NHL 2K8: Zone Control

Active forechecking is an essential part of any hockey game. It can grant additional scoring opportunities, control the tempo of the game, and limit opposing breakouts. Today, Sportsgamer scopes out the three forechecking schemes and how to use them effectively.

1-4 Forecheck Style: Conservative Difficulty: Basic The most conservative of the three forechecking schemes, the 1-4 commits one forward, typically the center, to pressure the puck handler in the opponent’s zone. The remaining four players form a wall between the opponent’s blue line and the center line. This essentially commits four “defensemen” to cover the three opposing forwards on their attack. The scheme serves two purposes: preventing breakaways opportunities and slowing the tempo of any opposing attack through backchecking between the blue lines. The 1-4 essentially surrenders the opposing zone and is a good system to use late in a game when protecting a lead.
	1-1-3 Forecheck Style: Balanced Difficulty: Basic Like the 1-4 forechecking scheme, the 1-1-3 commits only one forward, again typically the center, to actively engage the puck handler. The difference is that the puck-side wing will patrol the area just inside the opponent’s blue line in order to support the on-puck defender and potentially keep the puck from exiting the zone. As there will still be 3 players back to harass the opposing forwards on attack, this defense does an adequate job in preventing 3-on-2 breakouts and encourages the opposing defensemen to bring the puck up ice. This should be the scheme you use for the majority of the game unless either the score dictates more conservative/aggressive play or if your opponent is careless with the puck in his own zone.
2-1-2 Forecheck Style: Aggressive Difficulty: Advanced An extremely aggressive forechecking scheme, the 2-1-2 calls for constant pressure on the puck handler in the opposing zone. Two forwards actively engage the puck handler at all times, the third forward maintains position along the blue line in order to prevent the puck from clearing, and the defensemen play aggressively by pinching in along the boards. This scheme, when successful, makes it difficult for the opponent to carry the puck and pressures them into making quick passes in little space. While it does result in more turnovers, this scheme is not for all players. Players tend to tire faster in the 2-1-2 and poor execution can result in many 3-on-2 breakouts the other way. Reserve this scheme for when you face a late deficit or when you feel you catch your opponent napping in his own zone.