It’s pretty much standard operating procedure to note that special teams will play a big part in a game, but the season series between the Kings and the Vancouver Canucks drives the point home. The Kings are 2-1-0 against Vancouver this season, including one shootout win. In their regulation win, the Kings scored one power-play goal and were perfect on the penalty kill. In their regulation loss, the Kings scored one power-play goal but allowed two. In the shootout game, each team scored one power-play goal. Win the special-teams battle, win the game. That’s not such great news for the Kings. Even though they’re 4-1-0 in their last five games, during that span the Kings have scored only one power-play goal and allowed three. Darryl Sutter kept it typically simple when asked about the power play.
SUTTER: “They’ve got to score. It’s not just about generating opportunities. They’ve got to score. That’s what it’s about. You look at it tonight, and that’s an important part of the game. Both teams are teams that draw a lot of penalties. Your power play has to be good and your penalty killing has to be good.’’
To Sutter’s point, the Kings have had 260 power-play chances this season, eighth-most in the NHL, followed directly by the Canucks, who have had 258. Canucks coach Alain Vigneault was asked about the rivalry with the KIngs.
VIGNEAULT: “They had won six in a row, so obviously they’re on top of their game right now. Our expectations are to keep winning, but we’re going to have to make sure we’re on top of our game tonight.’’
The Canucks, of course, are without star forward Daniel Sedin, but Darryl Sutter wasn’t in the mood to talk about Sedin, when asked if his game plan would change against the Canucks tonight.
SUTTER: “Not really. It’s a pretty well-balanced team. We feel fortunate they could fit us into their schedule tonight. … All you have to do is listen to everything. You can’t imagine how they could lose a game, again. You ask about the Sedins. Our team has played without a pretty important offensive guy [Simon Gagne]. I think I’ve seen him in two games. He hasn’t played much here this year at all. In the scope of things, he’s a pretty important guy for our team too.’’
Preach it Coach!
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“Your power play has to be good and your penalty killing has to be good.”"
Should be – “Your penalty kill has to be good and power play has to be better”.
Let’s get these 2 points against the biggest cry babies in hockey.
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Osaka Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
@KingsGuy, Penalty kill is more important. PP can win you games but PK can lose you games.
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I’m pumped, just got back from Vegas. I put a little cash down on the Kings to win it all and I am going to frame one of the bills if it happens. We need to get back on the horse tonight and start finishing goals again. The last thing we want right now is to go back into the “great opportunities all night but just couldn’t put one away” mode. Unfortunately I am going into a meeting that traditionally goes until 6 or later and I have a 1 hour drive home. Thank the gods for DVR.
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Lake Forest Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
@370455VinSD, when my sister went to Vegas (December 2011) I had her do the same. $20 on Kings to win the cup…. Back then the odds were 28/1
What are your odds now?
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370455VinSD Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
@Lake Forest, They were 35-1 on the futures sheet but I’m guessing the recent win streak changed that because I ended up gettin 30-1.
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YoBro Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
@370455VinSD, Crap! I got ‘em in mid Nov at 12-1 when most books had them at 7 or 8-1!
Timing is everything.
Go Kings
One word – Duh!
Two words – Fire Kompon
Three words – Improved Power Play
Four words – Win the Stanley Cup
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purple and gold Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
@DesertKing, new record we made it 23 mins without a fire comment on a post about the power play.
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370455VinSD Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
@purple and gold, Should we make that the new “first”?
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DesertKing Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
@purple and gold,
Sorry, that would be 24 minutes. Are you an NHL timekeeper?
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purple and gold Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
@DesertKing, i could’t be sure at what point in the 10 min that rich posted or the point in the 24 min that you posted so I rounded down to 23 mins to be safe. Yes I tend to over think things.
DesertKing Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 4:42 pm
@purpleandgold
Thank goodness for people like you since you balance out is underthinkers
TheAcaciaStrain Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
@DesertKing, hell yeah, you tell ‘em desertking
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CB14 Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
@DesertKing, Five words – Dustin Penner hat trick tonight
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purple and gold Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
@CB14, I have been tempted to bring pancakes to every game the rest of the season/playoffs just for when that happens.
