Loafing, floating, or cherry picking in ice hockey

Ice hockey

Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...

 is when a player, the floater (usually a forward

Forward (ice hockey)

In ice hockey, a forward is a player position on the ice whose primary responsibility is to score goals. Generally, the forwards try to stay in three different lanes, also known as thirds, of the ice going from goal to goal. It is not mandatory however, to stay in a lane. Staying in a lane aids in...

), literally loafs — spends time in idleness — or casually skates behind the opposing team's unsuspecting defencemen

Defenceman (ice hockey)

Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...

 while they are in their attacking zone. It is very similar to the cherry picking tactic

Cherry picking (basketball)

Cherry picking is a strategic act sometimes used in basketball to give a team a higher scoring chance. A player who performs this act is known as a cherry picker. It is sometimes frowned upon, and in some cases it is considered "cheating", even though there is usually not a rule against it...

 sometimes used in basketball. Its controversy is also very similar to that of cherry picking in basketball.

The tactic is used sparingly as although it sometimes creates a breakaway

Breakaway (ice hockey)

A breakaway is a situation in ice hockey in which a player with the puck has no defending players, except for the goaltender, between himself and the opposing goal, leaving him free to skate in and shoot at will . A breakaway is considered a lapse on the part of the defending team...

 opportunity for the defending team should they manage to take control of the puck

Hockey puck

A puck is a disk used in various games serving the same functions as a ball does in ball games. The best-known use of pucks is in ice hockey, a major international sport.- Etymology :The origin of the word "puck" is obscure...

 and successfully pass it to the floater, it also creates a five-on-four situation (during even strength

Full Strength

Full strength in ice hockey refers to when both teams have five skaters and one goaltender on the ice. The official term used by the National Hockey League is at even strength — abbreviated EV on and goaltenders' individual . All games start with both teams at full strength...

 play) for the attacking team. Also, a good defenceman usually keeps an eye open for the development of these potential situations where he would immediately backcheck

Checking (ice hockey)

Checking in ice hockey is any one of a number of defensive techniques. It is usually not a penalty.- Types :There are various types of checking:...

once a floater is spotted.