When the entire NHL HATES how you play

Nikita Zadorov's comments have brought the LA Kings 1-3-1 formation into fire in recent days, claiming that their system isn't real hockey. So I wanted to do a deeper dive to figure out if there was any validity to this or if this was all blown out of proportion.
0:00 "The Kings don't play hockey"
0:53 The most infamous 1-3-1 moment of all time
3:03 Canucks vs Kings analysis (clips)
5:14 The 1-3-1 isn't impenetrable
6:22 Are the Kings "boring" to watch?
7:57 This worries me
#losangeleskings #lakings #hockeyhighlights
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[@13Frostie]

The comment at 6:18 is top tier. Watching the segment before I was like “fuck, we all know what happens next!”

[@CunuckHockey]

Nothing happened next 😭

[@grumben123]

I seem to remember Canucks fans rioting because the finals and their victory parade was cancelled.

[@AntnyDsmn]

The comment at 6:17 (617 is Boston’s area code) is top tier jealousy. 😆🤣😂

[@cameronpowell6778]

“1-3-1 isn’t impenetrable, just be Connor McDavid.”

[@somewheredec]

Might have been the most hilarious sports take i've seen in a long long time....

[@kyloren8236]

Proved right by yesterday's game 😂

[@ikennanana]

Yesterday’s game 3 against the kings was a textbook example of this 😂😂

[@AlexanderMarshallI]

Bahahaha 😂😂😂

[@dannorman866]

Well done on explaining and showing what the 1-3-1 is. Thanks

[@CunuckHockey]

Glad you found it useful!

[@riffgroove]

AKA... "The Neutral Zone Trap."

[@oldmedstudent1750]

​@@riffgrooveAka the snoozer

[@ll7868]

If you're old like me you remember the New Jersey Devils and their trap system in the 90s, holy hell, that was tough to watch.

[@Rino37]

As an Avs fan, I couldn’t agree more.

[@Dylandontplay]

My dad said the same thing ahaha

[@zillatattoo]

dont forget the interference and holding

[@ll7868]

@@zillatattoo Oh yeah, at least there were plenty of bathroom breaks. That's why games lasted 3 1/2 hours back then, never-ending parades to the penalty box.

[@HammerJammer81]

I thought this Trap system was banned? And yes the 90's Devils made it hard to watch, but they won.

[@user-so9he2cw1o]

the key to break the 1-3-1 is: The Flying V

[@TheArthurfonzarelli]

No, the stinky V!

[@at6098]

Flying V is bowling for buzzards lol

[@questionableidentity1]

Quak quak lol

[@keyboardheroism]

Nice... knuckle puck helps too😂

[@GershTalentAbeny]

😂😂😂 what is the Flying V? I retired from hockey 10 years ago but I know about the 1-3-1 cuz I ran it oncology and in the AHL!

[@zira_fluff4105]

Great analysis. Perhaps LAK formation could be called "Adaptive 1-3-1" or "Dynamic 1-3-1" as you clearly show in some footage that LAK is fore checking and attacking still.

[@fyimediaworld]

The 1-3-1 has vulnerabilities. The coaches just need to adapt.

[@russs7574]

The biggest adjustment offensive minded teams have to make is to learn to be patient.

[@NotTheWheel]

​@@russs7574 Patience goes a long way defensively but it won't move the puck offensively. Speed and transition. People think of 3 in the center as a wall.... but it's not - it's more like a bridge. A Bridge isn't a solid structure it has flexibility to address where there's the most tension to support it. Much like a bridge also the tension can only be met at a singular point. Now speed will get you through the gaps as was shown through the video, but you could also do offensive screening to punch through, or you up the tempo of the match on transition which will cause the structure to collapse. Barreling straight through singularly on the wing isn't a good option.

[@disgoyknows88]

Sure they said the same thing about the neutral zone trap that the Devils used back in the 90's, and ever since every team practically adopted it and changed the sport.

[@Brainfogmusic-66]

i remember that flyers-lightning game like it was yesterday

[@CunuckHockey]

It really is one of the most memorable games I can think of

[@internet33]

Same. Felt old when I found out it was almost 15 yrs ago

[@howitzer9586]

this is the style of hockey which is used by Finland regularly on international level. It has brought them gold from the olympics, and 3 consecutive WC final appearances.

