I'm a forward.
If you don't take a risk, you can't score.
Your job is not "to retain possession". This is important, but is a secondary concern. Your job is to carry the puck in the direction specified by your formation allowing you to use your team-mates effectively, resulting in goals.
Your opponents, if they're any good, will show you large open spaces where they want you to go, so they can shut you down and isolate you from your team-mates. If you go there (usually 'the easiest way'), you are playing into your opponents hands.
Ignore the opposition, take the puck in the direction you're supposed to take it, and if someone gets in the way have the balls to take them on and finish the job anyway.
