There was never any real question or debate about this, but Terry Murray eliminated the possibility today when he was asked whether there was any scenario in which backup goalie Jonathan Bernier would be scheduled for a start in the series against San Jose. Murray said, “No,” then, after taking a moment for possible elaboration, added another, “No.”
Jonathan Quick finished the regular season with a 2.24 goals-against average, fourth-best among all NHL goalies who played at least 55 games this season. Quick faced the Sharks five times this season, with a 3-2 record (including two shootout wins). He went through the entire gauntlet against the Sharks, allowing zero, one, two, three and four goals, respectively, in his five games this season. Bernier made one start against San Jose, in the Kings’ 6-3 loss on Nov. 15.
if it was the Preds i beat TM would put Bernier in net
I dont care who in the Net going to get blast hits by the Pucks
Just hope the Kings Find a way to win games
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
@KingsFanFTW, Bet*
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RobSD Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
@KingsFanFTW,
We have already been counted out by every person not a Kings fan, and a lot of people that are. If you look at the stats, it’s really not as bad as the last 4 games made it look. We went 6-4 in our last ten. We had a great second half from the start of that huge road trip. This team has always been about adversity. Well, here it is. I am hoping these guys reach down deep and at least put up a helluva fight. What happened to it’s a whole new ball game in the playoffs? A couple outstanding individual efforts or a few lucky bounces and we could easily steal this thing. They are beatable. It’s not probable, but it’s possible. Ducks in 09′, Montreal in ’10. Happens in hockey all the time!!!
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
@RobSD, yea i hope evrything goes right for th ekings find alot of ways to win
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fourth-best among all NHL goalies who played at least 55 games this season, hopefully you’ll have some help with some goals, make the save johnny boy, but don’t stick handle please
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
@luthco1,
Maybe when Broduer retires (could be soon) we could pay him to teach Quick how to handle the puck and how to read situations where it would help..Bernier could use a little help too but he’s not nearly as bad, mostly because he just errs on the side of caution.
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Laura Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
@kingsxstevenxkings, we got Ranford there..you would think HE could help him with that
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hiway39 Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
@kingsxstevenxkings,
ranford AND hextall are available…
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Murray just answered is Quick better than Bernier… not the goalie schedule…”no….no” lol
In a few years JB in a few years…
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Cortex949 Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
@Paul G, Why? Cuz he was really good against non NHL players, and decent in the NHL?
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Paul G Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@Cortex949, no it has nothing to do with his AHL performance last year, it’s based on skill set and poise
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
@Paul G,
I think it’s obvious that Quick is a better tender right now, but a few years for JB? I’m thinking 2..and who knows he may grow leaps and bounds over the summer..If I remember right JQ came back after a season of being a back up (well..actually played 44games) and then turned into a star.
Quick had a .914sv% and 2.48 GAA and was 21-18 in those 44 games
Bernier had a .913sv% and 2.48 GAA and was 11-8 in 25 games this year
Looks eerily familiar right???
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Cortex949 Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
@kingsxstevenxkings, By that argument the best case scenario is IF jb progresses an insane amount it’s POSSIBLE that he could emerge next year to be as good as jq? I still don’t see where that makes him the #1, and that if he makes the transition from backup to all-star in one off season
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@Cortex949,
I’m not saying that’s what will happen at all. I firmly believe JQ will be our #1 next year and I’m fully behind that decision. I just think in a couple years JB will more than likely surpass JQ
Paul G Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
@Cortex949, in 2 years when both Jonathans contracts come up, Quick and Johnson will be traded for that goal scoring LWer that we need…both of those guys r easily replacable
Paul G Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@kingsxstevenxkings, Yes it is….Bernier’s fundamentals r a lot better and skill set is off the charts…the only issue is that it’ll take time to get into his prime. Unlike Quick’s unorthodox style that may make him better earlier in his career but not at good as Bernier when both hit their primes
Think of Quick like a flat and wide mountain and Bernier as straight and pointy Everest on a chart
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
@Paul G,
This is the EXACT way I’ve been explaining it to my friends. Quick is crazy athletic while Bernier plays goalie like a veteran. I think JB will have a longer career with less fall off later while JQ might have some insane seasons over the next couple years but the potential for decline is much much higher.
RobSD Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
@Paul G,
Like Hasek’s unorthodox style??? Yeah, he didn’t play long at all. JQ went 10 and 0 in shootouts. Yeah, let’s trade him. Dump Johnson like a prom date who won’t put out and let’s get something good for him before the rest of the league get’s the memo that he isn’t really a defenseman.
Seattle757 Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
@Paul G, Tell that to Hasek. You guys just don’t see it. You guys have the fascination with Bernier and lose sight of what you got in front of you.
It doesn’t matter what Quick does and it’s impossible to get common sense through the head of some of you guys.
