Cycling. Setting up behind the net. Activating the defense in the offensive zone. Stretching the zone. Exploiting the high seam area. Protecting the puck low to buy time and find players who are open. Getting open off the puck. Screening the goaltender. Making tight plays to sticks at the net. All are tactics and strategies used in the attacking zone.

When an attacking team has possession in the offensive zone, the brilliant coaches in the game of hockey really turn on their creative juices. The goal of every attacking team is to create offensive chances. What constitutes a chance differs from coach to coach, but in essence, a chance is a shot taken from inside the scoring area. Three general philosophies can be used to create these offensive chances:

Shooting through traffic

Creating separation

Creating deception

Taking shots through traffic (players in front of the goaltender) will obviously distract the goaltender or deny him the opportunity to see the puck. Goalies are so good these days that a shot without traffic between the shooter and the goalie is usually a giveaway. All the top offensive teams make sure that one player is always in the net area and moving across the sight lines of the goaltender or planted in front of him. Often this tactic results in the opposition trying to clear the net by moving this player, which results in a double screen or possibly a penalty. Both favor the offensive team....