Several notes I took during the Kings’ 3-0 loss to the Predators Thursday evening:
-I’m wary of fights to “get teams going”, staged fights, line brawls, etc., but Rich Clune’s tilt with Kyle Clifford 2:15 into the game showed the importance of the former King to this Predators team and illustrated why Barry Trotz has been pleased with the player who one month ago was playing in Manchester. A natural complacency has the potential to develop in the first game back after a long roadtrip – Nashville was playing its first home game after a seven-game trip that equaled the longest trip in franchise history – and Clune’s fight with Clifford served as a wakeup call, a rallying cry that the Predators weren’t going to fall victim to the first-home-game-in-three-weeks trap. 39 seconds later, Gabriel Bourque scored on a one-timer from David Legwand.
-I came away awfully impressed by Nashville forwards Colin Wilson and Gabriel Bourque. All four of the 22-year old Bourque’s shots came in the first period and set the tone of a period in which Jonathan Quick kept the score close while the Kings were being out-chanced. Wilson’s second goal that put the Predators up 3-0 was a beauty. The 23-year old could have scored two goals on the same play. He had an excellent deflection on Shea Weber’s power play point blast that Quick did a good job of adjusting to, and then buried his own rebound. It was a strong example of Nashville “keeping it simple”: they won a faceoff, shot the puck from the point, got bodies in front and then pounced on the rebound.
-For a team that has such strong depth down the middle, L.A. shouldn’t have been forced to the perimeter as much as it was Thursday. In perhaps the Most Deceiving Statistic Of The Year, the Kings outshot the Preds 32-14 — but how many of those shots were generated by actual scoring chances? Trotz discussed this after yesterday’s morning skate, saying of the team that ranks 30th in the league in shots per game, “I’m not concerned about the shots. I’m more concerned about what we give up. Our shots against are way down. Our chances against are way down…If you don’t get as many shots, that’s the way it goes. They don’t count the shots, they count the scoreboard.” These are two teams that match up well down the center of the ice, and I was surprised with the ease in which Nashville pushed everything towards the perimeter in its defensive zone.
-I’m not consistently seeing a 200-foot game from the Kings at this point. There are spurts of effective forechecking – the King-Stoll-Lewis line has provided some good pressure at times – but I’m not seeing 60 minutes of that rink-wide defensive effort that made the team so difficult to play against down the stretch last season. With the responsible nature inherent in the team’s forwards, I’ve been expecting more goals like Jarret Stoll’s overtime series-winner against Vancouver, which was set up by a terrific Trevor Lewis hustle play as he hounded Dan Hamhuis off the puck. It’s that type of play that has made St. Louis such a difficult team to play against – something that Barry Trotz referenced after yesterday’s morning skate.
-Any opportunity to see a game in “Smashville” should be taken advantage of. From a montage of videoboard hits, set to the tune of John Rich’s Mack Truck, to the Gordonville High School Band’s rendition of Rocky Top, to the in-house band’s between-period performances and game-stoppage cover of Roxanne and organist “Krazy” Kyle Hankins, this was a very unique game-night environment and certainly gave off a Tennessee hockey vibe. It was loud in Bridgestone Arena last night, and the fans saluted the home team with a standing ovation over the game’s final minute.
Great notes JR. Especially about the lack of hustle for the whole 60 minutes. Forecheck can’t take a break!
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Thanks for the insight Jon. I also liked the timeout Trotz called when he saw a slip in concentration. They came out and scored and never looked back. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Kopi is definitely guilty of not going to the middle.
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goldielocks Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 10:24 am
@Munchrat,
Yes, he was.
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jdm1977 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 12:27 pm
@Munchrat,
Sadly, Kopi looks like a perimeter player this year. Last night, the Kings power play passes pack and forth on the blueline between Kopi and 2 D until they lose the puck. No one in front of the net, no one is moving the puck around to a good shooting position. Kopi needs to get down low and move himself and the puck instead of soft passes to the blueline that doesn’t even get the goalie moving off his angle.
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Kenny44 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:30 pm
@Munchrat,
Years of TM brainwashing: dot to board, low to high, don’t risk a turnover because all goals are dumb frickin luck anyway.
