Jonathan Bernier will be starting consecutive games for the first time this season and will be making his second career start against Dallas. In March of last season, when Jonathan Quick’s wife went into labor, Bernier came up from Manchester and stopped 29 of 30 shots in a 2-1 shootout victory over the Stars in Dallas. Bernier is coming off a 24-save effort in Saturday’s 5-2 win over Edmonton, and Terry Murray was asked, this morning, about any differences in Bernier in that game, as opposed to his two previous games, which didn’t go well…
MURRAY: “A win. Win the games. Sometimes it doesn’t have to be pretty. You can win and play ugly, and you’re still happy at the end of the day. You can play great and you lose and you’re not happy. The bottom line is, he won the game. He made some very big stops at critical times. It’s a 3-2 game, and I know we mismanaged the puck a couple times there in our D zone and he had to come up big, which he did. There were a couple big saves on penalty-killing, and that’s always critical for us, to have good special teams. He gave us what we needed, at the end of the day. … He settled in. I thought his game became confident as we got into the second and third periods. It’s been a while since he has faced the game situations, and he adjusted very quickly to it.”
Good for JB I still like quick the best but let JB get some games under the belt. Lets start a winning streaki and push our ways back into the top 8.
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I’m not thrilled with it, but please Bernier, handle your rebounds and control your rebounds. That has been your major downfall all year.
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EmptyTank Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
@mrbrett7,
I’ve been saying the same thing to the wife all season about this being Bernier’s biggest issue. He’s usually making the initial saves but giving up the huge, juicy rebounds which lead to goals. Sometimes it’s impossible for the goalie to control the rebound to a safe spot but indeed there have been times this season where, in my opinion, Bernier could have done a better job controlling rebounds and at least three of his losses are a direct result of this. It’s certainly a sign of a young goalie… he *should* improve with maturity
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kevin Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
@EmptyTank, Thats what made him such a good goalie for those few games in the nhl last year and why he was so good in the AHL he needs to play more he is not use to being a back up he is a work horse notice he is always a little shaky in the first then turns it on in the final two periods.
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vplaza Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
@mrbrett7,
Actually, JB and Quick have had problems with their rebound control. Even during Quick’s career game against Detroit, I can distinctly remember that the shot count against him that night was so high because he gave up a lot of rebounds after shots.
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I like it. Goaltending has been mediocre the past six weeks and, unlike much of the line changes, this move actually is associated with something that makes sense … “you win, you play”. Still don’t really know what to make of Bernier yet this year, but playing against the divisional leader ten points ahead of your team certainly offers him a chance to step up. I still have fond memories of roadies in SJ, Det, Nash & Col in my mind, hope we play hard & move our feet & the puck tonight like we did in those successful, recent roadies.
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Will Hutchison Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
@Gene Carr, I concur. I like the plan, win and you keep playing. I love Quick, he was one my keepers in fantasy hockey, but he needs to relax. If viewers at home can sense that a goalie looks tense, what are shooters on the ice seeing?
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dropkickfan Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
@Gene Carr, Yup, I agree too. Quick has been bad lately. You win, you play. Very easy way of thinking.
For those talking about JB’s rebounds, the same could be said about Quicks puck handling skills.
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Well, Good Luck Tonight Bernier.
GO KINGS…
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As Bob Miller and Foxy stated in the last game, Perhaps he is a little like C. Price. He did not play well not playing a lot of games with Halak playing the other half. Perhaps, he is a guy that needs to play a lot. Example they gave is; look how well he played last year in the AHL. I know AHL is different and a slower speed, but makes a little sense. I know Quick, is the number 1 guy, but it does make sense…good demeanor on this guy too.
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Bernier did not look top notch the other night like he did las year vs Dallas. Maybe this being his first consecutive start will sharpen him up a bit.
This is his opportunity to grab the brass ring and get some consecutive starts. All he has to do is win. Let’s see Bernie pull off a string of 10 straight. Why not?
As someone mentioned earlier…PLEASE control your rebounds. I remember his game last year in Dallas, he hardly had ANY rebounds. Bernie controlled the game from the crease. That his how he will be successful in this league.
Good Luck Bernie!
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Joe Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
@Cynic,
Definitely, He’s going to have to have his “A” Game Tonight.
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Barry's Mullet Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
@Cynic, Both these guys have been giving up juicy rebounds the last month or so…JB I can understand since he plays twice a month, but JQ needs to fix that and his play behind the net. I don’t care who is in net, I’m just looking for wins, and if JB can get in the zone, he can really build his and the teams confidence when they need it most.
I also like our 4th line…should make things tough on the Stars and their defense, as long as we can shut down Dallas’s first and second lines.
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- ViC - Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
@Cynic,
Totally agree with you, we all know Bernies abilities, right now he is getting used to the NHL with the pros. Bernier will be a beast top golie in the league some day, I know it!
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If ever we needed this kid to step up, now is the time. I am a nervous wreck right now. I want the game to start, yet I’m still shaking a bit with the news that Bernier is starting. I think it’s great that TM is going with this, “you win your in” thing. Let’s hope we don’t see Quick for a few games. St Louis tomorrow? HMMMMMM Let’s just get tonight’s game over with. We need these two points. Come on Peeps. Do whatever ritual you do. Sing holy praises to whatever Deity you wish, perform Voodoo. I don’t care. Just get on this train and help me Will this team to win. This is our chance to show the nation that we are going after Dallas’s lead. After all this club has been through it’s fine time we start showing the NHL that we are for real. Kings 4 Life and Happy MLK Day to all who live a life of tolerance.
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What if we win 6-5 in a shoot out? What if Quicks next start we get outshot 2 to 1 and he loses 1-0? I hope at some point TM looks at who is playing better. That being said, Good luck tonight Bernier.
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Just win. I’m not picky about the number in back of the jersey.
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if the kings do not start winning games they might want to think about firing Murray. He has made a lot of decisions recently that seem to make no sense. This being one of them
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king1jason Reply:
January 17th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
@Mike, Totaly agreed.Another idiotic move by Murray we need to fire that clown.
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