Scoring Plays for 3 on 2’s
All three attackers should remain inside the dots in order to exert maximum pressure upon the two defenders. If an attacker is outside the dots, his offensive threat is diminished and the outnumbered opponents will concede his possible wide-angle shot in favor of concentrating on his more dangerously positioned teammates. Thus, the chances of scoring will be reduced. Attackers should keep their sticks on the ice, read what is occurring (perhaps even using a verbal code to identify the situation), and be alert to any option because the clear 3 on 2 might last only several seconds or less before the backchecking stifles it.
The two possible scenarios for a 3 on 2 attack is for a wide attacker or a middle one to carry the puck into the offensive zone.
Wide attacker carries the puck – he should drive to the net as the opposite wing also does to his near post, while the center attacker stays back approximately 15-20 feet. The puckcarrier must drive to the net to convince the defender nearest him to play him tightly. If the defenseman nearest the puckcarrier plays him softly, this wing can skate toward the goal and choose where to shoot the puck. If this defenseman commits to the puckcarrier, he can pass across the ice to the far wing for a shot/tip-in or he can pass the puck back to the trailing center who can skate forward and shoot or pass to the wing on the side from which a defenseman approaches him.
A variation of this 3 on 2 is for the center attacker to drive for the net while the wing without the puck drops back to the middle. The play would then proceed as heretofore described.
Middle attacker carries the puck – the two outside attackers should sprint for the net as the puckcarrier glides toward it. If both defensemen stay back, the puckcarrier moves as closely as possible to the goal and shoots. If a defenseman approaches the puckcarrier, he can still shoot – or pass to his teammate on the side from which the defenseman came. This teammate can then shoot or pass across the ice to the far wing for a shot/tip-in.
Another option with the middle attacker carrying the puck is for him and a wing to exchange positions and then proceeding as has already been discussed.
If an offensive player understands how to operate in a 3 on 2, it should be easy to comprehend his obligations/duties in a 3 on 1 because the principles are the same with obviously less difficulty.