Could the Kings’ loss on Monday end up being a good thing? That might be a silly premise, but seeing the players smiling, laughing and having fun at practice today — to a much greater extent than in the past few days — made me wonder whether there had been a certain burden lifted by no longer being on a long winning streak. Were the Kings “playing not to lose” Monday? Perhaps it’s valid, or perhaps it’s silly. Dustin Brown at least entertained the thought today, but Terry Murray dismissed it with a laugh. Here’s what they said…
BROWN: “Obviously there’s a little bit of pressure added to the already pretty heavy pressure that we’re feeling, and that every team is feeling these days. Obviously we lost a game. The mindset that we need to have is that there’s an opportunity for us to start another streak. Most importantly, there’s a streak we can’t let begin, and that’s two losses. Ultimately, we have another opportunity tomorrow night to win a game and get back on track. There’s only two games left before the break. We need to focus in on those two games and have that mindset of must-wins.”
MURRAY: “No. I don’t want to lose. I want to keep winning. You want to keep going. You want to keep building on it. That’s where you learn how to get to the next level, as an individual and as a team. You keep pushing yourself harder mentally. You know that it’s very demanding on the physical side of things, but that’s the way it is, and now you need to adjust. Now you need to think about it and `What am I going to be able to bring tonight, to execute the right way, so that the team can win again?’ That’s an important lesson to learn, and that’s part of the process that teams have to learn in order to get to a higher level.”
The Kings sure seemed burned out the other night in Anaheim and they did to start the game against Detroit as well. I think this loss is definitely a good thing and now they can play a little looser for these last couple of games.
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IMO, with DB as the captain, he shouldn’t even entertain the thought. NO loss is a good loss. Period. Any acceptance of a lack of performance leads to complacency in any business. Sure there are those times you just simply get beat and thoroughly play your game, but if you lose, there is always a reason why that you could rectify somehow. I don’t believe in FATE when it comes to sports. You and your teammates create your own destiny within the confines of competition. (Hence Nike’s ‘FORCE FATE’ campaign in Canada). Watch the commercial. Puts this all in perspective:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSXVv80XXDQ
That doesn’t mean you can’t be happy with a performance in a losing effort a-la the Detroit loss with 52 shots on goal. You just can’t be complacent with the loss. A different coverage on that DET goal with 17 seconds left sends that game to OT.
The term ‘A Good Loss’ is really an oxymoron, unless your at war (Meaning a loss for the enemy). Even then, it’s never truly ‘Good’.
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Obviously
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What Murray and Cynic said.
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…and Kingsfan, obviously!
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Glad to hear that the boys are still smiling.
And playing Edmonton next is perfect timing. They’re certainly the most beatable team in the NHL, so it’s a good oppurtunity for us to forget this strange phenomenon we encountered on Monday called a “loss”
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While I agree that there is no such thing as a “good” loss, the fact the the Kings were in the basement two seasons ago, and I don’t think they even put together 4 in a row last season, this gives them a chance to play after a good long streak comes to an end, which is also part of team building. Brownie said they want to make sure they don’t lose the next game, good enough for me.
Go Kings Go!
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To me that loss had been coming for a while. There were too many games where we didn’t come out strong and were out-worked early in games. Quick saved our ass numerous times early in games.
They learned how to win when things don’t go as planned, but you can’t expect to do that every game and win.
Maybe now they can take a step back and get back to the style of play that makes them so difficult to play against…forechecking and winning the 50/50 battles.
With a young team, there are lessons to be learned along the way..they’re getting a crash course this year and are doing quite well.
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DB is staying positive w/ a young team. The guys seem good still and in the right mindset. It is during your failures that you truly learn in life. Yelling at yourself and the bike you have fallen off is not going to help. A good captain stays positive.
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Four in a row?? Did they ever put together 3 in a row?
Very rare if they did.
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nykingfan-
I think teams have been watching film on us and are making adjustments. You are correct in saying the best part of our game is the boards. Look what Detroit and Anaheim did. They kept the puck of the boards when leaving their zone by tic-tac-toeing through the middle of the ice. In doing so, they attacked with speed and our D was forced to backed off, giving them many scoring opportunities.
In our offensive zone people know we’re going to cycle and their simply cutting into the passing lanes of the cycle. We need to change it up a little and start attacking the net a little sooner, like that play Smyth and Kopi nicely pulled off on the give and go.
