run against a passive stationary penalty kill so reads are clear before adding movement.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Add a shot clock of 8 seconds after the 3rd pass, decision must be made and executed immediately.No account needed
Build a practice plan
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