[@janbo8331]

Regularly but not constantly. It's situational just like with the LA Kings.

[@PimpinNProgress]

I was at that lighting flyers game. One take at the time that stood out to me back then was essentially "Baseball is the only sport where the team on defense has the duty to advance the state of play to the team on offense. (By Pitching) So the bolts sitting back and waiting is absolutely acceptable. "

[@SenatorFeathers]

Danault is just like Kopitar. #1 Center focuses defense first but has elite offensive ability faceoff specialist and yes very underrated as well

[@TheFlamingPike]

He's the modern day Guy Carbonneau

[@highmedic2351]

If he had more offensive skills, he would totally win the Selke trophy each year.

[@zafi2250]

Really liked this style of video. You have a great way of presenting concepts and showcasing examples. Very informative!

[@CunuckHockey]

Thanks so much! Really appreciate the support!

[@Markymark-gg6qf]

Yeah this 1 3 1 doesn’t work on teams with speed like the oilers, avs, stars, etc..

[@CunuckHockey]

Yep, it definitely helps to have a Mackinnon or McDavid to counter the 1-3-1 haha

[@greathoonta3461]

What’s bad for LA is most teams have one or two speedy danglers

[@johnbarker256]

Or if you just dump and chase the puck

[@Markymark-gg6qf]

@@johnbarker256 the far defenseman will get there first

[@johnbarker256]

@@Markymark-gg6qf in the flyers vs lighting game shown in the video the whole 1-3-1 is flat footed including the back defense men. When you have the puck there's a degree of control hence why the one guy just sat there. If the player with the puck waited like he did and one of his offense teammates built momentum moving into the zone they could have a chance of meeting that far defensemen and winning a puck battle. This is all hypothetical but my team has done this before when I played hockey so I feel like it wouldn't be impossible for people 10000% better than me to pull off. It's not a good option but it's better than standing there for three minutes

[@MoralMonster]

It's a strategy, so figure it out. Nothing wrong with changing the norm and trying a different outlook, especially if it works.

[@zoulzopan]

absolutely agree

[@Commentsurveillance]

Wrong. If teams see that this style of trap is successful, other coaches will use it and the game will become boring as shit.

[@redwingsnygiants9262]

Absolutely agree. We want goals and excitement not defensive trap game

[@jeanjacques9365]

I would agree if you let both team play it out. The flyers, lightning game well the flyers were called fro playing passively and would repeatedly get face off called in their own zone for "not playing essentially" as if there was only one team on the ice refusing to engage in the play. If you wanna allow everything then you need to allow everything you cant pick and choose especially when the other game plan is an adaptation to the style of play of the other team.

[@Pacebeats]

lol "changing the norm" its an old lame system that makes fans turn the TV off. the kings are a joke

[@mauricerose3082]

"One of the biggest reasons why the New Jersey Devils rose to prominence in the mid-1990s (1995-1996 excepted) and won the Stanley Cup in 1995 was their use of the Neutral Zone Trap. It's a defensive system that head coach Jacques Lemaire drilled into the team, who collectively bought into it to great success. The Devils didn't invent the trap or created it out of nowhere. Per this Toronto Hockey article that explains it somewhat, the Montreal Canadiens of the 1970s used this system as well - and it's origins lie further back in international play. Lemaire was on those incredibly successful teams, so it's not really a surprise that he recalled it and implemented it when coaching New Jersey and elsewhere. Granted, the Devils weren't loaded with talent as those Montreal teams; but it certainly gave the Devils an edge at the time."

[@THEREDHOTWRECK]

Hence why Brodeur isn't nearly as good as people make him out to be. That's why Giguere 100% outplayed him in 03

[@jeremycoyle2782]

Very good analysis, I should have read your comment first as I made a similar one. But the other thing on that team was Brodeur, he practically eliminated the dump and chase with his terrific puck handling. He was almost like a rover back there.They had to change the rules to stop him doing it!

