It’s impossible to know that the future holds, but for at least one game, the Kings’ change in power-play personnel worked exactly the way they hoped it would. The Kings consolidated their power-play personnel, putting Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson together at the blue line with Anze Kopitar, Michal Handzus and Ryan Smyth up front. That quintet was on the ice for, essentially, four minutes out of the Kings’ five minutes of power-play time last night in Edmonton, and it was on the ice for both power-play goals, both of which were scored — officially, finally — by Doughty. The Kings had been 1-for-28 on the power play in their 10 previous games. Terry Murray said he plans to stay with the same power-play look when the Kings play Calgary on Saturday.
MURRAY: “Well, we had to change something up. That was important, to get a different look. Sometimes a change is a good thing, and that’s basically where that came from. We started talking about it a couple days before. You just need to look back at the fun they had together in the playoffs last year in Vancouver. It was a good look. They jumped right on it last night, and we started to get a shot mentality. Smytty was excellent at the net, and you get a good result out of those kinds of attitudes, so we’ll keep building on it.
“You always want to try to have two good groups. So, as a result of that, you’re going to spread it out a bit, and hopefully you come out for the second part of that power play with the same kind of intensity and some good result. But when things dry up, you have to put your best players together. Same thing on 5-on-5. You’ve got to trust that those guys are going to get you through a very difficult time. You’ve got to put the best six players you can on your top two lines, your best defensemen together, and play them a lot. They’re going to get you through. Now you can get back to what your philosophy might be, to spread it out a little so everybody can contribute. But I liked what happened last night. Obviously it was a turning point in the game, when we were able to come right back with a couple power-play goals.”
IMHO, JJ has been the key, and not having Stoll as the shooter. If you look back, they were starting Doughty and Stoll, and JJ and Martinez were getting the second shift when they had maybe 30 seconds to work with.
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Gene Carr Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 7:37 pm
@JB, I’m a Stoll fan … 20+ goals and 60% face off wins works for me … but he is a huge disappointment on the PP … watching him shoot off the glass over the net on the PP time and time and time again … dude has a great shot, but never was even close to being on goal. At least get it low for a tip, deflection or rebound. Looked like a kid banging a plastic ball against the garage door out there …
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Mike J. Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 8:32 pm
@Gene Carr,
The problem with Stoll, is that he has a great shot, but on the power play he’s easy to defend and makes the power play very ineffective because Stoll stands in one spot and waits to one time the puck. Point blank bluntly, it becomes a 4 on 4 situation and if Stoll is not getting the puck on the net, then he becomes a non-issue to the opposition pk. That’s the issue, the power play is suppose to be 5 on 4 and when one of your players becomes ineffective and a non-issue, you need to remove that non-issue.
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KC23 Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 9:24 pm
@JB, I’m also a strong Stoll supporter, but have to agree he is not right for the power play. His strenght on the attack is north/south speed which really doesn’t come into play with the PP. His one-timer shot is his weakest asset and for some reason TM keeps going with it. Makes no sense what so ever.
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hey TM it took your 1/28 on the PP to figure this out?
hes the coaach? plz
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bmova Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 5:53 pm
@djpuck, Things have to hit ROCK BOTTOM before TM figures out the obvious…like having JJ and DD quarterbacking the PP, and Handzus/Smyth parked in front!!!
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I am glad that Murray had Doughty on the left and Johnson on the right, that worked ouy great last night. The BIG problem I have with TM and Kompon is that they seem to discover this stuff after weeks of bad play. Real good coaches discover this stuff after a period, or even during the period and throw a different look out there every powerplay….In other words, keep the opposition guessing, which in turn will usually have them out of position and exposed. Fact is..if we notice predictibility on T.V, dont think for a second that the opposition doesnt..COMMON SENSE.
