Darryl Sutter’s postgame thoughts…
(on the improved killer instinct, to put teams away…)
SUTTER: “I think tonight, it was because we had four lines (against) a team that played last night, and we could push it a little bit, catch guys at the end of shifts. Guys who play a lot, catch them a little bit tired, and we looked fresher than them. I think that’s the difference in the `killer’ part of it. I think we took advantage of that.’’
(on Dustin Penner scoring again…)
SUTTER: “Good for him. He moved his feet, shot on the fly. He looked like Mark Messier. [grins] … It looked a lot like Kinger’s goal the other night, where he cut it to shoot on the fly on the far side of the ice. Good play.’’
(on Alec Martinez’s recent play…)
SUTTER: “We’ve got to get minutes out of him. It’s real simple. When we made the Johnson deal, that was going to put Voynov and Marty and Drew in more situations than they had been used to. I don’t put him any different than Slava. They’ve got to produce. One is a lefty and one’s a righty, and they’ve got to produce for us.’’
(on Mike Richards’ shorthanded goal…)
SUTTER: “We use our offensive guys, when you look at it, Richie and Jeff and Kopi and Brownie in kill situations. That’s an instinct thing, too. A lot of teams go in the umbrella now, and those pucks around the walls, if you can end up winning a battle along the wall, they end up being an odd-man situation the other way. It was a good shot. He usually looks off, to make the pass there. Short side, good shot.’’
(on getting the power-play goal for a two-goal lead…)
SUTTER: “Kopi made a great play. He bought some time. That’s actually not unlike the play he made in the last game, where he came in off the wall and made the goalie bite a little. Then he got him froze. That’s what he did there. He just changed the angle enough to freeze him.’’
(on moving into eighth place in the conference…)
SUTTER: “Is that what it is? Jeez. You can win and not gain any ground. It’s crazy. It doesn’t mean nothing. The bottom line is, we pretty much have to overcome something that’s pretty much insurmountable. We’ll try to take advantage of what we have to home. It doesn’t get any easier. We play the best team in the league and defending Stanley Cup champions, back to back. I don’t think where we are right now means much to me. I’m thinking about St. Louis.’’
Lombardi…..thx for Darryl, Richards, Williams, carter, and yes…even penner.
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Nick Reply:
March 20th, 2012 at 11:11 pm
@TellmeY, +1
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KingsOfLA Reply:
March 20th, 2012 at 11:19 pm
@TellmeY, don’t miss the others! …Lewis has been quietly awesome for a while now, and, IMHO, should easily win the teams most underrated player award. Ya also gotta love what the Clifford, Frasier, Nolan line brings every night. These guys are NOT easy to play against and can really wear you down. There are so many pieces to the puzzle, and the puzzle is so close to being complete… built from the net out, this is now a very solid team, WHEN THEY SHOW UP AND PLAY A FULL 60-MINUTES
GKG!!!
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Bama Kings Reply:
March 20th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
@TellmeY, I love how DL is a genius now. Not knocking you guys, but it’s everywhere. Everyone complained about him, wanted him fired… he’s done an amazing job.
Next year will be the true test.
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Jim S. Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 2:33 am
@Bama Kings, I agree with you 100%. This was the year the kids needed to step up & learn how to win. It took a new message from a (not exactly) new coach & some tweaks in personnel… & now the team is proving that they CAN win at home & they’re playing like ateam on a mission. I’m very happy for them. Next year is the year for sure. I don’t understand why anybody would want to start over with new management. They’re on the cusp…
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kings4queens Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 3:13 am
@Bama Kings,
I haven’t written off this year yet. It’s been tough for the team and the fans this year, but I think they’ve learned invaluable lessons from the struggles, and they are peaking at the right time.
I’d be so excited to see the divisional Pacific Division banner hanging in the rafters, which isn’t a pipe dream at all. I think the team has figured some things out since the coaching change, and as scary as it still is to watch them hang on to a lead in the third, they seem to be able to do it. It’s still nerve-wracking though because, as fans we all have such a strong recollection of the times they let it slip away. It’s hard to trust this newfound success, but I think the team has actually moved to the next level. And that is really exciting! If they keep winning they will make the playoffs. If they do, I think they have the potential to go far because Quick doesn’t appear to be worn out like Rinne and Neime seem to be. But if he is, Bernier is a great backup. Our defense is as solid as it gets. And our forwards have figured out how to put the puck in the net.
I might be a Polly-Anna, but I think this team could be the Cinderella team now that they are clicking.
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daves a mess Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 7:38 am
@kings4queens, agreed on how nerve wracking it is to watchthe kings play with a one goal lead in the third. However, I’ll believe they’ve taken kit to the next level when they can hold third period leads in the playoffs.
