After being masked, in previous games and series, by an effective penalty kill, the Kings’ lack of success on the power play was brought to the forefront after Game 4, after the Kings went 0-for-6 on the power play and had more than nine minutes of power-play time. Lack of power-play success is certainly nothing new for the Kings this season — it, as part of a general lack of scoring, was a theme for much of the regular season — but the power-play shutout was amplified yesterday because the Kings allowed a first-period power-play goal. It was pointed out to Darryl Sutter today that the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup last season without a strong power play. Is it possible, Sutter was asked, that power-play success is overrated in the playoffs?
SUTTER: “Yeah.’’
Question: How so?
SUTTER: “The Bruins won the Stanley Cup.’’
Witty banter aside, Sutter knows the Kings can be much better on the power play. It’s not really a matter of structure. The Kings, for the most part, have been getting set up. They’ve just been slow to react, indecisive at times and ineffective at times in terms of passing and screens and deflections. Dustin Brown and Drew Doughty talked today about needing more from the power play…
DOUGHTY: “We need it. We know that a lot of times in playoffs, special teams is key. The penalty kill has been great the entire playoffs, but our power play definitely needs to pick it up. If we had got just one on the power play last night, that changes the whole momentum of the game. We’ve definitely got to make sure that we’re capitalizing on those opportunities.’’
BROWN: “Our power play has struggled, but it found us a big goal in Game 2, a couple goals in Game 2, that were huge for us. We’ve got to find a way to get a goal. I mean, we’re getting a lot of opportunities on the power play. It’s up to the players out there to figure it out. … Me being a net-front guy, I think we need to shoot more. Just get it to the top, and we need more guys at the net. I think we’re kind of perimeter right now. We just need to throw the puck at the net and have a collapsing attitude, toward the net and around the net.’’
Sutter pointed toward blocked shots as a reason why the Coyotes thrived on the penalty kill.
SUTTER: “I said it last night after the game. Lots of time up top to shoot the puck, and not shooting it when you have the opportunity. … When you block shots, that means you have time to block a shot, right? We scored goals 5-on-3 when they didn’t block shots. We should be able to do that again, 5-on-4.’’
DOUGHTY: “They were doing a good job at that. We need to make sure that we’re getting pucks off our sticks quicker, and make that pass and get that shot there quicker. If you take your time, it gives them more room to close the lane down and get in the shot lane. We need to maybe take more one-timers and find a way to get past them and to the net.’’
I love Sutter. Sutterism have taken over my vocabulary.
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JackKent Cooke Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 1:56 pm
@Pili,
Linguists refer to these as Sutteronics.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:09 pm
@JackKent Cooke,
It’s just your Vike talkin’, you’re tellin’ me lies?
Vike talkin’, you wear a disguise
Vike talkin’, so misunderstood
Vike talkin’, you really are good!
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Kingsfanforlife Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 3:22 pm
@Pili, “Right?”
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Robert R Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 9:28 pm
@Pili, Remember Murrayisms?
“That was a big dig-in” (a lot of expended effort) is one that comes to mind.
Sentences that begin on one topic, then shoot off in an entirely different direction.
Enough to give to an English professor the urge to throw himself off of a bridge.
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When you add them all up, I have a feeling that the number of teams who won the Cup and had a good PP will be greater than the number of teams who won the Cup and had a PP like ours.
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Stuart Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 1:46 pm
@DesertKing, just a hunch? we’ll have to wait for the birdwatchers to confirm…
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:10 pm
@Stweet, ” Tweet! “
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Weasel Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:24 pm
@DesertKing,
Maybe so. But as long as we’re just speculating I’d wild-a** guess that there’s a stronger correlation between PK success and winning the Cup than PP success….
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DesertKing Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:27 pm
@Weasel,
Good point. They say “defense” wins championships.
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OneTimer Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 4:18 pm
@Weasel,
Absolutely. I’d take a strong PK over a strong PP anyday. There’s lots of ways to go +1 goal that don’t involve the PP. 5-5, 4-4, a penalty shot, heck even our PK has scored us 4 shorthanded goals in the past 13 games. But if you go down -1 or -2 goals because of a weak PK, … now you’re headed in the wrong direction, AND you’re ALSO having to find those other ways to score, just to get back to even.
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interesting that DDD is the one saying that there at the end… YOU needs to make that pass and get that shot there quicker! Nobody is afraid of getting hit with your 12-6 slapper!!! flick it towards the net man!
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:00 pm
@Stuart,
He did a pretty good job yesterday actually. One of the best chances the Kings had was off of Doughty’s shot.
