The Kings have already achieved Darryl Sutter’s first, short-term goal. When Sutter took charge of the Kings on Dec. 21, he told them he wanted them to be in a playoff position by the All-Star break. Well, they will be. When Sutter said that, the Kings were three points out of a playoff spot. Regardless of what happens around the league over the next couple days, the Kings will, at worst, be in eighth place in the Western Conference at the All-Star break. Right now, the Kings are in seventh place, three points clear of ninth-place Minnesota. If the Kings get two points tonight, they would have a chance to go into the break with as much as a five-point cushion over the ninth-place team. If the Kings get zero points tonight, their cushion over the ninth-place team might be as small as one point. Technically, the Kings have a chance to be leading the division. Right now, the Kings trail San Jose by one point, but the Sharks have four games in hand. San Jose plays at Edmonton tonight and at Calgary tomorrow.
SUTTER: “Our goal, like I told the guys when I came here around Christmas, our goal was to be in a playoff spot at the All-Star break. That was a tangible, realistic one that didn’t stretch it out. And if we could keep pressure on San Jose, good. So that’s what we’re doing. So we’ll try to do that again tonight, keep the pressure on them, then use tomorrow as a really good work day and get some couple days of down time for the guys and reload. We’ve got guys banged up, and the best thing about this break is, it’s going to give not just our team, but probably everybody, a chance to re-energize, so that everybody is playing their best hockey.’’
Unfortunately Quick won’t be “reloading.” Kinda wish they had overlooked him…
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bbb7 Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 2:58 pm
@kingfan78, JQ will have a couple of days before he has to fly to Ottawa, so he should be okay. The preparation for the All Star Game isnt too grueling
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Dominick Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:06 pm
@kingfan78, He’s gonna walk the red carpet, mingle with the NHL elite, and play 20 minutes in a game that is hardly an all out attack. It’s not really work, it’s play time, and Quick will be having the time of his life.
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:11 pm
@Dominick,
Its usually an assault on goalies actually. The D hardly play with “heavy sticks” in the ASG.
on a side note, the Kings have eight days off coming up yet will still have played THREE more games than SJ at the end of the break. Makes no sense.
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Dominick Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:18 pm
@FKA PakiFro, The rest of the time will be spent enjoying the festivities. There’s a slim chance that those 20 minutes will destroy him for the playoffs, but I’m not worried in the slightest if that’s the hardest he works during a whole 8 days.
Alexb20 Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:24 pm
@FKA PakiFro, I agree entirely with Dominick. Not to compare myself to the NHL elite, but I’ve participated in a few All-Star games myself when I was younger in several competitive leagues (not pro, no, but competitive) and it’s usually a great, fun, loose game for all. The points don’t really matter and it’s really just a recreational game where no one is looking to get hurt and everyone is just showing off their skills. Anyways, Quick won’t be starting, at least, not in the beginning of the game.
JWR Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:44 pm
@FKA PakiFro,
San Jose’s schedule is purposely “back loaded” due to a conflict with their arena. If I remember a while back Fox mentioned that the Sharks had 28 on the road and 20 at home in their last 48 games.
Sens are unknown team. I wonder what kind of intel our scouts provide. Because I have this impression lately that our opponents are well informed about specifics like where to shoot at against Quick or how they handle our key players.
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Munchrat Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:05 pm
@goldielocks, I don’r think it’s a big secret anymore. Rverione now knows where to go on Quickie. Over the right pad/under the blocker. The stick and atick side have always been his Achilles’s heel.
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I know what we need. If we lose this game fire DS and hire someone new. Then we can go on a little point streak for a few weeks. Then fire that coach and keep the cycle going. (joke in case u couldn’t tell)
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goldielocks Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:01 pm
@Cortex949,
How about the player has to work at the farm in Viking for a week if he takes stupid penalty?
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Duncanz Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:31 pm
@goldielocks, Then some of our guys would be doing more staking than skating!
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trytodethroneus Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@Duncanz,
stoll would have to order a cowboy hat, chaps and spurs along with a horse and saddle
Royal Throne Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:10 pm
@Cortex949, What do you mean, only a joke? It’s really the best strategy for the Kings because they don’t have the toughness, meanness and focus that consistent-winning teams need. They seem to get a spurt of those qualities when a new coach takes over, so I say go for it They’re already winding down under DS after what, 16 games? So replace him; plenty of coaches around…they’d need only five new coaches every season. Not so bad. OK, Kings, now forget what I just wrote, get on the ice and prove me wrong!
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We came out of the Calgary/Edmonton B2B series with 3 points. Let’s hope the Guppies get 2 or fewer in their foray into Alberta
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We need both Penner and Stoll not to just show up tonight, but to put up, as in put up some numbers. Stoll has always been one of my favorite Kings. I can’t figure it out. Dude plays hard and gets good opportunities at net. For whatever reason the goals are not going in for the guy. With Stoll he may take a few to many dumb pantiles, but he gives 100% for the club. I do not think that he is a lazy player and does a lot of the small things, that small ferret like players do. Therefore his “Slump” is excused. As long as he begins to show signs that he is coming out of it. We are going to need a guy like him during this part of our regular season. I have faith that he will be great and ready come playoff time.
