What is penalty kill in hockey

Understanding the basics of penalty kill

In ice hockey, the penalty kill (PK) is the defensive tactic employed by a team when one or more of its players are serving a penalty, resulting in the team being shorthanded. The primary objective of the penalty kill is to prevent the opposing team, which is on the power play, from scoring a goal. Effectiveness on the penalty kill can be a crucial factor in determining the outcome of a hockey game.

When a player commits a penalty (e.g., tripping, hooking, interference), they are sent to the penalty box for a specified amount of time. During this time, their team must play with one fewer skater on the ice. This puts the shorthanded team at a significant disadvantage, as the team on the power play has an extra player to create scoring opportunities. The penalty kill unit's job is to minimize these opportunities and ideally prevent any goals from being scored.

Key strategies and tactics

Successful penalty killing involves a combination of disciplined positioning, aggressive puck pursuit, and effective communication. Here are some key strategies and tactics used in a typical penalty kill:

• Formations: Common penalty kill formations include the box formation (where four players form a square to protect the high-danger areas in front of the net) and the diamond formation (which prioritizes cutting off passing lanes and preventing the power play from setting up). The choice of formation often depends on the opponent's power play strategy.
• Aggressive Forechecking: While playing defensively, the penalty killers often need to pressure the puck carrier in the offensive zone to disrupt the power play's setup and clear the puck down the ice. This requires quick skaters and intelligent puck pursuit.
• Clearing the Zone: Successfully clearing the puck out of the defensive zone is crucial for relieving pressure. This is often done by shooting the puck down the ice to the opposing team's end, forcing them to regroup and re-enter the zone. However, the penalty kill unit must be careful not to commit an icing penalty, which would allow the power play to set up immediately.
• Blocking Shots: Penalty killers are often willing to sacrifice their bodies to block shots, preventing the puck from reaching the net. This requires courage and a willingness to get in front of hard shots.
• Winning Faceoffs: Winning faceoffs in the defensive zone is critical for immediately gaining possession of the puck and clearing the zone. Teams often utilize specialized faceoff specialists on the penalty kill.

Key players and their roles

Penalty killing units typically consist of a combination of forwards and defensemen who possess specific skills and attributes. Here's a breakdown of common roles and player types:

• Defensive Defensemen: These players are strong skaters, good at blocking shots, and effective at clearing the puck. They are responsible for protecting the net and preventing scoring chances. Think players like Zdeno Chara in his prime, known for his size, reach, and shot-blocking ability.
• Two-Way Forwards: These forwards are skilled defensively and offensively. They are responsible for forechecking, disrupting the power play, and potentially creating shorthanded scoring opportunities. A prime example is Patrice Bergeron, renowned for his defensive prowess and ability to contribute offensively.
• Faceoff Specialists: As mentioned earlier, winning faceoffs is crucial on the penalty kill. Teams often rely on players with high faceoff win percentages to take key faceoffs in the defensive zone.
• Goaltender: A good goaltender is obviously essential. A goalie who can make key saves when the defense breaks down is invaluable to a successful penalty kill.

The importance of discipline and avoiding penalties

The best penalty kill is the one you don't have to use. Teams that consistently take penalties put themselves at a disadvantage and increase the risk of giving up power play goals. Therefore, discipline and avoiding unnecessary penalties are crucial for team success. A team that takes too many penalties, even with a good penalty kill, will eventually get burned.

Coaches often emphasize the importance of smart play and avoiding retaliatory penalties. While physical play is a part of hockey, players need to be aware of the consequences of their actions and avoid taking penalties that put their team at a disadvantage.

For example, consider the Tampa Bay Lightning during their Stanley Cup runs. While they had a strong penalty kill, their emphasis on disciplined play and minimizing penalties was equally important to their success.

Measuring penalty kill success

A team's penalty kill percentage is a key statistic used to measure its effectiveness. The penalty kill percentage is calculated by dividing the number of times a team successfully kills off a penalty by the total number of penalties they have taken. A higher penalty kill percentage indicates a more effective penalty kill.

For example, a penalty kill percentage of 85% means that the team has successfully killed off 85 out of every 100 penalties they have taken. The NHL average penalty kill percentage typically hovers around 80-82%. Teams with penalty kill percentages significantly above this average are considered to have strong penalty killing units.

However, penalty kill percentage is not the only metric to consider. Other factors, such as the number of shorthanded goals scored and the quality of scoring chances allowed, can also provide valuable insights into a team's penalty kill performance.