There has been some discussion here over the last couple days about the Kings’ need to bring urgency, but not panic, to these upcoming games. Who better to address the subject than perhaps the Kings’ most steady, even-keel player, Rob Scuderi (and not to mention, a Stanley Cup champion). Here’s what Scuderi said today…
Question: You want to bring urgency to these games, but not panic. How do you toe that line, and what is the difference?
SCUDERI: “The only difference between the two, and it’s a big difference, is control. You can play with urgency and desperation, and that’s something that we should try to play with every single game, but it has to be under control and it has to be according to our structure. In panic, I think of a team running around, guys doing other guys’ jobs, not paying attention, not being in the right position, not being mentally prepared, just trying to do everything by themselves. If we do that, then we’re just going to dig ourselves much deeper into a hole.”
Question: It was suggested to Terry yesterday that these seemed like playoff games, and he agreed. Does it feel like that to you?
SCUDERI: “Yeah. I think the longer the year goes on, the harder the wins are to get. The game just keeps rising as the season goes on. The later in the season, the bigger the games, if you’re still in it. For us right now, you look at our spot, and we’re in eighth. You’ve got a team like Detroit behind you, and that’s not exactly the most comfortable position in the world. But even saying that, we can’t be panicked. We still have to be in control and play the best we can, because otherwise it will just be a matter of time before other teams catch up.”
Question: When it comes to these games, is there anything you can tell the young guys, or do they just have to experience it themselves?
SCUDERI: “I think the biggest thing at this point of the season, with where we are in the standings, is to keep it short-term. You have to think about each game, individually, but maybe on a slightly bigger scale, you think about five games. To me, I always think that if you can get six out of those 10 points, you’re always going to put yourself in a good position. Obviously you always hope you can get more, but if you get six out of 10 points, in every five games, you put yourselves in a good position. I think that’s a good thing for this team to try to focus on.”
Question: Like a little mini-series, almost…
SCUDERI: “Yeah. We did it when I was in the American league, the Wilkes-Barre team. We did it a little bit in Pitt. Just something to focus on, in the short term. When you look at the long-term goal, it just seems so far off, but if you keep it short-term, eventually they all add up to your long-term goal.”
My goal for the Kings is to see at least one ‘dirty’ goal per game, the next four games.
Don’t care who. Just THAT.
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Bako-
Sounds reasonable. It was all said last topic. Keep the puck moving above the goal line, and just get it on goal. When those dirty goals start going in that will open up space for the skilled guys to start getting the pretty ones again. Everything in moderation as they say.
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Make the goaltender uncomfortable. There hasn’t been a lot of that (other than occasionally a lot of shots) lately.
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Love hearing Scuderi talking to Doughty on the ice: “Skate it out, kid” and “wheel, wheel”. I am sure he adds alot in the locker room, too. While the Kings are in this hopefully short little “funk”, I am just trying to remember that last year we didn’t have Rob Just Won The Cup Scuderi and Ryan For God’s Sake Smyth staking their careers on our core group of guys. A little reality check every now and then is a good thing. This team has come a long way already. Sure, Brown needs to solve some issues, JJ needs to steady his game, and Kopi needs to break out, but even those three guys are still, in the overall, undeniably making positive contributions. Terry Murray is turning this team into a playoff style winning hockey team, and for those that want the “showtime” run-and-gun, sorry, that doesn’t win championships. I still believe in this team, the way it is now. The Kings learned to win the first half of a season, and of course now it gets harder, but I still think these guys will be in the top four teams come the end of the regular season.
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I think we need guys cutting to the crease atleast between the circles for good scoring opportunities.
Handzus and Smyth park in front of the other goalie to screen or deflect, but the point men have to start getting the shots on goal. In the last 3 that has been two biggest problems in the last 3 losses. We have had puck possession for the most part. We know the refs have huge egos our PA guy with his quips like “I hate that spin move” while funny may have cost us a couple of power plays a night.
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The short answer is Kopitar need to score. 3 goals in 3 months is not enough.
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I think there has to be a certain rhythm to it (think, cycle) for it to be effective. Of course, to make the cycle work, line mates have to get the chance to be familiar with each other. Repetition, and then repetition, followed by repetition.
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That was really well put by Scuds. We had 52 shots against Detroit. That is how it is supposed to be every time they play. The last three games were hit and miss with nothing consistent. The more shots on net, the better percentage of goals scored. We are looking for the perfect pass to “hopefully” get the goal. We seem like we are a little intimidated right now. We need to just go back to basics. We play the best when we are forechecking in thier zone or standing them up at thier blue line. Everyone play the assigned positions and throw the puck at the net and look for trash goals.
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Ducks up 1-0 to start the 2nd.We could beat these guys.
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2-1 BOS and looks like the Ducks going to be sore and banged up tomorrow. YAY
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Bobby Ryan in the fetal position after trying to start a scrum and succeeding…..priceless.
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Maybe Bobby can stick his thumb in his mouth when no ones looking.