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
@purple and gold, That would be a heavy burden, bringing a stack of pancakes to every game,,,, but oh what a payoff if Pens got a hat trick! You’d definitely be a Youtube sensation!
saydaysago Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
@DesertKing, I said to fire Kompon about a quarter way through the season and someone on here said I was an idiot and it has to do with the players and how does a lack of offense have anything to do with Kompon…..gee, I dont know, because he’s the GD offensive coordinator! Im glad to see that there are a lot of people who are on my side. I have a good feeling that if we dont go deep in the playoffs this year. DL will clean house with the exception of Sutter and Ranford….Hopefully we win the cup and we dont have to worry about that… but still… fire Kompon
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Elijah Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
@DesertKing, if Penner hat tricks, i pray to see pancakes fly onto the ice.
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Dominick Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
@DesertKing, Actually, that’s like 10 words.
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DesertKing Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
@Dominick,
I had that coming!
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Duncanz Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
@DesertKing, I have no words;
……………………………….
Power plays seem to be a problem in the west look at San Jose.
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twnclick Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
@twnclick, I meant the pacific sorry. Phonenix dallas all are off and on.
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what will the sister do without his other half?
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twnclick Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
@pr0cess, Both have been having scoring issues. As in not scoring.
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fsd1 Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
@pr0cess, cry a little more?
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pr0cess Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
@fsd1, Am i a bad person to be happy he is hurt??
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fsd1 Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
@pr0cess, well, kinda, better he just get smashed up instead of a concussion, but i feel ya, the whiny little punk.
MindGeyser Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
@pr0cess, Yes.
Jeff_R Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
@pr0cess, Henrik won the Hart Trophy 2 years ago when he played most of the season with out Daniel. So they are still dangerous without Daniel and teams that play them need to come out aggressive and physical and get them off their game.
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twnclick Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 3:57 pm
@Jeff_R, he is still dangerous and lets just hope whatever the problem is they don’t solve it till tomorrow.
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Fire Kompon, problem solved!
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poe Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 5:47 pm
@bmova, Double ditto!! Should have happened along with Murra.
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Twinkle Twinkle baby, Twinkle Twinkle
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Drew needs to show us tonight and the rest of the way why he deseved a big raise so soon in his career. Dustin is coming through lately now we just need Drew to do what he’s being paid for the best two way defense in the league.
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Sorry to keep beating a dead horse, BUT once again it’s all about the players WITHOUT the puck staring at the puck handler!!! MOVE, be creative!!! Even as little as 5 feet in any direction can distract the PK unit.
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Scot Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
@rogiesbackup,
It’s so obvious!
Move, move, move, open passing lanes, stop allowing their PK’ers to stand still and be blocking passing lanes. Open up the backdoor, like when Slava slid down against Boston 2 nights ago… That should have been a goal. I never see the Kings do stuff like that, and it was nice!
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bbb7 Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 4:11 pm
@rogiesback, Exactly. NO STANDING AROUND! And if you get a pass cross-seam and have an opening, SHOOT IT! Dont stop it first!
Oh, and move VV up to the #1 PP and drop DD down.
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Kenny44 Reply:
March 26th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
@rogiesbackup, The Kings are so much more effective when they ditch their “rod hockey” PP setup and just MOVE! That one power play they had against the Bruins I don’t think the puck sat still at all and they had chance after chance.
To gain entry, IF you HAVE to dump it in, mix it up, don’t just ring it around the yellow every time and let Luongo play it. Shoot it on net and get a face off. Use the glass to scare them about a weird bounce. Shoot it hard off the end boards so it rebounds back into the circle.
Movement and variety of attack will keep the penalty killers back on their heels.
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We want the kings, avs, and stars tonight… All in regulation
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I`m not a Penner hater, but after that last game he was the only King that didn`t work is but off. I would of liked to seen Richardson get a start tonite.I know he`s a little soft on the boards but he gives it his all every shift.
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