JR is right to key on the full ice effort. It’s not just the defensive zone breakdowns, but the soft, sluggish, tentative play all over the ice. That leads to easy entry to our zone, easy set up, and more time spent there which makes the breakdowns more likely. The Kings are getting caught in between everywhere.
And the answer isn’t as simple as tighten up on D.
Remember when the Nuks used to own us? Before a playoff series with us he was asked about facing a strong defensive team like the Kings and his answer was beautiful: “I’m looking forward to making them play alot of great defense.”
We can’t go back to the “sound the retreat” style of TM, unless we abandon the forecheck that won the Cup for us.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
@Kenny44, How long before TM’s ghost will be allowed to RIP around here.
This is no longer the 2008 economy, and this isn’t TM’s Kings squad anymore.
Perhaps, when you think about it, he developed his style and tactics around the limitations of the players he had at his disposal here!
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luc20rules Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 6:05 pm
@Duncanz, You must salt and burn the bones. Maybe we can get Serono from Major League to invoke JoBu to chase away bad hockey spirits.
Kenny44 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 7:21 pm
@Yorickanz
Well, anytime you make a ludicrous assertion like that, he will get dug up and defiled.
Alas, he was no Horatio, but a man of infinite crust. Quick hath borne him upon his back a thousand times! Here set those lifeless eyes I’ve seen I know not how oft. Where be his line changes now? His heavy stick? His shot mentality?
Duncanz Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 8:07 pm
@King Claudius44, You whose lips that have dissed I know not how oft. Where be your Westys now? Your Kompons? Your Loktis? Your flashes of merriment in the pan that were wont to set the Staples on a roar?
Kenny44 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 8:31 pm
@FrancisBaconz
Not one now, to mock your own coaching!
Duncanz Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 9:00 pm
@KevinnyBaconz44, Quiet chap – fallen.
Now get you to my Lady Nancy’s VIP suite, and tell her, let her paint her name an inch thick. To the Stanley Cup, she must come.
I like your analysis Mr. Rosen. I really like you taking on the topic of shots vs chances. An old coach here has this horrible philosophy called “shot mentality” that Jim Fox (as much as he is appreciated) loved to parrot. That mentality did not work out too well and I think it might be easy for many Kings to fall back into that mentality. Shooting the puck is much easier (politically too) than creating chances.
But this is just a blip on the radar of all the Kings current issues.
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puck73 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 10:35 am
@MmmmYummy, Dont you just miss Ethan Moreau on the powerplay, and getting the puck back to the point to JJ or DD only to have the big wind up slapshot blocked yet again? lol
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pr0cess Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 10:38 am
@puck73, O wait this is still happening…
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puck73 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 10:42 am
@pr0cess, TM is still ingrained in them to a certain degree for sure.
39scars Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:31 pm
@pr0cess, at least TM got the honest days work from his players. Sutter is starting to look like Crawford in the effort department
Kingsfanone Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 10:46 am
@puck73,
They’re still doing it!
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MmmmYummy Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 11:09 am
@puck73, The Kings can’t continue to lose by 3 (and have their best defensive pair be responsible for at least two of those three) and rely on “dirty” goals from 5 on 5 play. The whole “shot first”/”pucks to the net” house of cards thing is build on excellent goal tending (of which we are ‘only’ getting above average currently) and great D which isn’t likely for a while even if Doughty/Scuderi get their game in order. I’m just praying that some miracle happens that smashes the continuing awful/pathetic/redonkoulous PP paradigm – it’s the only hope.
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I say, because it can’t hurt at this point, bring up Toffoli and Pearson and put them between Carter. Pearson can score and make plays. Drop Richards between King and Lewis until Richards wakes up and use them as a checking line. Kopi’s line is capable of stopping anyone, too. Sit Fraser and go with either Richardson or Stoll as fourth line center. Shake this team up.
Brown-Kopitar-Williams
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
King-Richards-Lewis
Colonel-Richardson/Stoll-Nolan
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Nice write up, certainly better than anytbhing Hammond ever did.
