Getting the puck from the opposing squad isn’t the main goal of hockey players. Then why do they send the puck into the area of the opposition team so frequently? Why do players throw the puck into the opposing team’s region?
Anyone who has ever seen a hockey game has noticed that a player with the puck will pass the goal line and throw the puck into the opposing side. A squad will typically throw the puck in because of two reasons. One is to buy time for their squad to switch lines during play. The second one is a technique for an offensive attack to retrieve the puck that has just been thrown in.
There is a detailed discussion about dumps and chases in hockey. Let’s have a look at it.
Why do players dump the puck in?
When the defensemen and two or more strikers rush for the puck, there is a type of scramble along the posts. What occurs next depends on whose squad has the puck when it gets out of the box.
Even many NHL players, trainers, and supporters would prefer to see the “dump and chase” approach. It is an effective way to send the puck to the corners of the rink. Your quick fullbacks will be capable of chasing the puck and surprising the opposition’s defenders if you do this. Also, this play has become uncommon in the NHL. Control of the puck by your side could be the conclusion that offers a goal chance.
Despite the importance of puck control in the sport of ice hockey, the dump-and-chase strategy is typically regarded as a better approach than skating it in. It is because there is less possibility of losing the puck in the middle of the field.
The dump-and-chase technique is learned by players at an early age. It is because it is the “safer” choice, and it is successfully used at all ability levels of ice hockey, such as the NHL.
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Dumping the puck in to allow for line changes
You will commonly watch this play throughout a match. A player will just throw the puck into the attacking zone after skating beyond the red line to prevent icing. All of the players rush to the sideline for a line change rather than chasing the puck back.
The best approach to quickly change a shift is to throw the puck into the opposing area. As opposed to most other games, hockey players can enter and exit the ice without utilizing a signal.
Changing on the move refers to players who change positions during a game. Although it is useful, the ability to switch players at any time comes with a hazard. The opposing team will benefit from an odd-man benefit if a player makes a change at an inappropriate time.
When the opposing team possesses the puck in the middle of the field, it will consider a defenseman simply switching. For the other squad, this would result in a 2-on-1 situation and a goal opportunity.
Or, if a player tries to bring the puck on the opposition side and drops the puck, the remainder of the team will be switching shifts. As a result, the opposing team will have the puck in the middle of the field and an opportunity to quickly flip it around and try to score.
These can seem like extreme versions, but if you play hockey, you will frequently notice improper line adjustments. It gives the opposition the chance to score.
A squad will throw the puck into the opposing squad’s area even if it involves losing control. This helps to ensure that all players will leave and prevent offering scoring opportunities for the opposing side.
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Dumping the puck in as an offensive strategy
Throwing the puck into the attacking zone is an offensive move. How can losing the puck be a counter-attack? Thus, you can’t achieve a goal without the puck on your stick.
Let’s examine the many strategies the opposing team uses to advance the puck into the attacking zone to fully understand this.
Option #1: Carrying the puck over the neutral zone is the first method a squad can use to enter the opposing area. They all agree that this is the best approach to get it in. The opposition player will pack the blue line and utilize the possibility of going outside as a method of stopping the attacking player. It helps to avoid them from moving the puck into the area. To slow down the opponent, the defensive team thrives at utilizing the blue line. It prevents an offensive player from entering the area before the puck does. It will be challenging for a skater to move the puck into the area without pushing it with their stick. It is because the defending team will stack up near the blue line with 3 or 4 players. Both forcing a turnover and forcing the opponent to throw the ball in are the defending squad’s main goals.
Option #2: In an attempt to prevent a face-off in the attacking zone, the offensive squad will throw the puck toward the goaltender by expecting that he would stop it. This is a very small-chance technique because the goalkeeper will typically pass the puck to a defenseman who will quickly remove it.
Option #3: The offensive squad will try to regain the puck by pursuing it down after shooting it into the offensive zone. The offensive player tries to get to the puck before the defenseman or causes a mistake by body-checking the defenders. In sum, they are handing over control in the prospect of regaining it further inside the opposing area. It should be emphasized that throwing the puck in and setting up a hard penalty kill wears down the defenders throughout the match. Receiving 200-pound strikes all night is unpleasant, and it will exhaust you. As long as this keeps happening, you can see a defenseman hesitantly move into the posts because they expect to be hit. This results in a simple turnover that can open up a scoring opportunity. Thus, a team essentially has two alternatives for getting the puck into the region: take it in or throw it in. Depending on player skill, the defending squad’s placement on the rink at the time, and the intention to keep the other side wondering, the team will utilize a variety of these methods.
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What is the best strategy for a dump-in?
Below are the two finest strategies for a dump-in:
Strategy no: 1
The team is aware of their opponents, so they throw the ball toward the side of the weaker defenseman. Every defenseman on the field is of the highest grade. But there is typically one who is not as powerful as the others. The lesser skater will typically get the puck thrown into their area. When a defenseman is weaker, it means that he struggles to reach the puck rapidly and then makes a quick throw to another of his teammates.
Rather, the player has more chances to make a mistake than his opponent. A sprint race between an attacker and a defenseman occurs after the puck is thrown into the side to try who can reach it first. The forward will look for a partner to throw it if he receives it first.
If a defenseman receives the puck initially, he will attempt to move it before or while being hit to begin an area breakout.
Strategy no: 2
Throw the puck sufficiently hard to make it “circle” around the goal line sufficiently. It quickly helps to prevent the goalkeeper from advancing to handle it.
The majority of goaltenders are skilled at preventing pucks that are shot around the posts as they emerge from the net. With the help of this ability, they can halt the puck. Also, they can pass it to a defenseman for a much simpler try at a breakaway. Because of this, the puck must hit quickly enough that the goaltender won’t have time to move out. Also, they cannot handle it as it’s moving behind the goal.
If the goaltender is unable to prevent the ball from going along the posts, it will eventually land in the far corners or on the back edge. It will force the forward and defenseman to compete for possession of the puck. So, whoever emerges in that conflict will have control of the puck inside the area.
Conclusion: Dump and Chase
What is dump and chase in hockey? So, when a side dumps the ball into the opposing squad’s area, you must conclude that they are either looking for a line change or that it is part of their attacking intent to do so.
