Some notes from last night’s game…
– The Kings’ offensive struggles continued, but they earned one point with a 2-1 shootout loss to the San Jose Sharks on Friday night at HP Pavilion.
– The Kings fell to 1-0-1 under new coach Darryl Sutter.
– The Kings have now scored two or fewer regulation goals in 14 consecutive games, a franchise record.
– San Jose’s Ryane Clowe scored in the fourth round of the shootout. The Kings’ shooters went 0-for-4 against San Jose goalie Antti Niemi. The Kings are now 3-3 in shootouts this season.
– The Sharks outshot the Kings 35-29, including 15-10 in the second period.
– The Kings went 1-for-3 on the power play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. The Kings had been 1-for-26 on the power play in their previous eight games. The Kings are now 34-for-36 on the penalty kill in their last nine games.
– The Kings fell to 7-5-4 on the road, 10-6-5 in one-goal games and 5-12-2 when allowing the first goal.
– Jonathan Quick stopped 34 of 35 shots in regulation and overtime.
– Mike Richards scored a second-period power-play goal, his team-high 13th goal of the season. Richards has recorded at least one goal in 10 of his last 13 games.
– Anze Kopitar had one assist, to push his team-high totals to 22 assists and 32 points. Kopitar has recorded an assist in seven of his last nine games,
– Drew Doughty had one assist, for his 11th assist and 13th point of the season. Doughty has five assists in his last five games.
– Willie Mitchell recorded a team-high five shots on goal. Dustin Brown, Colin Fraser and Mike Richards each were credited with a team-high four hits. Trevor Lewis was credited with a team-high four blocked shots.
– The Kings won 27 of 52 faceoffs (52 percent). Anze Kopitar won 13 of 19 draws (68 percent). Jarret Stoll and Mike Richads each won 5 of 12 draws (42 percent).
Merry Christmas, Rich and everybody! I hope it’s wonderful for all of you.
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Our shootout sucks this year!!
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Pesus Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 11:00 am
@Trip,
Good, I mean, we need to learn how to win games in regulation and overtime. Relying on your goalie to bail you out in the shootout does nothing for you come playoff time.
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jason Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 11:15 am
@Trip, everything that involves putting pucks into the nut stinks this year! haha
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not bad for back to back, i’ll take it!
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letswinthecup2012 Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
@sloppy joe,
agreed. i was happy with the point. thought we were gonna steal another in the shootout though..
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The cycle has been much improved, we are holding on to the puck a lot better but still the cycle results in a point shot. Give it some time guys, Sutter has only had a couple of practices.
Merry Christmas to everybody!
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sloppy joe Reply:
December 25th, 2011 at 11:02 am
@Pesus, this is key, and this is what is going to get the better results. WE BREAK THE 3 GOAL MARK ON MONDAY, TAKE IT TO THE BANK!
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If we win the next one, that’s 7 out of a possible 8 points, monday through monday. I’ll take it. Lets speed up the transition game against Phoenix, and attack, attack, attack.
Quick is getting hot (not that he hasn’t been already).
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puck73 Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 11:24 am
@Dominick, That’s true, but whats’s changed? Still the same formula. Richards scores a goal, Kings play solid defense, Quick steals a point or 2. That’s good enough to get to the playoffs, seen that movie. But if Dean has aspirations of getting to the 2nd round or beyond….sorry, aint happening without a finisher or 2.
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Stuart Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 11:28 am
@puck73, I can see a playoff round, or 4, being won by 4, 2-1 games in the kings favor!
Who would you like to see in Dean’s stead?
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puck73 Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 11:47 am
@Stuart, Would be nice to have a Selanne, Iginla type of player on this roster. Someone who has experience, and the ability to make you pay when you make a mistake.
Stuart Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 11:57 am
@Puck73, agree on that point. A sniper who’s as good as gold in Ritchie’s spot last night (although it did get tipped by the Dman) would be key.
