Here are some notes from last night’s Kings-Minnesota game…
– Jarret Stoll and Anze Kopitar had power-play goals and the Kings beat Minnesota 3-2 in a shootout. It was the second time this season that the Kings won a game without scoring an even-strength goal, following their 2-1 season-opening win at Vancouver.
– For the second consecutive game, the Kings killed a five-minute penalty. This time, Dustin Brown got the major, plus a game misconduct, for a hit to the head on Minnesota’s Antti Miettinen. The Kings killed the penalty, keeping the score at 2-1 in the second period.
– The Kings outshot the Wild 34-22. The Kings have recorded at least 30 shots in five of eight games this season, and the 22 Wild shots were the fewest by a Kings opponent this season. The Kings are now 3-1 when outshooting their opponents.
– The Kings went 2-for-7 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill against a Minnesota team that started the night with the NHL’s most-efficient power-play unit. After a 1-for-22 start, the Kings’ power play is 4-for-12 in its last two games. The Kings had a season-high 12 power-play shots on goal.
– Jonathan Quick stopped 20 shots to improve his personal record to 5-1 this season.
– The Kings improved to 2-0 in shootouts this season.
– Anze Kopitar had one goal and one assist. Kopitar did not score a goal in his first four games, but now has three goals in his last four games, plus five assists in eight games this season.
– Jack Johnson had two assists for his first multi-point game of the season and has three power-play assists in the last two games.
– Jarret Stoll had a power-play goal, his third goal in eight games this season.
– Jack Johnson led the Kings in ice time, at 29:28. Anze Kopitar led all forwards at 24:37. Johnson and Justin Williams each had a team-high five shots on goal. Matt Greene was credited with four hits and seven Kings were each credited with two blocked shots.
– The Kings won 38 of 77 faceoffs (49 percent). Anze Kopitar won 9 of 14 draws (64 percent).
These are beautiful numbers!
Multiple players within reach of a point per game average.
Quick 5-1 with a .929 save pct.
Kopi going 64 percent on face-offs.
SEVEN kings with multiple blocked shots?
This is how you win games consistently, and hopefully, cups.. Balanced scoring, defensive plays away from the puck, solid goaltending…
[Reply]
i thought DD2 had a great game…..and so did Harold..I would love to see Harold as a forward on the 4th line when DD comes back
[Reply]
Shakes Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 11:33 am
@neil,
Yeah i agree… I have to give Harrold props. He’s an easy guy to diss but he played really solid AND he picked his spots on when to pinch in from the blue line to keep pressure in the o-zone on and when to hold back, especially in the 3rd
[Reply]
I really thought the Kings were great last night. It seemed like they were being very physical and controlled the puck for most of the game.
I love Clifford’s willingness to mix it up. He is really showing that he wants to stay with the Kings this year.
[Reply]
Kopi started the season with a cold engine but now he is warming it up! He is going to get even better!
[Reply]
vplaza Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 9:24 am
@matey, Kopi has 8 points in 8 games. Not too shabby.
[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 11:34 am
@vplaza, is it wrong for me to expect him to score a goal every game? he is such a likeable player, i hope he as well as Doughty play their entire career in LA!
[Reply]
Michael_DD8 Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
@Sebastian,
Do you expect him to be a 82 goal scorer? haha
a few things i noticed…
-Peter Harrold had another outstanding game.
-Handzus looked slower than usual out there.
-Greene is back to his old self laying people out, its great to have him back in the lineup.
-I didnt realize it until the Versus guys said it, but the Kings are 1 of 2 teams without any goals from defensemen. Jack, please take some 1 timer slap shots from the point instead of holding on to the puck, head faking 20 times and taking a wrist shot.
-Wayne “the nutcracker” Simmonds had a good game filling in on the top line
-Brown’s shoulder never made contact with the guys head, therefore there should be no suspension.
-By my count, that is 2 major questionable calls against the Kings (where the opponent is not even injured) and 1 missed call in favor (where Doughty was injured and has missed games)…it would be nice to get one soon.
-Is Murray really 60 years old? Holly crap, he looks much younger.
[Reply]
vplaza Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 9:25 am
@Sebastian, Zus may have looked slower, but you gotta like the shootout goal he buried. Maybe his slowness fooled Backstrom.
[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 9:44 am
@vplaza, absolutely…Zeus is solid on the shootout. he gotta get it going, id like to see him get more time on PP1, he is deadly in front of the net.
