This isn’t exactly the ideal situation for Jonathan Bernier to be starting in goal. His last appearance in a game was 24 days ago, and tonight he will be playing in front of a Kings defense that is without two of its most veteran players, Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell. Those two have combined for 931 career NHL games. The six defensemen playing for the KIngs tonight have a combined total of 1,072 NHL games. Experience doesn’t count for everything, but the Kings certainly will need to pick up some slack, and Terry Murray said today that it’s not just limited to the defensemen…
MURRAY: “The key is going to be the forwards, in my mind. Everybody needs to be working hard and doing the right thing, that we have good gaps, good spacing. The pressure coming back is going to be important. When pucks are chipped in deep, we have to make sure that we have five together on the breakouts. If you get a little bit lazy coming back, the availability obviously breaks down. The passing lanes are not there, and that’s when there’s too much pressure coming at those young defensemen now. So it’s the importance of the tracker, of everybody working, coming back to home plate, stopping, a good checking attitude and a lot of communication. There needs to be a lot of talk, because of the sweeping pressure that Nashville throws at you. They have their legs moving constantly. It’s not a hard, physical forecheck. You have a couple guys, Tootoo is going to finish hard, but more it’s speed and sweeping, and now you’ve got to show some composure to deal with the kind of speed that they’re going to show.”
As for Bernier, well, it’s sink or swim time. He hasn’t been in a game since his Nov. 24 hometown letdown, when he and the Kings lost 4-1 at Montreal.
MURRAY: “I know he hasn’t played in a while, but you just say, `It’s your game. Go play.’ He’s got a lot of talent. We saw his game last year, in the American Hockey League, to be one of the best down there. He just needs to bring that same kind of focus, that same kind of game, here. It’s an adjustment, there’s no question. Everything is faster, harder, and he’s working his way through it. He’s going to be a good goalie.”
Good luck JB, you’ve owned Nashville in the past, this is a great spot to build your confidence!! I’m thinking a 4-0 win would be a nice way to start!!
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jet Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
@LucLivesOn, It has been, what, 6 months since Nashville has lost at home. Let’s hope for a 1-1 tie, and be happy.
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I’m starting to wonder if JB is going to be the big bait in a trade we make at the deadline…
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jofa6000 Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
@Stuart, dont hold your breath on JB leaving L.A..
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MR King Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
@jofa6000, I agree. Why would DL and company take their time with JB in the minors just to trade him when he hasn’t even played a full season. Who would want him as well? He hasn’t proven much in the NHL… yet.
Let JB and JQ battle it out until the time comes for a real decision.
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Marc Nathan Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
@Stuart, beyond absurd… let Zatkoff get consistent in Manchester, let Jones play at least one full year pro… then there’ll be some decisions to be made. Right now… no WAY.
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EJ Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:49 pm
@Stuart, if Sturm plays well, and the team remains relatively injury-free, you’re not going to see any kind of significant deadline deal.
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Action Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
@EJ,
I’m not so sure of that. If the Kings show Lombardi that their time might be now, the trigger could be pulled on a deal to attempt to put us over the top.
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We need defensive help and we need it bad. It is really nerve racking to know that Mitchell and Greene may miss significant time again and having to play with Martinez, Harrold, and DD2 just won’t cut it if we are going to compete with elite teams. DL has to realize this and try to trade for some help. I know he never likes to use his assets, but in this case he should be willing to let go of a few in order to get a solid D man. What do you all think?
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TJB Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
@OCKingsFan,
I think we’ll be fine, as long as we play as a 5 man unit. Better now to deal with this type of adversity, then oh say, February or March.
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OCKingsFan Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:15 pm
@TJB, Ya I definitely agree with you on that. I just hope we can stay a float and play like St. Louis did last game. If we play with that much effort I think we should be okay just hope our D can hold up until our guys get back in.
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TJB Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
@OCKingsFan,
Yeah, I agree. St Louis showed the hunger and tenacity that a team needs when they are less than completely healthy. If we can duplicate that, and not be complacent at key times we should be fine.
I have a feeling he’s going to play lights out for us tonight.
Let’s go Bernie…do your thing!
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YoBro Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
@TJB, Specifically, red lights out in our D-zone! We’re all pulling for ya Bernie. I just hope our D shows up and plays physical, so Bernie can see ‘em.If he does, he stops them. Not so good yet with traffic though, so lets see if he has improved on that in practice.
Go Kings
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hahaha that picture is amazing.
Frolov had a beauty assist today… just sayin
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manyRnot Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
@kevin from toronto, every 30-ish game or so, like here, pass..