[@weybye91]

I found a way to play through that tactic. Pick carrier plays the puck back, and the new carrier, plays the puck to the opposite side, and you have a one on one in the neutral zone

[@professordogwood8985]

I say, the puck carrier exiting their zone favour their opposite wing while rushing into the neutral zone. When the defenders close in on the puck carrier, spin into the boards while protecting the puck and draw the defense away from the rest of the team. If done correctly, this should allow a forehand pass in the neutral zone to a variety of streaking players who can possibly force an odd man rush into the attacking zone. Either that or skate the puck back to the goaltender, let him smother the puck, and have a defensive zone faceoff. It might be the only way to draw in the forecheckers.

[@PelosiStockPortfolio]

It just seems like a slight variation of the neutral zone trap from the 90s. Dump and chase is what teams came up with to get around it back then, and that was boring to watch, but it seemed like teams got better at it over time. The rules changes of 2 line pass and goalie restriction zone helped a lot. If you want to kill 1-3-1 quickly, it will take another rules change for defensive neutral zone infraction

[@Clenched.Cheeks]

I actually enjoy 1-3-1 hockey. It’s not an impenetrable defence but it demands for good coaching and high skill to break it as your video detailed. And I love the tactician elements of hockey. I love seeing coaches find ways to break things like a neutral zone trap.

[@spelunkerd]

I'm a little surprised you didn't mention the neutral zone back pass used to freeze defending player movement in the neutral zone. The trap is much harder to set when there is no red line pass rule, and a dump-in with only one back and an attacking team with speed sets up an odd man opportunity deep in the attacking zone.

[@carstenweizer]

You really did a good job explaining this, any chance you'd do a video on the devils neutral zone trap? I've heard a lot about it but I don't have a clear understanding on how it works

[@uppymcdowny58]

The devils neutral zone trap was similar to any other neutral zone trap, but instead of running the 1-3-1 formation like in this video, they ran a 1-2-2. But what made the Devils trap system so much more effective was the rules at the time prohibiting 2-line passes, as well as rules like slashing and hooking not being enforced nearly as much as they are today, which made suffocating the neutral zone significantly easier.

[@jp783]

Great job w/this video. Here's the truth: a LOT of teams are going to be going to a 1-3-1 come playoff time not just LA, you can bet the house on that. I always wonder what would happen if the puck handler wound up and slap shot the puck at the head of the opposing F1 diagonal cross neutral ice if the 1-3-1 teams would start wondering about the price they'd have to pay to play it. Just a thought lol Dino Ciccarelli would be proud, anyway. At 3:38, if Miller cranks that puck at the head/neck area of that F1 (I can't see who he is), and they do that a few times for intention, it has to make them think about how they're defending next time.

[@XavierPerreault-ww9jc]

im sure theres rules that prevents you from trying to injure a opposing player lmao

[@jp783]

@@XavierPerreault-ww9jc you don't watch the NHL playoffs much do you?

[@JamesMcGinley-wu3qh]

Yeah, I remember watching that Flyers/Lightning game. Had Admiral Akbar over the mancave. He was like: " Oh, I've seen this before, I'm out."

[@icollectstories5702]

Is this really different from the New Jersey neutral zone trap? It sounds like the counter-move is the same dump-and-chase.

[@danielking3611]

Good reasons for changing to 4 skaters instead of 5 or going to international size ice. There are just too many players and not enough ice surface.

[@Plaguez21]

International ice is where the trap was created. 1-3-1 is a product of Sweden.

[@uhoh7541]

You break plays down better than most on TV- get this man a contract!!!

[@CunuckHockey]

Hahaha thanks man I appreciate the support! Comments like yours really make my day

[@michaelborgen9563]

Great video, well explained

[@quantumm313]

i might be biased because Im a kings fan, but i dont really find the way they play boring at all. They've had tons of high score games this season, both for and against. People just like to make excuses for losing, want their star players to score, and get upset when they can't. Combined it makes the 1-3-1 easy to complain about. I'm sure those same people wouldn't be having any more fun if their defense just stopped trying and gave kempe, moore, or byfield a breakaway on their goaile

[@movieswithmatticus5469]

Exactly. All these people complaining about the 1-3-1 but they probably didn't even know LA had a team until this video much less actually watched any of their games.