The fact is Quick is #1, he has proven it, has earned it. I for one am glad we are done with musical goalies and some of you don’t really know what Bernier has and are willing to go through the risk and lose Quick just to get your Bernier in there.
kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
@Paul G,
I’ve repeatedly been a JQ fan and still am..I just think JB has a better chance over the years..Hasek is a soon to be hall of famer for a reason..just because one guy survived that way doesn’t mean they all will.. Cloutier played the same style as Hasek…remember that guy???
Seattle757 Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
@Paul G,
No Cloutier played the “I give up style”
mcsorleyfan Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:58 am
@Paul G, I don’t get how some folks see Bernier passing Quick. Murray says the job is Quicker’s to lose. Until Q chokes, and he’s shown no signs of it, he gets regular game experience at a rate of 2.44/1. As long as Quickie’s getting games worth of EXPERIENCE that much faster JB is treading water. And from the sound of it, TM’s going with the guy with the playoff experience, which this will be Quick’s 2nd year of it, while JB aquires… None. At what point does TM say “Oh yeah, JB’s passed him; they’re swapping roles.” It won’t happen unless Quick like develops a crack habit.
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Bernier wasn’t scheduled to play last Monday in San Jose either, but we all know how that went…
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As it should be!
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the_guv Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
@Before99, No question.
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All 5 on the ice must be defensively responsible. If we do that then Quick could make a big name for himself as one of the premier netminders in the league and we can get some playoff wins. It’s going to be hard to score goals for us but if we abandon our d-first system we’ll get blown out and then we have no chance.
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RobSD Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
@LA_1968,
So… how many wins did JQ have last year? How many this year? GAA? SV%? Olympic team? He is already an elite goalie in this league. The rest of the team needs to catch up.
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LA_1968 Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
@RobSD, I think you misunderstood. Quick was probably a very close runner-up for King’s MVP. Quick deserves more respect around the league. You don’t hear comments like with Luongo, Thomas or Miller or Broduer that Quick can carry the team. Well if anyone can carry the Kings it’s him. The Kings need to play to their strength which is Quick if they are going to win some games. They can’t be willie nillie like the last game versus the Sharks. They’ve got to stick with D and hold teams to 2 or less. If they can average more than 2 goals for per game then they have a chance as long as they protect their own goal.
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Are we all in agreement that Quick has to be stellar this series? He needs to channel his inner Cam Ward.
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the_guv Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
@Bonvivant1, Quicker can’t win this alone, even at his best. EVERYONE is expected to step up and be stellar, or we’re gone.
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My God, the guy had the 4th best GAA in the league, yet we treat him worse than Jamie Storr. He’s our number 1 deal with it. Imagine if we had scored more than 1 goal a game how much better we would’ve been.
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KingMe20 Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
@HESPERIA STH,
Amen. It’s tough for a goalie to win every game 2-1 or 1-0. Quick and Bernier have had to walk a tightrope all season because the offense simply hasn’t been there. Sure, Quick has let in some bad ones, but he’s generally given them a chance to win nearly every night. He’s had a handful of bad games (the last St. Louis and San Jose games were the most recent ones), but I would still take Quick over many of the goalies other teams are going into this year’s playoff.
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@KingMe20,
Every goalie lays some eggs during the year..it’s just gonna happen, but both of our goalies stats prove how good they really are.
Tim Thomas got lit up for 6 goals against Montreal this year, BUT his team scored 8 goals and he got the win still..we give up 6 goals and score 1..big difference there
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Paul G Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
@HESPERIA STH, lol Jamie Storr…
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
@Paul G,
I’m still laughing at that Storr comment haha. It’s funny because it’s true..we treat the guy like Storr when he’s quite the opposite haha
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HESPERIA STH Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
@kingsxstevenxkings, I’ve been a fan for 25 years (since I was 10), I would’ve killed to have a goaltender like Quick in 90% of those years. Plus to have Bernier (very comforting) is gravy.
kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
@kingsxstevenxkings,
Yeah our prayers have finally been answered and people are still complaining! Pray for some offense now, we’ve got the goalies and defense taken care of!
Laura Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:50 pm
@HESPERIA STH, AMEN! Why is everyone so critical ALL the time!?
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Capt Jam Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
@Laura,
As good as Quick is and has been, he still needs to be better. Especially now when the team is not scoring, his margin for error and goals against is even smaller, and the soft goals that keep creeping up at the most inopportune of times aren’t helping to quell the cynics any. The 4th best GAA isn’t worth squat if the one(s) that beat you are the ones he should’ve had.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
@HESPERIA STH, This board is so funny. Quick is the best goalie we’ve had since Felix Potvin, and he gets grief when he loses a game in which his team scores 1 or no goals. The problem is OFFENSE. Has been all year. Bernier would fair no better than Quick with no goal support. Either would Luongo, Thomas or Miller. Honestly, I would rather have Quick play for us than any of those names. His game is better than theirs, quite frankly, and those are some of the most highly regarded names in the league. He’s the first goalie we’ve had, that you could actually trust to honestly keep us in any given game and give us a chance to win in a looooong time. As for Bernier, how does his 6-3 loss to SJ not factor into some of your rosy eyed views? IF Quick loses, it’s “he let in a softie”. If Bernier loses, it’s “oh the team just didn’t play well in front of him that night”. Umm, well any loss is because the team didn’t play well, I hate to tell you.
