The good news for the Kings in this series? They have seven power-play goals to Vancouver’s two power-play goals. The bad news for the Kings in this series? They have three even-strength goals to Vancouver’s six even-strength goals. So while the Kings would certainly be happy to duplicate the results of the past three games — which would mean a trip to the second round — it’s hard to think that the level of power-play success is going to continue to be astronomically high for the rest of the series. Terry Murray was asked today if his team would need to be better in 5-on-5 situations in order to win the series…
MURRAY: “We’ve got to be better at even strength, yes. Absolutely. We talked about that, coming back from Vancouver, the importance of getting better play in the offensive zone. That starts with smarter, stronger plays through the middle of the ice, to give yourself the opportunity to get a forecheck, and then you’ve got to get in and get possession of the puck. That’s something that was lacking in the first game, got better in the second game and I thought it was better again last night. So that has to be a consistent part of our strategy and our execution. Then the other part that you have to do on top of that, though, is get net presence with a shot mentality. Our net presence, in particular, is getting better. Luongo, though, if he is seeing the puck at all, he’s going to stop the puck in 5-on-5 situations. So it’s an area of improvement still, and we know that we’re still working toward that.”
The kings need to keep their foot on the gas. If they do, they can run vancouver right out of the playoffs and save themselves a lot of hard work and grief. Tomorrow is key to taking away the hope of the canucks. They are on the ropes, and the kings need to come out hard and fast and overwhelm them early–keep them befuddled and on their heels, and they will roll over like beached whales.
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5 on 5 Vancouver is locking up the short board pass on the strong side with a forward and pinching D man. We might want to float a forward in the neutral zone on the weak side and look for a home run pass or at least a 2 on 1.
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KC,
I might be wrong,but if those passes get picked off they get picked off right in the middle of the ice.Maybe the same strategy,but with a forward farther down towards the faceoff dots in the nuetral zone.Your right though,I would like to see the stretch pass utilized more.
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The biggest key now is CONFIDENCE. If they can play with the intensity they had last nite and keep up their confidence with smart defensive zone outlet passes, they will win this series.
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I wouldn’t say that the lack of goal scoring is necessarily a reflection of bad 5-on-5 play. Look at all the penalties they’re forcing the Canucks into based on a strong presence in the offensive zone. Whether a 5-on-5 shift results in a goal scored or a power play goal scored, the effect is the same either way.
They definitely need to get better at the breakouts, though. They’re being way too sloppy with the puck in their own zone.
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KC and Dominick, I’d ike to see that stretch pass too, but unfortunately it can be like a goalie and poke check, it can be an all or nothing type play. If the pass doesn’t connect, it can go for icing and then we lose the last change, and look what happened last night when we iced the puck. The other side of it being an all or nothing play, if it get picked off it could easily be a break away for the Nucks, or more than likely a 2 on 1 or 3 on 1or2 the other way. Not a risk i’m willing take especially with score tied or in a one goal game. If the team is down by 2 or down by one late in the game maybe you roll the dice, but i don’t see the being a play they’d want utilize in close game, especially early in the game.
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@faninthewrongLA….My thoughts exactly.Stats are sometimes deceiving
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In theory the Canucks should be even more easy to play against since they will be afraid to be too physical in fear of playing shorthanded. When Vancouver commits penalties, just keep sending those big forwards to the front of the net and let Drew and JJ wrist it or slap it and we should be fine.
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Eyess8r,
I agree,it shouldn’t be used as a primary tool for pushing the puck up ice,but if the other team isn’t afraid of the stretch pass,we could catch them a few times early.That would open up more room to skate it out of the zone later in the game.Hopefully fly through the nuetral zone,and really back them up.
FaninthewrongLA,
Great point about the 5-on-5 play.
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kc 23 thats the ticket! forget about it! dump n grind! Richardson style!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Dont mess with the KINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Couldn’t be a break out type play for the nucks because the play happens when the nucks would be in fairly deep into the King’s zone already.
Biggest danger being weak side D sliding over and making a poke at the home run pass. If weak side D keeps it in the Nicks zone and gets control at the point he got a good slap shot, but he’ll also leave a very exposed weak side if he misses the poke.
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Off topic:
After watching the Sharks for the 2nd time, I am convinced that marleau will not be coming to LA. He is fairly invisable out there. Floating, gliding on the perimeter. Great skill no doubt, but dont see any tenacity or playoff grit.
Heatley looks real slow and injuried (groin or something.
Has anyone seen Kovi play? He is likely done in 4-5 days.
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I am not too sure “Even it up” is a good title for a post when the series is two games to one for LA =)
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Kovy is in the wrong system. I had that feeling the minute the trade went down.
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Have to be doing something right 5-on-5 to be drawing enough penalties.
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Sam’s got it right–they’re doing enough to draw the penalties. Now they have to be mindful to exploit the Canucks’ overreaction to giving up so many power plays by pushing the play to them in their zone.
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KC–
Love to see the home-run pass tried…
–Betcha you’re right and it can work.
–Make it work and we’ll watch the vinegar drain out of VAN.
-DD and JJ can make that work.
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Agree with Sam, keep letting the nuckleheads take penalties. PP is on fire.
Is it time to drop the Puck yet???
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You might be right src, we’ll likely be getting rid of one floater (Frolov) and I don’t think management wants that style of play on our team.
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eyesk8r–
As a football fan, I’ve heard it said that early deep passes help open up short passing and the running game.
Same thing here. You don’t even have to necessarily score, just keep the pinchers honest by making them look over their shoulder.
On the other hand, scoring one that way might drive Bingo-Bango-Bongo R. Luongo from the game early…
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aslong as we keep them from doing their behind the net offense we should be fine. I have seen it too many times with these guys and put up the pressure and they can’t set up that damn sammuelson shot from the middle of the slot. the sharks do the same thing with Thornton behind the net.
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The Lady Bing finalists have been announced. Kopitar has 80+ points and 16 PIMs but is he on the list?
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=526456
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What is wrong with your site it is extremely slow??
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Is everyone wearing black tonight at Staples?
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@Bryan Agee
I agree, when I heard Kovi going there the first thing I thought was he doesn’t know they play the wrong system for his skills. Don’t know if you can scale Kovi back and keep him effective.
As for Marleau, where the hell has he disappeared to? Just like the regular season, the Shark do well in season but come playoff time they struggle.
Time to bust some Nuck tonite. Damn it feels good to be a cowboy……errrr, Kings fan!!!
GO KINGS GO!!!
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@runningman
I’ll be wearing my black Kings 1993 Campbell Conference Champion t-shirt under a Hrudey jersey. Can’t mess with the karma, I wore it Monday nite.
Is it game time yet???
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Scream hard and ofte fellow fans. I will be getting closer to a divorce by my screaming at 4 am over here in Norway. PS-grew up in LA, not a bandwagoner.
Give em hell Kings!
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Envy all of you who are going. Once again, cheer a little extra for those of us who are far away and watching on Vs. (sob!)
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@src
You crack me up! I thought I was staying up too late. I’m just 2 hrs. ahead of game time. Better than 7, for sure!
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