[Necrophile]

Originally Posted by Joe Cole

Protect the puck by pivoting your body towards the opposing forchecker, he will give up pretty easily. This buys you the extra second to survey your teammates’ position and make a good pass. Slow the game down.

Originally Posted by 8b

In many garage games I played I had players on my team who are not really good stick handler. The best they can do to avoid paniquing with the puck is to dump it. Let me tell you that everybody on the team will prefer that player dumps that he tries to stick handle it or worse try to pass it and gets intercepted. Experienced players (like you) won`t dump that much because they don't panic and experienced players will take the puck easily from a paniqued player.

Let me tell you that if you try to keep the puck or make passes anywhere when you panic and do the wrong play, your teammates wont like you... If you dump, nobody will care (espacialy your goalie if it happens in your zone). When panic is gone, do the fancy moves!

Basically, when I'm in a situation of being in the defensive zone with the puck, I should look to the forwards (or fellow defenseman) to make a pass. If I can't find a decent passing lane and am being pressured, then you suggest three options:

1- dump/pass it along the boards
2- pivot to protect the puck from the forechecker
3- get around the forechecker

Considering I am good at getting around (not through) a player, have good speed, and can control the puck well, which option would suit me best? I would think the first option is safest in avoiding imminent threat but can often result in a turnover, while the 2nd option somewhat safely buys me time but still leaves me back to square one, and the 3rd option is the most effective in starting a defence-to-offence transition, although more risky. Should I try the third option if I'm confident in my puck control? Or should I rather spare my teammates the stress and go with option 1 or 2?

Thanks to all for the advice.