3 v 3 Neutral Zone Rush Attack Game

By: Ice Hockey Systems

3 v 3 Neutral Zone Rush Attack Game from the 2025 Buffalo Sabres Development Camp helps players practice neutral zone rush attack and defending concepts.

Setup

• 3 forwards go against 3 defenders. Each team has their own goalie.
• On the whistle 3 players take a puck behind their net to rush up ice while 3 defenders skate up the ice to meet the forwards in the neutral zone.
• Both teams are trying to score and prevent the other team from scoring.
• Teams can practice various angling or neutral zone concepts in this game.
• If there is a goal, the puck goes out of play, or the puck goes past the goal line, the nearest coach passes the puck to the defensive team.

Coaching Points

• The defensive team should work on keeping their sticks on the ice to block passing lanes and take good gaps and angles to work to push the forwards to the outside of the ice.
• The offense should work on attacking with speed to try to catch the defense flat footed.

Variations

• Can give the defense a reward and if they are able to get a turnover before center ice you can award them one player in line to join which will make it a 4 v 3 and also force people in line to pay attention (similar to 2 v 2 Angle Game with Defensive Reward)
• Can play cross ice so there is less space.
• Can play 2 v 2 or 3 v 3.