For those who haven’t seen how the Kings won yesterday’s game, or just want to see it again, it’s worth a look. After practice today, Terry Murray broke down the play from his perspective, starting with the Dallas goal that tied the game in the final minute and the sense of calm the Kings tried to maintain. From there, Murray talks about the play. The Kings got the puck in deep, and when the Stars tried to clear the puck, Willlie Mitchell stopped it up at the blue line and sent a shot toward the net. That led to Wayne Simmonds carrying the puck behind the net and the net-front scramble that ended with Michal Handzus’ goal…
MURRAY: “Screaming and the hollering only makes me feel better. It doesn’t make anybody else feel better. That goes nowhere. That’s going to be, actually, very disruptive. It’s important to stay focused and just go out and finish the game the right way. … You’ve got to go through the fundamentals of the game, no matter what the circumstances are. You go to that faceoff, after they tied the game, and it’s an excellent breakout. It’s a simple play, but it’s a fundamental play, with a D-to-D pass and Handzus right in the right position in the middle of the ice, nice and low. Fundamentally, the play was executed really well. It gets back to Mitchell on the blue line. He’s going to get some pressure from the forward, and the key on that one, obviously, is to shoot the puck to the net. That’s what we ask them to do, whether it’s the first shift of the game or late in the game, as it was. So, a great result.”
I didn’t notice Simmonds eat it on the celebration last time. Was too excited about the goal I guess.
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Stuart Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
@jammer06, Zus got pushed and kinda tripped WS, but that whole mass of humanity while celebrating the goal was AWESOME!!
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Bluecoconuts Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
@Stuart, The best part is Dallas #17 standing there in shock. He didn’t wanna turn around and see the puck in net.
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Stuart Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
@Bluecoconuts, I think that same experession was on Morrow’s face too! That was priceless inandof iteself!!! He was in front when they scored his goal and his face was all joy and then not even 5 minutes later he was down in the dumps!!!
spidey35 Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
@jammer06,
I can’t remember who, but there was one other player on the ice also. Great celebration and a demoralizing goal towards Dallas. Just fantastic. So proud of this team!!!!
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Just like the old coach drew it up…
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Tm is correct here. That play clicks 10% of the time, but it is the proper play and even if we ended up in OT the guys did it right and it paid off for once.
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variable Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
@Dominick,
it only has a chance to work if they try it…
…and thankfully they did…
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tm deserves credit for putting those guys out on the ice in that critical moment…
the three…poni, simmer and zus…were playing very well for the game…
with a lil’ help from ringo (willie), the play was a thing of beauty…
if we are ever in that situation again, we have a recent WINNING instance to be inspired from…
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BringBackTheShieldJersey Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
@variable, Looks to me that by putting out his shut-down line TM was playing to get to over-time. If he was playing to win, he would have put out Kopi’s line. I think he got lucky, but am happy for it.
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by the way, what is the Kings all-time season record for number of 1 goal games (and 1 goal games won) in regulation or non-shoot outs. it feels like every King game is s 1 goal game…. if we don’t have the record this season it has to be close….also we don’t really even score empty-netters so that probably helps keeps some games 1 goalers…
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
@Shakes, Remember, back before the Oilers heyday, etc., there were a LOT of one-goal games.
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I love foxie’s reaction……”WOW!”…
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Sebastian Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
@Jack, hah, it took him a while to get the wow out. i always enjoy his “WOE” after a big save or hit.
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Laura Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 1:52 pm
@Jack, I know! It cracked me up watching live and I cracked up again just watching this clip! Love Foxie!
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It was beautiful to watch. After the Dallas goal, I was sitting there in a state of numbness with my stomach trying to go to places it shouldn’t be. To see the team pull it out and score that goal was exatly the reason why we watch this game, and why you watch it to the very end, because you never cknow what is going to happen and what you are going to expereince and keep as a memory. The best part, KINGS WIN KINGS WIN (plus 2 points!).
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Murray for Jack Adams award!
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Scot Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 1:58 pm
@Sebastian,
Definitely will be in the conversation! Possibly nominated.
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Dominick Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
@Sebastian,
Too many teams that have taken bigger steps than the Kings to overlook. Vancouver, Tampa bay, and so on. The award will probably go to the coach who has made the biggest difference, and I don’t think anybody can argue that the coaching change for the Devils was the single biggest difference between converting a team from terrible, to phenominal, that I’ve ever seen.
If a coach ever made a difference this season it was there. Too bad it came too late. I would have loved to of smoked them in the finals.
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Ian Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
@Dominick, No doubt in my mind that Lemaire has been the best coach this year. But I think the Jack Adams has to go to a coach that makes the playoffs, and I dont see them pulling off the miracle. I think if the kings win their division then it should go to TM.
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puck73 Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
@Sebastian, TM, for the Jack Adams? NOT EVEN CLOSE. If New Jersey some how manages to get into the playoffs after the terrible start they got off to the Jacques Lemaire will win it in a runaway.
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Scot Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
@puck73,
But that’s not gonna happen.
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KC23 Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
@Scot, He’ll win it if they make it or not imho.
number 6 Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
@puck73,
No question about it wrt Lemaire. Unbelievable job.
Who else? Bylsma w a very injured team? Also possibly the guy from Vanc (Vigneault?)
Also, still gotta consider Dave Tippett again….. at least that’s what one of the guys from Versus says.
