So far, Darryl Sutter has been unpredictable, in terms of guessing what he might do with his starting goalies in certain situations. In the Kings’ previous set of back-to-back games, Sutter started Jonathan Quick twice. This week, with back-to-back games against Nashville and Minnesota, Sutter split them between Quick and Bernier. The Kings have 18 games remaining, including three sets of back-to-back games, and the schedule is filled with teams that seem playoff-bound. How will Sutter handle the goalies, going forward? Will he ride Quick, or go by feel, on a game-to-game basis? Sutter answered, and also addressed that Phoenix-Colorado set, in which the Kings lost 5-4 in Phoenix and then Quick started the next night in Denver and allowed three first-period goals. After that game, Sutter said he had spoken to Quick, and that Quick wanted to get the start against the Avalanche.
SUTTER: “(The rest of the season is) probably by feel. But you’re comfortable, because you’ve got a guy [Quick] who is having a great year, but I’m also comfortable with the fact that Bernie, I’m not concerned about him. It’s not so much looking forward, it’s looking back. I made a mistake — that’s my fault — in Phoenix and Colorado. I should have played Bernier in Colorado. He played two periods, but he should have started. Not that Quicker was at fault on the goals, but still. It’s like in Nashville the other night, I thought we should have won 1-0. That’s how well we played. You limit their chances, and you need great goaltending. You’re not going to, all of a sudden, become this magical offensive weapon with 18 games left. So you need great goaltending, and I’m comfortable with the fact that both guys can do that. We’re lucky. Not many teams can say that.”
Sutter you are the man owning up to your mistake.
[Reply]
King John Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:38 pm
@xrosczech, I hope he’s learned his lesson enough that he will put it into practice (rest Quick at times and play Bernier).
[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 4:30 pm
@King John, I still think you give Bernier a start for every Quick 4-6 straight starts. Let Bernie play two consecutive games.
[Reply]
PRMan Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 11:21 am
@King John, I think I figured out why Bernier plays so much better against Nashville. They seem to draw the goalie out and then pass it across and go back door. Bernier doesn’t come out as much so it doesn’t work.
[Reply]
Cruiznblue Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:39 pm
@xrosczech,
Just tells you even a seasoned vet like Sutter has a lot to learn.
[Reply]
MM Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:54 pm
@Cruiznblue, It’s good that he’s not only learning but he’s adjusting as well. Quick is going to need to be rested enough when the playoffs come around =).
[Reply]
Johnny Virgil Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:07 pm
@MM,
To quote Jim Mora….”Playoffs???……Playoffs???” Its great that he’s owning up to his mistake, but meanwhile the season is dwindling down and they might end up on the outside looking in. This kind of mistake is ok in November, but not in Feb/March.
DiggerRocket Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:27 pm
@xrosczech, No one does anything without making mistakes. I have faith in Sutter because he is still a student of the game.. and he makes adjustments based on those leassons.
[Reply]
X Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:51 pm
@DiggerRocket, he has learned with quick n bernie and now he has to look at his centremen. Richards isnt getting it done in the faceoff circle. now they have carter there, use him in the faceoffs. His faceoff numbers speak for themselves.
[Reply]
Todd Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 3:38 pm
@xrosczech,
Yeah, I was so pissed right away when I saw he was going back to Quick for that start instead of going with Bernier on that back to back. No reason for that at all. Quick has been great but he has made so many starts. Bernier is a very good back up to have but you got to play him more so Quick doesn’t get worn down. I’m impressed with his admission to making a mistake. You do not see that often and it is nice to see. Good job Sutter.
[Reply]
Well if nothing else, at least he manned up and admitted it (‘I made a mistake — that’s my fault — in Phoenix and Colorado’) so kudos for that. I also remember a number of us…. at least a few of us saying you’ve gotta start Bernier in one of these games.
For me, I don’t care if an athlete is 21 years old and his nickname is superman; the reality is that they play in Los Angeles, not Pittsburgh, and the travel and demands, plus the back to backs are a huge demand on anyone, regardless of what shape he’s in.
[Reply]
tantrum4 Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:43 pm
@number 6,
Meh, I have to disagree. Why can 23 other guys who do a lot more skating, hitting and shooting than the goaltender play back to back nights but a goalie can’t?
[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:51 pm
@tantrum4,
Have you ever watched a goalie play? It’s far more demanding than any skater. There are no line changes. If he makes a single mistake its in the net, not out into the neutral zone. The pressure is tremendous.
[Reply]
MM Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:58 pm
@tantrum4, I tried out goalie for one game on my roller hockey team (I normally play D) and my respect for goalies went to new heights. The physical toll that playing goalie is tremendous but the mental aspect of the game is ridiculous. You’ve got so many factors that you have to take into account while sitting in net. If you make one mistake as a defenseman you have your goalie to back you up. One mistake as a goalie and your team loses. Plus, skaters get line changes. Goalies get TV and team timeouts only.