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Lets hope Crybaby Corey Perry starts mouthing off on Lucic and he destroys him. Also, have Chara take out Getzlaf so we can have an easy win tomorrow.
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I wonder if we’ll see Hiller tomorrow?
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Perry is the biggest mouth with no backup since Avery.
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the stars are lining up for tomorrow’s game. Will the Kings line up with them?
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I did like the way Avery could Tick the other team off.Unfortunately he could also tick off his own teammates as well.
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Ducks down3-2.
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I must admit ducks v bruins is quite entertaining, more than any other crap on TV. Yah you American idol
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Rich
for tip a king, take the day off if you can. You don’t get many opportunities to and I’m sure we all be able to meet you at some point. YOU DESERVE IT
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Ducks up 4-3.Boston sucks.
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yep boston sucks and then some
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Corey Perry is the Danny Ainge of hockey.
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Clucks win. Gettin’ tight in the point department. Kings better come out gunning tomorrow and take it to the Clucks early.
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In a way, the Quacks win is good for the Kings. The Quacks had to rally a few times for a hard fought win and they’ll probably be worn out against the Kings. But Seriously? Boston losing to these guys? We had better beat them on Saturday.
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Oh yeah, and we better win tomorrow too. If the Quacks win in regulation, they’ll be only 2 points behind us.
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I hope Ivans can get an elbow on the side of a ducks head tomorrow.That 4rth line is going to be exposed if they skate against these Guys.Hopefully they can play it tuff.
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Couple of updates from the Quacks game:
1): Teemu Selanne has a fractured jaw, will be out for some time;
2): Hiller will start tomorrow;
3): Wisniewski was helped off the ice in the second, with an awkward slide into the boards, then came back in the third and assisted on a goal.
Quacks are on a roll. Hiller is hot. Whomever scores four will win tomorrow.
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Oh, and the Quacks came from behind to win, 4-3.
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Wild won,Flames lost,and Ducks won.The race is on.
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Yah right it’s always good when the ducks win @ wontonkings (Four In A Row)
Be prepared people the ducks have an owner that will stop at nothing to win. They are now making a bid for Kovi..reported by Belsheim of the AP news ticker
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I have been a Kings fan for over 40 years and have seen it all. When the Ducks came into the NHL my friends and I laughed and joked and hissed at the idea of the “Disney Ducks” and how funny it was going to be watching them sit in the cellar year after year. Well, who’s having the last laugh now? When the Ducks won the Stanley Cup, the most honored trophy in the history of humankind, I almost cried…(ok I did). Can anyone please tell me why it can’t be us? I already know the answer, I just want to see what others think. I see postings on this site all the time stating that we need to remain positive. Positive about what? A 3 game losing streak at home when you’re supposed to be securing a playoff spot? A playoff spot that you haven’t occupied since 2001? Stay positive? The Quackers have a cup and we don’t? This organization needs a reality check. True, real hockey fans of the Los Angeles Kings are tired. Tired of the rebuilding. Tired of the losing “should win” games. Etc, etc, etc.
Meanwhile, the Ducks just won their sixth in a row at home, are 4 points behind the Kings which was unthinkable a month ago, and were just “doing our best”
Lets all wave to the Ducks on their way by us in the standings. Stay positive? Right.
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Fumb Ducks.
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KINGSFAN, you sound like my brother…AND ME! But, this is about “urgency v panic” first, though it will come back to wht you are saying.
No team that expects to win should have to panic. Either they have a good enough team to win some games and get into the playoffs with this team or they don’t.
THEY DON’T. I think part of the urgency is that they change the dynamic of the team by acquiring a proven scorer…I don’t care who it is.
And yes, as a long suffering Kings fan, I want whatever is necessary to stop this continous rebuilding process and go after the cup. Having the expansion teams in Carolina, Tampa Bay and Anaheim ‘quackers’ get the cup while we wallow around in the muck all the time is TOO MUCH!
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Yeah, well. One is a (possible) reaction to the other. It’s like saying exhaustion vs. sleep or happiness vs. smile.
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you see temmu take the puck to the face, he is gone for a bit
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I said it before, if the Kings get more than 2 points out of this homestand I will be surprised….Not lookin’ good for ‘em. I will gladly eat a lot of humble pie, I doubt that I will have to however….
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There are times when I feel like I see the big picture reasonably clearly, then I read this blog and some people’s comments actually start making me a bit depressed wrt the Kings.
If you look at all the other teams now rapidly gaining ground and/or pulling further away from them, that full steam ahead they had at the 8 day break seems long ago. Plus the last 10 games don’t look so pretty.
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Sancho, I don’t wanna be negative but wrt your comments, I was thinking 4 points out of the homestand, but wonder if that will be possible. If they end up w more than 4 pts out of this homestand, in all honesty I’ll be very happy but a bit surprised.
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@ “kyngsfan” – at least wait until after tomorrow night’s game to break your ankle jumping off the bandwagon. We all know you’ll be on it after they win.
@ number 6 – Serves us right for reading the comments after a loss–any loss.
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#6… Trust me, I WANT them to do well, I just don’t think they can, with all the line changes and injuries. It’s not lookin’ good for them.
