Offensive Zone Forecheck: 2-1-2 Spread

The 2-1-2 Spread sends two forwards in on the puck at the same time. It is the highest-pressure forecheck we have: it turns pucks over inside their zone, and it costs us the middle of the ice if we lose the race.

Reading the diagram Net we are attacking at the top, their blue line at the bottom. There are two black **X** markers up high — their D on both sides of the net — and the puck sits beside the strong-side one.

- **F1** attacks the puck-side **X** (red arrow straight up the wall). - **F2** attacks the far-side **X** on the same beat. Both arrows go up, which is the point: we take both retrieval options away instead of one. - **F3** is in the slot between the circles. He is the safety valve — he supports the pressure and is our first man back if it fails. - **D1 and D2** hold the line and are live to pre-pinch on either wall.

How it plays out F3 will often shade to the strong-side wall (the same-side winger spot). If F3 stays in the slot, the strong-side D pre-pinches instead so we still have a body on the wall. This forecheck lives or dies on both F1 and F2 arriving on time — if one of them is late, the puck exits behind the pressure.