Perhaps lost in the debate over particular players is a pretty important statistic. The Kings, in their last six games, are 1 for 15 on the power play. That’s a problem for two reasons. First, it’s a bad percentage and second, and perhaps more importantly, 15 power plays in six games is a very small sum. Add to that the fact the fact that the Kings have given up four power-play goals in 18 chances during that span, and it’s a wonder the Kings even went 2-2-2 in those six games.
Here’s what Terry Murray said about the recent power-play dip…
MURRAY: “The lack of chances bothers me more than the lack of the actual goals. You can have a great power play and have it moving around and get a great number of scoring chances, and you’re saying, `Guys, just keep doing it.’ You reinforce the positive, it’s going to happen. You might be up against some hot goaltenders in some stretch of games, or you’re just not getting the job done at the end of the day. But when you’re not generating good offensive-zone time, not generating shots at the net and your attitude has changed, then that’s a concern. I think we’ve got in that second category a few times recently.
“We just need to get more offensive-zone time established and get back to keeping it simple, getting pucks to the net and that net presence. The ever-ready cliche of net presence is so important. We seem to just get away from that part of it a little bit. When goaltenders are seeing the puck, in this league, from above the top of the circles, they’re going to stop it.”
From my view, they need to play the PP with a 5 on 5 mentality. I know its kind of cliche, but lately the Kings have been lazy taking the puck up the ice, as if because they are a man up, they have all the room in the world and quickly find out not only do they have no room, but no speed through the neutral zone.
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“When goaltenders are seeing the puck, in this league, from above the top of the circles, they’re going to stop it”
Really Terry?? Are you sure??? Yours can’t!!
Great on plays downlow for the most part, not very good on tracking pucks from above circles. Never has been. He had the same problem last year.
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i have a solution. keep purcell away from the PP! heck. keep him away from the team!!!
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He has been johnny. The last two games (maybe 3?), the second PP forward unit has been Frolov-Handzus-Williams.
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The best coach we had for the PP was Tippett, Jamie is just not cutting it and I don’t see any adlibbing from the guys on the PP. and now I’m wondering if Hardy is being overruled in some cases on the PK.
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It always comes back to keeping your feet moving on offense, with or without the puck, especially on the PP, but also 5-on-5.
Freezang…show me one goal scored from outside the circles where there was no traffic between him and the puck.
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I strongly agree with WTFK, move the feet. It’s basketball on ice you’ve got to give the defence something to worry about besides the shot and make em move out of position.
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Ken, you are joking right? Quick has let in a number of ‘soft’ goal. Most of them appear to be on steals on
our end. Its as though Quick sees the backs of his team mates and relaxes, then, there’s a steal in our zone and he is late to react. At that point a quickly released shot is bigger problem for him than the opponent that walking in and tries to beat him. Its as though he looses game focus.
Quick also has a problem clearing the puck when he goes into the trapizoid. Often his passes go directly to an opponent, meanwhile Quick is scrambling to get in front of the net.
All this is from a Quick supporter. He’s young and there still a lot to learn. He has shown the ability to be a #1 goalie in this league. He just has to want it bad enough.
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our PP wuz best when Tippet was there. no doubt!! id actually like to have him as our coach in the future
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@ Bingram. Um, no…I responded specifically to a specific claim…please re-read and re-respond.
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