Here’s what Terry Murray said today about making a switch in goal, from Jonathan Quick to Erik Ersberg, who will get his second start of the season. Interesting to note that Murray isn’t automatically going back to Quick. An attempt to create some competition might be the best thing that could happen to both goalies.
MURRAY: “I made the decision based on the last game. There were several goals, I think, that Quicker would like to have a re-do on. The other part of it is, we’ve had very few practice times since we came back from that six-game road trip. There’s been nine games, I believe, and few practices. He’s a young goaltender, and when you get away from the fundamentals of the game, it shows. It just gives him an opportunity to work with Billy (Ranford) for a couple days and focus in on one or two areas so that he can get back on top of things again. And it’s (Ersberg’s) time. I said that he would get a game sometime on this road trip, and it’s his time to step in and give him an effort.”
Question: Do you do this with the understanding that Quick will be back in for the next game?
MURRAY: “No. Ersberg is playing here tonight, and there’s nothing else that needs to be interpreted into that. It’s just, we’ll see how things go here tonight, and I’ll get a feel for Quick as we watch practice again tomorrow, and how Billy is making out with him.”
Later, in response to a question that was actually about Carolina goalie Manny Legace, Murray again addressed his goalie situation…
MURRAY: “I’m not laying all of the responsibilites on our goaltender by making the change. It’s a team game, and we need to be good in front of him. We need to cut back on the quality scoring chances and play the right way. It works both ways.”
i said this on the previous thread…
t.m. can’t stop talking to rich…
that’s great for us, but sometimes i wonder how good that is for the team…t.m. has said so much about quick during the last week that you don’t know what to believe…
but it’s time to get ee in there for so many reasons other than quick’s last few performances…
i don’t like the idea of quick playing 70+ games…i don’t think that’s a good approach…if it’s not ee, then jb…if not jb, then we need to look elsewhere…
but i’m definitely behind ee and i hope he finds his game during practice today and keeps it in place from that point on…
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Thanks for the insight Rich. TM is leaving his options open, which is fine, and I agree he seems to be building up the competition between the netminders to spark something in Quick.
Was absolutely naming JQ the #1 a mistake? Did that make him relax? I wanna say ‘No’, but you gotta wonder. Only JQ knows that answer and I have a feeling we never will.
Interesting to note: TM said before that there were 2 goals he thought Quick would want back. Now it’s several. (Does 2 = several?) Wonder if game tape revealed a few things TM didn’t see live.
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Unrelated, but here’s a great article on Luc Robitaille from the late Jim Murray of the LA Times dated March 6, 1988:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/hockey/nhl/lat-sp-murray10,0,7209150.story
LA was truly blessed to have a sportswriter of Murray’s pedigree.
You could also say the same thing about HOF broadcasters Bob Miller, Vin Scully & Chick Hearn.
It’s good to see Ersberg finally get another start in goal. Let’s hope that he makes the most of it!
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Much ado about nothing.
The one thing we frequently forget is the printed word is often times different than what you hear during the interview. The tone, inflection, and emphasis are often misinterpreted by us readers.
This is just your standard “motivate the goalie” move that was inevitable. The Iceberg wasn’t going to sit the whole season. He IS going to play. So he’s playing. No biggie. And at the same time, the coach is correctly challenging the starter to be better. Simple.
I’d say Quick is far from relaxed. He’s more likely on the other end of the spectrum… too tense. Thinking too much, trying too hard.
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I agree with Murry when your playing just a little off you go back to fundamentals. I play with someone who met with the u.s under 18 team and they do fundamental drills and skating for the best kids in the u.s. i think quick will eventually rebound he really is one of a kind no one else plays his style the only thing im concerned about is the playoffs will he bill a little like tim thomas and when you play a team 6 times they no what to do move it around enough and shoot it top shelf. And i think JB is going to have to come up eventually this year they can’t ignore someone with those numbers. im really pulling for the American quick though i really like watching him truly unique
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this is a decimated Carolina Hurricanes team, playing with (potentially) a goalie who has played a half-dozen games in the A so far this year.
