Hockey is a fast-paced sport, and in such a high-speed environment, it’s hard to see every aspect that makes up the game. When you break it down, you’ll start to notice the little things beyond the puck that give you intel into the game on a whole different level.

Communication and Goalie Cues

A basic way you'll see players on the ice communicate is through their sticks.

Sometimes you’ll hear a player tap their stick on the ice if they want a pass or to take a one-timer. It's a way to get your teammates' attention when a shout may go unheard. 

Here, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point is lined up on the faceoff circle and indicating through his stick that he’s set up to make a play.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf2KhOvu-ng 

Florida Everblades defenseman Sean Allen weighed in on this sentiment, echoing how important in-game communication is, even if it’s just short, simple phrases, especially when retrieving pucks from Goaltender Cam Johnson under pressure. 

“Usually we yell ‘upper, upper, upper,’ or ‘over,’ or something like that. And he’ll usually give it one way or the other. If you say ‘leave it,’ he’ll leave it—stuff like that. We just have that lingo with him and keep it pretty basic,” Allen said. 

Goalies also use their sticks to signal when there are five seconds left on a penalty, which is a small detail that plays a big role when players on the ice are often focused on executing their power play or killing the penalty. For the penalty killers, it’s a warning for a player about  to leave the box helping prevent a surprise scoring chance or a potential breakaway. 

Line Changes

While there is a presence of verbal communication on the ice, there is also a level of silent communication.

Line changes happen frequently to ensure entries are timed and strategic with an active flow on the ice. Paying attention to line changes can reveal not just a lot about the game, but just as much about how disciplined a team is. 

“It’s just about making sure that our team has the puck and we have possession so that it's not dangerous to change,” said defensemen Kurtis Henry. “Just trying to get off the ice as quickly as I can so new guys can get out there.” 

The goal for a line change is to be quick and effective without sacrificing possession. This is partly where communication and reading your teammates comes in handy because a sloppy line change could risk a breakout or opposing rush in your zone. 

Here’s an example of a line change that results in exactly that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubp3xhl_UAA

You’ll notice players glancing toward the bench or slowing down to signal a change, waiting for that cue to switch. Of course, players need to stay alert even as they're heading off. In this clip, you’ll see Montreal Canadiens forward Cole Caulfield signal that he’s ready for a line change, but one his way to the bench, he recognizes the play developing and jumps right back into it.

https://youtube.com/shorts/1kip6GMzPzw?si=aE-mZ0-PNy_vq7zm

This decision not only keeps his team from being vulnerable in transition but also turns into an offensive spark. It’s a perfect example of how players constantly balance energy management with situational awareness. 

Paying attention to who’s on the ice in certain moments, when they're coming off, what they're signaling, and what they're saying reveals what’s likely to happen next. Every player is out there for a reason, and once you start recognizing those patterns, the game opens up. You can see the story unfold before the puck even moves. 

Defensive Pair Chemistry 

While there is a presence of verbal communication on the ice, there is also a level of trust between defensive partners in both their own and their linemate’s tendencies to maintain structure and outwork their opponent. Finding what defines you as a player and honing in on those strengths allows your linemate to effectively make up the other half. 

“At the start of the year, you're not going to have as much chemistry as you do towards the end of the season. But it all stems from trusting your line mates, communicating with them and coming up with plays,” Allen said. 

Defensemen actively rely on reading each other's body language and positioning to determine when to stay back or jump at the play. A part of this is an instinct built from naturally meshing with your linemates and also building off each other. 

For example, Henry describes his game as “skating well and protecting the net, not letting guys get in front of our goalie, because if they can see the puck, they'll make the save.” 

He focuses on keeping opponents to the outside to protect the crease. Next to him is normally[MOU13]  Kade Landry, who complements Henry’s style by reading the ice well and making quick decisions that transition the puck out of the defensive zone. With Henry’s net front style and Landry’s control on the blue line, they make for a defensive pair that puts up points but also shuts down opponents in their zone.  

It’s important to pay attention to how players like this cover for each other or balance defensive responsibilities because what happens in the defensive zone often sets the tone for generating offense.  

“The first step to having a good offense is having good defense,” said Carson Gicewicz. 

Special Teams

At five on five, teams operate with three forwards up top and two defenders in the back to balance offense and defense between all three zones. When it comes to the power play and penalty kill units, coaches want to tailor to specific skill sets for a desired outcome, so this formation changes.

If the Blades are on the power play, Coach Ralph’s primary goal with his first group on the ice would be to pair an offensive defenseman with key forwards to generate as many offensive chances as possible before a line change. An example of an offensive defenseman would be a player like Cole Moberg, a staple player from the 2022-25 seasons. Dominant[MOU15]  on the blue line while simultaneously creating chances up top. 

“Let’s say Bergy (Cole Moberg), for instance, he’s going to have more offensive ability to go down below the hash marks and create plays, because that’s his style of play. My style is more defensive. I’ll get shots through from the point and cause a little movement up top, but I’m not going to go down and dangle guys. That’s not my game,” Allen explains.

On the other hand, your penalty kill unit consists of your more skilled, technical defenders, specifically designed to prevent goals.  This would be a player like Jordan Sambrook, guys who are good at shutting down the opposition and reading the ice to prevent plays before they happen. 

Backchecking and Forechecking Systems

It's natural to follow the puck carrier when watching hockey, but the real strategy is in the pressure. 

Forechecking is when you immediately pressure the opposing team in their zone after losing the puck to regain possession. It’s an aggressive pursuit that keeps pressure in the offensive zone. 

Backchecking is when the opposing team is in transition to your zone and you back track to stop any offensive chances and protect the net. It stops odd man rushes, forces bad passes and overall gives your defense time to get set. 

The most important part of the ice within these systems is in between the dots to ensure the middle of the ice is protected. This calls for the dynamic guys who build the bridge between attack and coverage when in a high-danger situation. 

“We take pride in getting back in the zone and making good plays to get out of the zone so we can go on offense,” said Gicewicz.  

Paying attention to these layers of pressure is where the game’s structure is revealed and you notice the strengths and weaknesses of both players and teams as a whole, which lead to the defining moments of a win or a loss.