How to play a 3 on 3 in ice hockey

3 ON 3 SITUATION In Hockey 3 - 3 offense Play the same as the 3 on 2. 3 - 3 defense * Get as tight a gap as possible through the neutral zone. * Communicate and identify who is covering who by the red line. * If the back checking forward has an angle on the puck carrier he should finish the check; if the attacker is too far ahead then pick up the trailer. * If the back checker has picked up the weak side forward, then the weak side defenseman play a 2 on 2 on the strong side. * Take the attackers all the way to the net, stay on the defensive side and control their sticks.