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While King-Stoll-Lewis might be generating a decent forecheck, they have between them almost ZERO offensive skills. Lewis especially doesnt seem to know what to do when their forecheck does happen to produce an opening and usually flubs the sequence. Much like last season, except for game one our 3rd and 4th lines generate nothing; other teams’ bottom lines DO score the odd goal and that makes a huge difference in a race-to-three league.
The biggest difference I see versus the end of last season isnt that opponents are controlling play more as much as they are getting many more wide-open looks than last year. The defensive coverage just breaks down too many times, leaving Quick with no chance on several shots a night. Mitchell’s loss cannot be overstated. The record with him in the lineup versus without speaks volumes.
And, of course, the Kings finishers never finish. I used to think the team was a gifted-goal-scorer or two away from being productive but then they added Richards and later Carter and it hasnt helped much. Adding yet another scorer wont fix the problem. The offensive PHILOSOPHY is the problem; it’s still to straight-ahead, dump-chase, methodical-predictable. I dont know how to fix this; I just know it’s too easy to defend.
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phil sykes Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 12:05 pm
@bbb7, couldnt agree more , when lewis actually does create a turnover with his forecheck , he is so offensively challenged that his attempt on goal seems almost laughable , and i , for one am totally sick of it ………. im just so sick of this offensively challenged hockey thats been going on seemingly forever here
darryl sutter – i thought u were a genius …… please stop slipping in my eyes …………….. yes lewis can bring speed and defense so whatever if u want to play him – then play him , whatever ………….. but there is no excuse for your love affair with frasier – toal waste of space and brings nothing to the team , and more importantly does nothing
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Mudfish4 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
@phil sykes, Funny, Lewis and Frasier seemed to know how to finish in the NJ series last year. Didn’t hear any complaining back then.
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phil sykes Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:58 pm
@Mudfish4, you are aware that even stu grimson scored a goal in the nhl arent you …. it dosent mean you are any good …………… lewis good defensive player and thats it …….. fraser – waste of space – brings nothing
bbb7 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:15 pm
@Mudfish4,The two goals Lewis scored in Game Six of the Finals were a tap-in when Brodeur misplayed King’s attempt and let the puck go right across the crease, and an empty-net goal. Other than those two, he scored only one other playoff goal, in game 2 vs Vancouver. And that one goal was all the payoff for 35 SOG in all the games before Game Six.
Fraser had one goal vs NJ and that was if for his 18 playoff games and 16 playoff shots.
Please!
number 6 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
@bbb7,
bbb, I like your comments. When you’ve won the cup it’s hard to be critical, but I still feel it’s justified as it’s a new season. What you pointed out about the King-Lewis line. I’ve said for Years now that I’ve been unhappy with ASPECTS (I say that so no one will jump all over this w a contradiction….), aspects of DL’s drafting. Yes, he pulled a rabbit out of a hat with Voynov. Clifford has potential for sure. But after six years we still don’t have a skilled top six forward that he’s developed.
I know that Simmer was good, but I have doubts as to whether or not he would have developed into a 20 goal scorer had he stayed with the Kings. Lewis was a first rounder-limited skill. Hickey was a 1st rounder-limited size. I know that every team has high drafts that don’t cut it. But my point here is about such a focus on dmen and goalies that the only home developed top six forwards (Brown and Kopi) were drafted by Dave Taylor and that’s quite some time ago.
The reason I reference this is what you say about philosophy. It may be partially philosophy, but Nashville also has a conservative philosophy, and while I only heard the game on radio, it seems Wilson and Bourque were both excellent. Seemingly they can excel in a conservative structure. If we had more players (beyond Kopi and Carter) who could create some space and use their skill, it might help at times like this where a key goal here and there would be very useful. Kings forwards offensive stats so far are very very poor.
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goldielocks Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
@number 6,
I would have been wearing Kings jersey with Giroux on it.
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Mars Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
@bbb7, I freaking HATE the dump and chase!!!!!!
That was my biggest happy point about the pink slipping of TM
I hate it and it has to stop as an offensive push
The only time it is acceptable is for a line change.