Stuart Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 8:20 am
@kings4queens, Polly-Anna? Isn’t that John Henry’s good woman? Sorry, I have a soft spot for the Johnny Cash ballad…
Duncanz Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 12:15 am
@TellmeY,
(on why the team looked so much better than the feeble Sharks for most of the game …)
SUTTER “Well, they’re on their last legs and we’re not is what it comes down to. They were about as tired as an old tiller mule out there. Last night they had to play The Ducks, and then turn around right away and tonight play the ‘Mighty Kings’. Tough for them.”
(on scoring from the Martinezes and the Voynovs of this world …)
SUTTER: ” When we got rid of that Johnson guy, there was nothing for it than to hope like heck that we could get away with giving these newbie types some more minutes. So far we’re getting through, which is good ‘cos that Drew guy is next if he doesn’t gee it up a bit.”
(on Richards toting up the shorthanders …)
SUTTER: If he’s good for anything, he’s good for those shorties. You know, you use your coaching intuition and you hope like heck he starts to get goals, or those newbies are gonna pass him up real fast. Same with Carts and his empty netters. Decent two-way players though.”
(on shooting up the standings into eighth, temporarily …)
SUTTER: “Jeez, is that all we are? Like I said before, that guy I can’t mention ‘cos I’m in his shack got us in all this. You just have to understand the situation is impossible, then win a few and get yourself out of it, really. The best way is to set low expectations for the fans and then figure that those insurmountable champion teams like your Bostons and your St Louises are already in the play-offs and might cut you a break.”
(on Penner possibly not being a ‘flash in the pan’ after all …)
SUTTER: Well if you look at his goal, it had a little Messier, a little Gretz’, and a little Savard in there – that’s a guy from my day [smiles]. Pretty neat, huh? Nahhh, really he’s a lot more like Kinger ‘cos he can’t think for himself. We draw up all their plays for them. We talked to him about that and we drew up that play for him, and he kind of followed it through … and then that schlub in goal for them pretty much did the rest.”
(on where you would be without Dean Lombardi’s savvy moves this season …)
SUTTER: I guess he took a plane and moved himself to Boston for that trip … so I guess I’d be back home, eatin’ refried beans an’ cleanin’ chicken houses for a livin’ still … you guys got any hockey questions on ya?”
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ForumFan Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 1:26 am
@Duncanz,
That’s a really funny parody.
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kings4queens Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 3:18 am
@Duncanz,
PRICELESS!!!
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JackKentCooke Reply:
March 23rd, 2012 at 1:47 am
@Duncanz,
Astute Sutterology.
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“It doesn’t get any easier. We play the best team in the league and defending Stanley Cup champions, back to back. I don’t think where we are right now means much to me. I’m thinking about St. Louis.”
Translation: “Park & Ride”.
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Csaba Bhody Reply:
March 20th, 2012 at 11:47 pm
@IceGuy, We lost so many points, that we just have to keep winning…
The problem is that everyone’s winning…lol
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The Zen Farmer strikes again!
Penns as the new Mark Messier. Genius!
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jess Reply:
March 20th, 2012 at 11:27 pm
@Duncanz,
That was bitchin and hilarious rolled into one.
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Stuart Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 8:24 am
@Duncanz, His first book is tentatively scheduled to be titled “Zen and the art of motorized bailer maintenance!”
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My advice to the Kings last night for this game.
Sharks will be ticked off after losing to the Ducks. My advice to the Kings comes from Sun Tzu “If the enemy is angry, frustrate him.”
Well, the game winner was the result of constantly out working them until frustration set in and they took 4 penalties in less than 2 mins.
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Kenny44 Reply:
March 20th, 2012 at 11:26 pm
@luc20rules, You can never go wrong with the Tzumeister.
Although, I have to give credit also to @variable for his advice during that segment of the game: “Sweep the leg!”
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CB14 Reply:
March 20th, 2012 at 11:37 pm
@luc20rules, My advice to you, start drinking heavily. – Bluto
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LA_1968 Reply:
March 20th, 2012 at 11:48 pm
@CB14, Animal House.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 12:26 am
@CB14, “Sharks, your new delta tau chi name is …. ‘The Flounders’!”
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kings4queens Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 3:22 am
@luc20rules,
And the Kings showed some self-discipline by not allowing the Shark’s frustration to shake them.
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Other than about five minutes in the third, after the power plays, we thoroughly outplayed them from the drop.
Love to see that kind of effort and we’re going to need to see it in every game from here out. Tonight’s a perfect example of why scoreboard watching can make you crazy. The best thing that could’ve happened was for us to get a regulation win and we got it.
