Stretch and post is the counter-punch. Instead of skating the puck through the neutral zone, we throw it through: one forward posts himself on the far blue line and takes the pass on the line, while the other two attack it wide.
Reading the diagram: D1 has the puck and looks straight up the middle. F1 has stopped or slowed at the far blue line — that is the post. He is holding the line so the pass is legal and so his body shields the puck from the defender behind him. The dashed line is the pass from D1; the solid arrow is F1 receiving it and pushing into the line. The red dashed line marks the blue line he is protecting. F2 and F3 attack the same line wide on both sides, so the second the puck is controlled there are two lanes already at full speed.
The post is a discipline play. If the posted forward drifts over the line early, the play is offside and the regroup is dead.
What to look for
- One forward posts on the far blue line and holds it
- The pass beats the neutral zone instead of skating through it
- Both wingers attack the line wide at speed
- Posted forward shields the puck with his body, not his stick
Coaching cues
- Hold the line — do not drift
- Pass through, not around
- Wingers wide and early
- Chip it deep if the D closes
Common mistakes
- Posted forward goes offside
- Pass through traffic instead of the open lane
- Wingers arriving late so there is nobody to move it to
- Trying the post when the middle is stacked
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