After last night’s game, Terry Murray said he wouldn’t alter his goalie plan and would stay with Jonathan Bernier as tonight’s starting goalie against Philadelphia. Jonathan Quick allowed six goals on 18 shots last night, and was pulled midway through the second period in favor of Bernier, who stopped all 13 shots he faced. Of course, the score was 6-3 by that point, and much of the intensity was taken out of the game, but it’s worth noting that Bernier made a handful of quality stops. In his last three appearances, Bernier has stopped 60 of 62 shots. After the game, Bernier said he “felt good” but was empathetic to Quick’s evening…
BERNIER: “I don’t think Quickie played bad at all. It’s just the way that the puck was going for them. They made some good plays, and that’s just the way it goes.”
Here’s hoping that whatever team that was in Kings’ jerseys last night was left in Phoenix and that the team who played in San Jose was waiting in Los Angeles all along.
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Bernier is right. And…Bernier looked has looked good. Quick is still our number one though.
I don’t like Johnson and Doughty as a pair. They each need a stay at home guy.
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Dominick Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
@Jason4Kings,
I disagree. Other than last night (where the whole team took a bloody nose) that duo has looked great. Last night Pheonix was just ready. Every once in a while thats going to happen. If it happens consistantly then changes should be made. Other than that, I say they should continue to be paired together.
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Jason4Kings Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
@Dominick,
Okay. To be fair i didn’t see the Sharks or the Anaheim game, was traveling and didn’t have access. I only experienced them through the blog. So my opinion about the pairing has more to do with what i’ve seen on the season as a whole…..and then of course that bizarre moment last night on the first goal.
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Dominick Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
@Jason4Kings,
The Sharks game, those 2 played an almost flawless game. There’s a real upside to those 2 playing together if their given time to develope. Hiccups along the way will happen. Chemistry is bound to take over, and the upside could be endless.
this could be a blessing, if bernier shuts the door tonight against the flyers we may have a more competitive situation.
i say if he wins the game for us he starts until he loses
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Forum67 Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
@Stop the Puck,
I would only agree with you if Bernier either shut the Flyers out or he won 2-1 or 3-2 in a game where the Flyers got a lot of quality chances and he had to be insanely good to hold them at bay.
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kevin from toronto Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
@Stop the Puck, are you serious?
Quick had 3 shutouts in his previous 6 games. He set a franchise record in wins last year and has been lights out this year. Not sure after last night, but prior to last night he was in the top 4 in every stat category for goalies in the league. One bad outing doesn’t lose you your job.
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Louis Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
@kevin from toronto, I agree with you completely. Quick is #1 and should remain that way. He is one of the reasons our team is the contender it is.
@Stop the Puck, one bad game or off-night doesn’t merit a vote of no confidence. I’m thinking that fatigue was a factor in the team’s performance last night.
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KC23 Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
@kevin from toronto, Yep.
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K-Dog Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
@kevin from toronto, I’m with you buddy. Bernier cost us some games
during the skid, which is why we have had to load Quick up with more
games than was anticipated. TM had to change his Goalie Plan because
Bernier didn’t hack it when we needed him. Bernier could be putting
us in a position where Quick is out of Gas like he was at the end
of last season….
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Dominick Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
@kevin from toronto, Just yesterday a fan from Toronto wanted us to get rid of Quick. Nice to see not everybody in Toronto has lost their mind.
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Stop the Puck Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
@kevin from toronto,
im not saying this changes the balance of the starting role for quick. but if bernier performs exceptionally tonight it would be foolish to neglect his hot streak. quick is clearly the number one, im not saying one bad start changes that. but how many times have you seen brent johnson in pittsburgh get a string of starts cos fleury was a little shaky? i dont think anyone will question who is #1 there….same situation with a lot of teams who have clear cut number 1s but capable backups. just like a little time off got bernier straightened out, it wouldnt be the worst thing for quick either
AND im only saying this if bernier wins them the game tonight.
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Completely agree with Bernier. It was just one of those nights although if TM would have pulled Quick after the 1st then things might have been different.
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TM should try to get Bernier as much work as possible. That 10 game roadie in February is looking pretty nasty and having two top notch goal tenders who are both ready to play will be a blessing.
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ziggyfan Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 3:52 pm
@DesertKing, completely agree. We need both goal tenders ready to go. I don’t see why Bernier should not get more work. Besides, the kid has the right attitude from what I hear/read. He deserve a chance to play more.
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If tomorrow was the NHL trading deadline, do the Kings make a deal with anyone? If so who might they get. Where does the Kings need more inprovement on?
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I still maintain players like Handzus and Smyth look more and more tired as we go forward, especially in a scenario like 4-in-5-nights. So they arent totally out of legs when the playoffs come around, the next time we have back-to-backs I suggest sitting each one game (especially games against teams with good team speed) and putting someone like Moller in to improve the Kings’ speed.. we got badly outskated yesterday.
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Bryan Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
@bbb7, Moller is in Manchester
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Dominick Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 1:41 pm
@bbb7, Having Parse back later in the season might help with that. I would also like to see those 2 get some minutes management before the playoffs. Would have helped O’Donell last year.
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Shotongoal Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
@Dominick, I’m sorry but what exactly has Parse done that makes everyone fall in love with him?? The only thing that would have helped O’Donnell is if they would have transplanted 25 yr old legs on him!! I mean don’t get me wrong, I like Sean he is just a bit past his prime and the teams lack of D-depth last year showed in the playoffs. This years depth should help when it comes playoff time.
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Dominick Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
@Shotongoal,
Parse coming back helps with depth. Philly doesn’t regret signing OD (old legs and all). I agree OD is past his prime, but Jones who is faster and younger did more to expose our weakness on D than O’Donnel did. Some rest for OD would have kept him a little more fresh, but TM was forced to play him down the stretch because of the possibility of missing the playoffs.
Quick was also exposed during the playoffs for the same reason.
Jason4Kings Reply:
December 30th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
@bbb7,
I agree they don’t look fast and young, but i would be bummed if they weren’t in the line up. Maybe someone can talk me down but i think it’s too early to be saving people for the playoffs. I’m not sure we have that luxury with how the west is.
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Quicky is a great goalie and a good guy….he had an off night -Quick is number 1 in my book!
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