[Reply]
vicarious Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
@Sebastian, Like Smythe, Zeus has a long skating stride so his skating style makes him look slower than he really is. You know, relatively slow compared to the high NHL standard….
[Reply]
Didn’t they give up a goal during the major penalty to Simmonds against the Avs? To tie the game at 4-4?
[Reply]
Dazed N Confused Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 8:22 am
@Mike, Yes they did but they also picked up a shorthanded goal on the sam major. So to me it’s a wash since we each scored a goal. Solid PK and the PP starting to get some goals as well.
[Reply]
Brett Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 8:22 am
@Mike, Yes they did although then they scored shorthanded. So yes, not a kill but they did end up even after it.
[Reply]
DD2 still making bad breakout passes, but his play in close around the net and along the boards has improved a lot. Quick isn’t being tested much with our back checking being as good as it is. I also love Cifford’s game and I think he’s perfect for the forth line.
I think Lokt needs more seasoning. He’s got skill, but needs to be stronger on the puck and along the boards. I like Schenn for our 4th line center. I also think it’s foolish keeping Lokt on our first line PP, he’s not ready. Richardson would be a much better fit on the PP.
Any way you slice it we still need a LW sniper. All that said we have no heck of a team and one heck of a future.
[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 11:39 am
@KC23, no we dont need a lw sniper
[Reply]
This is such a fun team to watch. Credit Lombardi for getting the right personnel and Murray for instituting a sound, defense first system, teaching the kids to play the game right and Brown for his on and off-ice leadership.
The 5 year plan is bearing fruit. Great thing to witness – (finally!).
[Reply]
vplaza Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 9:36 am
@dMan, And again, we may really have been fortunate to miss out on the Kovi sweepstakes. DL sticking to his guns this summer saved the Kings from the drama (and the team) that is currently unfolding in NJ.
Hey Kovi, check it out:
Kings – 8 games played…12 points…first place in division, second in conference
Devils – 9 games played…5 points…last place in division and conference
[Reply]
mcsorleyfan Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 11:23 am
@vplaza, that’s also 2nd in the league…
[Reply]
So far in the early going it’s been a joy to watch Smyth-Stoll-Williams at work along the boards and in the corners. Slick little chips and passes, clever little dekes and direction changes, nifty little stick lifts and puck pick-offs.
Eventually they’re gonna figure out how to turn all that effort into goals.
[Reply]
KPDragon1187 Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 8:49 am
@Lars H, Eventually? When Kopi wasn’t scoring any goals the first 4 games that line was the one producing all the time. More than once Jim said that you might have to call it the number one line because it’s the one that’s the big line at the moment. That line isn’t a second line for the Pittsburgh Penguins, they probably are never gonna score that many goals but that doesn’t mean you should short change them on the tremendous work they’ve done so far. They aren’t 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in team scoring because they can’t find the net.
[Reply]
Lars H Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 9:49 am
@KPDragon1187, “Short change”?
“So far in the early going it has been a joy to watch…”
Those three are playing terrific hockey. They’re generating a ton of chances. Eventually they’ll score on more of those chances than they have already.
Better?
[Reply]
Matthew Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
@Lars H, Agreed on both KP and Lars’s points, but I also think Williams is about to break out even further. I don’t think he gets enough recognition for how hard he works/skates and always seems to be in the right position whether to receive the puck from Smyth or pick off a puck in the passing lanes. Lots of shots thus far and only a few goals, but it would not surprise me if he catches fire and returns to his old 30 goals a year form.
My wife is a very borderline fan who does not know very much about the game. After the Kings won the shoot out she poked her head in the room to ask who scored the winning goal.
She then said “you know, every time you tell me who won the game its someone different. It seems like this team might not have a big star but they have a lot of really hard working blue collar players who have above average skill and who out work their opponents.
A team like that can go very far.
- I think my wife is pretty smart.
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 8:56 am
@fourtunato,
I think you were very smart for marrying her.
[Reply]
okay……
1st – the Brown hit was an absolute crock of BS, anyone who is not blind could see it was shoulder to shoulder.
2nd – Stoll had an amazing game. the second line this year has been phenominal so far.
3rd – even though he didnt score a goal JJ’s game tonight was amazing as well. he didnt make all those bone head reads and plays and really did a good job taking care of our own end.
