Jonathan Quick hasn’t allowed a goal since Philadelphia’s Matt Carle scored with 6:31 remaining in regulation last Saturday. Quick made one more save in that game, followed by 27 against St. Louis, 28 against Phoenix and 28 against Dallas last night. What does that mean?
Quick, an American playing a predominantly Canadian sport in Los Angeles, has recorded 84 consecutive saves. Eric Gagne, a Canadian playing a predominantly American sport in Los Angeles, once recorded 84 consecutive saves (albeit a much different type).
The Kings also have a player named Gagne. And Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln, etc.
Here’s a more relevant stat. The Kings have allowed only nine regulation goals in their first seven games. That’s the lowest seven-game total in franchise history. The 1974-75 team held the previous mark, with 14 goals allowed. That team went on to a 105-point season, still the best in franchise history.
Great game, Tuesday can’t get here soon enough!
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another record….best start for a defensmen’s career…..O goals first 3 games….I bet that has never happened before!!!!
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demob Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:30 pm
@neil,
Voynov…I like that stat.
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The season is young…and I sure am enjoying it.
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Defense wins championships in every sport. This will propel the kings to new heights .
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neil Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:29 am
@frazier king, except for St. Louis this year in baseball!!!
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frazier king Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:38 am
@neil, Good point,did st.Louis really score 16 runs last night?
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MindGeyser Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:26 am
@frazier king, One of Pujols’s home runs just landed 20 minutes ago.
jet Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:55 am
@mindgeyser, and they’re looking to tax ol Al for interstate transport
jet Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:56 am
@mind, the tax man is looking for ol Al now for interstate commerce without a permit.
Pili Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:45 am
@frazier king, The St Louis Cardinals are easily my 2nd favorite team behind our beloved Kings. A fine night for Prince Albert, aka Mr Octobert, indeed.
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Starlight Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 2:13 pm
@Pili, A man of exquisite taste, I see! (same here)
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I think more than our good start (which is starting to be a…dare I say it… tradition around here the last few years) I think the combination of a strong defense and the ability to win games when our first line doesn’t have to/isn’t able to dictate play for large periods of time (like the last two games) will be the key for preventing prolonged mid-season slumps like we had last season. 2-3 game losing streams happen to everyone, but stopping the 7 game skids I think is key.
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The Kings are led in hits by a guy named Moreau, with six letters in his name. The 2004 Dodgers (when Gagne got the 84th consecutive save) were led in his by a guy named Beltre…six letters in his name. The 2004 Dodgers were led in assists by a guy named Izturis, the Kings are led in assists by a guy named Kopitar…each name took weeks to learn how to pronounce, and both age 24 at the time. It gets pretty scary if you dig deep.
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BringBackMarcel Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:07 am
@Mel Powell, The parallels are undeniable!
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jet Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:00 am
@BringBackMarcel, man, if i could stretch like you guys Id be 6 10.
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Mel Powell Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:24 pm
@jet, Hey, I used to be 6-10, 250 but the stress of being a Kings fan all these years took its toll…
Paul Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 6:11 pm
@Mel Powell, haha pretty cool observations
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Hopefully Quick , like Gagne, is not on steroids.
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I thought this was one sloppy game and effort. I’m thrilled the Kings found a way to take both points, but it wasn’t because anyone other than Quick. He got these points for us again.
Short passes were were off all night. Lots of sloppy plays and a lot of north-south passes into traffic even when there were open players cross ice.
We managed to play down to the Stars style and tempo.
It seemed like every line had one guy that was a step behind on the plays.
Cliffy, Stoll, Penner & Williams all seemed a bit off, out o sync with their linemates.
D was really solid and we made few mistakes which went a long way to getting the points.
Other than Quick’s lights-out performance, B on defense, C on offense, C+ overall.
Get your rest boys, you worked these points with effort and ground out the win. Kudos for that!
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KC23 Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:13 am
@Token, sometimes you got to give the other team some credit. I didn’t think we were as bad as you said as much as Dallas was good. Their coach said it was their best game of the year. The Penner MR Brown line is out of sync. They are not playing well off each other, but individually they’re playing pretty good. Penner and Brown on the same line probably is a bad match.
