alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />– Jonathan Quick stopped a season-high 32 shots. Quick had matched his season high two nights earlier (30 saves) two nights earlier against Vancouver. Quick has won three consecutive shootouts (stopping all eight shots against).
– Wayne Simmonds now has a career-high three-game goal streak (three goals, one assist in that span). Simmonds has eight goals and seven assists this season and had nine goals and 14 assists in 82 games last season. Simmonds also took a team-high four shots on goal.
– Scott Parse has assists in three consecutive games.
– Dustin Brown had a season-high nine hits. The Kings out-hit Chicago 41-25
– After their dreadful performance in the faceoff circle in Canada, the Kings won 34 of 58 faceoffs. Michael Handzus won 12 of 16 faceoffs (75 percent).
– The Kings went 0 for 3 on the power play and are 0 for 13 combined in their last four games.
– Anze Kopitar played in his 200th consecutive game tonight (March 21, 2007 to present).
– The Kings are 7-0-3 in their last 10 home games vs. Chicago.
– The Kings are 9-0-0 when leading after two periods.
– The Kings were outshot 33-22. They have allowed at least 32 shots in three of their last four games.
– Drew Doughty played a team-high 25 minutes, 37 seconds. Anze Kopitar led all Kings forwards at 22:22.
Great stats!
Quick has won three consecutive shootouts (stopping all eight shots against).
-Did not realize this. That is awesome. Great job Quick!
Kings won 34 of 58 faceoffs.
-That’s good. At the game it seemed like we were behind. I think Kopitar lost all three period faceoffs.
The Kings are 9-0-0 when leading after two periods.
-This is the single most telling stat with regards to years past. This is a different team. Keeping leads has proven to be so difficult for us and yet here they are 9 and 0 so far. Great job guys!
Fun game to be at. Lots of Chicago fans, whose go to line all night was, “Yeah, well at least we make the playoffs.” Bastards.
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please give us Simmonds on first the line till Smyte get back!!
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Amazing refereeing!!! Hjalmarsson throws his stick up in the air, grabs Simmonds in a choke hold and gets a 2 minute penalty for roughing!!! Okay, NHL review this and give at least a 10 game suspension. Do we have a new Bertuzzi in the offing?
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Brown was definitely laying the body on people last night. Now his scoring touch? Thats another matter….
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Hi Rich,
Someone asked this in a previous thread and I am also interested in the answer. During the 3 stars, both Simmer and Quick did NOT give away their sticks to the home crowd. Is this something LA is doing from now on? And does it have to do with Anahiem incident? Can you ask around Rich and let us know. It would be interesting and also allow us Kings fans to hate the Ducks even more if this is true!
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fancy-you gotta be kidding right?
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Yup. I noticed Brown’s game pick up too. Brownie’s been around long enough to know that if you’re not getting it in the back of the net, you’ve got to excel in other ways. He’s still throwing it on net and in the crease, but he’s also picked up the hitting.
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That was probably the best game Dustin Brown has played in a year. It was nice to see him hitting people again. I know he somehow racks up that stat, but there’s a difference between being credited with a hit and the whole building knowing you laid a guy out. Last night Brown was laying guys out. Now if he can remember how to score again….
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“0 for 13 combined in their last four games.”
I’ve posted this last night but I still think it needs to be asked…
“Rich please ask Murray why the Kings power play sucks so bad!
Why can’t the kings socre a power play goal?
And this doesn’t have anything to do with tonights game but…
Why can’t the kings score on a 5 on 3 power play?”
I’m not a TM hater but it seems like under his “Coaching” The kings power play has been lost.
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Why Power play sucks so bad and 5 on 5 play stinks as well, simple question.. The team thinks pass more often than not, a few times last nights game was a great example.
If a player has a open shot, why not take it, instead of passing it. Making that extra pass to me is useless, it just reduces the chance of a scoring chance.
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“– The Kings are 9-0-0 when leading after two periods.”
Awesome.
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I think we have the answer to the “first line question”: Simmonds.
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Mach5, special teams coach Jamie Kompon is in charge of designing most of the PP, not coach Murray.