On a related note, why doesn’t Penner play the net-front guy? He’s huge. And back when the Kings lit up the Canucks a couple of years ago, Smyth and Handzus were both firmly planted by Louongo. The Canucks couldn’t block the shots because too much time was given to those two down low. They have one extra guy on the PP so why not put him in front of the net? This would also make it easier to screen Smith when the puck goes side to side as there would be a guy ready at either side.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:15 pm
@FKA PakiFro,
One of the great as yet unanswered questions of the season is, why can’t DP productively fill a role that seems cut out for him more than almost any other player in the whole NHL?
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:19 pm
@Duncanz,
Has he been asked to? I don’t recall the last time he was the net-front guy. Perhaps when he first arrived?
Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:43 pm
@Duncanz,
I think I remember him getting hit really early on in the season by a JMFJ point effort, or somebody similarly wayward.
He was too big and lumbering to get out of the way, too, at the time.
Since then, I haven’t seen him venture again too near the danger zone.
I guess lumberjacks and loggins don’t mix so well affer all ….
mcdangles Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:11 pm
@Stuart, I totally agree. Get the puck to the net, from the point, you don’t need to have the big slap shot to do that. Quickest shot is the wrist shot….USE IT!
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“We need to maybe take more one-timers and find a way to get past them and to the net.’’
OMG, Drew has heard of a one-timer, though I’ve never seen him utilize it.
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Stuart Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 1:47 pm
@LAK1ngs, it’s hard to get the timing right when you need to wind it up to the heavens just to get a shot off… 12-6 is not conducive to one-timers.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:21 pm
@Stuart,
Well after all, even your watch says 6 o’clock more than one timer day!
Then again, maybe he has been studying Tiger Woods swinging too closely and has inadvertently developed his very own ‘two-timer’ !
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Phoenix had better play 3 more perfect games in a row. The pressure’s on them. Good luck Smith.
If the Kings score first, Phoenix loses their composure. Kings need to get a good start in one of those games.
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I think they are delusional regarding power plays…nothing they say ever changes and what they say, sometimes doesnt match what they do, or change…
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doesnt matter they all flat footed when comes to PP…
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How about just get the puck on the net and capitalize on the rebounds if any??? Now, there’s a thought. Enough of the BIG BLAST SLAP SHOT that Phoenix is having a great job at blocking because they are reading the play and what the Kings D are going to do from the point
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Positional discipline doesn’t work on the PP (except in front) everybody knows where their supposed to be, as does the PK. Havoc and Hi-energy are needed to create chances.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
May 22nd, 2012 at 12:29 am
@Diego, Bingo.
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We certainly talk the talk…
Now how bout we walk the walk….
Or work the wok…Whatever…
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Diego Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:12 pm
@SLIM,
Woking the Dog?
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SLIM Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:19 pm
@Diego,
If you don’t know how to do it
I’ll show you how to……….!
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:45 pm
@SLIM,
Skate the stride…
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Sutter, “We scored goals 5-on-3 when they didn’t block shots” If you score on a 5-3, there is one less body to cover, you try not to block shots, especially go down, you will take yourself out of the play and make it easy for the other team to put the puck in your net. On a 5-3 you have no choice but to play the triangle and be very active with your stick as in block the passing lanes
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:27 pm
@mcdangles, Simple math, right?
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crazy idea, how about Doughty switches to the left so he can take 1 timers.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:30 pm
@Sebastian,
8 divided by 1 still equals DD ..
(it’s true, I borrowed @Domnck’s calculator)
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goldielocks Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:31 pm
@Sebastian,
You know it worked once upon a time.
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Diana Summers – Gone
Robin Gibb – Gone
Disco is dying, and since these things come in 3′s, who will be next?
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DesertKing Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:28 pm
@DesertKing,
Sorry, “Donna”
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:32 pm
@DesertKing,
Jonathan Winters?
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Diego Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:38 pm
@DesertKing,
Tony Manero.
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DesertKing Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:40 pm
@Diego,
WINNER (except for @Stuart’s post below)
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Stuart Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:38 pm
@DesertKing, the Yotes?
And @Daveyz will tell you, those 2 followed the great DJones to the recording studio in the sky, so there’s already been 3!
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:48 pm
@Spoonert,
When the lights go out in the city …. it’s all just a click in the dark for american bandstanding jumpers …
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OneTimer Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 4:21 pm
@DesertKing,
The Phoenix Coyotes.
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What was the difference in yesterdays game…
Doan and Smith stepped up…
It took them 4 games to do so….
No way can they continue to do this….
If Trevor Lewis could of found the back of net..
This game would have looked completely different…
The Dog days of summer are over..
