alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />Here are some notes after last night’s game…
– The Kings have won seven consecutive games, one short of the franchise record set in 1991-92 and 1972-73. This is the Kings’ first seven-game winning streak since Feb. 18-March 2, 1991.
– The Kings, at 34-19-3, have 71 points. That’s the second-highest number of points, after 56 games, in team history, tied with the 1980-81 team. The Kings have reached the 34-win mark faster (in terms of games) than any team in franchise history.
– The Kings improved to 27-4-3 when scoring first, 21-0-0 when leading after two periods and 19-8-3 in one-goal games.
– Anze Kopitar, with a goal, extended his point streak to seven games (five goals, six assists). His career high is eight games (Nov. 28-Dec. 12, 2007).
– Jonathan Quick won his seventh consecutive games in goal, tying a team record for a goalie, set by Kelly Hrudey in 1991-92 and Robb Stauber in 1992-93. Quick has a 1.95 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage during his seven-game win streak. Quick has 32 wins this season, three away from tying Mario Lessard’s single-season record, set in 1980-81.
– Sean O’Donnell had one assist, for his 200th career NHL point.
– Ryan Smyth scored a goal and has four goals and three assists in his last eight games.
– Both teams had 21 shots on goal and were 0-for-3 on the power play.
– Kopitar played a team-high 24 minutes, 49 seconds. Drew Doughty led all Kings defensemen at 23:37.
– Randy Jones had a team-high four shots on goal and Matt Greene had team highs with four hits and three blocked shots (Jones also had three).
– The Kings won 17 of 37 faceoffs (46 percent).
Thanks Rich
[Reply]
Odie with another point, insurmountable for Greener!
[Reply]
Randy!(always think of trailer park boys) Leading the team in Shots and with 3 blocked shots!
Bo Bandy getting it done!
[Reply]
These kinds of stats just feel good :)
But how come the NHL schedule makers made it so that Phoenix ALWAYS plays on the same day as us? For like the last four wins we’ve had, Phoenix has won also on that same day to keep us from passing them! It’s getting old….
[Reply]
Keep up the great work Rich!
[Reply]
Great stats
[Reply]
missed the game notes… thanks Rich
[Reply]
Thanks, Rich.
I feel your frustration Kevin. To make matters worse, they won in a shoot out so the preds picked up a point. At least the Kings have a game in hand on the Yotes.
[Reply]
isn’t misleading to compare a 7 game win streak with shootout wins (i.e. draws) to pre-shoot out era streaks in which 7 games were won in a row without a tie.
The better question is when was the last time the kings had a 7 game unbeaten streak (excluding a shootout loss).
[Reply]
I was thinking the same thing Kevin!
[Reply]
Thanks again for the game notes Rich – had been missing them. I know it’s been said many times, but we Kings really appreciate all the work you put into the blog :-)
[Reply]
Rich,
Not sure if you have any contact with the people at LAKings.com that put the special features together, but if you do, could you tell them that the new “Kings Mascot Bailey Studies Carl’s Jr. Ads” is one of the best things I’ve ever seen! It totally made my morning.
Thanks Rich!
[Reply]
go kings baby wooohoooo
[Reply]
Another cool stat: If the Kings only play .500 hockey the rest of the way, they will finish with 97 points, surely enough to finish in the top 8.
[Reply]
Does it reall y matter MBAR how they won the games? Regulation, OT, Shootout? A win is a win.
[Reply]
Did anybody catch T.J. Simers column today in the LA (behindthe) Times? I can’t freakin believe it! The Kings are doing so well and that’s the coverage we get.
One columnist I won’t read again…
In fact there is nothing in the Times I can’t get from somewhere else.
As if I didn’t already appreciate this blog enough, just one more reason to stick with this site for all my Kings information.
[Reply]
NMKingsFan, read the previous post’s comments…
[Reply]
Who’s ready for some Duck hunting tomorrow??
=)
[Reply]
It should be noted when comparing this Kings team to those of the past in terms of quickest to this number of wins that wins are technically easier to come by in the NHL today than they were prior to the 2005-06 season when the shootout was introduced. Not to knock this team at all because they are playing great and deserve lots of accolades, but the fact is that comparing wins and points records to pre-lockout seasons is completly meaningless since the points structure is completely different than it was then.
[Reply]
Listened to JQ radio interview. He’s a PRO.
[Reply]
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=515802&cmpid=fb:wallpost:kovalchuk
maybe this is just as bogos as the rest of the stuff…
[Reply]
Bo-Bandy haha
[Reply]
NHLPA gave Ryan Smyth player of the day
http://www.nhlpa.com/News/Player-Of-The-Day/9343/Smyth-Ryan
[Reply]
Nice trailer park boys reference.
Was just watching that after the game last night, makes me think that the kings current play is the perfect s#@t storm, al la Lehey.
[Reply]
Random question…I saw the NHL Draft logo behind Murray in his interview and made me wonder if anyone knows when tickets for the draft might be going on sale.
Anyone know?
[Reply]
NMKIngsFan:
Yes, I also slogged through the crap that passes for a sports column this am. Sad part is, Simers wasn’t clever or funny the first time he tried this schtick, and year after year it gets more tedious.
Of course (with the occasional exception of Helene Elliot, who is better than most at the LA Fishwrap) the quality of the writing and understanding of sports and what matters during a game is sorely lacking on Spring Street. Just read anything Rich writes and compare. Small wonder the Times loses readership every day.
