With 20 games remaining in their regular season, the Kings essentially have entered the “fourth quarter.” Things are not trending in the right direction for the Kings. In their first 21 games, they had an 11-7-3 record. In their next 20 games, they had a 9-7-4 record. In their last 21 games — the third quarter, so to speak — they had a 8-8-5 record. Simply put, the Kings need their final stretch to be much better than their previous stretch. As of this morning, the Kings are in ninth place in the Western Conference, tied with eighth place Dallas but trailing because of the tiebreaker. Seventh-place San Jose is three points ahead but has two games in hand. Dustin Brown and Darryl Sutter both addressed the challenge the Kings face.
BROWN: “It always kind of plays out that way. The most important thing for this team is, we can’t be looking at the scoreboard. We have enough work in front of us, so we have to concern ourselves with what we have to do. We’re not worrying about other teams. We have to worry about ourselves right now.’’
SUTTER: “You’ve got to stay focused on the mission. You can’t look back and you can’t look too far ahead. You’ve got to stay in the moment of it. I hope we understand how tough it is, because everything is so close.’’
Just win
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Dominick Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
@Kings x, I 2nd.
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USHA#17 Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
@Kings x,
So, if you count the OT/SO loses as loses the Kings are
28-34. Not too good.
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again, the question i pose is what did AEG execs mean by saying before the season started that this team needs to make a substantial and measurable improvement from last season…?
i would think that means getting out of the first round…imo, anything less means huge organizational changes come the summer…
but whether or not they look at it the same way is unclear…and i’m not expecting anyone at AEG to show their hand during this time….
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CB14 Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
@variable, I agree, they need to make it out of the first round, otherwise heads will roll. Had the Kings been a top team all year long ala Van and Det, there might be some leeway with a 1st round exit, but not with how this team has performed this year. If they fail to win a playoff series, Lombardi’s gone.
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King Alex Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
@variable, I have been pretty critical of DL this season but I have come to the belief that AEG is going to let DL & DS continue through the end of their contracts next season. By giving their approval for the trade for Carter & giving up a core player in Johnson while taking on the cost & term of Carter’s contract shows support for what DL is trying to do. I don’t think AEG will want to continue to pay for 2 ex coaches & an ex GM & pay for a whole new management group. I think the only way we see a change in management if the Kings completely collapse in this playoff run.
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CB14 Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
@King Alex, So you think the only way Lombardi is fired is if the Kings don’t make the playoffs?
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
@CB14, I’m not even sure that would happen, if they miss the playoffs. I do however believe they will make the playoffs, which means I feel that you will see DL as GM next season.
King Alex Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
@CB14, I think at this point the Kings would have to totally collapse. If we are competitive & don’t make it because the teams ahead of us continue to win, DL & DS both stay. If we revert back to being uncompetitive the rest of the season, DL is a goner.
variable Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
@CB14,
i think he will get fired if we don’t make the playoffs – yes…
i agree with you…
USHA#17 Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
@variable,
I feel it means the Kings must play well enough to forward AEG’s football ambitions by leaving watchers with the impression that AEG can properly manage and grow a big league club.
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We can’t waste energy worrying about things that are out of our control such as if other teams are winning or losing. We should only wirry about things that are in our control such as our play, wining games, taking things one step at a time etc.. gkg
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Doesn’t matter how you start..it’s all about how you FINISH.
Pride=Passion=Power! GKG!
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We’ve really put ourselves into a bad position here :/
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Great game last night. The main point I would like to make is besides DB having one of his best games ever, it was truly a team effort. In watching them play I dont think I have a negative word for any player last night. I have not been a big fan of Penner this year (based on his effort) but last night he had what I think was a awesome game. He should have had two goals but just missed the net both times. So keep up the effort Penner. Appreciated your work last night. Go Kings.
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puck73 Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
@gene, Its amazing how much better players like Stoll and Penner play when a top 3 sniper like Jeff Carter is patrolling the ice. Imagine if DL lands one more top 3 guy to play with Kopi? YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT DANGEROUS !
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
@puck73, Be awesome if Chicago decides to trade Kane. That would be an awesome top 6 with Kane, Kopi, Willie, Richards, Carter and Brown. Then add in Stoll on the third line.
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gene Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
@puck73, Agree 100% sir
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It’s really about getting the sixth seed so they have a chance to advance into the second round. To do that, they have to get about 30 points out of the next 20 games or go 13-3-4.
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variable Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
@carol vadnais,
actually, i think they can still shoot for winning the division…that would make advancing even more possible…
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Wilmonde Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
@variable,
With the streakiness of the entire Pacific Division this season, I think a divisional title is not out of the question… provided the Kings show up with the same fire and determination they showed last night.
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crashin'da net Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
@variable, Keep racking up the points to take the division. That’s it. Simple.
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AZ King Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
@carol vadnais,
Technically we’re closer to 3rd place than we are to 6th place.
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Please Sutter you have got to start playing Bernier. It’s essential that Quick is not burned out or hurt from overuse during the home stretch and particularly going into the playoffs….
And Bernier needs enough actual quality competitive game time–enough so that he will be reasonably sharp if needed at some point.
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puck73 Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
@rontheking, Totally agree. I expect a little more common sense from guys like DL and DS who have been around this game a long time and know first hand how demanding the goaltending position is in sports in a long season.
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MindGeyser Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
@rontheking, Not to mention, if Bernier’s ultimate fate is to be dealt, other teams need to see him get those starts and perform well to make him valuable. The supposed reason why Columbus didn’t want Bernier is that he was still too much of an unproven player.
