Some notes from last night’s game…
– The Kings matched their season-best winning streak, at four games, as they beat the Nashville Predators 4-2 on Saturday night at Staples Center.
– The Kings finished the season series against Nashville with a 3-1-0 record.
– In the 11 games since the Jeff Carter trade, the Kings have scored a total of 37 goals, and have reached the four-goal mark seven times. The Kings have a 18-0-2 record this season when they score at least four goals, and a 23-1-2 record when they score at least three goals.
– The Kings have scored a total of 18 first-period goals in their last 11 games. They scored a total of 28 first-period goals in their first 61 games.
– The Kings outshot the Predators 27-21, including 10-5 in the first period.
– The Kings went 0-for-3 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill.
– The Kings improved to 18-12-4 at Staples Center, 28-5-6 when scoring the first goal and 18-2-2 when leading after the first period.
– The Kings improved to 5-5-4 in the second game of back-to-back games. It was the second time this season that they swept a back-to-back set.
– Jonathan Bernier stopped 19 of 21 shots. Bernier now has a 6-1-0 career record against Nashville, with a 1.79 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.
– Dustin Penner had one goal and one assist, to push his season totals to six goals and 10 assists. It was Penner’s second multi-point game of the season. Penner had zero goals and one assist in his previous 12 games. Penner had one goal and three assists in four games against Nashville this season.
– Anze Kopitar had one goal, to push his team-high totals to 23 goals and 62 points. Kopitar has scored a goal in three consecutive games, for a total of three goals and one assist in his last four games. Kopitar has six goals and five assists in his last 10 games.
– Dwight King had one goal, his fourth goal and 10th point of the season. King has three goals and four assists in his last nine games.
– Kyle Clifford had one goal, his fifth goal and 11th point of the season. Clifford had gone 16 consecutive games without a goal.
– Trevor Lewis had two assists, to push his season totals to four assists and seven points. It was Lewis’ second multi-point game of the season. Lewis had one goal and three assists in four games against Nashville this season.
– Jeff Carter had one assist, his 13th assist and 33rd point of the season. Carter has five goals and three assists in his 11 games with the Kings, and has three goals and three assists in his last five games.
– Jordan Nolan had one assist, his second assist and fourth point of the season.
– Rob Scuderi had one assist, his eighth assist and ninth point of the season.
– Drew Doughty had one assist, his 24th assist and 33rd point of the season. Doughty has recorded at least one point in three consecutive games, with one goal and four assists in that span.
– Six Kings players — Jeff Carter, Kyle Clifford, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Slava Voynov and Justin Williams — each recorded a team-high three shots on goal. Dustin Brown was credited with a game-high five hits. Matt Greene and Slava Voynov each were credited with a team-high two shots on goal.
– Drew Doughty led the Kings in ice time, at 23 minutes, 17 seconds, followed by Willie Mitchell, at 22:34. Anze Kopitar led all Kings forwards in ice time, at 18:36, followed by Dustin Brown, at 18:32.
– The Kings won 34 of 61 faceoffs (56 percent). Anze Kopitar won 11 of 20 draws (55 percent). Mike Richards won 7 of 16 draws (44 percent). Jarret Stoll won 10 of 15 draws (67 percent).
Do you know what hockey team draws the smallest average crowd as a visiting team? The Kings, by far. But at home the Kings sellout virtually every game at home. Man, people talk about how LA fans are fickle, but the numbers don’t lie. We support our Kings much better than a lot of East Coast teams like New Jersey.
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puck73 Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 11:28 am
@Donald_S, I saw a number that said we had 31 sellouts in 33 games the other day. And last season, we had 35 sellouts in 41 games. You are right, those are impressive numbers!
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Jeff_R Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
@puck73, They count sell outs by tickets sold. You certainly couldn’t tell me it was a sell out via seats sat in.
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LA_1968 Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
@Donald_S,
Part of the reason we draw low on the road is because of media biased. Watch NHL Network and they talk about us on average for about 5 seconds. Then there is our previously boring style of play with no offense.
We have a very respectable home crowd as far as numbers and noise level.