Not trying to be “Debbie Downer” but I just expect the worse and hope for the best. If they do well, I will be pleasantly surprised!
This is the Kings were talking about, remember! Like others have stated, they are right where they are “supposed” to be.
I’ve endured many, many years of being a Kings fan. A few months ago when everyone was upset because they were not getting “respect” it’s because they have not done SQUAT since 1993. They have gotten past the 1st round once.
Now all those “experts” opinions and expectations are coming to pass. I don’t know squat, I am just a fan and my opinion is worthless, just like everyone else around here.
I do feel as though they will be better in the near future (is in upcoming seasons) but this isn’t their year, I feel.
Prove me wrong, Kings!
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2001 playoffs were squat.
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“urgency” to me means playing with great effort, intensity and focus. We have a few players(DD, Smyth, Brown, Simmonds, Moller, Richardson, Zeus, Greene) who meet this criteria, but we need everyone else on board. Otherwise the guys who are playing with urgency will try to do too much, get caught out of position which eventually leads to “panic”.
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New rule: Shamu comes out after losses, but not after wins. If you want to keep your sanity, only read the comments here after wins. Alternate rule, (Rich) close down the comments section at least until the day after a loss, to minimize the whaling (no pun intended) and gnashing of teeth that’s so baseless and irritating.
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@ “frequency”…I’m not giving up and would NEVER jump off the bandwagon, even though its run over me every year for the past 40+. You have to know what most of us loyal, long time Kings fans are saying. We want a cup! Every other year of rebuilding or learning a new coach’s old tired “system” or line changes or healthy scratches is just that, OLD. The boys have played great this year, compared to the last several. Unfortunately, unless they bust out a few 3 or 4 game win streaks, their going to end up in the familiar “outside looking in” position. Their good…but compared to the top teams in the league, their mediocre. I guess we’re tired of mediocrity….Aren’t you?
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Well Said Kyngsfan
You are not alone my friend.
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AUUUUUUGGGG!!!!! some of you make me soooo tired….lets not forget the goal for this season, do better then we did last season,(we are) get into the playoffs. once we get in then we take the ride for as long as we can. once your in anything can happen. its a lot harder to build a winning team through the draft and jr. club then to make big money high profile trades. if we make a big trade now, it will screw up the chemistry, big time. look at the standings, yea we faltered a bit, but with the injuries we have had, id say we are in pretty good position. you will be supprised what a 3 or 4 game win streak will do to tne standings, oh, and the win streak will happen starting tonight!! kings 5 clucks 2.
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Kyngsfan,Suffering so long is a testament to your devotion.Don’t give it away.Yes the Ducks won a championship.Yes the Kings have struggled just to gain mediocrity,But I truly believe we are headed in the right direction.With the team we had last time we made the playoffs,we were only a peice or two away from a true cup contender.I think Injuries and impatience did us in.The true reason this franchise has always come up short is because of impatience.As soon as we get a little success we’ve traded away everything to improve on it.I think as long as we stay the course with our current plan we’ll find that success.The plan we have right now isn’t responsible for all the past suffering that we’ve endured.DL is not responsible for the fact that Anahiem won a cup before us,and shouldn’t be blamed for it.Impatience is what killed us in the past,and you can see the result of it in how fans have become accustomed to it.It sucks to lose but don’t give up.
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Well put Scuds!!
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CS,Thank You…………….Heh,heh.
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Posted here to avoid polluting more recent topics with an OT take, Jack Johnson made the news today (sorta), and it’s not good.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Stunning-Numbers-Fisher-disengaged-Crosby-s-go?urn=nhl,213593&post_comment=1&success=1
Turns out at -17, he has the 6th lowest plus/minus in the league. Someone please mentor this kid before he turns into a scrub.
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Oh, and the “invisible” Dustin Brown? I also pointed out he was third in the league in hits when someone called him invisible. In the same article, they say he’s drawn 25 penalties and taken 4–the difference leads the league.
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Thanks Dominick. You’re right. The Kings are better this year than last year. We’ll all be disappointed if they miss the playoffs. Limiting the negativity around the team can help them improve, rather than pull them down.
Just because some of us don’t bitch and moan doesn’t mean we haven’t been around for decades, and particularly, through the whole post-McNall era, and we’re certainly as anxious about winning. That said, outside the Crawford and Cloutier fiascos, DM has delivered. There’s reason not to freak out.
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-17? What’s wrong with that? It’s all part of the “plan.”
Frolov and JJ are expendable and I hope we use them to get Kovy.
We didn’t get Heatley because he was not the right kind of chemistry/didn’t go after Marleau for some reason/now I know DL is talking to Atlanta — it’s his JOB to talk to them — let’s hope he is at least in the ballpark.
Of course, we need to win tonight badly. Anaheim is really hot so it should be a good game. I’ll be in Section 110 Row 15 rooting the Kings hard!
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The bitterness is just way too much. There’s a difference between hi-lighting things that need attention and being sarcastic about everything and anything.
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