There’s a bit more to come back to on the Frolov situation later, but here’s something you might find interesting…
As has been mentioned here, Terry Murray told Helene Elliott of the L.A. Times yesterday that, in hindsight, he should have stayed with Jonathan Quick in goal against the New York Rangers, rather than going to Erik Ersberg. Murray has said, a couple times now, that the Kings dominated that game, the clear implication being that with better goaltending, the Kings would have won. They went on to lose the next night, in Detroit, with Quick in goal.
Today, Murray elaborated on his self-analysis and indicated that Quick will be in goal for quite some time to come…
MURRAY: “I was wishing I had just stayed with a player, Quicker, who was starting to get his game and playing well.”
Question: What does that mean for the next few games?
MURRAY: “It means I’m playing Quick right now. I had a plan that was penciled in, and I erased it.”
Question: Do you still have faith in Ersberg?
MURRAY: “I need him to be looking really, really good in practice. He’s got to be right on top of things right now. It’s been a long time since there’s been a win for him, going back to the middle of December last year, and I really need to see `A’ game in practice. You know, he’s battling the flu right now himself, so there’s just no way that he’s going to go in until he gets himself back to full strength and then builds from that point, and then we’ll decide.”
Question: Any thought, on your part, of bringing up Bernier?
MURRAY: “On my part? Me, specifically?”
Question: You and Dean…
MURRAY: “No, there’s not. No. Bernier is, from what I’m reading, is doing great. He’s playing, he’s winning, the team is winning, they’re in first place down there, and that was part of the decision coming out of the training camp. This is what he needs to do, Bernier, is to go play. I’ve got confidence that Quick is going to do the job for us.”
Question: You’ll keep playing him until he gives you a reason not to?
MURRAY: “The more he played… You know, he was getting on a roll and he was starting to play a real solid game when we got into New York. The only reason I made the change was because of my plan. Right now, I’m just going to play Quick.”
i think TM’s coaching is definitely evolving as the team evolves … he is quicker and easier to admit to his doings and thats really a good sign. i like what i hear and see so far … again we are only 10 games into the season, but i can feel the firm grip that we arent gonna let the focus go to the main ultimate goal which is to get better and make the playoffs. The fact that these are happening so early on is really just the team taking nothing less anymore … that IS a winning attitude!
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I still support his decision with Ersberg against the Rangers…although it looks bad in hindsight. I saw the reasoning there.
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MURRAY: “The more he played… You know, he was getting on a role and he was starting to play a real solid game when we got into New York.
I think he was getting on a roll, myself
But seriously, it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Quick had to start that game at MSG, but Murray, like a few others around here, is just a human being… prone to err from time to time. He should just knock on Quick’s door and let him know he’s ready to continue coaching.
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LOL Marc. THAT was funny.
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Amen, waves! That was well-played Marc!
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Dan H. -
I completely agree with you on that one. I too understand his reasoning and am glad he learned (we all learned) this lesson early on in the season.
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concussionman02 says:
October 13, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Anyone else think Ersberg should have got the start against the then 0-0-3 NYI and Quick should be in goal for the now 5-1 NYR? I think it would have been better for both Ersberg and the team. Thoughts?
Maybe he should read the blog before he make another decision like that.
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Hey…I felt Ersberg should have started that game, and I still do.
But…that’s why Murray is coach, and I’m not
Sounds funny, but I can’t wait for the war that will be training camp next summer for goaltending.
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HA. I made this point after the Detroit game, and someone gave me crap about it. A coaching decision like that can really affect the season. Again, I’m sorry, but Quick won 4 in a row going into that game and the Kings were rolling and the momentum was extinguished like that *fingers snap. You don’t sit a hot goalie. I don’t care how many he’s played in a row. Play him until he loses, then sit him and give him a rest. He hasn’t started Ersberg since. Enough said.
p.s. Frolov has no heart and would rather be on GQ’s cover
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no matter how good or bad Ersberg plays it wont change anything for him cause late in the season it will be Quick & Bernier!
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Its clear to me that Terry Murray did not read my line combination post from two days ago. LOL
Just to rehash, two years ago this line clicked
Frolov-Kopitar-Brown
I realize that Smyth-Kopitar-Williams is kicking ass so maybe leave it alone. So here is my 2nd choice
Frolov-Stoll-Brown.
Seriously, I watched every game including the one where Frolov coughed up the puck. Other than that bonehead play, I saw him hustling into the corner, protecting the puck, and making creative plays. He isnt playing that bad. Moving him up makes sense. Hope Fro makes the most of it.
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Quick wasn’t “hot” going into the Ranger game, the team was. We were scoring in bunches, but Quick was average at best, terrible save % and GAA going into that game, so you can understand TM’s decision originally.
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It’s good to have a coach that can admit mistakes. I got the feeling with Crawford that he goes out of his way to hide mistakes.
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“Quick wasn’t “hot” going into the Ranger game, the team was.” The two previous games were 2-1, and either could have been a shutout. Quick was hot, stopping 28 shots in one and 29 in the other. The team supplied only the game winning 2nd goal in each. Quick deserves credit.
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Marc Nathan
Very well put. I defer to you as blog coach….for now
I thought Murray was doing the right thing as well. I still expected a better performance out of Ersberg, wrong decision not withstanding.
Doesn’t sound like they’ve been impressed with his practices since.
Time for Quick to be the man.
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Just because Quick was letting in a lot of goals doesn’t mean he wasn’t playing great games. Look at the teams we were playing and how good they are. The defense has a lot to do with it too. He did let in a few he should have saved, but he saved some that should have been goals too. U can be a great goalie on a team with crappy D and let in goals. A good example would be Detroit. Osgood isn’t great, he’s average at best. Detroit wins games because of the overall team. Give Quick some credit, it’s his second season in the NHL. Two more years and you guys will be saying he’s the best goal the Kings have had. I have faith in Quick and know he will only get better.
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Scott..problem is we’re not close to what Detroit was.
we can’t have a goalie let in any cheapies. On a young team, that’s death!
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I’m glad he recognized his mistake and owns up to it. Had the kings won the game in NY (they would’ve had a good chance with Quick) The road trip would’ve been a very positive experience instead of a mixed-one…
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Not going to say it.
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They’re gonna ruin Bernier and he’ll turn into another Corey Hirsch.
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can anyone really fault murry for starting “errorsberg” in NY? the games were back to back, lots of travel, people are tired/sick. i understand why he wanted quick to play in detroit…same conference and all and arguably a more important game (points and standings wise)…
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If it aint broke, don’t fix it. Quick should’ve stayed in, and I’m TM addmited that.
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If I were coach, my decision would have been Ersberg in the Rangers game also. You know what they say about hindsight.
Your backup has to get a game in sometime, although I’m aware that if you have a well-conditioned goalie he can go a good couple of months without a game off.
If you have back-to-backs on the road and one team is out of your conference, while the other team is in your conference and a playoff contender, my view is you play your #1 G against the in-conference rival if you’re giving each G a game.
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