[Reply]
Jeremy Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:02 pm
@tantrum4, im not an nhl goalie but I played college hockey and while the goalie doesnt skate straight lines he covers just as more distance in his 10ft radius. And I dont know if uv ever tried doing explosive updowns in 40lbs of equiptment but thats wat it would be like to a normal person. But the difference between competitive hockey and beer league hockey is the mental preparation.we used to have on ice practice, off ice practice and then id go back on the ice for 2 more hours. That was about 4 hours of practice. Yet I used to get mhave to get so amped up for the game it would
[Reply]
Jeremy Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:07 pm
@Jeremy, make me way more tired. physically u are doing less but you make yourself so alert and fired up that u just are not able to do it the next night quite as well. Ps. Goalies skate more than anyone else on the team every game. Just not long straight distances.which is harder cause its all explosive and u cant glide or coast
Lake Forest Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:06 pm
@tantrum4, It’s like comparing an outfielder to a catcher or pitcher….I know “this isn’t baseball”
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 4:47 pm
@Lake Forest, You know, this isn’t baseball … oh .. you caught yourself .. good man!
tantrum4 Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:43 pm
@tantrum4,
Ok, well just so everyone knows I’m not a wannabe couch hockey player. I played for 25 years all the way up to Teir 1 Junior and Senior AAA so I know what a goalie does on the ice. Ya they do ups and downs and don’t have line changes but trust me, the 20 guys in front of him so WAY more skating and physical activity than goalies do. Goalies are only alert when the puck is on their side of the redline, when it’s not, they just stand there and catch their breath, just like going for a line change. I know playing goal is tiring, but it’s not as big of deal to play back to back nights as some of you think it is. If the skaters can do it, so can a goalie. I think it’s more mental than anything, and that was my original point.
[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 4:36 pm
@tantrum4, I played goalie in pick – ups and you can get a hundred shots and it’s never going to be enough. It’s a position that you can never get enough off. Having said this, NOBODY can predict bad nights and the more you play the more chances these bad nights gonna happen. So If I was Sutter, I’d play Quick back – back then give Bernier a go to keep Quickie hungry wanting to play more and vice versa otherwise both just get stale.
number 6 Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 3:02 pm
@tantrum4,
Not sure if you’re a new fan or have been watching hockey for a long time. In any case, my point was not about how much they move, don’t move, etc. etc.
There are two key elements here. Nevermind even if the guy makes seven saves in a whole game. You don’t get to sit on the bench and watch for a few shifts. Your concentration cannot waver for 60 minutes, because if it does, you might get scored on. The ‘might get scored on’ is one thing if you are Jimmy Howard or Tim Thomas, because your team has every possibility of making up for your lapse.
If on the other hand you play for the Kings, one goal against might end up being a loss. Check out Quick’s stats for the year and you’ll see what I mean. At one point, he had given up 29 goals in twenty four losses. That would back up this point.
Add to this the travel which I guess I didn’t make clear enough and you have the recipe for exhaustion.
[Reply]
tantrum4 Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 8:26 pm
@number 6,
I disagree based on the fact that I’ve played on high end teams and been in an actual dressing room and played on back to back nights. Goalies can do it, trust me.
Excellent job by Bernier, hanging in there and battling for starts. It’s amazing how (and I know we’ve all said it), but how the Kings are so solid in goal. Just saying that is almost bizarre. Yet, in some cruel twist of fate, we’re horrific on offense now. One of these years, we’ll put it all together and be the clear cut Pacific division champ heading into the playoffs and go all the way back to the show.
[Reply]
FKA PakiFro Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:30 pm
@wavesinair,
Assuming the team is blown up, I genuinely feel next year will be that year. A full year with top 5 guys the Kings have on offense should lead to that.
[Reply]
FKA PakiFro Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:44 pm
@FKA PakiFro, I meant ISN’T blown up. Oops
[Reply]
Forum Gold Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:31 pm
@wavesinair, For this Die Hard it needs to be sooner than later. GO KINGS GO!!!
[Reply]
rogiesbackup Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 4:46 pm
@wavesinair, yah most teams seem to take the back-up goalies role for granted. We have to count our blessing when we have TWO solid tenders.
I just hope the Kings don’t add anymore “big names”……Really sad after 3-5 years we still trying to get “big names” into the club.
What’s interesting seems to be the “homegrown” players Brown, Kopitar, Doughty are the ones that still shines for this organization. I mean we really have/had really good talent come from this organization and I just hope we excercise a bit more patient. I mean they’ve struggled this season but are still very skilled players–you can see it.
