The Kings’ penalty kill, a clear strength of the team for the bulk of this season, has taken a bit of a dip of late. After an 11-game stretch, from Dec. 19 through Jan. 9, in which the Kings did not allow a power-play goal, they have now allowed six power-play goals in their last five games (13-for-19 on the penalty kill). Some of that might be attributed to personnel. In an attempt to reduce the ice time of some top players, the Kings have been involving more players on the penalty-kill side of things. Last night, Calgary had only 4 minutes, 46 seconds, of power-play time, but the Kings used 13 different skaters on the penalty kill. Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell continue to get major penalty-kill time, but the rest is very spread out. Asked about the penalty kill of late, Darryl Sutter pointed out a clear need for improvement: “Two-hundred-foot clears,” Sutter said, meaning that even when the Kings get the puck out of the offensive zone, they’re often not getting it to the far end of the ice and giving themselves a chance to regroup (and kill precious time).
SUTTER: “Let the goalie break the other team out, 200 feet from our goalie. … Prior to that (Iginla goal), we did have a chance to clear. If you look at it, a perfect (shift) is 20 to 30 seconds, and we’ve been getting caught a little longer, basically because we haven’t cleared pucks all the way down. A lot of times we clear, but not enough for a change.”
puck clearing has been brutal for a few games now… let’s get back on that horse and kill 93 of the next 100 again!
[Reply]
I’m guessing Bernier gets Monday’s game against Ottawa – non-conference opponent and gives Quick a break, since he won’t have the same break as the rest of the players due to the All-Star game.
[Reply]
pr0cess Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
@BluLiner, well i think it would be a good game for Bernie, Why are people still talking about Quick needing a break?? Its been talked about and how he feels good with the workload, and how sutter is going to play him for 95% of the games.. Thoughts on this one why is this still a topic people feel strongly about?
[Reply]
bbb7 Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
@pr0cess, To be fair, you rarely ever hear a player say they’ve been over-worked, and Quick didnt say anything two years ago when it seemed he was. He’s matured and is more focused, for sure, and maybe he can handle the load now, but asking him isn’t going to be they way to answer the question. Quick is on pace to start 68+ games and those are 68+ intense games since he rarely is treated to an easy win by his offense… I just think that’s too many.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
@bbb7, We posted at almost the same time, and said almost the same thing. On the workload at home, That is a lot of games. On the workload at the All-Star game, what’s so hard about walking the red carpet, and having the press drool over you?
Dominick Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 2:03 pm
@pr0cess,
Waiting for the bottom to drop.
The All-Star weekend isn’t like the olympics where it’s an actual competition. It’s a celebration, and a chance to rub elbows with the elite players in the league. Quick is not having a baby. He isn’t some 23 year old youngster who’s not used to the work load yet, but those who don’t see it that way think the All-Star weekend will be hard work, and they want to stop Quick from actually enjoying himself for once, and soaking up all the alcolades that come with such an honor.
Kopi did it last season, and it had no bearing on his playoff readiness. If he wasn’t injured, he would have killed San Joser, All-Star weekend and all..
[Reply]
pr0cess Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
@Dominick, i hope he has a great time and gets to join in at somepoint in the game. He is well deserving of all the honors.
I’m not worried about the PK. They were great for a long stretch of games and have cooled off a little bit, it happens. Plus, it’s not as if they’ve been complete breakdowns. The goal that broke the streak went off Willie Mitchell, and the goal last night was by a 500 goal scorer after a Kings player had broke his stick. They’ll be fine.
[Reply]
joan fondell Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
@CB14, I think he’s trying to use Kopi less. Also remember Gagne used to play on the PK and he’s not there. A few of the penalties were against Stoll (a PK player) and Fraser (a PK player), so he had to use other personnel. They need to use guys like Lewis and Richardson on the PK, in addition to Stoll and FRaser (when not in the box)…and use Richards and Kopi. Remember Richards can be a threat for Short-handed goals.
[Reply]
FiG17 Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
@CB14, My feelings exactly. Not worried.
[Reply]
Kingsfanone Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
@CB14,
Totally agree.
[Reply]
Rich,
I am still trying to figure out why the picture of you, link thru LAKings.com, has you behind the bench looking angry?
[Reply]
Sebastian Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
@Lake Forest, Rich had his game face on. If i remember correctly that was one of the rookie games against Phoenix this past training camp.
[Reply]
Kingsfanone Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
@Lake Forest,
That’s just Rich doing his Billy Mumy impression, just before he wishes a poster into the cornfield.
[Reply]
Its the personnel
[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
@neil, no, it isnt.
[Reply]
neil Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Y@fsd1, you take off your best players off the pk ocourse its going to be effected
[Reply]
neil Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
@neil, same as if you play your less takented players on the pp…..you would score even less(if thats possiable)
If you give up 10 or 11 per 100, that’s still tops in the league. Who says the 10 or 11 can’t come in small bundles? Shoot! let in 17 average it out of 200, and that’s even better.
[Reply]
i would give up powerplay goals for us scoring 3 goals a game.
[Reply]
Intereesting how the PK is slipping, but the PP is picking up?
[Reply]
Kingsfanone Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
@Steve W,
One not so related to the other.
PP getting input from Bernie Nicholls, PK using a lot of different players instead of the top guys all the time, to cut their ice time and keep them fresher.
I think the PK will come back around, but don’t expect those outstanding kind of numbers. Law of averages and as the other guys get more experience on the PK.
[Reply]