Point being, this series will be decided by our ability as a team to score more goals than our opposition, not whether either goalie shuts out the other team four straight games. It’s a team game, and our team defense has to be strong, and our team has to score. Period.
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So if, in his 5 starts, Quick gave up 0, 1, 2, 3, then 4 goals, I certainly do not hope that is a trend that is developing…
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I miss the nhl network breakdown does anyone could tell me what are the predictions of kings vs sharks series?
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HESPERIA STH Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
@MOSH, That the Kings have no chance.IMO this is very good news for use, no one is giving us a chance, It’s setting up for another Sharks choke job…hopefully.
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HESPERIA STH Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
@HESPERIA STH, That was “us” not use. Mike Johnson had us losing in 5, the other guy had us losing in 6, Darren Dregger say’s the Sharks should win handily.
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MOSH Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
@HESPERIA STH, We´ll see they really think the kings are easy to beat,it will show great team character if we eliminate the sharks
FKA PakiFro Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
@MOSH,
Quite literally every pundit has picked the sharks.
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:46 pm
@FKA PakiFro,
Does this surprise anyone?
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Laura Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
@MOSH, it’s on today..they’ll replay it over, and over and over again tonight if you missed it
But so far everything I’ve heard, they expect Sharks in 5! UGH! Let’s prove them wrong! Let’s dig in boys! GO KINGS GO!
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MOSH Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
@Laura, Thanks i just watch it and yes it is sharks in 5 and i have faith that the kings can prove them wrong! GKG
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I believe Quick will have an amazing series. But the thing is he can’t win games from the net. Like others have been saying we need offense. But if we have a good enough lead I believe Quick will do the rest!
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Capt Jam Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
@Bob_626,
He will have to and I hope you are right.
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Put Williams on a line with Westy to start the game and send a message….Hit Williams…we will kick your …… Of course the Coach would say that about Quik…but remember nothing is written in stone…
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HESPERIA STH Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
@neil, I kind of thought that, but in all honesty Clifford has been ore of a enforcer than Westgarth, but it’s not a bad idea. I also agree, see what TM does if we’re down 3-0 after 1. Remember the key word is start, but I’m expecting Quick to have a good series as long as our D doesn’t allow the Sharks to skate at will like they did last game.
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brian spain Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
@neil, Westy is a terrible fighter and worse hockey player, at least he has stopped taking dumb penalties, he doesn’t win any fight, Still can’t believe he lived through that hammer from Scott vs. Chicago
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Quick only plays as good as the team infront of him. If they play bad he plays bad. He can’t steal games that is why he is good but will never be “Great”. He’s hit his peak, there’s nothing bad with that, but he is not a top 5 goaltender, only the best the Kings have had in long while.
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before99 Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
@K9, you just lost all credibility in my eyes…. go kings!
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the_guv Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
@K9, Could not disagree more.
P.S. Sorry rich
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Capt Jam Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@K9,
Even I have to disagree with you there. Quick has shown that he is more than capable of being the principal factor in a Kings win. Many times.
Even still, with the Kings’ offense in low gear, he needs to be even better than he already is. He needs to be our Hasek.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
@Capt Jam, This is the point where it isn’t fair to put on a goalie. The fact is, we all know our TEAM as a whole, doesn’t really stand much of a chance, so we put everything on the goalie to win it all. You can point to a player like Hasek, but he was on the freakin’ Red wings for cryin out loud! I think he had a little help. If Quick winds up losing this series, which he most likely will, it won’t be because he “just doesn’t have what it takes” or “can’t win the big game”. It’ll be because we lost our leading scorer, we lack team speed, we don’t have enough skill up front, we play a system that promotes zero offense, and our TEAM just wasn’t good enough as a whole. That being said, I’m all for miracles and Quick standing on his head and growing four more arms.
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Bingram Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 5:35 pm
@K9,
Nonsense. Quick is number four in all of the NHL. Get use to it, our chances will be riding on Quick in goal and every one else elevating their game.
Go Kings go!
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K9 Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
@Bingram, Pedestrian save % last year and middle of the pack this year. Good, not close to Elite. No excuses for him this year.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 11:39 pm
@K9, Actually, he is quite literally Top 5. Has been in the Top 5 of all goaltending categories at one point or another all season. So yeah, the definition of Top 5 is Top 5.
