The Los Angeles Kings emerged from Montreal with two points on Saturday night after beating the Canadiens. In addition to the win, the formation from California presented a procedure for the next rival of CH.
Indeed, the Kings smothered the Habs with a 1-3-1 playstyle and clinched a lopsided 4-2 win.
“The players seemed frustrated with the kings waiting for them in the neutral zone,” former NHL player Simon Gagné said on Monday’s show. La Poche Bleue at noon at TVA Sports. The famous 1-3-1. You wait for the other team, you wait for them to make mistakes and for the Canadians to get caught.
“Players said once in 10 it will work, but the rest of the time they will block us and take advantage of it. Canadians are not suitable for this. We’re seeing it more and more often in the NHL.
But Gagné believes the Habs need to find solutions to deal with this formation.
“The Canadians, instead of keeping it easy, play flat hockey, take the puck and put it in the back (in the zone) and do the precheck. Canadians didn’t want that.
“It’s a style of play that’s frustrating […] But Canadians have to adapt. […] It’s boring to play against a team like that, it’s boring to get rid of the puck and get it. They like being in control better and trying to make plays. But sometimes you don’t have a choice.
See it in the video above.
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