I’d sell the kids, the car, the house to get RNash. JB and JJ + someone with a contract we can through in should do it.
Ashykon Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
@puck73, Fortunately in the playoffs Richards and gagne both become monsters
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MmmmYummy Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 11:26 am
@Dominick, If he were a woman he might be hot – but I’ll leave that up to you.
(just a joke sir)
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
@Dominick, Hey Dom, are you seeing the improvement in the neutral zone you were hoping for?
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Dominick Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
@40YearKingsFan,
Not completely. It’s only been 2 games, and so nothing much in the way of system. A few changes against Anahiem, but their a terrible team at defending the neutral zone anyways. The main thing I am looking at is adjustments. If we’re being slowed down in the first, the second should yield better results, and it should be solved by the third. That’s the biggest issue with me. The third shouldn’t look like a carbine copy of the first, or worse.
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 25th, 2011 at 9:14 am
@Dominick, I’m ecouraged by what looks like more jump through the NZ, but the inability to make or receive a tape to tape pass is really glaring. One mishandled pass seems to always result in dumping the puck if not a turnover. I’m not that knowledgeable on positioning but there seems to be more open guys and more speed, but our pee wee quality passing is killing us.
Merry Christmas All.
Dominick Reply:
December 25th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
@40YearKingsFan,
Your absolutely right on the passing. I made a comment on a previous post that the Kings have a better flow when they have a puck carrier carry the puck, and weave his way through that space, but run into problems when they start passing through it. If the passes don’t connect, their being tipped deep. If their not being tipped, their being picked off. If their not being picked off, their being deflected. main problem is their not connecting. Rinse, and repeat.
The passes do connect, and work at times, and the Kings can’t carry it all the time, but at least connect better when you do make a pass. Their are 29 other teams in the league running into the same problem, but the Kings are still one of the worst neutral zone teams out there.
Sometimes it’s like watching fish caught in a net.
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lets trade for moulson who has 16 goals this season and rick nash… i’d be happy then…
For moulson – Bernier and martinez
for nash- stoll and penner
gg
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You know the saying…If a goalie gets hot during the playoffs…… We dont need lots of scoring….just one more goal a game….C’om on Santa !!!! Happy Holidays to everyone!!!!
Artest Out!!!!!
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You want scoring? This is not baseball!
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The Kings have proven, so far at least, during the two game reign of Daryl Sutter that they are not going do undo Terry Murray’s legacy of sound defensive play. And Quick continues as one of the premier goalies in the NHL. But unless or until the Kings can crumble the wall that has been erected that doesn’t allow them to score more than two goals in regulation time, the playoffs will not be happening this season.
To me it is a mystery wrapped in an enigma about their scoring problems. They are working hard. They are getting opportunities. But they just can’t execute. Good luck to DS in trying to help the players overcome this obstacle.
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DEH Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 11:30 am
@Forum67, with the exception of Kopitar and Richards, everyone is trying to get the goals by themselves. See Doughty trying to be like Ovechkin with the rushing into the O zone against the entire opposing team, instead of passing to one of the wingers who are skating on his sides. Or Stoll shooting into the defenseman’s stick instead of setting up a goal with a drop pass to Penner. Until we relax and work with opportunities given to us instead of trying to force what’s not there, the goals are not going to come. Until we learn how to pass, how to get net presence, how to not miss the pucks on shots, goals will not come. Sutter needs and will simplify the game to regain confidence then after a 5+ goal game things will be better. Those kind of games usually come against good teams in which we are huge underdogs, e.g. Red Wings or Vancouver.
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PrairieKing Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 11:38 am
@DEH, Amen sir, you hit the nail right on the head.
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MmmmYummy Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
@DEH, Most of what you describe are the corrosive reverberations of “shot mentality.” It’s going to take a while for the players to shake that and *hopefully* Sutter will be able to imbue them with the confidence needed to “relax” as you said.