[Reply]
We have two SUPERB netminders, if our offense producers, we get a point almost every game. PP get it going lets go on a 16-2-2 run
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:45 pm
@funking, I believe there are 18 games remaining so make that 14-2-2.
[Reply]
Eric K Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:06 pm
@Jeff_R, No! Make that 16-0-2!
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:57 pm
@funking, ….and as long as the teams ahead of us don’t do the same we’re golden…
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:28 pm
@Deke’r, U really think Phoenix, SJ, Colorado, Dallas are going to do that especially when they all play each other multiple times? Kings don’t play Dallas, Colorado or Phoenix anymore.
@Eic K, That be awesome if we only lost 2 games the rest of the season and those 2 were in OT meaning we got points in all 18 games.
[Reply]
So maybe it’s about to become baseball after all…
[Reply]
Forum Gold Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:32 pm
@Mel Powell, Let’s play 2. GO KINGS GO!!!
[Reply]
Wohoo! FINALLY!
[Reply]
i don’t understand why san jose has fewer games. they are like always 2 games behind everyone else. when are they going to catch up!
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:49 pm
@jkking, Well they play tonight cutting it down to 1. However I believe after next week they will cath up and tje week after we will actually have games in hand on San Jose, although briefly.
[Reply]
trytodethroneus Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:05 pm
@jkking,
They play the dux on Mar 19. When they play the KINGS here on mar 20 the games played will be the same. The sharkx have to play the KINGS , phx and dallas 3 times each, and the dux twice. They also have games against nash, det, stl, and bos in their last 20 games
[Reply]
I’d say were right up there with Boston & Vancouver as far as top goalie duos in the NHL.
Now if I could only say the same about our offense compared to Boston & Vancouver…we’re about 70+ goals for shy of them so far… :/
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 1:51 pm
@Cruiznblue, Yeah but defensively we are comparable if not better. Then come playoff time defense rules and offense comes down, so we will be on equal footing if not better prepared to play defense first hockey.
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:01 pm
@Jeff_R, …so if offense comes down we could look forward to an average of zero goals per game in the playoffs?…
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:18 pm
@Deke’r, Uuuh no. I don’t think other teams will be able to adjust to defense first as well as the Kings can, so that will open holes allowing us to score. Really only Phoenix, Nashville and St louis play similar defense first and most likely we won’t play them in the first round. The adaption to defense first will take a couple of games or so, so if we can capture wins in the first game it will bring a lot of confidence in our players going forward.
Cruiznblue Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:37 pm
@Jeff_R,
I agree…however I got that feeling that Richards and carter are going to start coming up big for us soon…that should balance it out for us when (and IF) we make the playoffs.
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:48 pm
@Jeff_R, ….wait …what?….so the playoff “rules” of offense coming down doesn’t apply to our team….I like it but don’t really agree with it….if offense comes down during playoffs then other teams defense must be improving….no?….or don’t the teams try as hard to score during the playoffs?….very opptomistic statement and hope it holds true…
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:57 pm
@Deke’r, The teams that play a more offensive system in the regular season are going to have a tougher time in the playoffs playing that system, as playoffs are more of a defense first. Look at Washington vs Montreal 2 years ago. Washington was a high scoring team in the regular season but when it came time to the playoffs and they played Montreal, who played more of a defensive type game, they had trouble adjusting. Not to mention Halak got hot. I see the same thing happening with the Kings and whoever they play, especially if they play Vancouver, Detroit, Chicago. The kings defensively will stop the other teams from scoring and while they are adjusting to defense first the Kings will pounce on the mistakes they make, during this adjustment. I don’t believe that just because we can’t score in the regular season we won’t be able to in the playoffs. We are a more battle tested team then any other come playoff time.
Deke'r Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 3:19 pm
@Jeff_R,…..appreciate your point of view….just don’t agree that the Kings will somehow score more goals against a team that will be more conservative on defense when the Kings couldn’t score on the team when they weren’t….these are professionals not high schoolers….
rogiesbackup Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 4:49 pm
@Jeff_R, I just hope the team learned their lesson on the third game of the play-off against the Sharks.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 4:19 pm
@Cruiznblue, St Louis and NY also have a good pair.
[Reply]
Bernier is gonna get more playing time in the month of march I think. Check out my post regarding the goalie situation on allthingskings.blogspot.com and let me know what you think about my blog! Thanks
[Reply]
petemagoop Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:19 pm
@AllThingsKings, ya ok, re: Hey Mr. Carter, Tell Me Where Have You Been? – I don’t see the connection between the article and the headline.