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It was worth almost dislocating both slumping shoulders as my arms shot up reflexively at the surprising goal! With 20 seconds left, I didn’t even give a second thought to the possibility of Dallas scoring again, which is what I’m sure all Dallas fans were thinking too, with 40 seconds left
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great play to get that goal….wonderful pass by Poni…a season-maker kind of goal
watch out NHL here come the Kings
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It’s become clear to me that as great as Kopitar is, we fans still don’t appreciate him enough. Puck Prospectus ranks him as the 5th best player in the league this season, behind Daniel Sedin, Toews, Stamkos and Crosby. Wow. Kopitar is all grown up and a legit MVP candidate.
I have no idea how the formatting will look, but here’s an excerpt from the article. The most important number below each name is the LAST number, which lists a player’s Total GVT, which is “The value of a player, in goals, above what a replacement level player would contribute. GVT aggregates offensive, defensive, goaltending and shootout contributions in a single metric.”
Rank Player Team Pos. Off./Goalie GVT Def. GVT Shootout GVT Total GVT
1 Daniel Sedin Vancouver Canucks F 20.7 2.7 -0.5 22.9
Daniel has been well-rounded in his pursuit of the scoring title, leading the NHL in both even-strength points (53, tied with Henrik) and power-play points (36).
2 Jonathan Toews Chicago Blackhawks F 13.8 4.6 1.9 20.3
Despite his towering reputation, Toews’ career-best in points is only 69, which he has already matched this season.
3 Steven Stamkos Tampa Bay Lightning F 18.7 2.6 -1.3 20.0
The Lightning remain one of the great turnaround stories of the season, but more important than Stamkos’ heroics is how they have controlled the play: they are second in shot differential (+285), up from 24th (-208) last year.
4 Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins F 15.4 2.7 -0.2 17.9
In many recent seasons, the player with the highest points-per-game has not won the scoring title: Mario Lemieux in 2001, Todd Bertuzzi in 2002, Peter Forsberg in 2004, Alex Ovechkin in 2009 and 2010, and likely Crosby this year.
5 Anze Kopitar Los Angeles Kings F 12.0 6.0 -0.4 17.5
Earlier this season there was a small “Ryan Kesler for MVP” movement. Kopitar can now be said to have out-Keslered Kesler, playing the same two-way center role (scoring, penalty-killing, controlling the play) with as much success. Kopitar for MVP?
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Shakes Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
@puddle,
that’s pretty cool , i mean when you watch every play or every shift i think as fans we generally undervalue what he does on the defensive side (not a lot of stats really reflect what he brings, +/- is dubious as we’ve discussed many times here before, and the one true measure, the lack of productivity from opponents is hard to quantify…sometimes maybe only allowing the Sedin lines 2 goals might be seen as doing really well even if that’s a -2 in +/-) and take what he does on the offensive side for granted
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that was a beauty
Go Kings GO
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As much as that was big bodies fighting for the puck with Poni finally getting it to Zeus, Simmonds move completely froze Lehtonen who got way out of the net to the right and he never fully recovered to get back in position when Simmonds went around the back of the net. A great combination of skill, size and heart got us that game winner.
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“Screaming and the hollering only makes me feel better. It doesn’t make anybody else feel better. That goes nowhere. That’s going to be, actually, very disruptive. It’s important to stay focused and just go out and finish the game the right way.”
I know a lot of criticism gets heaped on TM for his lack of emotion during the games, but this statement had me thinking about his philosophy for coaching this team. Obviously we do have some seasoned vets on the team, but by-and-large, the team is young with little experience “winning”. I like his position that remaining calm and focused will ultimately help the team remain calm and focused in situations where it would easy to be rattled. I would hope that, behind closed doors, he does display more of the emotion that people would hope, but i can’t argue with the way he’s bringing this team along. I think by molding a defensive minded and disciplined team now, he will be able to afford a more goal oriented approach in the future when he’s comfortable that the players have the winning fundamentals ironed into their approach.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
@Helvetica, Excellent post. TM has been criticized left and right here for supposedly not showing emotion. What most everyone here absolutely refuses to understand is that we don’t know what he says to his players behind closed doors and THAT is where it matters….to THEM not US. I for one do not need to see someone heap a barrage of four letter words at a press conference or “call out” players to know that someone “cares” more about his team then I, Kings fan #34567 do.
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puck73 Reply:
March 14th, 2011 at 3:09 pm
@Helvetica, Screaming and hollering works really well young players..its done wonders for our careers..Respectfully, from the both of us Theodore Nolan and Michael Keenan.
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BobKnob Reply:
March 15th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
@puck73,
ha, I’m pretty sure screaming and hollering is the ONLY thing that works with young players.
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I was going crazy by myself in my apartment! I need a fellow Kings fan in SD to share my excitement with!
My favorite part, other than sticking it to Dallas and getting the big two points, was the emotion of the guys after the goal. They were sooooo excited. it was hilarious.
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Hey that was neat. I’d seen the clip on nhl.com but it was the Dallas broadcast, so it was cool to hear Bob.
Also got a different angle after the goal. How proud must Zues have been? I was pulling for him big time in the Olympics. It’s rare you find such a truly great guy who plays the game so much for the team. I don’t know what his wheels are like but you’ve sorta got to hope he stays around at least another year.
The complication I suppose is the guys they have waiting – and they’re all centers. Lokti on the wing didn’t work out too well so I’m not quite sure what you do in this case.
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Also just checked on Tyler Toffoli. I know he’s a few years away anyhow, but he’s a center too. We need some more depth at the Wings. btw, on the other angle (behind the net) that I saw on the nhl.com highlights, you can see that Simmer really comes steaming into the zone. That was the first thing breaking it down into seconds that something was cooking cause he was goin for it and that seemed to slightly impact the puck getting back to Willie at the point.
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Jeff0184 Reply:
March 15th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
@number 6, He is actually being listed as a RW on hockeydb.com
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