Breakout: Flood

The Flood loads the strong side. Instead of spreading out, the forwards stack on the puck side so the defenceman always has two close options and the play can be moved with quick, short passes.

Reading the diagram: the strong-side defenceman has the puck up the wall. The high winger is already on the wall near the top of the circle as the first pass option — that pass is drawn dashed because it comes fast, before the forecheck arrives. Underneath him, the second forward swings up through the middle of the circle and out over the blue line, so if the first pass is taken away the puck can be chipped to a moving support man instead of forced up the boards. The third forward starts low in the far circle and follows the same lane up, becoming the late layer. The far defenceman slides across the top of the zone to hold the middle.

Why it works: stacking three players in the same lane beats pressure. The forecheck can cover one option, rarely two in the same space, and every pass is short enough to complete under a stick.

When to use it: against an aggressive forecheck, or when your team is struggling to complete the long cross-ice pass.