Hockey is a game of speed, power, toughness and determination. It can also be a game of great skill and subtlety. When you have the puck and you are trying to get into scoring position and you have a defender in front of you, you have to find a way to get around him. Not all players are capable of using finesse and stick moves to get open, but those who can might be able to create the most spectacular of scoring opportunities.
Step 1
Skate hard and fast to use your speed to get by your opponent. Getting around a defenseman to secure a clear shot on net might be dependent on receiving a pass in stride and being able to reach top speed in a stride or two. A right-handed shooter will normally use his speed by skating toward his right so he will be able to fire off a shot that will be difficult for a nearby defender to block. A left-handed shooter will do just the opposite. Push hard off your edges the instant you receive the puck to get that extra burst of speed necessary to burst into an opening and get your scoring chance.
Step 2
Drive hard to your left as you secure the puck and as soon as you see the defenseman alter his skating stride to block your path, cut hard to the right. This is called the inside-outside move. As soon as the defenseman commits himself to blocking your path, it will take him at least a split second to change his skating stride again. That gives you the briefest of openings to get by him. The same can be done by skating hard to the right and then cutting back to the left when the defender moves in that direction. That is called the outside-inside move.
Step 3
Control the puck with deft stick-handling. Stick-handling is to hockey what dribbling is to basketball. An effective stick-handler will be able to control the puck through the smallest of openings. Push hard when you are carrying the puck and if the defender is close to you, push a soft pass between his skates and accelerate at top speed to catch up to it. This can only be done if the defender is close to you and you have a head of speed built up. The defender will be skating backwards -- standard position for a defenseman -- and you will use your momentum and stick-handling ability to create a scoring opportunity.
Step 4
Spin 360 degrees with the puck when you have the puck in the open space. This move was regularly accomplished by legends Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins and Denis Savard of the Chicago Blackhawks. Both were among the best skaters of all-time. They were able to spin quickly, keep the puck secure while they were doing it and create a scoring opportunity. As long as the skater can hold on to the puck while spinning, he can create an opening and get by a lunging defender even if he can't skate like Orr or Savard.
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