Dustin Penner’s postgame thoughts…
(on the game…)
PENNER: “They played really well. It’s a good lesson for us. We had got the bounces, for the most part, until tonight. They threw themselves in front of a lot of shots. Their PK was really good and they got a power-play goal. So, they definitely earned this one, and we couldn’t find an answer for Smith.’’
(on the pressure the Kings put on Smith…)
PENNER: “Well, it wasn’t good enough. You talk about screen, tip, rebound, and we didn’t get enough of that tonight. We let him see too many pucks, and we didn’t get enough second chances.’’
(on playing too much from the perimeter…)
PENNER: “I think that’s what I alluded to there. It was just kind of, one and done.’’
(on not getting a power-play goal…)
PENNER: “It would have been nice. They earned this one. There’s not much more we can say. We’re going to regroup and, like I said, it’s a good lesson for us.’’
(on Mike Smith’s game…)
PENNER: “He’s been a great goalie for them all year. As forwards, we’ve got to do something different, or a little bit better, to make him work harder, and not just be satisfied with getting the puck on net, but maybe picking a spot or trying to beat him clean or putting it off his pads so we can get a rebound goal. We’ve had success doing that, so we have to get back to that.’’
Our PP has been atrocious all playoffs long. Also…stop shooting the puck in Smiths stomach.
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mrbrett7 Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 6:29 am
@thrustable, Yes, because it’s that’s easy.
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Penner is absolutely correct
about them getting the bounces today…
So obvious….You got to battle for bounces…
Kings semi battled..
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Duncanz Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
@SLIM,
semi battled …
semi committed …
semi alert …
semin like …
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“It’s a good lesson for us”
This should be the theme of the day. Losing sucks but it’s over so let’s look at the silver lining. This loss could turn out to be a blessing in disguise later on. It was the same with Vancouver after they won Game 4. Time to regroup, refocus, and reset. Plus, we fans get to watch more hockey so it’s not all bad.
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Gail Web Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Agreed
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Duncanz Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
@SVELTE said something similar earlier, but I just want to get these 16 games out of the way so inspirational blogsters like @DesserterKing can finally get to concentrate on baseball season..
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KingMe20 Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
I also think this was a much needed lesson in not looking past the next game. I feel like they came out in the first five minutes with the attitude that if they played hard for five minutes, Phoenix would fold up and go home, and they could start thinking about the next round. Obviously, Phoenix didn’t fluke their way to the third round. They’re a tough team, and they found their game today. Once they found it, they imposed their game on the Kings. The Kings need to regroup, and find a way to impose their game on the Coyotes in Game Five,
If I ran the team, I would ban the use of the words “Stanley Cup Finals” until they get four wins against Phoenix. The fourth win is the hardest one, and here’s hoping they remember that from the first round.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 9:07 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Well, the “more hockey” is pretty well offset by the dud today, but I’ll take “not as long a layover” as it would be if they’d won. I also subscribe to the “good experience” concept, as they could well afford this lesson.
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Phx wishes to buried in their hometown, its that simple.
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Mars Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
@David R, High five.
Damn straight.
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I’m pretty sure I saw TM behind the bench today. At least, what I saw on the ice today looked morre like his game plan. Pretty sure it must’ve been him.
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Sigh. Two more days of watching Nickelback video montages on the NHL Network.
Nobody said winning the Cup was going to be all fun and games.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 4:56 pm
@Jon G, Hey go easy on the pumpernickels!!
Didn’t y’know, they sell lotsa rekkids..
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Jon G Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
@Duncanz, Yeah, they’re just not my thing.
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The loss good to take some pressure off I guess.Reset their resolve and come out swinging even harder.
I expect the next game to be one of the best of the series now.
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Ok, so who’s deciding to head out on a(nother) crusade to the Valley of the Sun for the climactic Game 5 matchup and what’s your reason for wanting to go?
Answers below.
Winner gets a special fan pack of Popcornopolis!
@Subby, you may enter, even tho’ we already know you’re going. :p
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hockeysureshot Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 6:36 pm
@Duncanz, I’ll be there section 113. 109 degrees on Tuesday!