As far as Penner goes… ??? !!! Trade him
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rob blake is god Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:18 pm
Are you giving richards a pass? The guy looks invisable. What happened to his early season game? He came out of the gates picking up assists like mad and then when kopi stoped producing he started scoring goals. Now it looks like he is kinda lost?@King Charles of Salt Lake,
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Dominick Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:27 pm
@rob blake is god, Richards line has been taking the harder defensive match ups for the Kings. Sutter himself has given his stamp of confidence judging by the quality of offensive competition they have to face. I agree with him that it’s enough that their holding the oppositions top scorers at bay, but I think he should transfer their coverage to Kopis’ line (like he did in Vancouver) and let them play offensively more.
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rob blake is god Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:14 pm
@Dominick, I don’t know if you can overlook subpar O solely based on him being on a shutdown line. Your selke winner from last year had 40 goals while shutting down the opposition. Kopi was a beast at times last year on O and D while at times being matched up with the number 1 line. Why bring in a playmaking center who can produce if your going to use him like a 3rd line c?
Dominick Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:36 pm
@rob blake is god, But that is what your using Richards for. Kopi’s line has proved that even with the better offensive match ups, he can score, unlike Richards line who can only shut them down. Look at the H2H match ups for Game ID #20712, and match them up to Game ID #20679 on timeonice.com .
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bbb7 Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 5:10 pm
@rob blake is god, I agree Richards has been off his game since he returned, but remember, with regard to points, he was playing the #1 PP with Kopi at the beginning of the season and getting points that way. The #2 PP talent is sorely lacking; he has no one to work with.
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My goal, as a season seat holder, is to see a 60 minute game….with no dump and chase, with screening of the goalie and with crashing the net..and of course a WIN!!!
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Kevco Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 6:57 pm
@poe, So, you are not seeing goal met. I got rid of my season tix a couple years ago because I wasn’t getting what you are asking, this season I think I’ve only been to 5 games and two of those were legends nights and I went out of respect to the players being honored. About once every two weeks I want to go in hopes they will play well. I almost went last Saturday to the colo game, boy was I glad I saved that money.
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With the long break ahead for the Kings…any news or updates on Gagne, Rich?
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Who would take 4.25 mil for Penner? He will be UFA at the end of the season. Anyone who thinks he’s still good enough would wait and take him with half a price or less. So he has no trade value at this point.
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goldielocks Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:24 pm
@goldielocks,
Sorry this was intended @King Charles of Salt Lake
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The Kings might be 23-16 at the moment, but boy, do they bore me to tears still, even without TM ! I was at the insider suite on Saturday, and you should of heard all the different people yelling at Stoll and Penner and being disapointed yet again at a live Kings game.
Tell ya what, this team doesnt get another dime from me until the playoffs, if they make it. Why Should I give them my money when My cable company charges me like 200 dollars a month with all the stuff I get from them, including High Definition for my 55 and 60′ big screen I have at my disposal.
BTW. Thanx again to Rich, Frank, Larry, and @wavesinair for making my experience before and after the game a memorable one. See some of you insiders at a watch party soon I hope!
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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:39 pm
@puck73, I agree….pretty boring stuff most of the time. They have flashes of some really good hockey but nothing consistant thats for sure. Im trying to put in wors how i feel when the other team takes a lead on us….lets just say its almost the throw the hands up in the air and change the channel. I wish i could have faith that we will come back and win from behind but when its mandatory to score more than 2 goals my faith goes right out the window. Im hopeing sometime throughout the rest of the eason we can score at least enough to get out of 30th in the league in goals for.
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puck73 Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:48 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, Or how bout this…The Av’s outshot the Ducks yesterday 42-18 ! But what was the final score? Ducks 3 Av’s 2. Thats the difference. You make a mistake against the Ducks and they make you pay. They have finishers and we dont. They will pass the Kings in the standings by early March if not sooner IMO.
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fsd1 Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:51 pm
@puck73, where is puck73? someone has stole his identity, the Quacks will surpass the Kings???…….balderdash! Sounds like you have given it up.
Dominick Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:52 pm
@puck73, So we won’t make the playoffs either? he he he
yetiman_oc Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:02 pm
@puck73, Amen. I haven’t wanted to spend a single dollar on this team this year. Unfortunately the Kings are selling out Staples Center so there is no motivation for AEG to make any changes. Luc is doing his job…now we need the GM to start doing his job (ie stop reading the injury report looking for players to trade for).
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freezer flatten Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:12 pm
@yetiman_oc, thats the bottom line. fill up staples, keep games close. the wins dont matter.
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yetiman_oc Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:29 pm
@freezer flatten, that’s what I believe AEG’s position is. Evidently the vast majority of the fans feel the same way since they are packing Staples Center watching this boring brand of hockey. Reading this blog and listening to the various hockey outlets, they have others fooled to. Bottom line is the Kings have lost more games than they have won (i get that they get points for those OT losses but they are still losses) and they will not being going any further than the first round of the playoffs if they even get that far.
