NHL special-teams units take the ice when a penalty changes how many skaters each team has. The power play attacks with the manpower advantage; the penalty kill defends, pressures the puck and tries to clear it. Their players have coordinated jobs, and the face-off before a penalty begins can decide how each unit starts. Exact formations and assignments vary by team.
What are special-teams units?
Special teams are the players deployed during a penalty-related manpower advantage or disadvantage. A power play is the attacking unit with more skaters; the penalty kill is the defending unit with fewer. The terms describe the situation and the teams’ objectives, not fixed positions or lineups.
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For current rules and educational material, the NHL’s Video Rulebook links to the 2026–27 Rulebook and includes a section on that season’s rule changes. NHL.com’s beginner series, Hockey 101 with Snoop, also covers penalties, the penalty box and line changes.
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The power play uses its extra skater to gain the offensive zone, keep possession and create a shot or scoring chance. Players may use planned entries and set patterns to move the puck and make the defending unit respond. Every pass or shot carries a risk: a turnover can give the penalty killers a chance to clear the puck or counterattack shorthanded.
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Common power-play responsibilities
There is no single mandatory NHL formation. Coaches choose personnel and positions to suit their system and opponent. In broad terms, players work together to bring the puck into the zone, maintain possession, find passing options and create a shot. NHL.com’s analysis by former coach Jim Corsi describes power plays as organized attacks that can use set patterns, zone entries and shots.
What do penalty killers do?
The penalty kill tries to prevent a scoring chance by containing or pressuring the puck, protecting dangerous areas and clearing the puck from the defensive zone. A clear can relieve pressure and force the power play to start its attack again. A turnover may also create a shorthanded scoring opportunity.
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Common penalty-kill responsibilities
In examples described by Corsi, one forward pressures the puck carrier while teammates limit access through the middle. Killers may work together to contest a puck along the boards, with a higher forward positioned to move up if the puck is cleared. These are examples of coordinated assignments, not a universal position chart.
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Penalty killing can be aggressive, but pressure has to be coordinated. If players chase the puck without covering the space behind them, they can open a dangerous passing lane. Corsi’s NHL.com analysis emphasizes both the disruption that speed, pressure and anticipation can create and the continuing danger of the power play.
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Power play vs. penalty kill
| Aspect | Power play | Penalty kill |
|---|---|---|
| Situation | Attacks with a manpower advantage | Defends while shorthanded |
| Main objective | Create a scoring chance | Prevent a chance and seek a clearance or turnover |
| Puck posture | Gain the zone, possess and attack | Pressure or contain, then clear |
| Tactical risk | A turnover may lead to a shorthanded counter | Uncoordinated pressure may open passing lanes |
Why do teams plan special-teams face-offs?
A face-off can give a unit immediate control—or put it on the defensive—so teams plan who will do what when the puck drops. Former coach Don Nachbaur explained in NHL.com’s coverage of face-off execution that players on special teams are expected to understand their roles. A power-play win can start an attack right away; a penalty-kill win can set up a clearance.
The draw is only the start of the play. Coaches can assign alignments and routes based on their personnel and opponent, so a particular face-off setup should not be treated as the standard for every team.
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How do line changes fit into game flow?
Line changes let teams rotate players during play, including as possession and the game situation change. Special-teams deployments are part of that broader flow: coaches choose which eligible players take the ice for the advantage or disadvantage, and planned roles help the unit act as soon as it is set.
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The exact substitution restrictions and penalty consequences are rule-specific. Consult Rules 16–20 and Rule 82 in the 2026–27 Rulebook linked by the NHL for the current language; this overview does not give a time limit or enumerate exceptions.
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