Darryl Sutter answered questions over the fundamentals of shot blocking after practice on Friday, and for a good cause: Los Angeles opponents are doing an awfully good job at it.
Partly due to the absence of Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell, the Kings have been out-blocked in every game this season. Earlier this week, Vancouver out-blocked Los Angeles 20-9. Nashville – though they spent much of the game in their own zone – led that statistic, 24-8.
Colorado leads the league in both cumulative blocks (139) and a per-game shot blocking average (19.9). In the six games thus far in 2013, Kings opponents have combined to block an average of 19.5 shots per game, which would come out to the second highest per-game average in the league, had “Kings opponents” been an independent entity amongst the other NHL teams.
It will be a factor in tonight’s game as well, as Anaheim has three veterans with impressive shot blocking credentials: Francois Beauchemin, Tony Lydman and Bryan Allen.
Darryl Sutter, on how to avoid having shots blocked:
“Keep changing angles. Try and change angles, and let the puck do some more of the work. I mean, Nashville has three guys that block a lot of shots. It’s not like it’s something special against us or they go out of their way to do it. [Hal] Gill, [Shea] Weber and [Scott] Hannan are all really top guys in the league at it, so you know it’s no different than when we played Jersey in the playoffs last year. They block a lot of shots. You just kind of work around it.”
Sutter, on the nature of shot blocking in the current era:
“I think that players are taught now more to get into shooting lanes than they were in the past. I think there’s a lot more lanes from the goaltender to the shooter that are blocked than at any time. I know Tampa became great at it. The Rangers became great at it. And now, you have specialists. It’s way better. It’s at a premium for guys that do it.”
One answer – crash the net!
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tornado12 Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 8:42 am
@DesertKing, How about shooting at the boards to try to get big rebounds to the front of the net as in Dustin browns Goal? That can be an advantage at your home arena. The other part is just getting shots off more quickly. It’s seems the kings ESP on the pp take too much time controlling the puck before letting it go.
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Gustavo Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 9:29 am
@tornado12,
The LAK take too damn much time taking shots in the PP because they have been taught to wait for Moses to come down from the rafters and part the sea of defenders.
For as long as I can remember, this team has waited for divine intervention to create a lane to take a PP shot….(major eye roll)…will it ever change?
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stagger Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 9:48 am
@Gustavo,
This is the answer IMO. It seems Sutter is missing the point when he talks about “changing the angle”. If we shoot AND pass quicker instead of holding the puck (attn: Kopitar and Doughty) the defenders won’t have time to get in position to block the puck.
Cav Pilot Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 9:23 am
@DesertKing, Exactly. Instead of taking low percentage shots from the perimeter, go to the net!
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crashin'da net Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 11:11 am
@DesertKing, you betcha. Easy to have your shots blocked when all you do is shoot from the points. Other teams figures this out a long time ago and you see much more redirecting from the slot and shot/passes to the sides of the net. Also, teams are playing the bounce off of the boards. These bounces are intentional and Bob and Jim ought to start calling them bounces passes instead of “shot missed the net wide”. Our opponents don’t have a lane so they bounce pass off the footboards from behind the net just like they do when breaking out of the zone. No different. I p[osted same last season as well. We are playing 1980′s point- shot-garbage hackey and that is not as effective as the tips, redirects, and bnounce passes plain and simple. Watch the first period of the Blues/Red Things game and you’ll see what the “SMART” teams are doing.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 12:17 pm
@DesertKing, Nah! This creates more of a “wall” in front of the goaltender. A dynamic offense will OPEN up more passing lanes and keeps defenders from shot blocking because he does NOT want to commit in being laying on the ice while the puck goes from one player to the other.
If point man wants to shoot, then I really really suggest in a Fake a slapper/defender goes down and skate around the fallen defender.
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Kenny44 Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 4:19 pm
@DesertKing,
I agree wholeheartedly. Drag that puck and that Dman right to the crease and bang away.
Funnel seems like it would be the perfect counter to all these shot blockers. And it seems to be a natural out of our forecheck. I’ve been waiting to see some of it from King and our other big forwards, but they’re not trying it enough IMHO.