DS slap the guys on the back of the helmet if you see them do it
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goldielocks Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
@bbb7,
If you have one line that you don’t have to worry about, it makes much easier to match up. Our 3rd line is that line to the opposing coach. We need all 4 lines to be threat to roll again.
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freezerflatten Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 9:02 pm
@bbb7, excellent observation. no finishers, too many defenses lapses.
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I think this might be the begining of the moves by DL
http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/long-term-holes-blueline-beginning-show-kings-acquire-185731766–nhl.html
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phil sykes Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:04 pm
@hockeyfanb4gretzky, oh so according to puck daddy there was a setback with mithell , according to lombardi , not just going on the premise that he will be out for the season and if he comes back its a bonus ……….. but actually we are now getting the real story – there was a setback with mitchell – he rehabbed too hard , and tried to come back too soon , and there was a setback ………….. finally , the real story …. man are we screwed .. …. two of our best rugged defensemen gone , and kopi playing on one leg ……… i dont like our chances of turning this around at all … but i guess praying might help
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hockeyfanb4gretzky Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
@phil sykes, Like
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Pesus Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:05 pm
@hockeyfanb4gretzky,
Sounded like Mitchell was almost ready, now this article says may be done for the year, that’s a big difference.
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kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 3:00 pm
@hockeyfanb4gretzky,
My opinion is that Big teams make big trades, This one isn’t big enough if what DL says about Mitchell is true.
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The Kings won the Stanley Cup by frustrating the opponent. They are the ones being frustrated now. They need to get their swagger back.
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DesertKing Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 11:55 am
@go,
I was just going to post something similar to yours. In the playoffs, the Kings dictated the play by taking the body, a stifling forecheck and crashing the net. Opponents did not know what to do, were taken out of their normal rythyms, were forced to take penalties, and then lost.
I do not know why the Kings have been unable to replicate this so far this season. They have the personnel and coaching needed to accomplish it. So the questions I ask are simple:
1 Is this due to a lack of effort and focus by the players?
2. Did other teams study us during the off-season and develop strategies to overcome our style of play?
Based upon DS’s interviews, it appears to be an effort and focus problem. We can’t give up on the season with less than 1/4 of the season gone. But the Kings do need to get their act together, find their swagger, and remind their opponents whose got the Cup. GKG-AGAIN!!
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Kenny44 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:44 pm
@DesertKing,
Our smothering of everyone in the playoffs last year required every player going full bore. This season, someone on each line appears a step slow. Kopi, Richards, Penner, King, and Fraser all have a lot less jump than during the Cup run. DB, too, but only because he was almost superhuman in the playoffs.
These weak links allow teams to escape our forecheck, and our depleted D cannot corral them and get the puck back as easily as our perfectly slotted D corps did.
Guys have to bear down, all together, and all over the ice.
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kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
@DesertKing,
It’s because teams are prepared for it now. Our top guys have been forced to the perimeter. We can’t get beyond the blue line via the middle because the other teams have learned that our speed to get around them via the perimeter is a fallacy. So they just stand us up at the Blue Line. How many poke checks have we fallen victim to this year in the slot?
As well, our blue liners are diminished in size, leaving quick more vulnerable. King is a fraction of his former self just because other teams know how to play him now.
If Penner weren’t such a lazy ass, I’d have him inserted into the line up every game just due to size.
We are no match for the likes of Chicago, Anaheim or Nashville. St. Louis, San Jose are going to knock our Dick in the Dirt as will probably Minnesota.
We lack the flexibility and size to counter the changes other teams have made in order to be effective against us.
We Need Big Guys in D. That changes everything for us.
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I hear Mithchell still has swelling on his knee. After all those time spent, swelling means there is still inflammation. What causes it? It could be there are some soft tissue damege remains in his knee.
I did this operation long time ago when my butt was crushed by motorcycle accident. My pelvis that got crack on it was fully healed after a month or so but swelling on my butt was remaining because sfot tissue such as muscle was still bleeding inside.