[@davidunger3199]

In the SHL (Swedish Hockey League, then Elitserien) Djurgårdens IF and Västra Frölunda (now only Frölunda) where famous for playing this way in the 1990's. And Djurgården won 3 championships in a row playing 1-3-1 hockey.

[@reindeerheadgames]

Love the heat, GKG

[@auhtin]

yeah for some reason the 2011 stanley cup final is a blur to me

[@Matt-416]

The 2011 E. Conference Finals, Bruins Lightning game 7 is the pinnacle of the NHL. Both teams stacked with talent, displaying ectrifying goaltending, unbelievable defensive efforts, equally physical and hard hitting forechecking, high speed and tense play all in a one-goal game.... with zero penalties. Incredible!

[@Neonator08]

That's a matter of taste. The pinnacle of high scoring physical hockey with great goaltending and individual superstars and team talent alike was the Colorado-Detroit rivalry. Most hockey fans consider the greatest regular season game ever played was between these two teams on March 26 1997. You might be a bit young for that game. The intensity, passion, blood, sweat and tears, highlight reel goals and electric hits is just not in today's game right now. The best compliment I can give to the Tampa Bay Lightning is they are likely the pinnacle of playing system hockey.

[@CC-of5xl]

Nah nobody who wasn't a fan of either team cared. There was probably more talk and coverage around the Oilers v Flames round 2 a couple of years ago than that finals lol. People want to watch big comebacks, highlight real goals and big hits.

[@Neonator08]

@@CC-of5xl Its funny how much regionalism plays in people's opinions. You have to step outside your immediate wheel house to accept greatness. What makes the Detroit-Colorado rivalry much more than anything recent was that it spanned almost 10 years, both teams won multiple Stanley Cup championships during the time, both teams often had to beat the other to go on to win the Stanley Cup and neither team was an immediate geographic rival of the other but yet still a hated giant that must be slain each year in order to reach the promised land. The Oilers and Flames hold a soft spot in my heart as a Canadian, and while that one series was exciting, it was little more than a blip or moment of a few exciting games not in my opinion true greatness befitting Champions. Esp since neither team has won anything.

[@CC-of5xl]

@Neonator08 "regionalism" you say to a guy who lives in Ontario lol

[@Neonator08]

@@CC-of5xl the teams i talked about and the amazing rivalry are not in Ontario. lol

[@russs7574]

This is no different from when the Devils had success playing their trapping system. Look, I think it sucks, but the object is to win games, not to be aesthetically pleasing. And the referees could help out by being a little more vigilant calling all the clutching and grabbing that goes along with a trapping system. And there are ways to defeat a trap. Be patient, take the short passes, lug the puck over the red line and then dump, chase, retrieve and cycle. That sucks to watch a team doing that, too, but that's how you beat a trap. I'm a Penguins fan, and I remember Mario and Jagr adapting their style of play and having quite a bit of success vs. New Jersey.

[@wisconsinhugs]

Interesting video. Never seen this strategy before!!!

[@jakerisi]

I’ve been hearing about the 1-3-1 drama for over 10 years. If it still works then fuck it. Play it.

[@jamess1021]

Its only news now because the nucks suck and have legions on bandwagon fans crying.

[@Frost.7xx]

I played a lot of high end hockey as a kid, WHL, Jr.A, and we played the 1-3-1 a lot, but ONLY when we were up 1-2 goals, nearing the end of the game. I can’t imagine playing that style all game long right off the drop. 🥵 Especially frustrating for the fans who pay big money to watch these games

[@WigsxD]

The neutral zone trap has been used since the 1970's with the Canadiens. Jacques Lemaire was a huge fan of this scheme as a player, and used it as a coach for the Devils and Wild. Many teams will shift to this strategy to protect a lead too.

[@flippy66]

2:33 - There was an entire era called the dead puck era, and teams have played the trap for decades, and this is just another example of a tactical way of controlling the speed of play. And like those tactics, there are ways to beat the 1-3-1. There is no inherent way to play hocky.

[@grumben123]

I had forgotten the finals were cancelled in 2011 until reminded at 6:18. Vancouver fans were so upset that they cancelled the victory parade and set the town on fire.