4th – Peter Harrold “keep it up buddy” your doing some good things for us.
and last but not least…… I cant believe Smyth didnt pull the trigger on that open net when he had the chance. it looked wide open for like 2 seconds and he just had to fire away instead of the one or two puck handles he tried to get in there.
I know i said the Smyth comment was my last but i had to mention that there was a moment last night where they did a close up on Willie MItchell and the guy had a huge grin on his face and looked like he was having the time of his life. its always good to see players having fun on the ice like they were 10 again playing on the frozen neighborhood pond.
[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 9:30 am
@BrokeKingsFan, the puck was bouncing, he had to settle it down, he sill got off a great shot except the point of the wilds defenseman stick just ticked it
[Reply]
The Kings are the only team in the NHL with 6 wins!!
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 10:17 am
@NOW IMPRESSED, are you NOW IMPRESSED?
[Reply]
That was a really exciting game to watch.
The Kings were flying all night long. Everyone looked like they were skating hard every shift. They were on the puck constantly in both the offensive and neutral zones.
Jack played his best game of the year by far. He was dominant in all zones..great on the PP and PK.
It’s so hard to single out guys when everyone is going so well, but JW is playing probably the best hockey of his career. I havn’t seen him have anything less than a dominant shift, every shift he’s on the ice. He’s been amazing. It also helps that Stoll and Smytty are playing incredible as well.
Kopi continues to show why I think he’s the best 2 way center in the league. He really took to the defensive side of the game and has become a powerhouse because of it.
No way Brownie deserved the major, but i understand why the refs made the call. It took how many replays for us to see it wasn’t a hit to the head. The ref’s had no replays to decide. tough call, but I’m sure there will be no further disciplinary action against Brownie.
Imagine we lose our captain and playing without the best defenseman in the league and yet we continue to dominate on the road.
Our D continues to step up and be physical and move the puck out of the zone. Isn’t it great having Greene back in the lineup. He’s a friggin truck when he hits someone. Quick was solid when he needed to be and came up big at the right times.
All in all, it’s very early but this team has the look of a major stanley cup contender.
What a job by the boys, TM, and the front office. This is the best product this franchise has ever put on the ice and it’s only going to get better.
Time to kick the Hawks ass tommorrow night and the same with Dallas Thursday. Then we get to see the “great” Kovi..hopefully he dosen’t miss another team meeting before then. lol What a team player he is!
[Reply]
BrokeKingsFan Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 10:28 am
@nykingfan, I have to comment on the Kovi subject. It’s been a pleasure for me to watch the Devils with Kovalsuck struggle so much this year with the situation they put themselves into. they give up 15 years, $100 million, lose draft picks, get fined millions, have a losing record and make there offseason prize (if you could call it that) a healthy scratch. Simply beautifull if you ask me. every game im more and more of a believer that we dont need and never needed this guy. would be nice to have a 40 goal scorer though!
[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 11:11 am
@BrokeKingsFan,
I would love to have the 40 goal scorer, I just wish it would come from one of the guys we have.
[Reply]
Matthew Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
@nykingfan, I hear there’s a little guy, something Cammalleri, in Montreal that plays left wing that’s put up 34 and 39 goal seasons, but I think he could get to 40 with Kopitar feeding him. Maybe Montreal will be sellers by the trade deadline
Shakes Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 11:39 am
@nykingfan,
Maybe on Saturday instead of booing Kovi, the Kings fans should have signs saying “thank you NJ”
just sayin’….
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
@nykingfan, Once again, The voice of reason with the HUGE POST OF THE DAY, RACK THIS GUY! BTW, on the next Rich Hammond hosts the bloggers in a suite night, You need to get out here asap, thats an order!
[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
@puck73,
I’m trying to angle my company to send me out there for a conference or something. They know I’m a Kings fan…Apparently I’m not as well liked as I thought. lol
[Reply]
I loved last nights game. From the way the boys are playing it’s become pretty clear that they clearly expect to win every time they step out on the ice. They have the talent and the chemistry to be cup contenders, and their heart on the ice cannot be denied. This season promises to be a great ride….
[Reply]
“The Kings are now 3-1 when outshooting their opponents.”
and the Kings are 3-1 when not outshooting their opponents. hmmmmmmm.
[Reply]
Matthew Reply:
October 26th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
@BluLiner, Lol… nice spot… should we try to shoot the exact same amount as the other team in our next four outings and see what happens?!
[Reply]
@BluLiner,
ahaahahahha
[Reply]