Oilers' Leon Draisaitl evaluates the LA Kings pesky on-ice strategy

Tonight the Oilers will take on the LA Kings in a playoff preview game, and Leon Draisaitl decided to mock their team a bit in a pre-game interview.

In recent years the LA Kings have developed a notoriety for their stifling defensive style of play, the 1-3-1. The strategy is effective for winning games and stopping defensive play, but it's awfully boring to watch, play in, and play against. When asked about having to play against the 1-3-1, Draisaitl joked it made him ‘quite sad'. Instead of making more plays with the puck, the way to beat the Kings is by dumping the puck and playing gritty hockey down low in their zone.


Recently, Canucks defenceman Nikita Zadorov also came out speaking against the Kings' strategy, saying that they essentially ‘don't play hockey'.



This is still a big game for the Edmonton Oilers against a team they're likely to match up against in the first round, and the Oilers are going to have to get used to beating the 1-3-1. In his full interview, Draisaitl also showed he was personally pumped up for the game, knowing the playoff implications of the past and future.



The Oilers will take the Kings on tonight at home, and both teams will be looking to make an impression that will last for the next three weeks. It's playoff preview time!