[@awake780]

When you’re a Canucks homer and still sore about it 13 years later. 😂

[@paulsharpy3719]

The most important factor in a 1 3 1 is the center man and his ability to cut the play off so it makes sense that with the king's 3 big centers, they do well at it. Canucks actually played the king's last night and faired a bit better against it because Quinn Hughes would carry the puck past a certain point against the center and be able to draw more guys. Anyhow I'd say we won way more entries but Quinn Hughes skated so much more than other games, don't know if that's sustainable in the playoffs

[@brian_of_farce]

As a lightning fan, I look back fondly on 2011 because of the fun playoff run but the season of 1-3-1 was brutal to watch. And when we started bringing up players like Palat, Johnson, Kucherov, our team got faster and more explosive and didn't really fit that sit and wait system. It's no surprise that Boucher didn't last much longer as he wasn't exploiting our strengths and teams started picking us apart. Enter Cooper, say goodnight to 1-3-1 and the rest was history

[@forivall]

I wish I came across your channel earlier in this season, my brother and friends have been telling me to watch the Canucks, but I've only finally started with the playoffs :P ah well, no time like the present.

[@CunuckHockey]

Hey it's the perfect time to get back to watching the Canucks! The team hasn't been this exciting in more than a decade so better late than never!

[@techluvin7691]

The same defense is played in Basketball and it is effective………..but is easily beat. It is a trap where the lead player forces the puck to one side or the other. As soon as the lead player commits, you get rid of the puck with a sort pass up the middle through the gap. The key is to wait for the commit from the defence. Another way to beat it is Bobby Orr style. Beat the first guy and the trap is broken.

[@mauricerose3082]

Pass behind your back to open player on the other side. Or just deep lob the puck on goal or into the corner.

[@nealtircuit9373]

There are plays a team can do to defeat this defense, but there is one rule that I wouldn’t mind changing that could help alleviate the problem. That would be if all players abandon their offensive zone at the time of a pass, icing would be waved off. This would allow the team with possession of the puck to not worry about missed passes up the ice.

[@Nessrox444]

I like it. I like watching different styles and strategies collide.

[@jakubschiedek4193]

In czech hockey league there is a team called Oceláři Třinec and theyre well-known here for playing the same style as L.A.

[@billymays7210]

9 goals last night… Kings are about 40 goals in the positive… I realize many of these comments were posted before last night, but still… kinda negates a lot of the “points” I’m seeing…

[@ShinmaMumei]

What is the alternative supposed to be?

[@ljakian]

that 2011 game 7 ecf goal was electric man. cannot believe that was 13 freaking years ago.

[@BobbyBoucher228]

You completely forgot to mention that the most recent team who won a Stanley Cup that had perfected the modern trap system was the 2019 Blues. They would win any game they had a lead in by clogging the neutral zone and adding to the score with a lethal counter rush game. You could argue that the 2019 Blues had a better version of the modern trap system since they wouldn’t fully sit back and would continually pile on and forecheck even with a lead which would wear teams down as each series went on longer. They were also comfortable defending in their own zone too as they would allow far more shots than they’d take themselves but they’d keep everything to the outside for the most part and block a ton of shots which would often lead to odd man breaks the other way resulting in more goals.

[@jeremycoyle2782]

Very good analysis of the Blues cup win.

[@rickc3291]

Very good observation and description of the 2019 Blues. They beat the sh!t out of the my Sharks in the Western Conference Finals with that system and pounding the Sharks’ D-men when in the offensive zone.

[@nathanday799]

Look. We just don’t talk about the 2011 Boston Bruins.

[@CunuckHockey]

I still can't watch highlights from that series 😭 It'll never not be painful

[@UnhingedCanadian]

The oilers have a pretty good record against the LA kings both reg season and playoffs. I think how the oilers beat them is they’re a fast rush team and the kings can stop some of their rushes but with sheer volume the oilers get their chances off the rush and once you beat them in the zone and get the cycle going LA is average at best at defending against the cycle.

[@panda4247]

It's a strategy like any other. If more teams played it, mire teams would train against it and counterstrategies would evolve. What do you want them to do? Make a rule "you cannot defend, because it takes away the action from the game?"

