Creating offense means mastering both space (landing at the right spots relative to others) and time (knowing when to stay and when to skate). If the attacking team is able to quickly contest a counter-attack, then there is advantage in F2 delaying their backcheck and hanging out momentarily in the space vacated by opposing defensemen, who are sprinting to join the developing rush. Aggressive early defending by D1, F1 and F3 may well create a mini-breakaway for F2.