So the doc decided to perform the procedure that brings my soft tissue heals itself to accelerate the process. To do so, you need to cut the slit open just enogh for a hose can sneak into. And then you pour the water inside your body so the daameged soft tissue can make a contact with oxygen that make our body think ‘Ok, this part needs to heal’. Because our soft tissue remains inside of our body, it never has a direct contact with oxygen which makes its healing process slower than the tissue outside such as our skin. I could feel the whole difference after this procedure that I no longer had swelling on my butt. Boy … when the doc cut my butt, fountain of blood spouting out but I could feel the pressure is gone almost immediately.
Of course, a knee and butt are whole different animals when it comes to the structure. Nevertheless, our body reacts in the same way so may be it could help.
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39scars Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
@goldielocks, tmi
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Duncanz Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 5:39 pm
@39scars, I think it’s funny that a guy called ‘@39scars’ should reply to this, and not in a sympathetic manner, ironically.
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goldielocks Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 6:30 pm
@Duncanz,
Man should remember every scar, tat, and a hole you made on his body. I know the guy who has more than 50 scars on his face, and he remembers every story behind em.
39scars Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 9:12 pm
@Duncanz, I’ve 100 stories but none regarding blood coming out of my butt.t skipped lunch after that one. Btw I’m upto 43, but like age 39 sounds better
Duncanz Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 11:51 pm
@39scars, Fortunately, I was between lunch and dinner, but seeing as I’m a gay vampire in my spare time I wasn’t all that freaked out. Although it does kind of conjure up nostalgic notions of Pythonesque cartoonery, doesn’t it?
Duncanz Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
@goldielocks, That was a beautiful story.
The best dissection I’ve seen today on this blog!
I especially liked the bit where the knee and the butt are whole different animals.
Golden.
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goldielocks Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 6:22 pm
@Duncanz,
Want my animal?
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Duncanz Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 6:43 pm
@goldielocks, I’ll take a knee on that one, thanks…
Real 7 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 7:10 pm
@goldielocks, I agree with 93scares…TMI…but glad you’re op was oke…
goldielocks Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 7:31 pm
@Real 7,
Gee, thenks. I’m glad that I still have the butt.
i would like to say that i really enjoy this site now that jon rosen has taken over instead of hammond …………….. i know criticisms of hammond probably dont play well here , but i feel it needs to be said
i felt hammond was far too sensitive and defensive and over policed the site
i love the fact that jon rosen grew up in the valley with me and is an actual kings fan , unlike hammond
and lastly , what i enjoy the most about rosen is he is not afraid to talk about such things that might be considered a little gossipy …. i dont have a prime example of this or anything – its just a feel i get ….. i like jons vibe ……. because at the end of the day we are all kings fans , and its obvious jon likes to talk about the kings , even if there is no news to report ……………………… under hammond it could get real boring when news was slow ……… under rosen , i dont feel that way ……………. if the teams playing poorly , yet theres no news to report , you get the feeling hell post something so we can all discuss how bad we are , himself included , and he will break down plays etccc …… just more of a hockey fan vibe with jon , and i like it
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Munchrat Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:05 pm
@phil sykes, Hammond was soft. Should be playing center for us.
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Real 7 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 7:12 pm
@phil sykes, backcheck!
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Duncanz Reply:
February 9th, 2013 at 12:26 am
@phil sykes, I’ll never say a bad word about @RH.
For a neutral, professional journalist taken on by the Kings to establish a new blogospheric frontier he did an absolutely outstanding job in every way.
Like @linny and 1 or 2 others I’m guessing you might’ve spent extended sabbaticals in the cornfield.
I’ve made some pretty radical statements on here and never been exiled so I imagine those that have been sidelined have been a bit out of control.
Interesting that Mr @Munchrat (probably inadvertently) contradicts you in suggesting the policing was not adequate for his/her liking.
Also, I was never, ever bored with the way or frequency with which Rich wrote.
Having said all that, I’m thrilled to have @J-Ro on board and I’ve got every conference he’ll do wonderfully with Rich’s legacy and continue to instill his own identity on the site as well.
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How’s your recovery day going Jon and what activity has been planned for the team? GO KINGS GO!!!
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Excellent read!
I love the prespective.
Its spot on. Without really calling anyone out. Just to the point.
I dont get why our guys are not on, the loss of WM and MG are not the full excuse.
When this happens others should be ready for more minutes and to be called in/up.