Once you get them back on their heels, those shooting lanes will be there. You have to challenge them first, though.
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You are blocked because you are predictable. It’s that simple.
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Michael J. Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 10:19 am
@goldielocks,
Yes.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 12:10 pm
@goldielocks, Yup, it’s all about guys WITHOUT the puck not MOVING into open lanes. I’m going to keep repeating this until I see more movement in the PP!!
Guy without the puck move in or out OR both to distract defenders and opens up options for the puck carrier.
In the overload offense guy deep maybe go behind the net and into the front of the net, guy in front of the net maybe take his place. It sounds like it becomes the same formation, which it is, but what it does is it DISTRACTS and makes the opposition THINK about coverage and the defender MIGHT just bite and CHANGE his position thus opening up a lane for the puck carrier to pass the puck to.
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I don’t know about you guys, but IMHO Jon is doing a great job with this blog. Sure, we all miss Rich but let’s give it up for JR…..awesome work bud!
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Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 9:08 am
@Spencer Maze, i’ll be rootin for him, glad they got somebody after all lol good luck, i usually post from time to time, more reading than posting but good luck this all this craziness
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PRMan Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 9:40 am
@Spencer Maze, Here, Here. Nice work, Jon.
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Forum Gold Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 9:40 am
@Spencer Maze, +1. GO KINGS GO!!!
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neil Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 10:05 am
@Forum Gold, great job Jon….now we need to get a win for you to cover…
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stagger Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 10:21 am
@Spencer Maze,
Agreed. So far so good.
Keep it up and thanks Jon.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 11:25 am
@Spencer Maze,
Rich was great, but he’s gone now. We have a new FL and he’s “it”. Gotta accept we got a new teacher and support him 100%.
I support Jon and he’s doing a great job! (As long as we get our hotel window morning pics!)
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 12:19 pm
@Kingsfanone, Agreed!!
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with only 2 wins in 6 games the Kings need to get some 2 pointers….where is Jeff R. to start breaking down the season………You cant afford to go thru stretches where you dont get that many points..
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Ravens Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 10:06 am
@neil, with the shortened schedual one or two more six game stretch’s like this and we could be out if the teams ahead of us stay hot
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 12:20 pm
@Ravens, Luckily many Western Conference team aren’t doing so so also…but I agree totally two points!!
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The Kings are not getting there shot off for a one timer, because they are not passing stick to stick. They are passing to the skates way to often, not sure why this is, maybe they are taking there eye off the puck, but it needs to change quickly, like tonight, they are getting deep in the hole with not winning and winning in regulation. Those two losses vs. Edmonton and Colorado are huge, 6 points instead of 9. After not losing in three years when leading after 40 minutes.
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The entry into the zone has been weak. dump and chase only works so often. but what do I know.
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DesertKing Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 12:17 pm
@PalmSpringsKingsFan,
Good to see you back on here!
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I agree with the comments (and have said here many times) – the Kings are TOO deliberate in their attack, especially on the PP. Instead of practicing different set-ups or strategies, try doing your PP drills at double speed and dont allow anyone to hold the puck more than 2 seconds. Get used to moving it QUICK. There’ll be a lot less blocks if you dont let the D reposition after every pass.
And, yes, the Kings passing is suspect, so they rarely ever can shoot off the pass until they corral it.
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Concerning the PP:
Last night I watched about three minutes of the dux game, whic part of it was a 5 on 3 powerplay. What I saw was two ducks parked right in front of Backstrom with a lot of effort and determination to get the puck right there.
While watching the Detroit game I saw them moving the puck back and forth across the ice causing the defenders and goalie to move laterally consistantly.
For the past three years the Kings have been too slow to move, and too unskilled to pass the puck like Detroit. They have to create a “net presence” if they want to succeed. I love our players, but they are just not skilled in the way that some of the higher scoring teams are.
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Robert R Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 10:48 am
@Michael J., Yes, we’re a bunch of messed up Stanley Cup winners.
