Team CanadaHockeyLike the Pros

Team Canada Push-Down Penalty Kill

How Canada's elite PK structure pressures and disrupts.

Play breakdown

Annotated GAME4 clip of Team Canada's push-down penalty kill, with green arrows showing pressure down the wall and the rotation to the weak side.

Team Canada's penalty kill uses a push-down structure to pressure the puck, close seams, and force the power play into low-percentage areas. We break down the reads, rotations, and habits that make it work — and give you the drills to install it.

PK - Push-Down

The push-down PK pressures the puck carrier and pushes the play down the wall, closing the middle and forcing the PP to the outside. Rotations and reads are key.

Key details

  • Pressure the puck carrier — force the play down the wall, not through the middle
  • The diamond closes the slot and boxes out the bumper
  • Rotations must be quick and connected — no gaps for seam passes
  • Net-front: tie up sticks, block sight lines, clear rebounds

3 drills to install the system

Habs 1v1 Net Front Battle x2

Build the net-front battle habits that shut down the PP's best scoring chance — two 1v1 battles at the net.

  • Tie up the stick before the shot arrives
  • Body position: between the attacker and the net, not alongside
  • Win the rebound battle — your job doesn't end at the shot

6v3 — Find Seams

Outnumbered drill that forces PK players to close seams quickly and make smart reads with limited numbers.

  • Read the puck — move to close the most dangerous passing lane
  • Don't chase; cut off the pass, not the passer
  • Communicate: call out open players to help teammates rotate

Penguins Angling In-Zone

Teach angling technique in the defensive zone to take away time and space from puck carriers along the wall.

  • Approach at an angle — cut off the boards, not the middle
  • Stick on the ice before making contact
  • Force the carrier to the outside and to a weak pass

Penalty Kill Practice

A complete practice plan built around the skills needed to execute the push-down PK. Add it to your library and run it with your team.

  • Penguins angling in-zone
  • Habs 1v1 net front battle x2
  • 6v3 - find seams
  • 2v2 Net Front Box Out Game
  • SAG - Pinball

Penalty Kill - Push-Down

Share this document with your team to teach them the push-down structure — formation, reads, rotations, and key coaching points all in one place.

Quick answers

What is a push-down penalty kill in hockey?
A PK structure that pressures the puck carrier and angles play down the wall, closing the middle so the power play settles for low-percentage shots from the outside.
How does Team Canada's PK take away the slot?
Forwards push down to pressure while the diamond collapses to the bumper and net front, taking away seams through the high slot and forcing passes to the perimeter.
How do I add Team Canada's push-down PK to GAME4?
Use the Add buttons on this page to copy the system, drills, practice plan, or team doc into your GAME4 library, then adapt reps for your roster.