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bbb7 Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
@Donald_S, One reason the Kings draw so badly on the road is that they play 3 games each in Phoenix and Dallas, who have the worst home attendance figures in the league. This drags down the averages for SJ and Anaheim as well. Six of the eight top road draws are Original Six teams and they seem to have fans scattered all over, but the teams are all in the East (except Detroit).
And, yes, the Kings get no love on the NHL network or NBCSports, where I’m sure they’re still laughing at how DL got fleeced on the Carter/Johnson deal.
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Shakes Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
@Donald_S,
Actually I think a big reason we draw poorly on the road versus other American teams (let’s keep Canadian fans out of it, they think an 8hr drive to Moosejaw is a day trip) is because relatively speaking I think there are fewer people who grew up on the west coast who live back here on east now…. Whereas you can find a bagillion people who were born/ grew up/ or had parents grow up in NY, Chicago, Philly, Detroit, etc.
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Shakes Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 1:34 pm
@Shakes, … who now live in Cali
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California Royalty Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
@Donald_S, Would be nice if the sold out arena would make some noise. It’s a library in there.
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broncokings Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
@California Royalty, we also don’t have as many teams that are close to L.A., on the east coast most teams are a few hours away. we have the schmucks, the sharts, and the yotes everything else is quite aways away.
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broncokings Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
@broncokings, that wasn’t directed at you cal.royalty
Even though his name isn’t mentioned, I think AMart had a good physical game.
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puck73 Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 11:31 am
@Lake Forest, Him and Voynov played great last night. Did you see when Voynov outmusceled, and took the puck away from Big Hal Gill which led to Cliffords goal? The only person who wasnt happy about that was @Dominick ! lol
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DLB Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 11:40 am
@puck73, I think you mistake genuine concern for Voynov’s good yet still developing defensive game for hatred or something.
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Dominick Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 11:41 am
@puck73, Not even! I am glad whenever I see VV playing aphysical match up properly.
I’m the only one who does. The rest of you guys just want him to stay sheltered.
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Kman Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 11:37 am
@Lake Forest,
just propped up AMart on K3 thread.
BTW… Have’nt been this EXCITED about a Ducks game since like 2 days ago !
C’mon Quacks, baste-the-guppies for Tuesday night barbecue !
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DesertKing Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 11:48 am
@Lake Forest,
You are 100%the correct. He and Fraser were bringing it last night.
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LA_1968 Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
@Lake Forest, Amart has more confidence now with his d-spot cemented after the trade. He’s is starting to form a chip on his shoulder. He’s getting territorial like an animal.
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Advanced stats game ID# is 21074.
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7 points for King? Never would have guessed he would be so incredibly effective. He’s keeping pace with Carter.
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KC23 Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
@Dominick, I’d say King is the most under-rated player we have on this blog. He has been a beast out there and almost never turns the puck over. When you see King go into a corner one on one … he usually comes away with control of the puck.
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The boys have truly (finally) been playing with some passion and with a mission out there. This is what we need to make a playoff run. Keep it up guys! We’re behind you all the way!
GKG!
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Gawd, just imagine if we ever figured out how to enter the zone on a PP??!! Mnay teams, including the Red Things are using the drop pass thingy to very good success nowadays.
Anyone else notice how the mere presence of Carter is breaking the Kings out of their psychological slump? Carter is prodcing little on the board. Sorry to say it but Richards is still a major drag on the offensive side. At laest he’s playing good defensively. Penner was everywhere last night.
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klong Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
@crashin’da net,
Carter is producing more than a little on the board. At this pace he would have lead the Kings in both goals and points for the entire season if he had been here
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crashin'da net Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
@klong, that’s nopt saying much for the way we played – worst offense in the league. We need him to produce more. He is barely playing to his level. He should exceed it aftger being reunited with his buddies.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
@crashin’da net, This team is just now starting to tread water with opening up the system a bit more. Carter is doing his part in terms with what the team is trying to do at this point.
Klong Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
@crashin’da net,
% goals in 7 games extrapolated over the course of an 82 game season is 37 goals. Which is more than his average yearly total.
