@goph94 the f/b transition (I usually call them "defense turns") is also effective. It tends to be most effective when you're coming down on your off-side (ie - left side of the ice if you're a righty). When you're on the off-isde, you get to create the space while remaining on your forehand. On your strong-side, you won't create as much vertical separation, and the transition to make a backhand pass is very difficult to execute at top speed.
throw a quick deke to the inside to open up a little more space wide. The defenseman should be leaning towards protecting the middle, so a quick deke should limit the stick check wide by threatening space to the middle, especially considering space to the middle should be limited (thus the need to stall wide), coaxing the D into believing he can make an easy poke check on a forced play