I’m tempted to see Brown up with Kopitar and Gagne and JW with MR and Penner. Not saying I would switch now, but perhaps at some point.
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Token Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:25 am
@KC23, You make a good point.
I just re-read my post and realized I sound like a whiny little …
So to balance out the universe:
JMFJ was a STUD on his off-hand side. TM switched Scuds and JMFJ the whole game.
Jack pretty much shut down J Benn all night long and made him a non-factor.
Way to go Jack!
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KFII Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:35 am
@Token, I’ve got to agree with your point about the short passes being off last night. It was the biggest difference between last nights game and the game against Phoenix. All those short passes with no sense of panic to get the puck out of the zone and up the ice the other night just made the game click. But all around great effort last night and lights out goal tending by Quick. GKG!
KC23 Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:33 am
@Token, JJ is my pick for most improved. Scudes best year to date as well, but that is probably the end product of JJ’s improved play.
FdoFmFull Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:46 pm
@KC23, Agree that the second line is still not in sync. However I would not “fix” things by “breaking” what doesn’t need fixing. IOW, leave Line 1 alone, they’re just now learning each other’s tendencies and will be solid. Instead, let Line’s 2 chemistry develop in the next few games. After all, Penner just got back a couple of games back. You’re right that the combination that needs the most work on that line is the Penner-Brown link. There’s no better enabler for those two forwards than Mike Richards. Just give them some time they’ll be fine!
gKg!!!
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Last night was our first trip to a game at Staples this season. It was just incredible to be present when JQ broke the consecutive shut-out record for a Kings goalie. Here is how I rated everything else:
Team Play: Excellent with great passing, lots of hustle, forcing Dallas to take bad shots and a minimal number of penalties.
Players – JQ – not much to say, just that he is the best. I loved watching Richards as he is complete ball of energy and he is s smart on the ice.Disappointed that Westgarth’s scoring streak was broken but did learn the secret of his new passing skills – he is JJ’s new pre-game passing partner replacing Simmonds.
The Castle – it is still there.
Cartman – best cheerleader of the night and lots of him. The crowd actually pays attention to him (even if Kenny, Stan and Kyle don’t).
The Organist – outstanding – at least 3 “Dallas Sucks” sets with one converted to the “Referees Suck” chant following the bad call on Gagne. We also got the “RayyyCroooffffttt” set aft JJ’s game winner. I was disappointed that we didn’t get to hear “Lady of Spain.” Oh well, you can’t have it all.
Team Lokomotive bracelets – picked up 2 of them from 2 very nice children and some great moms who were only too happy to take our money for this good cause.
Obviously the entertainment staff at Staples read this blog because everything the Insiders recommended in the earlier threads came true – so Thank You Rich and the LA Kings. Can’t wait to go back and GKG!!!
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puck73 Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:04 am
@DesertKing, Very good points about the Kings defense forcing Dallas to take alot of harmless shots, and in alot of caess they only got 1 shot and the rebound was cleared away.
It’s no wonder Jon Quick quite often refers to “the team” in interviews.
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Quick seems determined, to keep Bernier on the bench, maybe more this season, than last! Congrats to him, and all the Kings. Shutouts are an individual stat, but a team effort!
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Quisk, is 2nd MVP on kings as of today! Kopi is#1. Q needs to ask for a raise from DD since Q is earning his cash a franchise goalie NHL!
So let’s Kings are able to win without DD, in three games a row.
Without Kopi we could not even play 500 without Kopi last year!
Look at JJ HOW he took charge this year…
If you are getting 7 mil cap on maybe becoming a super star money, then DD you should at least play close to star potential when you come back. Oh, That’s right you will need another dozens games to get in shape for being potential star…
I still like DD, BUT if he is the highest paid player on the Kings, he should play as he is one of the top three, let’s not hope it will take him until his 50th game to wake up, like he did last year.
Good luck DD we kings fans love to see the old DD OF 1 & half season ago! Then we would be the scariest team in the NHL,!
Three superstars: Kopi, DD & Qiuck!
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Deaderhead28 Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:55 am
@Sammuch, What?
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fsd1 Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:58 am
@Deaderhead28, to much alcohol…..as usual
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Sammuch Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:59 am
@Deaderhead28, That’s what!
