Late-game situations

Setup

1. Full ice, two teams of five skaters, and a goaltender in full gear in each net. Full equipment for everyone.
2. A coach runs the clock and calls the situation before each rep, for example: up by one with 2:00 left; down by one with 1:00 left and a defensive-zone faceoff; tied with 30 seconds left after an icing; down by one and pulling the goaltender for a sixth skater.
3. Each rep is one real shift, around 30–45 seconds of play, then a change.

How it runs

1. The coach calls the situation, drops the puck at the right dot and starts the clock.
2. Leading team: get the puck out of the zone off the boards or the glass, and get it deep past the red line. A puck shot from your own half that crosses the far goal line untouched is icing: the faceoff comes back to your end and the team that iced can't change.
3. Trailing team: keep the puck in at the blue line, get bodies and pucks to the net, and choose the moment to pull the goaltender.
4. After each rep the coach asks the players coming off what the right play was and why. Rest and water while the next group goes.

Coaching points

• Before every faceoff, know the score, the time and who is on the ice.
• Leading late, the safe play wins: chip it out, get it deep, change while it's down the other end.
• Trailing late, raise the tempo: shots with traffic, defenders holding the line.
• No retaliation and no lazy stick fouls: a late penalty can decide the game.
• The next line on the bench should know the situation before it goes on.

Common mistakes

• A risky pass through the middle of your own zone while protecting a lead.
• Icing the puck under pressure when the boards or glass were available.
• Changing with the puck in your own end.
• Chasing a goal with long shifts, so tired legs give up the empty-net goal.