🧠 Hockey IQ Breakdown: Triangle Attack Net Drives
Learn how elite forwards turn “sealed” net drives into high-danger chances by exploiting the exposed triangle beneath a defender’s stick and body.
From: Maxim Noreau of Noreau Hockey (Instagram)
Driving wide is a staple at every level — but at higher speeds and tighter gaps, attacking defenders clean off the rush gets harder. Even when a defenseman holds good body position, they almost always leave one thing exposed:
The triangle under their stick.
Top forwards are now weaponizing that tiny gap to slip pucks underneath sticks, attack inside ice, and immediately turn a neutral drive into a dangerous scoring chance.
Here’s how the triangle attack creates offense and how you can bake it into your game.
1️⃣ Recognize When the Triangle Is Exposed
Why it works:
Defensemen today are excellent at sealing the body and steering rushes wide. But even with strong posture, the gap between skates and stick is rarely perfect. When the defender commits to the body, the stick often lags — creating a brief opening.
This is when elite forwards attack under, not around.
The Hockey IQ:
Good defenders win the body… but often lose the stick detail.
The triangle opens when the defender over-rotates or prioritizes angling over stick integrity.
You’re not trying to beat the defender clean — you’re beating their stick placement.
2️⃣ Slip the Puck Under, Then Go Over
Why it works:
The strength of the move isn’t just slipping the puck under the stick — it’s combining it with a quick stick-over finish.
Max emphasizes two keys:
Under: Slide the puck beneath the defender’s stick as they angle.
Over: Immediately bring your stick over top to pull the puck back into your control.
Executed quickly, this puts the puck back on your tape inside the defender’s lane, turning a contained rush into a sudden Grade-A chance.
The Hockey IQ:
This move steals inside ice without needing a full cutback.
It freezes defenders who think they “won” the angle.
Even a partial recovery creates a dangerous backhand or forehand finish.
3️⃣ Turn It Into a Shot or Net Attack
Why it works:
Once you’ve won inside body position, the defender is now behind the play. That gives you two high-value options:
Attack the net directly if you’ve gained inside position.
Shoot in stride or on your backhand before the defender can recover.
Both are difficult for goalies to track because the puck changes lanes as it slips under the stick.
The Hockey IQ:
Inside ice + sudden puck movement = low reaction time for goalies.
Backhand shots from this angle are far more dangerous than players think.
Even failed attempts force defenders to widen their stick placement on future rushes.
🎥 VIDEO: Triangle Attack Net Drives
🎥 Want to See the Triangle Attack in Action?
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