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MR King Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
@kevin from toronto, That pic is hilarious. Doughty looks like a pouting baby.
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kevin from toronto Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 3:20 pm
@MR King, looks like his Kevin Westgarth impression to me…
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MR King Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
@kevin from toronto, LOL yeah that came to mind too.
Have to look at what Lombardi didn’t do…
Daniel Hamhuis? I was a little concern with Mitchell’s health and felt lombardi should have really pushed for Daniel Hamhuis. I hope I am wrong, but Mitchell has already two injuries that requires him to miss a lot of time and we aren’t even have way through the season.
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xeropoint Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
@kylecliffordfan,
He did try to sign Hamhuis. The guy wanted to play in his hometown, so it would have been massive overpayment to get him in LA.
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Bill M. Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
@xeropoint, Yeah. It seems like a lot of people who want to criticize DL, often cite players that we “should” have kept, or “should” have signed, while completely disregarding the personal attitudes or desires of the players themselves. We should have kept Cammy, even though he overvalued himself at the time and didn’t want to stay here through a rebuild. We should have signed Hamhuis, even though he was dead set on Vancouver.
Mitchell was an excellent signing. He had no history of injury before the concussion, and that was the result of a very dirty hit. When healthy, I would argue he is as good or better than Hamhuis. This is stuff that is beyond control, or prediction, and blaming it on DL is ridiculous. We are loaded with D when healthy, and spending more cap on D is reckless, when we need goal scoring so badly.
We might have to accept that it’s just not our year if the bad luck continues. We have key players getting injured, vets who seem to have lost a step, and rookies to replace those vets who need more experience to really help us. Even consistent contenders like Detroit have some potentially good seasons blown by sheer bad luck.
Now where we should be focused is the fact that the focus and effort doesn’t seem to be there. Even if we are missing big pieces, we should be winning some games anyway because we put out the effort, like St. Louis did.
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SDGolfer Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
@kylecliffordfan, Jeezus, people. It is WELL KNOWN Hamhuis wanted to play near home.
If you are gonna continuously attempt to bash Lombardi, at least have a valid reason.
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jet Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
@kylecliffordfan, I agree 100%, “you have to look at what Lombardi didn’t do”. He did not overpay for a star winger and destroy our cap space for the next decade. This was probably the best off season move of any GM in the league last summer.
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Kings x Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
@kylecliffordfan, He wanted Vancouver all the way.
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Not to be a downer but I have a bad feeling about tonight. The Preds are playing very well and they have pretty much owned us, except for the last game. We are going to need at least 4 goals to win this.
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wavesinair Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
@fourtunato, …and the game before that. I have a good feeling. See below.
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Jay GoLAKings Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
@fourtunato,
Agree. The Preds are on a great point streak. They have not lost in regulation since Nov.26th, 18 out of 20 points possible.
It will take a full 60 minutes of great team work to win this one.
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vplaza Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
@fourtunato, Well, as I pointed out below, if our #1 keeper couldn’t beat a down team without Greene for a full game and Mitchell for two periods, it doesn’t look like it will be easy for Bernier without both of them for a full game against a hot team.
Also, I like Martinez, but I have to say that he’s showed some weaknesses in his game in the past few games. Nothing horrible, but he’s made some mistakes. Now he’ll have to step up on the defensive side.
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Kings x Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
@fourtunato, True but long streaks for a team like that can’t go on forever and it has been a while. I thought their record at home was not good also. Goalie who has their number and a bit of offensive production should do the trick.
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If we beat the Preds tonight, the Kings will have won 3 in a row against Nashville going back to last season. The 3 games before that, the Predators won. We also play them 3 more times in March. Bernier is looking for his 3rd win against Nashville during 2010 and is looking for his 3rd win this season!
3′s are wild folks! Looks like a guaranteed victory
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wavesinair Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 11:32 am
Told you so!
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Any more news on the Mitchell’s knee injury?
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Personally, I’m sick of excuses for Bernier.
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Dominick Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
@KC23,
I don’t look at it as excusses, but yeah, he needs to produce.
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vplaza Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
@KC23, Let’s see, JQ plays without Mitchell and Greene in front of him and gets lit up for 6 goals by a depleted team. JB doesn’t have either of them against a hot team. Excuses? Just reality that he’ll have to stand on his head if the Kings have any chance tonight.
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vplaza Reply:
December 18th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
@vplaza, Sorry, only 5 goals.
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I gaurantee if Bernier gets a shut out tonight, some will say it’s time to start shopping Quick to get us a scorer.
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Bernier wins
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One goal win in OT or shootout. 3-2 kings
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