[Reply]
it’s projected that 91 points is what it will take to earn the eighth seed. The Kings need to at least finish 10-7-1 to get to that mark. hopefully there will be no tiebreaker with Dallas or Phoenix…
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:12 pm
@JunkyDare, ….wouldn’t worry about Phoenix….5 points ahead of us with a game in hand…
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:13 pm
@Deke’r, ….Colorado’s the one…
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:22 pm
@Deke’r, You also have to factor in ROW if there is a tie breaking situation, not to mention Phoenix won’t keep up the winning streak they are on. They got pretty lucky in that streak as most of the wins came in Shootout, which however helps the Kings out as those wins don’t count in tie breaking situations.
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:49 pm
@Jeff_R, ….very true…the other teams ROW numbers are higher….
Jeff_R Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 3:03 pm
@Deke’r, The teams we need to battle go like this in ROW….
Dallas – 29
Phoenix – 28
SJ – 27
Colorado – 26
Kings – 25
Now the Kings won’t be playing Colorado, Phoenix, Dallas anymore so it will be a little harder catching them, but I don’t see them keeping up with the streaks that they have been on of late. We play SJ 3 times so those are really important. The Kings are starting to play much better now, especially in the last 5 games where they have scored 14 goals. I see that continuing especially now that we have Carter and our defense is a lot better with Voynov and sans Jack.
Jeff_R Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:24 pm
@JunkyDare, Most likely tje 8th place seed will be in the high 80′s like 87-89.
[Reply]
KC23 Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 4:23 pm
@JunkyDare, Who projects 91 points? Every projection I’ve heard in the west says 95-97pts gets you the 8th spot. Pretty sure 97th gave you 8th spot last year.
[Reply]
Is he really blaming Quick for not winning 1-0 against Nashville? In my opinion you can never blame a goalie for a loss when you only score one goal.
[Reply]
Cruiznblue Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 2:39 pm
@Mike,
Quick could have easily had another 10+ wins to his credit if he would have got help from the offense. Guess he’s to blame for those games too?
[Reply]
Any take on who we want to win tonight’s pho/cgy game? I’m torn! Want pho to lose because we can win division but Calgary losing keeps one 8th seed seeking team 3 points back from us? Putting no 3 point games aside, who is best for us to win?
[Reply]
Capt Jam Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 3:01 pm
@Top6Blogger,
The Kings are not going to win the division this year. I’d be pleasantly surprised if this club finishes the 18 games remaining at better than .500 because lately they only seem to beat teams that are struggling or who just plain no-show the game. Lucky for them (and us), ANA has definitely tailed off over the last two weeks. They’re heading into this weekend having lost 2 of their last 3, 3 of the last 5 and 4 of the last 7.
At any rate, I suggest pulling for PHX because CAL is the more immediate threat to the Kings. The Kings aren’t going to catch a club that just went 10-0-1 in February.
[Reply]
Capt Jam Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 3:04 pm
@Capt Jam,
Now that I give this a little more thought…CAL has been struggling lately as well. Best scenario for the Kings is PHX to beat CAL by a close and low score (2-1, 3-2) and then hope that CAL gets enough off a buzz off the close to PHX to mow down ANA for us. That would save the Kings 4 points before they even play again.
[Reply]
Top6Blogger Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 3:04 pm
@Capt Jam,
Good point…I feel we will do better than 500 but i like the “lets just get in” mindset
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 3:11 pm
@Capt Jam, First off the Kings can still win the division. The last 3 games show that they are playing much better offensively and defensively, with the addition of Carter and Voynov. I see us winning 10+ games out of the 18 putting us over 90+ points. Phoenix and Dallas are going to tail off. If you look at the 10-0-1 record in a tie breaking situation, which is going to happen, that 10-0-1 turns out to be 7-0-1 as 3 were won in a shootout. Phoenix does not have the team that is able to keep up that streak they are going to slow down some, especially since they play 16 games in March.
Now to go for tonight. We need Calgary to win and for it to be in regulation.
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
March 1st, 2012 at 3:16 pm
@Jeff_R, Plus you really think Mike Smith is going to keep up the streak he is on? When has he ever played this well for a long period of time? He will crack and then Labarbara will play and there only loss in that streak was when he played.
coach is owning up for a mistake?
….
….
….
*head explodes*
[Reply]
I’m not so sure I’d label it a “mistake”. What do they say about 20/20 hindsight?
With Sutter being relatively new to the Kings, at least compared to us die-hard fans, I think this is really an admission that he just now has finally gotten to the point where he really trusts Bernier.
Knowing what he knows about Bernier now and looking back to the Phoenix and Nashville games, if given a chance to do it all over again, Sutter would have played Bernier in the Nashville game.
Everyone here knows how lucky we are to have two young, quality goalies.
Welcome to the club Mr. Sutter!
[Reply]