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SDGolfer Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
@DEH, How many goals has Kopi scored in the last 14 games?
He needs to be called out.
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DEH Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
@SDGolfer, he makes up for it with his assists on about 75% of our goals in the same time span
Kings4Life Reply:
December 25th, 2011 at 10:15 am
@DEH, One thing I’ve noticed on a regular basis, is the fact that no one is supporting the man entering the O zone. It’s too often that I see people entering the zone, dropping the puck off to what should be a trailer, only to find no one is there. Maybe we’re just entering the zone too soon and not waiting for a complete change or maybe, players like Doughty are trying too hard to score… I recon this may also have a lot to do with the fact that we have limited presence/control in and of the Neutral Zone as well.
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 26th, 2011 at 8:55 am
@Kings4Life, Our entry into the O zone, and our overall management of the N zone leave much to be desired and I wonder if that leads to our inability to score? Or does our inability to finish allow other teams to play more aggressively in the N zone and out around our blue line? It’s a chicken or the egg type dilemma.
Also, like you said, there is a lack of support where the support should be to score goals. I have seen many centering passes, but no one there to cash in. I don’t understand what’s up with that either. Just timing issues?
40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 24th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
@Forum67, Just snake bit lately. If they keep playing this game the goals will come.
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2 games and 3i goals. Well, at least we werent zhut out. Thank God for JQ.
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http://www.nhl.com/ice/teamstats.htm?fetchKey=20122ALLSAAAll&sort=avgGoalsPerGame&viewName=summary
i really didnt know it was that bad… when compared to the worst team in the nhl (G/G) goals per game, we stand out drastically..
all the rest of the teams are close but kings are so far out its like they arent even part of the NHL
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 26th, 2011 at 9:14 am
@jason, Can that continue? Are we really that bad or is it a terrible slump we eventually break out of? I understand that with our defensive mindset we’re never going to be in the upper ranks of goal scoring teams, but somewhere in the middle is a realistic expectation, isn’t it? Even average NHL scoring along with our better than average defense would equate to a lot of wins one would think.
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I’m optomistic and looking forward to watching this team grow. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone at LA Kings Insider and a big “Thank You” to Rich for allowing this much fun on a computer. GO KINGS GO!!!
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I’m positive although we have much to say all season long on the blogs about many………we can all just enjoy the break.
MERRY CHIRSTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL, BE SAFE AND ENJOY YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS
Talk to you all Monday night during the Kings vs. Coyotes game…….have fun.
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Thanks again to Rich for being the best of the best. All you do is very much appreciated. I hope you enjoy your job as much as we enjoy you doing your job.
God bless you and yours.
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Have a great holiday Rich!
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Merry Christmas to everyone! Have fun and be safe. Thanks to everyone for making this a great place to discuss our beloved Kings. GKG!
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The best XMas gift for the Kings would be to get Penner and Gagne going. Among others…
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sloppy joe Reply:
December 25th, 2011 at 11:10 am
@bitterPenner has been looking way better the last few games, holding on to the puck, setting people up even chasing down loose pucks. The cycle fits his style way better than the shoot from anywhere and hope for the best.
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Its time for the NHL to open up the game. There is nothing more boring then watching hockey with todays teams. The scoring in the league is down due to defensive traps at the blue line. The rinks must be extended, more like the European rinks. This will give the speed skaters a chance to play in the NHL,which the Kings and many of the other teams have down in the AHL. Skilled players but have no chance in the NHL because of their height and weight. The game must be opened up or the attendance will fall.
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The boarding penalty Logan drew against Brownie in the 1st was a total dive! That cheap play warranted a fight (if only Brownie would oblige).
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Here’s to starting our playoff push. We need to win the games we’re supposed to win, like tonight at home against Phoenix. Then we need to get hot and steal some games on the road and at least grab a point when we come up short. Take care of business at home and surprise people on the road. Every point matters from here on out and I’ve not lost faith in this team yet by any stretch.
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