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:34 pm
@SLIM,
Alas, Smith & Doan(s)
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Fire Kompon! (someone had to say it and it hasn’t been said in a while)
Our PK is stellar, our PP (hehe) is weak.
I don’t see rapid passes and quick fires, too many time has it been stopped for a DD win up or the shot has been “fanned”
We also lack a front net presence. Any time Kopi is up front he gets shoved into the goalie for a penalty.
I don’t have an answer. But we gotta do something different.
Also was it just me or were the refs on everyone like hawks cause of Tippetts comments?
We didn’t take many. But to me they seemed overly whistley.
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Sebastian Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:35 pm
@Mars, i think rich put it best in the key three…
“The Kings didn’t lose because they played an afternoon game — see: St. Louis, Game 4, vs. — or because of whatever magical, mysterious powers some people believe an assistant coach has over a power play.”
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DesertKing Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:42 pm
@Sebastian,
If assistant coaches didn’t have some “mystical power,” Then what do they do? I guess the PK just hums along so easily and successfully because Jon Stevens is busy picking out a tie for tomorrow’s game.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:51 pm
@DeadCertKing,
LMAO, it’s almost like you took that personally!
ha ha ha ha haaaa
DesertKing Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:54 pm
@Duncanz
I did! Jon Stevens always wears nicer ties than I do
Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 3:10 pm
@DeadCertKing,
And Ray Stevens always dresses better too, but you can’t do much about that one!
Osaka Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 3:39 pm
@DesertKing, Every video I saw of the Kings practicing the PP this postseason had Sutter running it. Do you really believe in your heart of hearts that Kompon tells Sutter what to do? This is not football, he is not the offensive coordinator. In the NHL the head coach runs it all and the assistants help. Bernie is there helping too, should he be fired?
Stuart Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:39 pm
@Mars, you aint whistley Dixie!
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:56 pm
@Mars,
Here’s an answer: Patric Hornqvist!
Seeing nobody ever pays attention to my trade ideas, I’ll just keep on repeating them ad nauseum …
… hmmm, that’s probably why no one pays any attention to my ideas …
# vicious cycle
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Kingsfanforlife Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 3:28 pm
@Mars, I say it every day, hopefully Kompon will be gone next year
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No need to over analyze the power play. We need to close them out tomorrow. I don’t care how well they play. We have more depth and skill and if we match their team game we’ll win. It’s that simple.
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SLIM Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:46 pm
@Bonvivant1,
Simple is as simple does…
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Stuart Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 2:49 pm
@Bonvivant1, K.I.S.S.?
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My two least favorite guys on the PP are on the first unit and imho they both have similar issues. DD and Kopitar and very very slow to do something, anything once they get the puck. They hold onto it painfully long which makes it so easy for the defense to get their sticks and bodies in the shooting and passing lanes.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 21st, 2012 at 3:07 pm
@KC23, I see that, and I get what they’re trying to do.
They’re waiting to draw a d man into blocking position, then the idea would be to slip the puck past into the space created.
Trouble is everybody’s so static (incl AK & DD when they receive the puck) that there ends up being no incisive options opening up anyway, so the next pass ends up being along the boards into the corner or right back to the (other side of the) point, and the whole move resets all over again.
# deere country/stagnation
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I agree absolutely with Sutter here. Yesterday at the game, our entire row was just yelling ‘Shoot the puck!’ Sutter said it best when he mentioned if a shot gets blocked that means the other team had time to block it.’ Aside from the dude in the purple shirt who stood up and blocked the view of many kings fans in our section, the tentativeness in the power play shooting from the points was aggravating.
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Want to see the Kings be more effective on the power play? Replace Doughty with Willie Mitchell.
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Dmen need to get quick wristers or snappers on net, don’t need the slapper. The object of the dmen should be to get the puck off quickly and on net, not shoot to score.
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Since the PP isn’t working right now, wouldn’t hurt to experiment and mix up the combos to get a different look and find some chemistry. Maybe the current units are too accustomed to each other so it’s tough to get the message through.
My recommended combos to start with…
First unit: king, kopi, Williams, voynov, Mitchell
Second init: Richards, carter, brown, doughty, Martinez
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Nick Nickson made two good observations on his post-game show yesterday when a caller asked him about the Kings ineffective power play.
He said that the Kings players who don’t have the puck need to move around more instead of remaining stationary. That makes it harder for the penalty kill unit to defend.
He also said that he would leave Kopitar, Brown & Williams together on the power play instead of splitting them up.
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What,s needed is a good one time shot. Forget about stopping the puck. Shoot it!
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