Actually, this one is really covered well in The Offensive "Bag of Tricks". The point in that piece is that an attacker must gradually accumulate a vast array of offensive moves (or tricks, I call them), these to be used anytime he or she finds himself or herself in a 1 against 1 match-up.
As you'll notice me often pointing-out, each kind of match-up is unique, thereby requiring a unique approach. And, as that applies to the offensive side of a 1 on 1, I'm going to suggest that the attacker is really on his or her own to somehow beat the lone defender.
In a way, I think successful one against one guys and gals also have a special kind of mind set. I mean, most of them take unbelievable pride in their success, and that seems almost always to be reflected in the way they practice. Yes, they absolutely hate being beaten, in a game or in a practice.
A little story to help make that point... I can recall some 20-ish years ago a coach on my camp staff repeating something an old-timer told him, in that, "If you want to know who the stickhandler is in your group, just blow the whistle and look for the one who doesn't stop dribbling!" You might be smiling at that one, just as I am right now. And you probably also get the point to that observation, in that offensively minded skaters love playing with the puck, they tend to like experimenting with it, and in the long run they become pretty dangerous, even pretty exciting attackers.
So, while I'm going to ultimately share tons of great 1 on 1 attacking ideas (because it's one of my favorite topics), I'll leave with these few reminders:
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As we discovered in the segment on "Read" and "React" Skills, 1) a puckcarrier must quickly recognize when he or she has a 1 on 1 match-up, and 2) he or she has to know how to attack in that unique situation.
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A player must take the attack side of a 1 on 1 personally. After all, it is just him or her against the sole defender.
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The attacker's success in 1 on 1 match-ups usually boils down to his or her offensive bag of tricks.
Oh, and I forgot three more keys to 1 against 1 success... Practice! Practice! Practice!
