Breakout: Fly

The Fly is the vertical breakout. Everybody stays in their lane and the puck moves up the boards, not across the ice.

Reading the diagram: the strong-side defenceman picks up the puck behind the net or in the corner. The strong-side winger starts near the bottom of the faceoff circle, curls up the wall through the hash marks, and takes the pass on the move heading north. The far-side winger does not come across the middle — he releases straight up his own wall toward the blue line, stretching the defence and giving the puck carrier a long option. The second defenceman skates across behind the net as support so the puck can be reversed if the first look is dead.

Why it works: the pass is short, the receiver is moving in a straight line, and every player has ice in front of him. Even if the pass is broken up, both wingers are already above the puck, so nobody is caught behind the play.

When to use it: heavy forecheck, tired legs, or any time you want a safe, quick exit rather than a highlight play.