I also agree the boys are doing well and I an enjoying watching them play and learn.
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They’re, not their.
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Go Minnesota 1-1. Go Columbus 2-0!
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In response to the four wins in a row question, I think there were a couple of three wins in a row streaks without a four-gamer, in 2008-9…
In 2007-8, the answer is easy.
No four game win streaks.
No three game win streaks.
That was a BAD TEAM, MAN.
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Having the attitude that “no loss is acceptable” is something fans like to hear but kind of silly.
Of course, players should attempt to win every game. They should go in with that mindset, and prepare themselves physically and mentally. But if they do all that and still lose, they don’t need to beat themselves up. All they can do is learn actionable lessons from that loss and apply them in their future games.
tl,dnr version: I don’t need to see tears on their pillows
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Actually, we had a couple 4 game win streaks in 08-09. In 07-08, I think we had one 4 gamer. But in 06-07… wow. We never even got to 3. Our longest winning streak of the season was 2 games.
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Wow, I wonder if the players felt extra pressure, because the last 2 Home Games scoreboard display 9-0,
24-0 after 2nd period. I think there was one about not loosing in regulation after scoring the first goal of the game. Well 2 of the 3 are gone now. I doubt any of that affected the players I think the schedule the road trip finally caught up with them. The Ducks seemed to be better prepared and had scouted the Kings with 3 days off were rested and focused. I am hoping the Kings used there 2 days off to focus and will pound on the Oilers early and don’t allow the Oilers any thoughts about winning.
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Starting with Detroit the team seemed to have hit both mental and physical walls. Quick would flash brilliant at one moment and seemed to napping the next, only to be saved by a post.
None of he players seemed able to focus more then 2o minutes (the exception being Kopitar). You look at the Caps and what it takes for 17, its a long hall with a lot of focus.
And, yes, a lot of teams are watching films, clogging the lanes and the half-board breakouts.
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Chloralone-
It’s not about ‘Beating yourself up’, It’s about the winning mentality. The Idea of constant improvement, never settling, not being complacent. The DET game where we had 52 shots and lost because of a last second goal, our team is not beating themselves up over that loss. What they are doing is focusing on what they can improve on, most likely their coverage on that last goal.
Then they simply move on.
I disagree with the concept of ‘No loss is acceptable’ as being silly. Any professional athlete worth a damn would completely disagree with that as well. Professional athletes are driven people who are constantly fine tuning their craft, even when they win, to become the best they can. Well, at least the ones who want to win do.
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Hi Cynic,
In your first paragraph , I think we’re in absolute agreement and saying the same thing. I guess I don’t understand what issue you have with what Brown said.
I do feel that some people on this board (I don’t have a list), seem to go way overboard after a loss and expect some sort of hand wringing from the players -hence my “beating himself up” comment.
I suppose we’re not talking about the same thing. I don’t think accepting a loss is the same as having a losing attitude, or being nonchalant about losing. Unless he has a time machine or never loses a single match, however, every player at some point is going to have to “accept” a loss and move onto the next game, otherwise he’s going to be a basket case. It’s simply what TM and the players said earlier in this season about not getting too high or low with wins and losses.
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Hey Man-
Agreed that many here can be ‘Overly Passionate’ after a loss. LOL. I get your position there.
We can hack this to pieces, but I think I can simplify my point this way. I think we are talking about 2 different definitions of acceptance.
My version of acceptance refers to complacency and attaching a ‘Lack of importance’ if you will to a very relevant situation. I don’t accept that attitude and as Brown being the captain, I am hoping he does not as well. (BTW, I don’t think he does.)
Your version of acceptance is learning from the mistakes and moving on as quickly as possible, as in accepting the result and putting it behind you, lesson learned. TOTALLY different concept of acceptance and the one I DO accept. You don’t dodge the importance of the mistakes, learn from them and move on quickly.
So I think you’re spot on with the comment that we are not talking about the same thing. I’m just making it clear, as a fan, that I don’t accept complacency of any kind with this team and that I’m hoping DB’s comments were not hinting towards that.
I don’t know if that helped explain my position but I hope so.
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Does Dustin Brown ever answer a question without saying ‘obviously’? Obviously not.
As for losing, the Kings were begging someone to put the streak out of its misery since the DET game, and an argument could be made that it’s really been since the road trip ended. I’m just glad it’s done so that they can refocus.
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I get what you’re saying Cynic – we’e on the same page.
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