Many human players utilize aggressive checking and trapping techniques to pressure and confuse their opponents. These players are routinely out of position and rely on the resulting turnovers to create scoring chances of their own. This isn't limited to only human players though. NHL 2K9 (on higher difficulty settings) in particular will constantly attempt to trap in the neutral zone and will even send two or three defenders at the puck handler in their defensive zone. Although the AI in NHL 09 will also play more aggressively on higher difficulties, they won't place themselves out of position as in NHL 2K9.
While the strategy can be frustrating to play against (especially because passing lanes are easier to clog in NHL 2K9), spacing the ice and timely passing will make your opponent pay, human or otherwise. Here's an example...
 | |
| As the attacking team (in the white jerseys) brings the puck up ice, the puck handler is trailed by two opposition wingmen zeroing in on him. |
 | |
| The puck handler continues up the ice along the boards into the attacking zone. The defense sends a third player at the puck handler in an attempt to trap him in the corner and clog passing lanes. |
 | |
| Unfortunately for the defending team, the puck handler is able to thread a pass to a cutting teammate who gets off an contested one-timer toward the goal. |
 | |
| The result is that the goalie is unable to block the uncontested shot from such a short distance. |
You will invariably run into these types of players at some point, online or offline, human or AI. The key to countering these aggressive defenses is for the attacking team to create space between the puck handler and his teammates. As in the example, one effective way to do this is to immediately head to an attacking corner of the ice and wait for the defenders to close in. Just as they are about to surround the puck handler, the player must pass in between the defenders (like in the example) or send a pass along the boards and behind the net. By moving the puck to the other side of the goal, the offensive team can now capitalize on the mismatch resulting from the failed double-team (or triple-team)