Klong Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
@crashin’da net,
5 goals in 11 games ***
PP Anybody? Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
@klong, He may have wound up being the leading goal scorer, but probably wouldn’t surpass Kopi for points.
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What an ending in Philly. Hartnell scores with 1 second left in OT.
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broncokings Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
@CB14, luckily no clock gate
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It’s obvious Penner is playing for a contract. (somewhere) I think it might be too little too late for him as a King.
Although he’s picked it up 100%, I don’t see him getting resigned.
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Jeff_R Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
@bitter, No way he is coming back as a King. I wish him well and hope he goes out with a bang.
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Goring 19 Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
@Jeff_R, It’d be funny if he went out with a SC ring..
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laikaloco Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
@Goring 19, It’d be freakin’ GREAT if he went out with a SC ring…
Off topic. Pitt – Philly just ended. What a game! Philly wins a grueling battle with .9 seconds left in OT and then golf comes on? After a hockey game, even golfers should be embarrassed when golf comes on and they call it a “sport”. The first guy they show has white slacks, a pink shirt, a puss gut, and moobs! That’s a “sport”??!! And people are whispering so they don’t disturb the “athletes”. For the 5 seconds I can tolerate it on my tv, it’s hilarious!!!
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Steve W Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 12:37 pm
@40YearKingsFan, While Golf can be boring, it is a sport, unlike poker. Poker is a card game, and thus should be on the game network, not a sports network.
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Steve W Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
@Steve W, a, not the.
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neil Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
@Steve W, Bowling .sport???
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Kenny44 Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
@neil, have you not seen Kingpin?
Kenny44 Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
@40YearKingsFan,
@Osaka would have hated that game because of all the coverage errors (especially by Philly). But it was mostly fun to watch. I did not like all the soocer style embellishment and officiating. That sucked and when it worked once it just encouraged more and more.
Philly plays a honey badger style. Coverage is for teams that don’t hit, is their attitude. They are all out attack in both ends, and they don’t care.
Jagr is still so incredibly good.
Shanny has to lay the hammer down on Kunitz for trying to squish Hartnell’s melon on the ice while the linesman held Hartnell down.
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Things are looking pretty good rigbt now but is anyone else still concerned about oir PP?
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LA_1968 Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 12:47 pm
@DesertKing, PP was the only thing not good last night… you’re right. Hard to focus on that though with so many things working better.
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crashin'da net Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 1:11 pm
@DesertKing, from about 15 posts earlier: “Gawd, just imagine if we ever figured out how to enter the zone on a PP??!! Mnay teams, including the Red Things are using the drop pass thingy to very good success nowadays.”
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DesertKing Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
@crashin’da net,
Sorry, missed that one
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Shakes Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
@DesertKing, The ironic thing is our best looking PP was at the end of the game when we really weren’t trying to score and just playing keep away
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So here’s a thought: while it’s easy to lament the 2 games and 4pts we lost to Columbus and the Wings on our road trip I think it may be the primary reason we have really manned up and are playing top flight hockey right now. For the first time in 3 yrs we have a chance to make the playoffs while being a hot team versus backing in
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Kenny44 Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
@Shakes, I think both things have a lot to do with adjusting from the “I hope we don’t lose” approach of TM to the “get after ‘em” approach by DS.
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Steven H Brown Reply:
March 18th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
@Shakes, It does not bode well for the teams prospects, to make the playoffs/win the division, or win in the playoffs, if they have to back themselves into a corner, before they preform. their is no excuse for not bringing it, in Columbus, which before the trip started, would have been the 2 points fans and analysts would believe were the ones they could get easily. the end of the game melt down in Detroit, was even worse, they squandered 55 minutes of good hockey, by failing to finish, so glad that didn’t happen again last night. these guys have to recognize, that unlike in prior years where just making the playoffs, was the goal, that winning the division is the first marker, but just an interim goal, on the road to winning the Stanley Cup, which is the goal, and not a one and done like Anaheim, and Chicago, but to be a real contender year after year, as the Wings were, and the Penguins are. that requires bringing it game after game, day after day, shift by shift, and especially in practice.
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