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:30 am
@hockeysureshot,
The temperature may yet overtake your section number!!!
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Lavamantis Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 12:59 am
@Duncanz, I’m saving my greenbacks for the upcoming NYC trip. Oops, I mean if it happens.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 1:43 am
@Lavamantis,
Hey Lava, I’m tellin’ ya, tix are almost free over there in G’dale.
There are loads to be bargained for right outside the Jobing plaza.
Like I tell anyone that’ll listen, it’s cheaper to share a ride and a room over there (incl the game, of course) than it would be for someone in LA to drive a few miles and pay for a ticket at Staples!
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The two main keys as I saw them:
1) Phoenix didn’t lose their composure like they had in the three previous games. Part of that, I’m sure, is because they’ve been reamed out by Tippet, but part of it was also a lack of tenacity on the Kings’ part.
2) Kings were out of sync. I saw far more fumbled pucks in this game than in the three previous combined. And as I mentioned, lack of tenacity–Lewis, Nolan and Voynov were the two standouts in this game as I saw it as regards energy.
Penner says it’s a good lesson, and it is; I’m sure Sutter will make sure it sticks with everyone before they take to the ice Tuesday evening.
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plywood Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 7:46 pm
@Rob, I’d add Frazier in on that mix. I thought he had an excellent game.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 1:45 am
@Rob, Si si, Senor.
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KingInVegas Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 4:43 pm
@Rob, Yeah Kings looked a little tense and seemed like they tried forcing plays that just weren’t there. They were making passes to guys that just weren’t in a good spot to receive a pass. And the Kings looked pretty lethargic in the game. Also, the point shots from the D on the PP need to get through. The Coyotes were taking a page from the Rangers. I would have thought after two periods, in the third the Kings D on the PP would just wrist the pucks on net so the puck gets there than teeing up for a slap shot, because all of them were getting blocked. And this is the first game that the Coyotes took it to the Kings, not to mention they scored first and that is huge for morale. You can’t win them all, not to mention this is the Kings only 2 loss in the play-offs. That is a very good stat. And we are still up 3-1. So no panic here, just reset and refocus and get set for game 5 on Tuesday.
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The boys arent machines and I dont understand people saying they played poorly.. sometimes things just dont go your way, and tho they talked about keeping focus and not feeling invincible this will certainly bring that home going forward.
Please, no talk here about changing the lineup or lines after one loss, just lace up the workbboots and win all the 50/50 battles Tuesday… and oh, maybe work on the PP. It would be okay if you were getting chances but the PP gets less chances than the 5-on-5 lines.
GKG!
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LuckyEleven Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
@bbb7, I agree. There were lots of quality chances. Smith stole 1 game…That’s it. While I can’t say I was hoping for a loss, I’m glad the Coyotes are putting some pressure on us. It’s a shot in the arm that was needed. Hopefully, it will be what everyone can look back on and realize it’s the game that will win us the cup.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 9:13 pm
@LuckyEleven, That which does not kill us makes us stronger. They have to do it three more times, consecutively, to kill the kings. I’m happy to see them get stronger.
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Darn afternoon game. Coyotes didnt fold and go home and played their best full game. I’m sure that the boys will re-group and win on Tuesday. One King played his ass off today, good game Trevor Lewis!
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LuckyEleven Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 5:16 pm
@TA, +22! darn straight!
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KingSurfer Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 6:17 pm
@TA, Voynov played great today too. Otherwise, everyone else cruised for most of the game…
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Honestly, Penner was not working hard enough. One play on the boards I remember, there was a loose puck and he WAITED for the puck to come to him. Lazy. Not the Penner I’ve watched most of the playoffs.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
@cynic,
Sometimes it does appear the composition is being written by a ghost penner …
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 20th, 2012 at 5:40 pm
@cynic, That’s Pancakes Penner. He’s a regular season guy. Psycho Penner is the playoffs guy but he doesn’t come out before noon… because it’s still pancakes time.
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