THe lack of forecheck, backcheck and scoring chances are not there.
Now that we are bleeding defensivly I am getting worried. Not freaked just worrried.
After the acquisitions last year, in the slump with the coaching change I thought we were ready, after the cup, I thought we were in this for the long haul not dropping off this poorly.
I am hoping this is just the mid season slump we are seeing now and things turn around fast.
I dont want to see trades or benching of our Core. But at this rate, I am worried.
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number 6 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 12:25 pm
@Mars,
Agreed Mars. I mean, what is the excuse for Doughty’s very poor play? Just watching highlights one sees that he’s ‘off’. If it’s a question of too many minutes then that’s one thing. But he seemingly loves playing major minutes.
This is the third year running where the team has put itself in a position where they’d have to play lights out just to make the playoffs.
Quisp reasoned that they need to play eight games over .500 just to make the playoffs.
Given that they’ve already had two games vs. Nashville, one vs. Colorado and one against Edmonton and gotten two total points out of all of that, what happens when they have to absolutely win games and they have games vs. St. Louis (who will want revenge), San Jose and more vs. Chicago?
It is worrying as you say. One thing as defending champs to go out in the first round of the playoffs, but to not even make the playoffs the following year would really not have a good impact on the gains the team made from winning the cup.
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number 6 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 12:27 pm
@number 6,
Quisp reasoned they’d have to play 8 gms over .500 for the rest of the season, in case that wasn’t clear.
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Fights are a great way to get a team going. Players react, fans react, it get’s everybody’s blood pumping. Kings need to toughen up and get more physically involved.
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mash-ola Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
@King4life, Agree… Why can’t the Kings get a guy like Rich Clune??? Oh wait…
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So penner?
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DesertKing Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 12:21 pm
@pr0cess,
The team needs to increase its “compete” level. As much as I will always like Penner for scoring the goal that put us in the SCF, I will never be able to link the words “Penner” and “compete” together in anything hockey related. Women, pancakes, belts, and clothes (isn’t it weird that Frolov and Avery had the same “thing” for clothes?), but not hockey.
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JR: I was wondering when you would start editorializing. I think you hit some key points directly on the head. The issue remains, though, how you fix these problems. I’m pretty certain that the players know what they need to do, but somehow are not doing it. So much for the DS honeymoon.
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Kenny44 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:46 pm
@Steve Jensen,
How great is it that we have a new JR. I’m so glad to forget that other one was ever associated with the Kings.
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I don’t know why they never start Bernier. They look just awful.
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the reason for the kings looking like this is simple to me – injuries
in my opinion – the nhls best player – kopitar , has been reduced to basically a third line type of player because of his knee injury …….. and thats the biggest killer
and then of course ……….. the mithcell and greenee injuries as well
the offense flows thru a healthy kopitar
it also flows thru the fluidity of breakouts by our defensmen , something thats missing with the continuity being broken up with mitch and greene out of action ………. mitch is also very underrated offensively , and even greene was strongly improving with his point shots and willingness to try offensive plays at the end of the season last year
injuries are the reason for all of this play ……….. not system , or hangover , or whatever …. just my opinion
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Finally I read the magic words! Forechecking! There were two maybe three times last night where I noticed a somewhat sustained forcheck in the O zone. There needs to be alot more than that. All this wasted energy to get the puck in the zone and down low just to give it away.
They need to swarm once the puck is down low, cycle, puck possession and generate chances. Taking shots with no traffic in front (directly into Rinne’s glove) won’t get the job done. It’ll only pad the shot totals. That, and it’s horribly frustrating to watch
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Anyone know why Greene and Mitchell didn’t have their operations done in the summer? They would have had more time to heal…
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:08 pm
@Crown city simtom, Mitchell did..Greene didnt.
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some people are questioning doughty and scuds ……. guys they are two of our best players , two of our most consistently great players …. they are not the problem … or even a tiny problem
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mash-ola Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:11 pm
@phil sykes, They have not been playing at their best. But I agree with you that part of that is that they have been been forced to play more minutes in more key situations and the injuries are a contributing factor.
