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Offensive Zone Play: Low Cycle to Weak Side

A low cycle that finishes with a weak-side release: the low forward attacks the far dot while both D shift over for the seam.

F1F2F3D1D2LOW CYCLE TO WEAK SIDE
F = forwards, D = defence (our five skaters) / Net we are attacking is at the top, our blue line at the bottom / Solid arrows = skating routes / Dashed arrows = puck movement / Black dot = puck

What this is This is the same low cycle, but with a built-in escape to the weak side. When the defence loads up on the puck side, the cycle is used to pull them low and then the puck is released across for a shot from the far dot.

Reading the diagram F1 turns back down the wall exactly like the base cycle. F3 comes through to take the puck over, but instead of staying low the red arrow shows F3 driving across toward the far faceoff dot — that is the weak-side attack. F2 curls high behind the play to become the trailer, and the dashed arrows show the puck going up the wall and across the top. Both D shift toward the middle so the shot and the recovery are supported.

Key ideas The cycle earns the weak side. Only when the defence has slid low and the far dot is empty do we release the puck across.

What to look for

  • Cycle low first to drag the coverage down
  • Low forward drives across to the far dot for the release
  • High forward curls behind as the trailer
  • Both defence shift over to support the shot and recovery

Coaching cues

  • Make them slide before you go across
  • Attack the far dot, not the far wall
  • Trailer stays behind the puck
  • Shift with the puck — do not stand still at the line

Common mistakes

  • Releasing weak side before the coverage has shifted
  • Going across flat and blind through the middle
  • No trailer, so any block comes straight back at us
  • Defence staying on their side of the ice
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