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Went to the game and noticed a few things. O.k before I give you my observations, I must first tell you, I went with some friends I hadn’t seen in years, so the party for me was more in the stands than on the ice. Having said that, 32 was outstanding. Didn’t notice if he played farther back in net that some have mentioned, but he was calm and sharp. I didn’t see one out of control scramble. Best I’ve seen him play.
15 was all over the place. He was creating with his speed, battling and winning in the corners and broke up many plays on the back check. I noticed him more than any forward on the ice. I know he hasn’t scored but he’s making things happen. Only a matter of time.
17, well, is 17. Every game is the same, heart, and lots of it. 17 has something I think a lot of modern athletes are lacking, something I call “self-pride.” My meaning is simple, if the stands were empty and he was playing for free and there were no accolades or attention paid, he would play the same exact way. He’s pure pleasure to watch You give me hope number 17.
23 brought the wood. I love to see that against skilled players/teams. That split second of hesitation helps tremendously. We need him to bring more to the table, but yesterday was good and helped us win.
Love 11’s hustle. Love 11’s compete.
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seems like Simmonds is putting all the haters to rest!!!! GO KINGS GO!!! GO SIMMONDS GO!!
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how about simmonds? barely 21 awesome consistent and improving all the time. leading the team in plus/minus. this kid is going to be an all star because of how young he is, his attitude, and his ever improving skills. already the quiet heart and soul of this team. i like parse too so far….
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NHL Network was talking about simmer they were saying how hard it is to find a good natural right winger in todays game. and they pointed out to simmer as an example of a very good young natural rightwing.so in my own words simmer should replace williams on the first line. atleast until smyth comes back. simms is more of a hard body,carsh the net in your face player.
FROLOV KOPITAR SIMMONDS
PARSE STOLL BROWN
PURCELL HANDZUS WILLIAMS
SEGAL RICHARDSON IVANANS
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Waves-
The proper heckler’s response to those Chicago fans is:
“Go clean up your city! Your Trains are DIR-TEE!!”
Worked well last time I used it.
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Positioning and balance…the angles. This is what Quick worked on. Awareness of where the pipes are. This is what he improved. Fox noted it before and after the break (the off time between games.) As a result, he’s also more confident and he’s got his swagger back after being tested and responding well over the last three games.
@ Johnny: I don’t recall any Simmonds haters. Yes, however, he is really a machine lately.
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“tiredofquick”,
You want a top line of Frolov, Kopitar, and Simmonds? That will absolutely ruin Kopi’s speed and leave him no room to operate. Justin Williams is as essential to that top line as Smyth is – he consistently makes the 10-20 foot passes that turn into scoring opportunities. You want to stick a huge talent like JW on a third line with Teddy “All growsed up” Purcell and Rasputin? Lol.
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This is how you respond to Chicago fans – “At least we’ve hosted the Olympics. Two as a matter of fact.”
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@ WTF KEN. dude lots of peeps here were crying foul about simmonds. maybe not u and i in particular but sum peeps were doing it. @ tiredofquick. i agree with u of having simmonds take willams place for a few games. would be interesting!
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I disagree with moving Simmonds up to the top line.
What he brings to the checking line is invaluable.
he knows his primary role is checking, which he does as well as anyone..and his offensive skill is beginning to show on a more consistent basis.
We’ve been looking for secondary scoring and we’ve seem to have found it with our checking line. great work by Zeus and Parse.
As for the top line..it’s up to Kopi/JW/Fro to get their acts together and start playing to their ability. I don’t want to throw Fro under the bus, but he needs to get back to being the feared offensive player he used to be, instead of the figure skating, keep-a-way player he’s been imitating all season long.
There’s no reason that those 3 shouldn’t be able to gel and quickly.
The 2nd line had plenty of chances. Brown has been playing his best hockey of the year lately. The goals will come and probably come in bunches.
I still didn’t see enough from Teddy to think he’s the answer to anything.
For the 1st time all season, Quick won a game for us. He was as solid as I’ve seen him since he’s been a King. As I’ve said before..consitencyis the key with Quick. He needs to do this every night.
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I didn’t hear any peeps say anything. I wasn’t aware there were any peeps.
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