Still, especially in the last few games, their position seems to be off and they’ve been getting caught on plays they are usually right on.
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phil sykes Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
@mash-ola, worrying about a few flukey misplays by either doughty or scuds is not the way to go …………. they have proven consistently over time they are great ….. dont worry about it
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MmmmYummy Reply:
February 9th, 2013 at 1:04 am
@phil sykes, the only thing consistent about Doughty over time has been inconsistency. Luckily his talent level is so astronomical… The focus on them by myself and others not necessarily even on this blog is because they have been on the ice for some 5 on 5 goals that they could have played better. Even at the start of games when they are not supposed to be tired. I’m not saying and I don’t think anyone else is saying the sky is falling because of these two dudes, but that they have been on the ice for some noticeable goals against. That’s just a fact.
And yes I think everyone should be worried about Doughty and Scuderi given the other issues the Kings are facing. The Kings had to play their best hockey we have ever seen of them with a pretty much 100% healthy team to get the results we saw. We’ve got a bunch of weak links now and in great part the best players are floundering.
The way the Kings are currently structured with injuries and effort or on ice play or whatever, they are going to have to figure a way to score more goals. The forecheck isn’t there, the D isn’t there, the goal tending is a bit below last year – I mean something’s [ok much more than just one thing] got to give if we’re going to play the “2-1 league” mentality.
So what do you guys think of Ovechikin trade rumors?
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phil sykes Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
@goldielocks, tell me who said it and what is the scuttlebutt ………… to the kings probably wouldnt work because theyd want kopi or doughty …….. so forget that …. kopi and doughty are both better players
would also like to say that not only do i like jon rosen , but i very much like patrick oneill …….. like rosen , you can tell hes a kings fan , and is very passionate , and gets frustrated and upset when things arent going well , you can see it in his body language ….. really great guy and kings fan it would seem …. i like him alot ……. dosent take himself too seriously , and is honest with his critques of the team
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goldielocks Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
@phil sykes,
No, I won’t tell. And I don’t think it develops any farther but there’s something going on concerning Ovi. I just love being active with social media when rumors floating around. Oh, and I follow Patrick, too.
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mash-ola Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:16 pm
@goldielocks, I think they are rumors.
Oh, and I don’t think the Kings will be able to package Muzzin, Bud Hollaway and Jonathan Bernier for him.
I do know that as bad as it seems the Kings are playing, the Capitals are in dire straits right now. I haven’t seen more than four of their games, but something is definitely wrong in Cap City. Ovechkin isn’t scoring, Holtby’s playoff pixie dust in net seems to be wearing out, and the team is not able to keep the puck out of their own net. I think letting go of Semin was a mistake, and Backstrom doesn’t seem to be playing with the dominance of past seasons.
Still, you don’t trade a one of the top-goal scorers in the league, a top box-office draw and the face of the franchise just to get out of a slump….
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so Am I to assume from the title of this post “Waking up with the Kings” means that the Kings are actually “waking up”????
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Lake Forest Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
@Ravens, replace the word ‘with’ with ‘next to’
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:19 pm
@Lake Forest, Or ‘Waking dead’. Man I can’t wait for Sunday, not so much the Kings game but the season premier of Walking Dead, hopefully the Kings won’t be the ‘Skating dead’.
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Kenny44 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 3:54 pm
@LVKINGS88,
Me too! It’s the only TV I always watch. Helpfully it comes on right after my Sunday night skate
Fights can be important… like a time out.
Let’s dress westy and see the damage he does………………errrr wait.
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Regarding creating a Championship attitude and legacy.
Side note: I hate the Yankees……..but to serve this purpose, this from ESPN (Hal Steinbrenner talking about the A-Rod PED issue);
“All I can assure the fans is, we’re always going to field a championship-caliber team every single year,” Steinbrenner said. “Is that our goal next year? Yes, to be at that number, that’s our goal. But as I’ve said from the beginning, it depends on some of our young players stepping up and getting the job done. That has to happen, or it’s going to be difficult.”
No mater what we espouse about…it will take the young players to step up and get the job done. Reach the expectations of playing like Champions, expect greatness every game from everyone.