Would be nice to have an owner that you hear from and gets pissed when they see this kind of crap products. Do you think an owner like George Steinbrenner or Mark Cuban would sit silently watching this team?
CB14 Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:33 pm
@yetiman_oc, Actually I think George Steinbrenner would lie down silently.
Dominick Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 5:02 pm
@yetiman_oc,
AEG is spending 62 million in payroll, spent 100′s of millions on building Staples Center and developing the surrounding area. They spend more than any team in the league on farm systems. AEG is doing everything within their power to get a winner. They want it just as badly as the fans do, and their survival depends on it.
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yetiman_oc Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 5:15 pm
@Dominick, poor AEG. the fans going to the games are paying the payroll and the Staples Center does just fine with 3 pro sports tenants and all the other events held there each year. don’t know about the farm system expense but it sure isn’t supplying the talent the kings need. IMO all they want is a team that draws the fans to pay for said expenses.
Kevco Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:00 pm
@puck73, What makes you think it will be better for a playoff game? I stopped going to so many games both last year and this year because of the lack of effort on the ice. I skipped the playoffs last year too. Year before was too much with so many horrible Canucks at staples.
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I’m going to the gym tonight and gonna work out like the kings. I’ll show up for an hour, but only have a good 40 minute work out.
I know comedy genius. Feel bad for my wife, she has to deal with me.
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Dominick Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:44 pm
@Lake Forest, Sounds like she’s gonna have to deal with you also going to work out everyday, and not losing any weight.
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Lake Forest Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:47 pm
@Dominick, She is the one who cooks for me, so this extra weight is her fault.
Any time I’m away at the gym will probably be a plus for her.
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Dominick Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:50 pm
@Lake Forest, Nice!
If she complains, turn it around on her, and make it her fault. lol
FKA PakiFro Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:58 pm
@Lake Forest,
I’ve been using that argument since i tied the knot…to no avail…:-/
neil Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 5:59 pm
@Lake Forest, i call it …. “45 minutes fitness” 24 hour??? No way… BTW does 24 hour fitness have a close sign????
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I feel that if they don’t do great tonight it is time to make a trade just to stir up the pot and honestly bring something exciting to the team. This is the least exciting franchise ever this season!!!
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puck73 Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 3:57 pm
@Ashykon, Totally agree. KC23 and I were talking about that in the insider suite. He was just disgusted, and quite frankly so was I. Have I given up on the season? No, of course not. But I am not giving them any of my money until I see a better product, thats my option as a fan.
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Ashykon Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:03 pm
@puck73, I know that they’re gonna make the playoffs and everything is gonna change but we fans have invested so much for so long and frankly it was much more exciting when we sucked but the team always worked their butts off to get any points. Jack Johnson is a player I love but for the sake of makin the kings maybe wake up they need to try and grab a winger from a team. Or dean Needs to get some rumors going about our top players. Look what happened to bobby Ryan.
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freezer flatten Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:14 pm
@Ashykon, i agree, but dont think they will make playoffs.
Cruiznblue Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:10 pm
@Ashykon,
Agreed…we need someone who can dangle with the puck…and will inspire the others to do the same. *cough* Nash! *cough* Very little creativity on this team. I think Williams is our best player offensive player on a consistent basis. Kopitar doesn’t know how to use his size and strength to drive to the net anymore…he lets the D push him to the boards and have to skate behind the net. Watch him tonight…he will probably do it a handful of times and make nothing of it.
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ashykins Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 4:35 pm
@Cruiznblue, i dont think we need nash, thats too many star type players on one team and too much salary spent on them. i think we need a consistent scorer that brings a lot to the table. we have richards kopitar and doughty. soon quick is gonna take on a lot more salary. we need a player like blake wheeler(dont know how much he makes and im not saying actually blake wheeler but someone like that). i just think we need someone that can compliment richards a lot. if we can get richards going then we can get more points up. i wanted the kings to get david booth really badly before he went to vancouver but i realized him and richards would never ever be able to be on the same team.
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Kevco Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:01 pm
@Ashykon, They brought in a new coach to stir the pot, that has stopped wo
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Kevco Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:03 pm
@Kevco, A new coach to stir the pot, it might have stopped working. Will a trade stir enough to deep into the playoffs? Is another Jeff Halpern trade deadline to answer?
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never thought i would say this but…….as of late its been more exciting to watch the Sucks games than the Kings. It really is bewildering the fact that we cannot score goals. I really dont get it! Im still optimistic and still fully on board but man its frusterating watching our guys NOT score. I was never one to want to see a trade just for the sake of it but at this point im not sure there is any other alternative. We have enough depth in Defense IMO to acuire another winger or 2 who can bury the puck. Lets hope we can break out against the Sens!
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rt16 Reply:
January 23rd, 2012 at 5:12 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, agree with you . . . break comes at a good time for many of the guys to rest up and look back at a first half of underachievement. we have lots of offensive players who fall into that category. its also a good time for lombardi to find some shooter and or sniper who can shoot the damn puck . . . i know its not as easy as it sounds but the bottom line is our offensive players cant shoot or snipe the puck . . . cmon man!!!
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