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Dominick Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 5:38 pm
@puck73, Scouts and video review. Reads during games, and players feedback. It’s naive to think that the other team isn’t going to figure things out and try to stay one step ahead. To not have a couple of different looks every power play is why we’re so inconsistant. I agree things should have been sorted out long ago. If the fans can figure it out, I’m sure opposing teams are figuring it out even faster. In game adjustments have to be made quicker, with a willingness to try a different plan of attack if need be.
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Off topic but is anyone else watching Boston/Dallas? Three fights in the first four seconds and now another one at t the 5:00 mark. I’m not sure who started it all but if Dallas was trying to establish something – it back fired….Boston 2 Dallas 0. If this happened to the Kings I would have to wonder which four would actually be involved. Yikes!
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JayGoLAKings Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 4:38 pm
@Dave’s a Killer,
1. Clifford
2. Simmonds
3. Greenie
4. Poni ????? awwww hmmmm
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Gene Carr Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 7:41 pm
@Dave’s a Killer, Dallas has got to be gripping hard, they are giving up goals in buckets right now … great to see the East take 2 of 3 from the West tonight, helps us out (Phil over Nash, Bos over Dal … Calg over Atl). Time of year to scoreboard watch, I’m willing to concede a couple playoff spots to Van & Det … don’t think Columbus and obviously Edm are going to make it … so voting for those four West teams to beat whoever they play, along with the East when they play the West. About the only way I can figure out who to pull for right now …
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Still confused with Kopitars positioning on the boards. A goal scorer should be in a better position to shoot!!!
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Gene Carr Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 7:34 pm
@408kingsfan, I agree, although with the other teams pressuring the guys on the point you’d think a skilled player like Kopi could be taking more advantage of what is basically a 3 on 2 down low … but he doesn’t seem to be able to get a good shot OR pass … think one or the other would open up for him with 2 defenders like glue on DD and JJ. Also maybe time for some backdoor plays down from the point with those guys, at least to keep the other team more honest.
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Kings Fan Vancouver, WA Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 7:10 am
@Gene Carr, I agree. Get him off the half boards and into the slot. The coaches need to start making plays where Kopi is roaming in or near the slot. The umbrella play is nice if your learning how to play but come on….Help him get that spark TM!!!
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DesertKing Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 7:45 am
@Kings Fan Vancouver, WA,
Completely agree. He is our best shooter and needs to be in a better positon to score from. Also, opposing defenses know that he is going to set-up on the half-board and station 1-2 players there to block his shot and/or intercept his pass and clear the zone. Let Kopi roam free and give him the opportunity to create and go to the net.
Isn’t this “new” PP unit the same one used against VAN in the playoffs? Weren’t they at 40%?
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408kingsfan Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 5:08 pm
@CupRun2011, Exactly stick with what works
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I don’t get how TM changes lines on regular basis but didn’t do the same for the PP lines.
Hope last night was saw the rebirth of our PP.
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Rich, off topic, but I would like to pass along my thanks to whoever is responsible for the radio feeds available here. I listened to last night’s game in Memphis, Sat. will be in Denver, and later this month in Fla. Great to hear it if you cannot see it.
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Rich, it’s time. Bernier, Hickey, and a first round pick for Rick Nash. Columbus’ season is going south and they could use some blue chippers. Let’s get this done now so we can start kicking some you know what.
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I got an awesome idea. Why don’t we put our best players on the ice during the power play. You all know, the same system that worked when we nearly blitzed Luongo and Vancouver out of the playoffs last year going something like 14 for 32 in 6 games. Put Jack, Drew, Kopi, Brown, and either Smyth or Zeus out there to park his tail right in front of the goalie.
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Great move by Terry as showed by the obvious results.
Would love to have had this all season but I’ll take what I can get.
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I don’t like Smitty on the PPP and think last game was a fluke. I think he will got shut down by better teams. But at this point we’re extremely desperate. I’d put Westy in front of the net if I think it would work. Keep this road game point streak going boys.
Cliffy – throw a bunch of quick straight shots, finish with an uppercut, and then tackle him!
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