Defensive Zone Play
Unlike his offensive responsibilities, the centre's defensive responsibilities are relatively straightforward. Again the centrer must be able to use his skating ability to cover vast portions of the ice, and is responsible for the greatest percentage of ice in his own zone than of any position.
Defending the Slot Area
The centre's first and foremost responsibility is defending the slot area from opposing forwards. This is the most difficult area of the ice to defend because of its proximity to the net and its being situated in the middle of the ice. The centre is not only responsible for the opposing centre, but other forwards who venture into the slot as well. Centres like defencemen are often relied upon to block long distance shots while patrolling the slot. Because there are no boards in the slot area, it is difficult to play physically on opposing forwards so centres must be adept at using their sticks to defend via poke checks, sweep checks, stick lifts, and other stickwork.
Defending the Perimeter
The perimeter is an advantageous position for the defence, the boards act as an extra defender and the defending team often will try to enclose a puck carrier between the boards and two or more defenders to force turnovers. The centre's general responsibility is to provide support to other players that engage opposing puck carriers in puck battles on the boards by giving the primary defender (normally a defenceman in the defensive zone) an outlet to move the puck to if he is able to win the puck from the offensive player, though the centre does on occasion participate in these puck battles if they must.
Breaking Out of the Zone
When the puck is turned over by the defensive team, the defence must be able to exit the zone fluidly. A basic fundamental breakout the puck is controlled by the defence behind the net who then passes up the boards to a forward. The centre curls at the strong side faceoff dot and begins to break out alongside the puck carrying winger. The winger if undefended may skate the puck out himself, in which case the centre provides a passing option in the neutral zone, or if the winger is pressured can bunt the breakout pass to the centre moving up the ice. Here the centre can carry the puck out of the zone on his own, or look for the weak side winger coming across centre ice.
A quick break is sometimes used to take advantage of the opponent's sloppy transition game. In this set the defenceman directly passes to the centre curling at the faceoff dot. The centre can then carry the puck out himself or try to pass to the streaking weakside winger up the ice.
On the Penalty Kill
The penalty killing unit normally consists of two forwards and two defencemen. The centre's role does not differ appreciably from any other forward, though they are almost always included on the penalty killing unit for the purpose of taking the faceoff. Depending on what formation the penalty kill uses, the centre along with the other forward on the ice will play high side defence, trying to cut off passing lanes in the slot. Secondarily, they pressure offensive players on the boards if they do not have clear possession.
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