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Back in 2022 I published a five-part series breaking down the 1-3-1 neutral zone trap. In the final part of the series, I suggested that the 1-3-1 is old technology and that a 1-2-2/1-1-3 hybrid is, broadly speaking, a superior NZ scheme for the modern game.
In subsequent years, the 1-3-1 has had a bit of a resurgence thanks to perennial playoff teams Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Against less confident rush offenses, the 1-3-1 is a useful tool for clogging the middle and forcing unsuccessful dump-ins and NZ turnovers.
However, in the past 24 hours we have seen two teams, the Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes, using choreographed plays to exploit the 1-3-1’s static nature.
Set Play 1: Cross-Ice Dump to Weak-Side Speed
BOS88 David Pastrnak (RW) swings back to build speed as BOS27 Hampus Lindholm (LD) gains the red line and shoots the puck cross-ice.
Pastrnak sprints past TOR16 Mitch Marner, who’s just come onto the ice, and then overwhelms TOR44 Morgan Rielly and TOR35 Ilya Samsonov.
P.S.: BOS ran the same play successfully in Game 4, with Pastrnak scoring after skating by Max Domi:
Set Play 2: Area Pass to Weak-Side Speed
CAR7 Dmitry Orlov (LD) carries to the red line, then finesses a pass to CAR48 Jordan Martinook (LW). Martinook finds CAR88 Martin Necas (RW), who’s sprinted between defenders to create a breakaway.
Commonalities of both plays on the attackers’ part:
Great understanding of the opposing defensive scheme
Excellent timing/feel to place the puck into specific areas
Ds carrying the puck to the red line in order to freeze the 1-3-1 structure
Weak-side forward sprinting to attack flat-footed defenders with a speed differential