If Ersberg loses, he’s gonna get crucified.
If Ersberg wins, he may get a chance to play against a real team later in the week.
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That’s a good, positive, and (given the two that got between him and the post) reasonable comment on the switch.
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BTW, Murray has to be short with any talk of the future. If Ersberg sees 35 shots in a shutout, that would probably change his view. If Ersberg sees 12 shots (before being yanked) and gives up four goals, then that would probably confirm his worst fear. We’ll probably see something in between. Either way, it’s better to wait and see, and keep it close to the vest.
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Ok I am only kidding when I say this but I think the worse thing Quicker could have done this summer was get married. You have admit that us guys will go out of our way for the females. There is certain drive in us all that goes away when we finally find that special someone.
in all seriousness I think the duelling goalies will be good, however in order for that to work both have to be playing well.
But I am a pessimist.
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@ Cynic – I’m with you…I’d bet Ranford made some comments that convinced TM it was more than just the two goals.
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@ Rainman – …and Bill King…
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Marc is correct. Not only will EE be crucified if he fails to perform, I think him and JB will be swapping teams.
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If he fails to perform, yes. If he loses (what Marc said), not necessarily (if he performs well and the skaters do not, for example.)
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No pressure EE. Just come in once in a blue moon and play NHL quality goaltending.
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ee will be fine…i have confidence in him
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@ Variable…
LA Kings get little to no accountability by the media in LA therefore they don’t really hear an earful like they do in other hockey markets. It’s good that Rich is asking these questions every day and publishing these quotes so that other outlets can pick them up.
This team NEEDS to be pressured by the fans and media so they don’t fall asleep in the 3rd like they did the other night. More pressure on the players, goalies, and coaches is always a GOOD thing.
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This is just a long overdue break so that Quick can practice with Ranford. Give Quick a two game break and let him just focus on practice and then test him out in the third game.
I hope that Ersberg is itching to get back in the net and regains a little confidence. He has not had a win in nearly a year and did not perform well in training camp or so far this regular season. If he cannot perform, it may be time for the franchise to evaluate whether it needs to make a change to Bernier (competition for the #1) or a veteran backup goaltender.
I think that the Kings were playing with a lot of confidence and were “overachieving” to start the year. Right now a few weaknesses are being brought to the surface and the outstanding play of the first line cannot always overcome those weaknesses. The management and coaching staff needs to keep the expectations high on this team though and needs to demand results, not just “improvement”.
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I still think this is a mistake. I hope I am wrong and ersberg plays well and we win.
This is a shaky time for the team and if they lose this game to a weak team such as carolina, all confidence may be lost…
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MIKE M…
good point and something that i not only understand but very much appreciate…rich has all my praise…
but t.m. has to be careful of crossing the obscure and very unknown line of goalie confidence…he has said very positive things about quick and the next day somewhat changes his tune…t.m. has every right to do this….but he has even said himself to rich before that he doesn’t get too involved with the goalies and leaves the day-to-day duties with billy ranford…with goalies, i guess i’m always a bit more cautious in calling them out…i’m mean, look at our history…
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Hey Deano, any chance you can swing a deal for Jean-Sebastien Giguere?
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Good Murray, this ought to deflect attention from the fact that you don’t know what your lines should be and that you don’t know how to motivate, other than bycriticizing and benching.
A scored 2 goals on 2 games.
That’s the current “problem.”
It must be Frolov’s fault.
Can anyone remember one time during this man’s tenure when he went over to a player coming off the ice and explained and “coached” them on how to do better? I can’t recall one time I’ve seen that happen.
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That’s not his job Cristobal…that’s the assistant coaches job.
Can you tell me when you have seen ANY NHL coach do that with ANY NHL player?
I’ll answer for you, you haven’t, because that is not what they do as a HEAD coach.
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I have absolutely seen that many times, Brett.
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