A 1v1 rush shows up for every defenseman, and for a lot of forwards who get caught back. Controlling and stopping an attacker one-on-one is a hallmark of good D. Here is what to keep in mind.
Most of these tips assume you can skate backward well. If you cannot, skip ahead to the angling section.
Defensive gap control
The most important part of a 1v1 is gap control: keeping your body a set distance from the puck carrier.
Aim to close that gap to within two stick lengths (close enough to poke check) by the time you are in your defensive zone.
Matching speed
Gap control only works if you match the puck carrier's speed. Solid backward skating makes that possible. Without it, defense gets hard fast.
Angle to the outside
Along with the gap, set your body so the attacker has to drive outside. Ideally the center of their body sits off your outside shoulder, so they cannot cut straight up the middle. If you know their habits, you can also push them toward a spot they dislike, like their backhand side.
Close the gap
If you are well up ice from the puck carrier, standing still rarely works. You will not get gap control if you wait until they are on top of you before you start moving.
Close the distance early, then transition or turn to match their speed, as in the Hockey Canada clip below.
What if your backward skating is weak?
Weak backward skating makes defense harder, but you are not useless. One solid option is angling so you engage the carrier on their forehand. It takes timing and some practice, and it helps in other situations too.
Wait for the puck carrier to commit toward their target. You may need to give them a little room on purpose. Skating straight at them when you cannot transition quickly often gets you beat. Skating on an off-angle, creating space, then arcing onto them lets you match their speed and direction with that turn.
On a 1v1, a poke check helps. Use it near the blue lines, where the carrier has fewer options to move the puck.
Other sources
A couple of useful clips from excellent coaches:
Quick checklist
- Hold about a two-stick gap by the defensive zone.
- Match speed while skating backward.
- Angle the attacker outside (body off your outside shoulder).
- Close early, then transition; do not wait flat-footed.
- If backward skating is weak, arc in with angling.
- Poke check near the blue lines.
Bottom line
Win the 1v1 with gap, speed match, and outside pressure. If your backward skating is not there yet, angle in instead of charging straight ahead.
That is easier when the same D pairs show up every week. If sorting out who is in still happens in a group text, that is what RosterFX is for.
Keep reading: Defensemen: Playing the 2v1 Rush · Hockey 101: Offensive Zone Entry · More Hockey 101