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mcsorleyfan Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 1:09 am
@K9, Are you a troll? Just asking; I mean I’m not trying to be insulting or anything, but really, are you like a young quackfan trying to get a rise out of us?
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K9 Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 7:41 am
@mcsorleyfan, actually 14th in save% is not top five. I’m a long time Kings fan since the 80′s but when I see people so Quick to throw around “great” “elite” let’s be realistic, not insanely biased. Quick is borderline top 3 in his division, with easily the best defense. I guess I just don’t. Ambling people as easily as most of you. Scott Parse is great too huh?
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Same plan as last year.
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NO question Quicker’s our #1 and a top 5 NHL goalie. This is a no brainer people.
!!!GO KINGS GO!!!
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Even if we had Ryan Miller or Tim Thomas, I can see some of you experts wanting Bernier to start because he is so “poised”
Give it up people, Quick is the NUMBER 1.
He is an elite goalie. You don’t repeat stellar numbers being average.
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Rainman Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 5:20 pm
@Seattle757, Let’s hope Quick’s 2010 non-stellar Playoff numbers aren’t repeated this year. An .884 SV% and 3.50 GAA won’t cut it this year.
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Seattle757 Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@Rainman,
What about. let’s hope the team shows up and finishes scoring chances and scores on the PP/5-5.
If you are going to blame Quick for the series lost then you are, well… lost
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brian spain Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
@Rainman, Sean O’donnel, gave the puck away so many times in the d-zone vs Vancouver, I lost my voice screaming at him, he is the main reason the Kings lost last year. Anybody agree with that?
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PP Anybody? Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 11:54 pm
@brian spain, Yes. He was paired with Matt Greene, and they were slow as molasses out there. Worst call by TM of the whole playoffs. By game 4, Vancouver was matching up the Gingers against them every time they could to exploit that. O’Donnell and Greener just couldn’t keep up. They coughed up the puck several times, and were left trying to catch up in the D zone and left Quick out to dry. So yeah, no one could’ve helped in goal with that.
DLB Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
@Seattle757, stellar numbers lie in SV%, not necessarily GAA or wins (which are more reflective of the defense played by the entire team). Quick is undoubtedly our number one and should get the start, but he hasn’t put up stellar numbers in the playoffs…yet, or stellar regular season SV% repeatedly…yet!
But he could get there. And I hope he does.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:01 am
@DLB, Speaking of Save %, Quick’s save % is as good this year as Tuukka Rask, and Fleury’s, who won a Cup, and is better than Ryan Miller’s, Niklas Backstrom, Jaroslav Halak, Mikka Kiprusoff, and Martin Brodeur’s. I’d say that’s just fine if not close to stellar..
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Dude Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 7:11 pm
@Seattle757, Elite? not really,not yet
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History will be made.
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As both a king and shark fan…
It hurts for me to say that Terry Murray is not smart at ALL.
he didnt sit Quick like SJ did.
Niemi got a break on a “Big” game. Losing to Anaheim is no big deal to SJ.
The kings need to realise that Quick is so young and tired.
My sharks side said “No big deal”
My kings side is saying “This is gonna be tougher than it should be”
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Helvetica Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
@CrownedShark, “Not smart at ALL”? Come on dude…
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Dominick Reply:
April 12th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
@CrownedShark, Sit for what? Because 5 strait starts is going to ruin Quick, and now he won’t be able to be sharp. The only reason he lost to Anahiem is because the Kings didn’t score at criticle times in the game. The only reason he lost to San Jose is because the team played like crap. Actually 9 out of his last 10 losses the Kings either scored just 1 goal or were shut out.
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So he’s saying, even if aliens came down from the sky and abducted Quick, he’d STILL pencil him in as the starter?
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Well I think the smart thing to do would have been to continue the goaltender rotation strategy all the way leading up to the playoffs (which TM did not even though it produced favorable results) and if need be, continue the policy through the playoffs unless one of the two prevailed significantly with the hotter hand in which case we obviously ride the hot hand.
IMHO I think JQ appreciates the load off his shoulders..
See how this works out.
–GKG–
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No…………Uhhhhh………..No!
Sounds like a no to me.
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@HESPERIA STH,
What’s wrong with Jamie Storr? Still has better numbers than most Kings goalies, including Quick.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
April 13th, 2011 at 12:23 am
@quisp, Jamie Storr’s numbers were only good as a back up. The only year he had a more than 40 starts, he was 18-15, with a 2.53 gaa and a .908 save %. Hardly as good as Quick.
P.S.- Quick, after just 2 and a half seasons, is already 3rd all time in Kings wins, just behind Vachon and Hrudey.
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if you think that quick and bernier have the ability to lead us to a cup give me a hell yea! now the hard part…..actually having it happen! lol
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as long as quick plays better than last playoffs
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