The boys took care of their business and that’s all that matters. Closer to the three seed than seventh.
So fired up to head up to Vancouver and watch the boys take it to the Canucks Monday night.
Let’s take care of St Louis and Boston first, and head out on a serious roll.
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Only one thing for sure with DS. You never know what he’ll say.
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Off topic. Luc Robitaille is a hockey hero!
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I still have this great image in my head of Martinez flying down on the left circle and banging his stick and yelling -”give me the puck”! -presto. Hungry for blood. Loving this team right now!
LGMFK!!!
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Big win. Let’s keep it rolling. We got to stay focused and poised, taking it one game at a time. It’s always nice to beat the sharks though
Go Kings!
Just Win Baby!
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Gonzy22 Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 12:15 am
@562kevin, I love beating the sharks!
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562kevin Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 11:51 am
@Gonzy22, Hell yeah. Always. Let’s do it two more times
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Great game with one major reservation……Not once during the last 3 games while on the PP have the kings been able to carry the puck over the the blue line……even on the 5 on 3 they dumped and chased the puck.
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fsd1 Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 7:36 am
@TheZamboniMechanic2, not once in the last 3 games did we play a team that didnt line u 5 across the blue line. you do what you have to do.
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fsd1 Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 7:37 am
@fsd1, line “up”
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now we just need to forget this streak we are on and keep it going. just take each game 1 by one and hopefully we can win9 more! that will be great!
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The Carter deal seems to have been 3+ fold. Voynov 9 game point streak playing vs JJ (not knocking JJ, I actually think at this stage JJ is abit better right now, but at 21 vs 25 Voynov’s potential is greater than JJ’s IMHO, Voynov 19:05 is hot & Greene 16:27 tonight, because lead didn’t open until mid 3rd period), Carter play over top current scratched RW Westgarth or Richardson, Carter’s threat spreading top D & F combos of opponents, the obvious elavation of Richards play they play together like the Sedin twins reading each others minds, and the PP Carter moves Richards to point and Brown to the 2nd PP and now both PP1 and PP2 are very dangerous and offer different strategic challenges for opponents PKs.
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letswinthecup2012 Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 12:11 am
@luc20rules, 2 .’s???
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Hot Topic: If Penner gets hot and plays like a monster in the playoffs does he get an offer from DL?
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CB14 Reply:
March 20th, 2012 at 11:54 pm
@luc20rules, If he plays like a monster in the playoffs he’ll likely get an offer from DL. But I think it’s more likely he would recieve a better offer from someone else.
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JackKentCooke Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 12:00 am
@luc20rules,
Whoever he signs with and for however much, he should give Sutter 10%,
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sh27696 Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 12:12 am
@luc20rules, It depends upon how far the team goes in the playoffs, and what he & his agent expect. If Penner was to get to 10 + goals in the regular season, and then a point a game in 3 or 4. Rounds of playoffs, then they might make a minimum 1 year offer, but even then DL would have to wonder where has this been? My best guess is that he will play somewhere else next season. Even though TM is gone, I think he will want a fresh start away from LA.
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gcheng Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 1:10 am
@sh27696,
i think the root of penner’s troubles this year is his marriage. once that(divorce) is behind him, he has picked up his game. even his comments last game was telling about his off ice troubles.
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Eric K Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 10:14 am
@luc20rules, With a pay cut? Sure! I think we give him one year at $2.5-3 million, but he waits for free agency and some other team overpays to put him on their second line.
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luc20rules Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 8:45 pm
@Eric K, I would agree with that, but as much as he has struggled on the ice. My take is he has enjoyed his time here and likes the LA/OC area. It wouldn’t shock me even if he goes on a tear he opts to take less money and stays.
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It’s so nice to see the Kings play the way everyone expected them too at the beginning of the season. It makes me one happy Kings fan.
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We won 5 games in a row and I’m still really scared, and I have to be scared… We have 3 tough games ahead of us… I hope we don’t stop winning!
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Dan Boyle looked so depressed in his interviews… I feel a bit guilty for loving it so much…
but then… nah.
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FiG17 Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 12:00 am
@FiG17,
Also, it’s interesting that he was talking about how the effort could have been better and how they need to work harder, while McLellan kept saying how the effort WAS better tonight… sounds a bit familiar…
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Finally got home. What an amazing game that was to blow the Sharks right out of the water and to send them in a tailspin to, a whopping 18.2 to 37.7% odds to make the playoffs. While the Kings went up 10.1 to 70.6%. They also have entered the top 8 and hopefully will stay there from now on. The big test of just how they are doing will be Thursday against Numero Uno St Louis.