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DLB Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:26 am
@Sammuch, Trade Doughty now…amirite?
A handful of games seems like solid proof that a player is not valuable. Also, all these trends will last forever. The Kings will get a shut out every game from now until the end of the season. As long as Quick gets 80 starts, the world is ours.
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I wonder what is the most shout-out in a row? Did it ever reach more then 5 games?
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loskingpride Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:06 am
@Sammuch, I think it got to 5 or 6.. a very.. very.. long time ago.
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DFW King Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:18 am
@loskingpride, well, I remember Boucher had 5 awhile ago as a coyote.
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slovenian fan Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:11 am
@Sammuch,
Bryan Bouncher – 5 in the row, 332 minutes
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Was at the game last night, and I got to make some points again about Voynov again.
When he was recalled 3 games ago, for some reason I thought we might see this free wheeling, fast defensemen who might be still too young, and not pay attention to detail in his own zone and get schooled by grown men.
Instead, I have been shocked that this 21 year old is the exact opposite. This guy cares more about taking care of his own end, and paying attention to what Mitchell and Scuderi have to teach him. WHAT A PLEASANT SURPISE. AND NO! I am not suggesting this guy is ready to toss Doughty or JJ on rear, absoulutely not! All I am saying is, is that if any of our puck moving defensemen gets dinged, I now know that this guy can be recalled, use his speed very effectively in his own zone WHERE IT REALLY MATTERS, and not embarrass himself or his team.
And maybe most importantly in my observations, now I understand why this guy was a plus 21 and an all-star last season in Manchester.
Anyway, whether he plays or not on Tuesday, I just wanted to say…Voynov, it has been a big surprise to me, and a pleasure.
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Sammuch Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:20 am
@puck73, Here here on that!!! Way to go SV
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KC23 Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:28 am
@puck73, Actually, I think he could fill in for anyone, not just the puck movers. He is that good. Very impressed, but there is no question he has to go back down once DD is back.
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tornado12 Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 10:49 am
@puck73, very smart to show TM that he can be reliable in his own zone first and foremost. I think that shows his level of maturity. VERY impressed thus far!
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KC23 Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:39 am
@tornado12, outstanding point … you can tell VV is concentrating on his “away from the puck” reads. It isn’t 2nd nature yet and when it becomes 2nd nature and the vets around him start trusting him VV will improve quickly.
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DesertKing Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:29 am
@puck73,
Yes, very impressive with lots of speed. I only saw him look out of place once and that was when he couldn’t get clear of Kopi when trying to clear the zone.
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Just think how much better the team will be when DD comes back. I can’t wait to see him out there again.
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KC23 Reply:
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:36 am
@Tyler, dunno, VV looks awefully good. DD will be an upgrade, but not as much as one would imagine given he was replaced by a rookie with zero NHL experience.
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TYLER Reply:
October 24th, 2011 at 9:43 am
@Tyler, thats exactly what i was thinking…hopefully its tuesday
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I’ve been a big critic of nhl.com King coverage at times, but this game article is one of their better efforts … I especially like the opening remark http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2011020108&navid=DL|NHL|home
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The Time is Now: The Future is Here.
Quick is our savior.
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Many, many times as I would arrive to my seats in Staples, I would see what goalie the other team was starting and I would sigh and think, “Oh great it’s so-and-so (insert name of elite goalie here).” And I would just know it would be incredibly tough to get pucks in the net that night.
How great is it now that we can breathe a little easier knowing that fans in other buildings are saying with great trepidation, “Oh great – they’re starting Quick!”
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When is Quick a free agent because he is in for quite the raise in pay!
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Haha, interesting comparison with Eric Gagne. Great observation Rich!
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I really enjoyed this read, Rich. Fun topic.
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Technically, Gagne did not have 84 saves in a row. Eric Gagne blew a save that year when he gave up the lead in the All-Star Game, and the American League eventually won. That resulted in the AL receiving home-field advantage in the Angels-Giants World Series later that year (and may have been a minor contributing factor in the Giants loss, which might actually have made Gagme happy). Of course, that All-Star Game is not entered into the official stats.
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