[@mitsanut5869]

Hockey is about winning first and about the entertainment second. If you're winning, your success becomes entertaining to the crowds no matter what you play. You might be entertaining but losing and the crowds will sit home. Nobody cares how war is won. The final results is what counts. If you play 1-3-1, it's up to the other team to figure out your weak spots and beat you. To force their style of play on you. Make your life miserable out there. You are free to choose how you're going to play. Ive always maintained throughout my life that if you want to win, you must become far better than the rest so you have tools to break them. Its not enough to be just as good as the other side. They must fear your abilities when you (in this case) step on the ice. Thats why i always encouraged that mindset. I had to learn it, too,it didnt come just by itself. To be just as good as the top aint enough - if so, youre relying on hope that you will have better day than them. And as we all know, "hope" is very dangerous a word. I think McDavid has those qualities, even as I think he could be better overall player than he is. He can singlehandedly take the game over offensively simply because he's that much better than the the rest. Datsyuk was that kind of a player as well. No defensive system worked against him if he decided to turn it up. But Datsyuk was far more valuable to his team than McDavid is because he was incredibly smart in playing defense, too. Kings play very opportunistic style of hockey because of its personnel. Tight defense and waiting for the opposing team breakdown in positioning. They don't have the star players other teams have, so their system fits the team structure. We have yet to see how successful it will be in playoffs.

[@gregoryrothenberger4900]

LOL...I find it amusing that during the early to mid 90s, the same thing was being said about the NJ Devils and the Neutral Zone trap. LOL.

[@rakkasaniron1696]

Looking at it, 1 3 1 is just a more tactical approach to Hockey. It's not really rocket science. And as frustrating as it can be to play against, (because it's a competition of tactics.) it doesn't inherently ruin or even alter the game of Hockey in any meaningful sense. Besides, a smart tactically minded team can find plenty of ways to power through it with speed. Hearing players complain about this is like listening to Caeser's enemies complain that he out-maneuvered them. That's the name of the game.

[@LightningDogg]

2011 the Lightning lost game 7 in the ECF 1-0 to the Bruins. They lost the 4 games by a total of 5 points. Looking at Stamkos in the handshake line you can see his bloodied nose. He took a puck in the face and it broke his nose. He immediately went down the tunnel, came back 5 minutes later with a full cage on his helmet and a tampon in his nose. That's when I really knew we had something in this kid. The next year, he scored 60 goals. Also in 2011, the Bolts drafted Nikita Kucherov and Andre Palat. Thankfully, in the 2012-13 lockout season they brought in head coach Jon Cooper!

[@davidcacanindin9245]

Excellent content right here!

[@CunuckHockey]

Thank you so much!

[@illsuive]

Pretty brilliant system when they execute it properly. Kings have the 4th least goals allowed in the league with 4 games remaining. Call it boring but you’re probably just frustrated because that’s what it’s meant to do. Effectively shut down the opposing teams offense.

[@PetsoKamagaya]

They should remove the trapezid and allow goalies to venture out there to retrieve pucks. Hilarity should ensue shortly!

[@CashMacGregor]

this was the NJD when they were winning cups. get the first goal early in the 1st period and win the game 1-0 or 2-0.

[@Markymark-gg6qf]

Any team with good speed will win against them

[@daltondrouillard9308]

Right on, except for how the last cup they won, they led the entire league in goals for in the entire season, so basically you are completely wrong.

[@Markymark-gg6qf]

@@daltondrouillard9308 well no im not wrong😂

[@Markymark-gg6qf]

@@daltondrouillard9308 any team with speed will beat them and it shows. Oilers shit on them a couple days ago. Dallas beat them twice and they’re a fast team. So ur wrong

[@daltondrouillard9308]

@@Markymark-gg6qf You literally said they're like NJ when they were winning cups, score then win 1-0 or 2-0. I just told you that NJ had the most goals in the entire league the last cup that won. Can you comprehend that they weren't a low scoring team like you stated?

[@zincon13]

When you meet the "pressure wall" button hook back and pass to a streaking teammate going down the other side of the ice?

[@matturner6890]

Finally someone breaks down hockey tactics in a way I can actually follow. Thank you, buddy.

[@CunuckHockey]

Glad you found the video useful man! Hope you stick around!