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wow, JMFJ was on the ice for every penguin goal against the jackets (4) and 1 goal that ended up getting disallowed.
thats 5 goals in his debut.
meanwhile carter looked damn good in his debut for the kings
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puck73 Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:04 pm
@matty muls, Good afternoon, my name is @Dominick, and that is just a coincidence and doesnt mean a damn thing !
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On an unrelated topic, Jack Johnson was a minus three in his debut with the Blue Jackets today.
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DEH Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
@Forum67, everyone is – with the Blue Jackets this year, their team leader in +/- is a +1 centerman. Nash is at -23.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 2:51 pm
@Forum67, Minus 1 actually. 2 of the goals were PP goals. Still you can’t really base JJ’s defensive prowess playing for Columbus as they are horrible defensively and not even Bobby Orr could help.
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Wilmonde Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
@Jeff_R,
I think Orr would be able to turn around CBJ no problem. It’s not like Boston was a powerhouse at the time they picked him up.
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puck73 Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 4:25 pm
@Jeff_R, Booby Orr would make a bigger impact then JJ, and thats not even a conversation…ever.
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Forum67 Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 4:36 pm
@Jeff_R,
Don’t get me wrong. I was, and still am, a Jack Johnson fan. I expect him to have a long and successful career. Although I like the Jeff Carter trade (and would have liked even more if we hadn’t had to throw in a No. 1 draft pick too), I was still sad to see him go despite his career -90 with the Kings.
But my perfect trade would have been Bernier, Doughty, Clifford, and a draft choice for Nash.
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The ugly part of this season is going to be the
Effort to get into the playoffs. Stars come back in final
Min against nucks and add another two points so now
70 is the number…5 teams and 1 spot; any lose is
Crippling.
I feel sick saying it but GO DUCKS GO tonight
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G-dam Casucks.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
@CB14, well not their fault that the Kings put them self in this spot…
Look in the bright side….if the Kings win back to back we will be in front of Sharks if the Sharks lose today game..
which makes us in 7th place and the Shakrs be the team out of the playoffs and have to deal with the Stars 
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
@CB14, While us fans get pissed off when things don’t go the Kings way, the fact is all the Kings have to do is win and the rest will take care of itself. Drive for first place is what is important, so right now Dallas, San Jose and Phoenix are the only teams that matter. Kings also have a game in hand on Dallas so really right now it is Phoenix and San Jose. Just win baby…..
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King Alex Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
@Jeff_R, Completely agree. We just have to play one game at a time & get the 2 points. The Kings just need to focus on the next game, one by one & play their game. Getting Gags back will be a big plus. He played great late last season when he came back.
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What’s so weird about this season is it could be the most frustrating season ever or the greatest season ever or somewhere in between. Nothing would surprise me at this point.
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variable Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:00 pm
@Poorman,
i actually agree with you here…
so much influx, it’s very hard to get a feel for where we are heading because every time we’ve said the “time is now” for winning, it wasn’t…so, with carter here, there’s good reason to feel optimistic that this time it’s for real…i wasn’t happy with the trade because i knew it would cost us at least jj and a pick, NOT because i think that carter can’t help – he definitely can…
but if it wasn’t gonna be jj, then who…?…brown…?…a combo of picks/prospects…?…nah, it had to be jj because of his great contract and what columbus really needs…heck, they are still demanding del zotto from the rangers in any deal for nash, so if anyone didn’t know that they wanted a defensive upgrade by adding jj, now you know….
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Wilmonde Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
@variable,
Not to go horribly off-topic or anything, but if they’re going for defense, how weird would it be for JJ if they hired TM? :O
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
@Wilmonde, I have said that that would be the best thing for Columbus to do. They need to fix there back end before anything else. The Kings are great defensively thanks to TM and his defense first system. There will come a time where he will have to be replaced but to start a rebuild TM would be a great choice to begin with.
Jeff_R Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
@variable, They are also asking for Gardiner from Toronto in any deal with the Maple Leafs. They need defense and goaltending the most. As with the Kings you can see just how important those two aspects are.
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Michael J. Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
@Poorman,
I don’t know, wasn’t 94-95 pretty disapointing? Was that the year we traded Zhitnik for Graant Fuhr???
Maybe you’re right… this year has been frustrating.
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Steve W Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
@Michael J., And the Russian coach’s son.
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puck73 Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
@Michael J., Barry Melrose, what a bafoon. One of the greatest days in the history of my life is when Rogie Vachon fired his ass! I was dancin like a mofo !
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What time does the plane get into MN from Nashville? To late and the Kings will lose.
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I wonder what team is going to show up tomorrow in TN and on Tuesday in MN? The Kings from last night or the Kings that recently lost two 1 – 0 games at home?
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Interesting, following the SJ vs Minn game and they are mentioning DB as being talked about and how there is a rift in the lockeroom between MR and DB…I never heard a thing about that.
This is from the Minn commentators.
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Nick Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
@jack, More than likely been so many rifts with all players lately with all the pressure and under achieving from most players. DB can’t get traded, he is King with true grit, an example. If the can pick up a player like PArenteau from the Islanders it might light up Kopi, if not then go for a big deal with kopi as part of trade.
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Kinglers55 Reply:
February 26th, 2012 at 10:04 pm
@jack, Richards tweeted about what a great game brown had and had hastag #myhero, maybe the “rift” is just media BS?
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Stuart Reply:
February 27th, 2012 at 8:10 am
@Kinglers55, anyone notice that MR follows the “fake Terry Murray”??? That guy’s tweets are hilarious… I was checking them out last night (I just opened a twitter account) and the most hilarious one is the day TM was fired, he posted something to the effect “that’s strange my hotel key card seems to be not working”… LOL
But anyway, there were some other tweets, one in particular making fun of the Kings for bringing up Nolan and King and I thought to myself, wow this is what MR reads (among various other things on his twitter)…
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