- •Foreword
- •Preface
- •Key to Diagrams
- •Reading Pressure and Options
- •Reacting to Support the Breakout
- •Breakout Plays
- •Control Breakouts
- •Counters
- •Regroups
- •Dump-In Entries
- •Mid-Ice Entries
- •Wide-Lane Drives
- •The Funnel
- •Two-on-One Attacks
- •Two-on-Two Attacks
- •Three-on-Two Attacks
- •Offsides
- •Activating Defense Into Offensive Zone Entries
- •Cycling
- •Playing Behind the Net
- •Stretching the Zone: Low-High Plays
- •Activating Defense in the Offensive Zone
- •Attack Zone Plays
- •Power-Play Breakouts
- •Gaining and Maintaining Possession off the Entry
- •Zone Setup
- •Five-on-Three Power Play
- •Four-on-Three Power Play
- •Forechecking Systems
- •Neutral Zone Forechecking
- •Neutral Zone Forechecking Systems
- •Neutral Zone Backchecking
- •Neutral Zone Backchecking Systems
- •Handling Defensive Zone Entries
- •Defensive Zone Systems
- •Situational Guidelines for Defensive Zone Coverag
- •Face-Offs and Penalty Kills
- •Forechecking and Penalty Kills
- •Pressuring the Entry
- •Defensive Zone Play
- •Three-on-Five Penalty Kill
- •Three-on-Four Penalty Kill
- •Offensive Zone Face-Offs
- •Neutral Zone Face-Offs
- •Defensive Zone Face-Offs
- •Power-Play Face-Offs
- •Penalty-Kill Face-Offs
- •Special Face-Off Situations
- •Managing Staff
- •Dealing With Officials
- •Adjusting Your Playing Strategy
- •Managing Lines
- •Line Changes
- •Handling the Moment
- •Index
- •About the Authors
Handling the Moment
Finally, if you really want to manage the bench like Scotty Bowman, then you must be able to “handle the moment.” Generally, the last 5 minutes in every game are more pressure packed than the first 55, but you have to realize that the key turning point in the game could happen at any time. When the pressure is on—whether the game is tied, you are up or down by one, one team is making a charge and gaining momentum, or the referees have put you down two players—as a coach you need to stay focused on what you are going to control. Never let outside thoughts cloud the picture. Think about what is happening and what needs to be done. Ask for feedback from your assistants. As we mentioned earlier, stay in the moment, and remind your players to do the same. Before the game you should prepare yourself for anything that might happen, so that when it does, it is as if you have been there before . . . and nothing alleviates pressure like being confident in knowing what to do.