VGK’s Next Two Games Against Opponents Deploying Different Neutral Zone Setup

As the Golden Knights hit the road for the first time this season, they’ll face more than just new locations to play hockey. In Washington and Tampa Bay, they’ll also have to contend with a unique neutral zone setup used by less than a third of the league.

Both the Capitals and the Lightning defend through the middle of the ice in a 1-1-3. Rather than the standard 1-2-2 in which two defensemen stand at the blue line, these two teams drop a forward back to create a wall of three players attempting to deny entry to the offensive zone.

It shouldn’t be a new concept for the Golden Knights as they’ve actually run it themselves in the past. During the 2021-22 season, Pete DeBoer’s final year in charge of the team, VGK implemented the 1-1-3 looking to create more turnovers and feed their transition game. At times, it worked, but that team ultimately failed to make the playoffs and the system vanished with DeBoer. (Here’s a video I made about it back then.)

You can get through the outside but you have to be a little more careful of what you are running into because they can transition against you. So, puck management is crucial against that. You have to make sure that you are not stubborn early and force them to go break pucks out. -Cassidy

Through three games the Golden Knights have relied upon their rush game less than we’ve seen in the past. Most of the 5-on-5 goals they’ve scored have come from either extended zone time and/or creating turnovers. This is good news for a team gearing up to play against a different neutral zone setup. VGK will likely have to be a bit more careful through the neutral zone, opting for dump-ins more than controlled entries.

If they can avoid mistakes at the offensive blue line the 1-1-3 might end up playing right into the Golden Knights’ hands. Almost every goal Vegas has allowed thus far this year has been scored directly off a turnover. When teams spend time in the offensive zone or they are forced to bring the puck from their own zone through a structured Golden Knights, they’ve struggled to generate scoring chances, let alone goals.

To win these games, the Golden Knights will have to play a disciplined style of game when carrying the puck. Limit mistakes and these two teams will struggle to generate much offense.