[Reply]
It only matters to me from a perspective point of view. We should be comparing apples and apples when comparing this year to past years.
Still, 7 in a row is awesome.
[Reply]
Thanks Rich! You’re the best!! They keep flashing the team record when Kopi scores a goal but I keep missing it, does anyone know that record?
[Reply]
I just want to give Kopitar his props for a job well done. I’ve question him on occasions but he’s gaining my praises once again. I was proud of him earlier in the year not because he was on top of the NHL scoreboard, but because he was working hard, battling along the board, playing tough defense and doing the little thing(not glamorous or fun) it took to be successful both for himself and the team. He lost that edge for awhile(months) and I began to doubt him mental capabilities. I still have my worries in this area, but it seems he getting his mojo back and I want to say I’m proud and excited he’s battling through this adversity and appreciate his skills and efforts he puts forth for our beloved Kings.
Let me not forget about my personal favorite who I’ve been tough on as well, Mr. Brown. I’ve been saying for awhile now, all you have to do is SLOW down a little and stop playing like a robot and you’d be a much more productive. Holy smokes Brown, you’ve stopped taking those silly shots, you’ve taken the blinders off and you’re keeping your head and eyes up and observing whats going on around you now. And guess what? you’re playing great. These last 7,8, games you have been the best play-maker. Brown a play-maker? Yes, and a good one by the way. Keep up the good work son. If this helps take a little pressure off you Mr. Brown, we as fans don’t expect you to carry the entire load, all we want from you is to be the best player you can be, nothing more. We have faith in you, young sir. Keep going with this new and improved Brown, we like and appreciate it.
Simmonds and Richardson are truly my new hero’s. What more can you ask of these two young men.
My praises go on but time doesn’t allow me to continue….
[Reply]
When the Kings hit the second highest seasonal point total they tanked in the first round of the playoffs to the Rangers.
I still remember a somber Larry Murphy telling me, “We weren’t ready.”
When the Kings accumulated their highest-ever point total they went out in the best-of-three preliminary round to Toronto.
Cruel memories for Kings fans like me, who are delirious with joy — yet cautious of getting wet pants — when things are going super well.
At least after that second-highest point total season we went into the next season’s playoffs with the 17th best record overall. We were THE UNDERDOG to the Oilers.
Anyone remember the Miracle on Manchester?
[Reply]
I love the way this team is playing right now. The Ranger game the other night was just a stellar performance all around. However, I still see this team as a stepping stone to our overall goal of being a perennial cup contender. We are right where we should be this year in terms of playoff positioning, and we should hopefully do well (2nd round?)in the postseason. I do think we are a top six forward and another d-man away from being one of the elite teams in the league though. Hopefully the coming off season will bring us these players and we will be talked about in the same breath as the Sharks, Hawks, Caps and Pens. Great job so far DL. Now go out and finish the job!
[Reply]
One more LA Times comment. TJ Simers and the overall lack of credible hockey coverage was a big part of my decision to cancel that rag of a paper some time ago. Rich gives the Kings the major league coverage that that they truely deserve.
I hope the press box is off limits to Simers as this team continues to develop.
[Reply]
Kovalchuk is being moved now per TSN. McKenzie reports that the teams in the mix are “Boston, New Jersey, Rangers, Philadelphia, Calgary, Chicago and L.A.”
[Reply]
Agree Duckhunter, nice post!
[Reply]
AND PLEASE DONT GET KOVY!
[Reply]
I wonder about another difference in record comparisons…goalie rotation was more frequent in the past…In the earlier strings was it the same goalie?
[Reply]
And, hey, its extra nice when the team we beat is the Rangers.
[Reply]
I stumbled across the Rangers’ postgame interviews on KingsVision, and there was a lot of appreciation for the way the Kings have been playing. At one point, a NY journalist throws a softball at Tortorella asking him if he had any comments on the Kings’ play, knowing that they were hot coming in. He had a one-word comment along the lines of “no.” I think that’s kinda funny. My take is the Kings played well enough to actually get under his skin.
The players who were interviewed, and apparently the NY media, didn’t seem to mind indicating that they were impressed. In fact, they asked Jokinen, having made the east-west flight before, if he expected the Rangers to get the early jump on the Kings, and he said it worked out quite the opposite–that the Kings were the team with jump.
[Reply]
BTW, any of you who haven’t watched “Bailey Studies Carl’s Jr. Ads,” it’s a scream!
[Reply]
Jones was shooting at the net for his life. It was probably the best (most) play I’ve seen from him since his first few Kings games. Honestly, I really expected if he kept going the way he had been (up to last night) he would have been an assist on opponents goals. It seemed like he was so out of it, he would just sort of stand by and watch the puck go past him.
Perhaps this is telling that Jones is both feeling much better and the overall desire the team has to win!
[Reply]
Is it me, or did comments on the LA Times disappear?
[Reply]
(never mind–my bad)
[Reply]
I think Jones has just has taken a little while longer to get up to speed from the injury. He looked okay against NY.
As far as the Times … I also cancelled specifically because their coverage of the Kings was so weak.
[Reply]
Tuan Jim, I was one of the lucky 16,005 AT the Miracle on Manchester, greatest comeback ever in the history of NHL playoffs. I still have never seen or heard anything like it to this day.
[Reply]