Kings Goal to 'Don't Play Hockey's According to Canucks Zadorov

The Los Angeles Kings' 1-3-1 system, and their defensive mindset in general, has been a topic of conversation for a while now. 

Last season, Nathan MacKinnon showed frustration after a loss to the Kings, as did Brendan Gallagher, both highlighting the 1-3-1 as frustrating to play against. 

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov is now the latest opposing player to show frustration after playing the Kings. 

“I mean, that's their system,” said Zadorov when asked about trying to come back from two goals down. “They don't really make plays; they just rim the puck and sit back all game. I mean, it's their goal to don't play hockey and don't let the other team play hockey, pretty much. Yeah, it's hard to come back, especially when you're down two goals. They had one extra bounce than we did today, so that was the difference out there.”

While saying that their goal is to not play hockey is an over exaggeration, Zadorov isn't wrong that the Kings have no problem sitting back in a more defensive system. 

It's also true that, from a neutral perspective, it isn't the most fun system to watch. 

Of course, the Kings don't, and shouldn't, care how much fun a neutral fan has watching their games. All they care about is wins and losses and the 1-3-1 has worked well over the last few seasons. At least in the regular season. 

While it's frustrating to play against at time, as MacKinnon, Gallagher and now Zadorov, have all pointed out, it isn't a perfect system. 

It can be exposed in a few ways. 

Last season in the playoffs, the Oilers proved that, if you have the talent to do it, you can blow through the 1-3-1 and create offense. 

If you're able to carry the puck through the '3' in the 1-3-1, you'll be attacking a lone defensemen who's often flatfooted. 

Of course, that's easier said than done, making the second option more viable. 

For this option, you're going to have to work for your offense. 

Teams can chip picks in behind the defense and put pressure on the lone defensemen back, creating turnovers that way. 

It's something Gabe Vilardi highlighted as why the Winnipeg Jets had so much success against the Kings in LA. 

 "The 1-3-1 is hard to play against sometimes," said Vilardi. "You have to be willing to give up the puck and go and get it and keep doing that and keep doing that. When you don't do that you get in trouble."

The Kings might be a frustrating team to play against, but there's a blueprint to beating them. 

If you aren't one of the few teams who has the skill to blow through their neutral zone trap. You better be ready to work anytime you play the Kings.