Two Players at the Net Front

When an attacking team puts two players in front of the net, one net-front defender cannot cover both, so support responsibility shifts rather than the structure changing.

The support player moves to take the second net-front attacker. That leaves the on-puck defender working alone for a moment, which is acceptable because the alternative is an uncovered stick in the highest-danger ice on the sheet.

If support is genuinely needed on the puck - a lost battle or a carrier walking out of the corner - the support player goes, and everyone else slides to cover the danger areas in priority order: high danger first, then medium danger inside home plate.

The habits that make this work are early calls on the second net-front player, inside positioning so the sliding player arrives on the defensive side, and quick re-sorting once the puck is settled so the coverage is not left inverted.

Start with the Defensive Zone Coverage Overview for how the low, high, and pressure pieces fit together.