Neutral zone trap

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In this diagram, the red team is executing a neutral zone trap resulting in the blue team dumping the puck in.

The neutral zone trap (often referred to as simply the trap) is a defensive strategy used in ice hockey to prevent an opposing team from proceeding through the neutral zone (the area between the blue lines) and to force turnovers.

Description

The strategy is generally used to level the playing field for teams that are not as offensively talented as their opponents, although the trap can also be used by teams simply looking to protect a lead late in the game.[

defencemen
who are positioned on or near the blue lines are the last defence, and must stall the opposition long enough for the wingers to reset themselves and continue the trap.

History

The modern neutral zone trap is best associated in the National Hockey League with the New Jersey Devils, starting in the mid-1990s.[1] The strategy was controversial, where it was criticized for contributing to low scoring and unexciting games. ESPN analyst Mike Milbury said it should be banned.[2]

During the

two-line passes
from behind a team's blue line to the other side of the red line was also lifted. Long passes are one method for breaking out of the trap, as it avoids the need to navigate through defenders in the neutral zone, although it has high rates of turnovers. The NHL also implemented a “Goalkeeper’s Restricted Area”, a trapezoidal area behind the net outside of which goalies cannot play the puck if they are behind the goal line. This allows offenses to more effectively dump the puck past the trap into the corners. Defensive minded teams have reverted to a "third man high" 1–3–1 system where only two offensive players will commit down low, allowing the third to join the defence and impede progress across the blue line.

References

  1. ^ Yerdon, Joe (2011-09-21). "Minnesota welcomes back an old friend: The neutral zone trap". ProHockeyTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  2. ^ "No One Stays Neutral About Devils' Trap : Hockey: Critics call it a negative ploy, but New Jersey has used it to good effect in the playoffs". Los Angeles Times. 1995-06-22. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
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