For all the talk of a struggling offense at times, one clear positive has been the Kings’ play in goal, and that includes both Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier, who will get the start tomorrow against Washington. After some early-season bumps, Bernier has been more successful of late. He was the tough-luck loser in his last start, when he stopped all 25 shots in regulation and overtime but lost to Minnesota 1-0 in a shootout, and Bernier has allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last three starts, lowing his goals-against average from 3.26 to 2.84 in the process.
BERNIER: “I think, in my last three or four games, I’ve been feeling good, and going into the games feeling confident that I can do the job. That’s the biggest thing. If you feel good about yourself, and feel like you can stop anyone, then you have a good chance to succeed.”
The challenge for Bernier has been to adjust to not playing as often. In junior and in the AHL, Bernier regularly got at least two starts per week, but even now, when he’s been getting positive results, Bernier has appeared in only one game since Jan. 17. I asked Bernier if, during the season, he has learned any positive tricks, in terms of keeping himself sharp despite limited game action…
BERNIER: “At first, I was getting frustrated a little bit. I’m just trying to stay really positive. I think it’s been helping me. Obviously, if you start to be negative, it can start affecting your game, so I’m just trying to be as positive as I can. At this part of the season, it doesn’t matter who plays. Team-wise, we want to make the playoffs and I think everyone expects us to do good. And, as a team, we want to do good. So right now, it doesn’t matter if it’s me or Quickie. We just want to get the job done.”
Maybe he can chip in with a few goals too.
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DesertKing Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 5:13 pm
@xeropoint,
LMAO
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Before99 Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
@xeropoint, Maybe he can chip in with a couple WINS:)
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pr0cess Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
@Before99, have to score to win
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Before99 Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
@pr0cess, Only need to score one:)
off topic
Islanders are spanking the Pens 6-0 in the second, and the Kings managed only 1 goal…
Argh!
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bob Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
@Niko,
I don’t even have to look, but I can bet they aren’t playing Fleury. Big difference
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puck73 Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@Niko, TM and Kompon….tick tock tick tock…….
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Player-X Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
@puck73, 1001
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crashin' da net Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
@puck73, BBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTT. Well, its been fun but you gotta go now. Please accept this parting gift….. or not.
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niko,
6-2 now i was gonna say that. i dont mind kopi playing with handzus, he deserves to be punished, seriously AK has been brutal esp. these past few games.
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yup. Now JB has a chance of saving our pathetic behinds like JQ has been doing most of the season.
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anyone know what our PPP stats are for the last 5, 0, 15, 20 games? TIA.
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xeropoint Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
@crashin’ da net, I’m gonna guess they’re not good. Maybe they need to “bring the right attitude” or have more of a “shot mentality” with their “heavy sticks” and try to go “low to high” with some “net presence”. It might help to go with “that kind of look” because hey “that’s the NHL, baby.”
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CB14 Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
@xeropoint, LOL. You forgot “Play the whole 60 Minutes”. I know the pp is only 2 min, but that 2 min is in a 60 min game.
P.S. Kompon’s gotta go now.
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Gary Livingston Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
@xeropoint, I wish just once they would not stand still on the PP. You never see the forwards streaking through the key and switching sides to draw opposing players to them and get them scrambling to open up the other side to another forward or defenseman pinching in low for a one timer. It never happens.
The one timers always happen when you expect them to. There is never anything creative or new happening. Opponents only need to watch one game to know exactly what to do and expect against our PP. haha.
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Pesus Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 7:13 pm
@Gary Livingston,
The goalie is always facing the shot, the pp is so slow he’s always in the right position.
number 6 Reply:
February 11th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
@xeropoint,
A ha ha ha ha ha ….. that’s good.
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the lack of scoring isnt becuase the lack of shots taken but where the rebounds go. they all stand so close to the net there is no time to react for a quick tip in. you have 6 x 4 goal a goalie his 2 defensemen and alot of the time our three forwards, this equals out to 6 bodies, 12 legs(2 of which have pillows) this leaves no room for the puck to even bounce off anything into the net. it only leaves rebounds and nobody is there. What high scoring teams you’ll see the diference.
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Kings are playing well. What we have to understand is that we can’t beat many teams run and gun style. Kings have to play defence first. Wow what a job they are doing playing defence. Six points out of eight last four games. I like it. Keep it up. No player on Kings roster is thinking about putting up numbers. Team first and system first. I love how coach has got all players on the same page. Sign of a good team. Hockey god will help.
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4 for 32 on PPP’s in the last 10 games. 7 for 45 in the last 15 games. Lame.
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Get ‘er done Bernie! Then we’ll see if TM sticks with the “win & you’re in” slogan he spewed a few weeks ago. Kings defense has been outstanding of late, last night included, when the Pens had maybe 5 quality chances all game, yet Quick only stopped 2 (and nice save by Scuds on the wrap!). If the D keeps up the good play, and Bernier plays well, we should be counting 2 more pts tomorrow.
Go Kings
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Washington has struggled to score lately….lots of that D and a couple of goals might get us 2 more badly needed points. Just stay out of Ovechkins way…he would almost rather check you over the boards than score….He loves to hit
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has he ever considered playing left wing with Kopi?
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I like the way Bernier handles the puck behind the net much better than Quick. Time for Kopi to break out. All good players go thru slumps, Kovi, Igilna all have been cold for long spells this year.
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Go Bernie! Go Kings!
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