[@indyrevoly3060]

Simple albeit not probably bulletproof solution if this actually becomes a problem that counter-strategy doesn't address first: - If the offense has the puck behind their own blue line and all defenders are on the other side of the blue line for 10 seconds, it's a faceoff near the defensive team's net. - After this, if the defense DOES cross the blue line but the offense evades and doesn't get the puck across the blue line within 10 seconds (unless a defender touches the puck during), it's a faceoff near the offensive team's net. This punishes teams for relying on neutral zone trap-styles of play and forces play closer to the net if they try to waste more than a few seconds probing the defense.

[@movieswithmatticus5469]

Thank you. Everyone is bitching about how boring the Kings are but how many of them have actually watched more than 1 or 2 Kings games this season? If they did then they would already know all of the points you touched on. They don't use it regardless of the situation, they set it up *sometimes* depending on the situation.

[@Tyreinn]

Surprised to see no erik karlsson era ottawa mentioned

[@janbo8331]

I don't mind the tactic. Teams just need to adapt their breakouts.

[@SupplementalSense]

I enjoy scoring, but I also enjoy great defense. Call me strange, but I usually cheer for the away team and defensive physicality. I am more entertained by the hype getting shut up.

[@donpietruk1517]

It's nothing new. Its the old New Jersey Devil's mid ice trap strategy from the mid-1990s. It's how they held a high flying Detroit Red Wings offense to seven goals in a four game sweep in the 1995 Cup finals.

[@Dsimm6.5]

Teams just have to hammer the dman recovering the puck everytime they are forced to dump it in

[@bdcmatt9041]

Man I remember the fus that caused after the philly vs tampa game. I thought it was hilarious.

[@adamderrick606]

The only thing about the 1-3-1 that I don't like is that not pressuring the D-men to make a pass and waiting for them to make a pass before making you move. Not putting pressure on a puck carrier goes against every hockey instinct I have and you get Pronger making a mockery of it which is painful to watch. There is nothing illegal about it from a hockey sense. I would think that when playing against it, it would be important to get a lead, even a one goal lead could work, since the system seems offensively challenged. Force them to get out of their passive style where they would be disadvantaged. How do you get a lead? Maybe rush a defender up with the forwards aggressively to start the game to try to get the lead before they settle into the trap, you know that they don't play aggressive offensively so maybe take some chances against it or play it like a power play, 2 guys on the puck at all times until you get possession. Getting a lead against it to force them out of it would be my strategy I think.

[@daviddavidson7747]

1-3-1 is usually countered with a 3-1-1. You nuturlize the solo 1 out in front. They literally will never get the puck, and if they somehow do, it will be a 2v1 every time. No one has a nuts to run a 3-1-1, though, as it's not effective verse a 2 1 2

[@jeffreyprevost8180]

Am I missing some inside joke? The Cup finals were not canceled in 2011. Bruins beat Vancouver in 7 games.

[@3lm3rfudd]

Seems like it can be beat by sending the non puck carrying forwards up into the neutral zone to split the 3 and hit them with a pass in stride

[@jaythompson5102]

Brian Burke mentioned it recently, short passes and structured breakouts kill the 1-3-1 since the three guys can get turned and burned. It is great at defending long passes. I dont like how the Kings are getting flak thoufh because nearly every team engages in similar defensice schemes at points in games.

[@phil7121]

Neutral zone trap systems are one of the main reasons I really believe they need to allow some degree of offsides... Let offensive players get more speed and be more aggressive to beat a trap without worrying about offsides by an inch and negating a goal

[@chrisc765]

I was at that lightning game in 2011. everyone was pissed at us for not going itn and checking. i hate the style but, if it wins its gonna be tried

[@NotTheWheel]

I don't follow hockey much but in Basketball terms up the pace win the race. You can't rely on a Defense to make your job easy for you, you got to be faster. This isn't a wall it's a bridge with different points sharing the weight - it means it moves with the tension where there's the most pressure. So if you try going straight through you won't be able to do it, you got to make it buckle on one side and attack on the other. I think also if you know a teams strategy you should be preparing for it no? Seems to me like a skill issue.