Now to the Stats. This was game 5 of the first 7 game increment counting down the last 14 games. The Kings have won the first 5 games and have completed what we said they needed to, winning 5 out of 7. They can take a break but why now…Keep it going. 7 out of 7 is not a long shot anymore.
Chicago – W – 1-0
Detroit – W – 2-0
Anaheim – W – 3-0
Nashville – W – 4-0
San Jose – W – 5-0
Two more games round out the first 7 game increment. They include St Louis and Boston. Win those two and go 7-0 for 14 points and 88 total. Do this and all they need to do to make the playoffs is win at least 3 out of the 2nd set of seven. Our last 7 games include Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Minnesota, Edmonton, San Jose, San Jose. I see us winning 5 of these 7. so that would give us 10-12 wins and 94-98 points. Our chances of winning the Pacific Division are great now and we also have the edge versus Dallas. Both have 9 games left but Dallas has the tougher schedule overall, although they lead in ROW 33-31. Thankfully Tonight’s Dallas win did not add to there ROW.
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Gmo Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 6:14 am
@Jeff_R,
Great stuff man
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love how kings rolling right now its so great to watch all 4 lines rolling. all about determination for us GO KINGS GO and more syrup for penner lol
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Gmo Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 6:12 am
@Mark,
Penner rocks
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Tomorrow we can take a break from watching games that affect the Kings. Probably the only day off in the next 18 days. The only game that has any minor affect is the Hawks/Canucks. But most likely we won’t can’t Chicago and really does it really matter, as we will win the Pacific.
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Repost for Others:
Simpler breakdown of the points and where could end up:
Points Chance of Playoffs 3rd Place 6th Place 7th Place 8th Place
98 100% 86% 4.3% 9.3% 0%
97 100% 71% 5.3% 22% 2.3%
96 99.5% 52% 3.5% 34.8% 9.5%
95 95.7% 31% 2% 38% 25%
94 80.7% 14.3% 0% 26.5% 39.5%
93 and Below, the chance of making playoffs is a coin flip (50%) and lower
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
March 21st, 2012 at 2:54 am
@kingsxstevenxkings,
For those who don’t know, we have 9 games remaining.. from the #’s.. we need to go 6-3 and we keep playing (or 5-2-1). Any better than that and we’ll be sitting pretty in 3rd place
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It’s pretty simple, win out and make the playoffs. Our fate is in our hands.
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Great effort last night.
That’s what happens when you can roll 4 strong lines and your best players step up to be the best.
I can’t recall the last time I saw a team win every battle for 50/50 pucks. Incredible job of forechecking and puck recovery by the Kings!
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Kings have won 5 in a row. 3-2 @CHI, 5-2 vs DET, 4-2 @ ANA, 4-2 vs Nash and 5-2 vs SJS the common thread here is 2 GA in 5 straight games and enough Offense tp win them all! Before the Carter trade they would’ve been happy to go 3-1-1 if they gave up 2 goals in 5 straight games. as good as this is they are in the playoff position, by an eyelash currently and the next 3 games are vs St louis #1 overall in the NHL, vs Boston last season’s SC winner, and @ Vancouver last year’s SC finals game 7 loser. Like DS said where they are now is not important, preparing for St Louis is the task at hand!
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We already beat St Louis 2x this season, not sure if one of the wins was against the improved team…we have a great record against Pacific Div. teams, so things are good.
I also hope Penner will light up the lamp some and continue into the playoffs…and get into one fight, he would have a reach advantage.
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Look at the strongest teams in the league, they have and roll four lines that can score. This has been echoed many times on this blog but Carter has brought a new dimension to the Kings that they lacked previously, that is depth at forward. We all though we had that. With so many guys who have struggled offensively we’ve not had that balance and depth. Carter is by no means a one man wrecking crew ala Crosby, Malkin or Ovechkin but Carter is a very important depth piece that has allowed the team to focus on role specific players. Player are now slotted in their right roles.
While there have been some compromises as to defensive lapses, the fact that we are scoring more goals is attributed to a team now that is more balanced and can utilize its stronger and weaker assets more affectively. When companies do leveraged buy outs they look at all assets, both weak and bad and even bad assets can be leveraged for good assets.
I’m still not convinced this is a cup contending team but we are a lot closer on the ice than we were, say, a month ago.
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It’s official Mike Richards has his correct nick name back.
Mike Richards is the real Richie and should be called that!!!!
Sorry Brad or we can call you Braddy now.
Mike Richards rocks!!!!
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we totally outplayed a tired Sharks team and deserved the W.
We HAVE to win the Pacific and get that 3rd seed and home ice if we want to advance to round 2. We can beat Chicago.
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