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Step 1
Accelerate as you skate through center ice and make yourself presentable to receive a pass as you approach your opponent's blue line. Control the puck and continue to skate at full speed as you skate down the boards. When you get midway through the offensive zone, stop abruptly with the puck on your forehand side. You are in a perfect position to dish a pass to an onrushing teammate. Look for one of your defensemen streaking through the zone and put a pass right on the center of the blade of his stick. He is then in a position to fire a slap shot or a wrist shot and create a great scoring opportunity.
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Step 2
Take the puck behind the net and draw the attention of at least one defenseman and perhaps the goaltender. Use the net to help screen off defenders and don't hesitate to change directions. By holding on to the puck for more than 3 seconds, you will force the defense to make a move to take the puck from you. That should leave at least one teammate open near the net, perhaps free to wrist home a quick shot.
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Step 3
Do the unexpected when leading a 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 rush. In a 2-on-1, the player with the puck can pass or shoot, but the usual inclination is to fake a shot and pass to your open teammate. Instead of faking the shot, make the defense think you will pass the puck and then go in alone and shoot up high on the goaltender. With a 3-on-2, accurate passing is the key to creating scoring opportunities. If you have the puck on the left, you have a teammate on the right and a trailer right behind you, slow down and make the pass that has the greatest chance of success. Many players will try to push the puck forward and to the right, but if that teammate is closely covered, you are much better off dropping it to the trailer and letting him blast away.
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Step 4
Practice your technique on faceoffs. Great faceoff men can create scoring opportunities merely by winning the draw. In addition to quick reflexes and accurate passing ability, a good faceoff man must know how to tie up his opponent and overpower him with physical play. Drill your shoulder in your opponent's midsection as you reach for the puck and begin to spin. If you can control the puck, you will be using your body to screen your opponent and that should give you the time to make a perfect pass to an open teammate.
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Step 5
Watch as much videotape as possible of opposing defensemen and goaltenders. By looking at defensemen, you will learn their tendencies and what moves should work. By looking at goaltenders, you will understand their strengths and weaknesses.