[@jaylenbarnes2.079]

Amazing Vid

[@philhamilton8731]

Its variation of the neutral zone trap. Shouldn't coaches have figured out how to beat it by now? I guess the issue is that most teams aren't structured these days to get through it. This style is what led to so many teams playing dump and chase which I don't really care to watch as much as good teams playing a puck possession style of hockey, but that's just me.

[@ntns_media]

Why not use forwards to collapse the 131 in the neutral zone, then drop pass to own blue line to open up the options again? By this point, all 5 opposing players would be collapsed to their blue, and the man would have 4 pass options in the NZ

[@ronnieturner6820]

Can’t believe you called it “the Sedins’ play”. As it was around way before then. I invented it in 1983 with Carl. Then shammer and muggsy from the shakers team did it twice but they even came out and said they got it from us

[@maw4734]

Funny, as a Bruins fan I seem to remember them holding the Final in 2011. Though for 28.5 teams, it was definitely cancelled (Bieksa showed up at least). More on topic: the 1-3-1 is annoying and while I totally understand why it's allowed as a strategy, I'm totally ok with teams taking a page out of the Flyer's book on this one.

[@ThandrieDavis]

6:18 actual cackle lol

[@RKG-CRE]

3:42 has a perfect 4-5 o’clock pass to a 43 who can gain speed through the neutral zone once the F1 has a feet transition. You don’t have to dump it. There are multiple plays here. The carrier could easily s turn towards center and back up the other side. There is a stupid fascination with maybe players that you have to go north. We’re going north. Play the open ice.

[@morefiction3264]

Seems like, since speech can attack it effectively, the problem with it is it exposes a lack of speed in the league.

[@NoBody-qs7op]

Great explanation.

[@DarthAnimal]

Its always wild to me that the arguments against the trap are always "booo, stop playing defense, let us attack your net"

[@stenmoeller]

Good video! Of course people are going to whine when hitting a wall they aren't smart enough to penetrate. The only problem is that they themselves haven't found the key. Imho, it seemed that the 1-3-1 system as we saw it in this video often left an open space on the opposite side of where the puck carrier was charging. Plenty of space for a rocket player to receive a pass.

[@bananian]

What if both teams play the 131?

[@user-qk5np4ml3e]

Used by the Swedish national team as early as 1978 according to Swedish version of Wikipedia.

[@shanemckenzie2462]

2011 SCF was wild.

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

I can't believe it took this long to figure out? Might need some sort of shot clock or ten second rule kind of deal...

[@philhamilton8731]

A clock wouldn't be feasible in hockey. The game is too fast and possession of the puck changes too often. It's not basketball.

[@jeffrorichard2765]

Great system breakdown, what a bunch of whining though. Kopitar, Danault and Dubois down the middle … LA has won two Stanleys on defense … they would change why?

[@ll7868]

You know how you get through that 1-3-1? You get yourself a decent power forward, not a smaller, speedy type, the big bruiser type like a Todd Bertuzzi who can steamroll right over anyone blocking his path. Those types of players are what killed the trap system, if you got to see the West Coast Express tear apart even the most anally retentive defences you know what I mean.

[@philhamilton8731]

Yep, that worked as well. Power forwards are going the way of the enforcer as Buttman has tried his damndest to take physicality out of the game.

[@ll7868]

@@philhamilton8731 West Coast Express was fun to watch after 5 or 6 years of teams playing traps, there weren't a lot of teams that had big power forwards that could play on the top line, pass, shoot and skate as well as the elite snipers and playmakers, Detroit had Shanahan, the Rangers (Canucks and Rangers again) had Messier arguably the first real power forward, the Coyotes had Keith Tkachuck, there was even a point where the Sedin twins had enforcer Donald Brashear as a linemate in the early 2000s and he was putting up nearly a point per game.

[@donmaloney6226]

Dave King invented this system with the Canadian 1984 Olympic Team

[@nuynobi]

Why not 'commit' to one side until the defenders start closing in, but then pass back to the D who then passes it up the other side where there are 2 wide open attackers?

[@TechTokOffical]

The 1-3-1 used to only be effective when u had a goalie who could handle the puck well but now with increase in the game speed, I fear it will become the new normal. NOTHING will be more boring than when 2 teams 1-3-1 each other all game,every game