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Golly gee Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 11:02 am
@Michael J., I totally agree. Why has screening the goalie been so difficult to master??
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Yes, being predictable is the worst thing you can do in the offensive zone. Quick passing helps, but if the destinations are predictable (i.e. point to point), that doesn’t help. Moving targets–movement without the puck–are a good first step. Getting the defenseman to commit by faking the slapper, and then moving laterally, might also help. Also, a hard wrist shot kept low is an option–easier to control.
It’s so much easier to come up with this stuff when not thinking about women.
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The biggest problem us that the Kings take too long to shot the puck. Especially Doughty. Quick release instead of the big wind up.
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LA_1968 Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 11:38 am
@Steve Jensen, I have to agree they take too long to release it. Also too slow moving it. Either fault allows the D the time to setup in front and block it.
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This team needs to work on the one-timer and its accuracy with it… no quick releases on the PP allows PKers to get back into lanes which makes us keep passing it around looking for the perfect pretty pass…
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This team will never win the Cup with that PP…..Will never win the Cup with that offense…..will never win the Cup with that coach……well 2 out of 3 isnt bad !!!
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I think that the Anaheim Ducks should not fight the Kings Players because I might afraid that the kings players will be injured like no slashing sticks we need to focus the game if the Ducks will not like it at all will be Punished for good
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DesertKing Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 12:51 pm
@Adam M,
I watched that Halloween movie last night too!
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puck73 Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 12:52 pm
@Adam M, Dear Blog Administrator (Jon Rosen). We all know this is you! Just like it was Rich Hammond before you. And we know why you do this. Its to find out which one of us on this site is a bad seed! Its to see if anyone is cruel, insensitive, and not politicaly correct. Its to see if someone is careless enough to post a degrading blast on someone so you can put them on extended moderation like @poorman !
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 1:21 pm
@puck73, I think he’s a “real” blogger. Interesting though that he can’t suggest defensive pairs that don’t contain Willie Mitchell when we don’t have Willie Mitchell…….
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neil Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 1:28 pm
@HockeyNerd, Maybe Adam has a learning disorder so I never make negative comments on his posts…
Duncanz Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 2:20 pm
@neil, Well, I’m sure he’ll feel good reading that!
neil Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 2:24 pm
@HockeyNerd, I am a father figure to some of my son’s friends and one cant write very well but its not his fault….
Duncanz Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 2:59 pm
@neil, It’s it’s and can’t.
Duncanz Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 2:52 pm
@Adam M, (Especially if you are the blogmaster)
Well done, correctly stated as always.
Kings fans are too focused on murky PP and shot-blocking theory and who’s been spending too much of their lockout time at the Bicycle Club and not on the stationary bike, and they’re distracted away from the real important issues, like how utterly dirty all the other 29 teams in the league are.
Has everyone already forgotten how we weren’t succeeding last year ‘cos Toronto and their henchman refs weren’t protecting us from those monsters on any given night?
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Welcome aboard Jon.
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blocked shots…
it’s an epidemic, like catching the flu….we’ve got it bad…
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Kings win tonight!
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Just fake a slap shot then skate around the fallen defender. Now you have a MINI-MAN advantage!!
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puck73 Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 12:26 pm
@rogiesbackup, Always good to see advice from Gary Edwards on this site.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 12:43 pm
@puck73, Cheers!!!
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 2nd, 2013 at 1:05 pm
@rogiesbackup, Exactly! I don’t know why you’re the first person to suggest that. Any of you ever play rock-paper-scissors? If your opponent is always selecting one of those and beating you what does that tell you? Make them
DOUBT themselves about blocking shots….
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To:DL..Just look it-TBL’s..top 3 scorer,two of the guys are 5’8″.So,PLEASE:sign Kozun & Lokti…4 or 5 yrs,deal(1,1/2 mil.) DO NOT lose them again!!—like—M.Moulson(NYI) T.Purcell(TBL) and B.Holloway(call him,k.i.t.)…GKG…
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Remember the days when Craig Ludwig was the only guy who’s game was so built on blocking shots.
Look at that crazy old Swede with his oversized shin pads! What a maroon!
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