A full 60 minutes of Championship Hockey from every player, every game.
Side note # 2; Replace Frasier with Stewart
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freezerflatten Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 9:05 pm
@Pucker, could be a good move. i think dl needed to replace a couple of players over the off season to keep this team hungry.
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Off topic:
Slovenia at the Olympic Games!!!! Just won 2-1 against Danmark, Yesterday 4-2 agains Belarus …
All without Kopi and Mursak!!!
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kingarella Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
@Outsider, cheers, do dna!
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Flames put Kirprusoff on IR. You’re not that young anymore, Kipper.
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mash-ola Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:18 pm
@goldielocks, Jarome Iginla and Jay Bouwmeester straight up for Jonathan Bernier (sarcasm button on)
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bbb7 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
@mash-ola, Maybe if they want to part with TJ Brodie and some other pieces we could talk.
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Deke'r Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:58 pm
@bbb7, ….think it would be the Kings that ould have to add extra pieces….
FKA PakiFro Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
@mash-ola,
JayBo’s contract is not as scary as I originally thought (only one year left 6.6mm, affordable if Penner/Gagne/Scuds walk), and I’d rather have iginla than the other deadweight on the wings (Gags and Pens). I dont know if Dean Lombardi would go after either, but depending on his payment, it wouldn’t be so bad.
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dear King Fans!
SLOVENIA JUST BEAT DENMARK AND MADE IT TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES!!!!
we will face USA, Slovakia and Ruassia in group rounds
weeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
cheeeeers from the stonedest and drunkest hockey fan in Slovenija
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bbb7 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:24 pm
@kingarella, Congrats! Do you have any big defensemen we can use in the meanwhile?
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kingarella Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
doubt it, but a lot of good beer and wine, that come handier right now…
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kingarella Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:26 pm
@bbb7, thx for congrats!
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Outsider Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:32 pm
@bbb7, I think we have. You would maybe remember Blaz Gregorc. He was at the Kings’ training camp last year. Playing very good right now …
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kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
@kingarella,
Kaj Kingarella pomeni za vas?
Ste Kings fan, ki nosi obleko pravljica?
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Kind of a tangent, but somewhat related…. I’m trying to determine the percentage of NHL games won by the team that is winning after the 1st period. Does anyone know how I could get that?
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bbb7 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
@John, NHL.com has pretty much everything:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/teamstats.htm?fetchKey=20132ALLSAAAll&sort=winPctAfterLead1P&viewName=recordWhenLeading
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bbb7 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:43 pm
@bbb7, It shows so far the Kings have only been leading after the 1st period ONCE this season. That says a lot.
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number 6 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 3:31 pm
@bbb7,
Are you joking? Clearly not, otherwise you wouldn’t have posted here. No surprise that they don’t have a better record.
FKA PakiFro Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 4:06 pm
@bbb7,
And they lost that one game even.
@number 6 — What are you talking about?
John Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 2:59 pm
@bbb7, Thank you!
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i think we should get things back as much as possible to last years d pairing slot 4 should be drewiske because he plays same style as mitch ……… voynov and martinez dosent make sense to me …………drewiske not as good as mitch , but at least hes the same style to pair with voynov ……… then amart back to his regular 5 spot with ellerby taking greenes number 6 spot …………. again , ellerby not as good as greene , but the same type of ruygged stay at home player ….. i dont think they should have ever put amart and voynov together ….. i think it should have been voynov and drewiske from game 1 …. just my opinion i
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With all the injuries we do need replacements, I remember at the start of the season oh we have all our players back how lucky we are to be, now with Kopi playing with a brace, and two players out, now what?
Come on Kings do not go back to TM style of play and instead
In Sutter we trust
Come on Kings!!!
Let’s try to win games for you and your fans?
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i would also like to see tiffoli , andreoff or any other potential type players given their chance now …….. what could it hurt ………… because lombardi never makes splashy trade moves except for carter , so i wouldnt expect anything big this season either ……….. so why not try these kids out …….. why not
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Purple and Gold Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
@phil sykes,
I”m not 100% on the rules but I think your looking a roster space problems if you bring one of those guys up
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Kopi on OI next year!
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Am I the only loyal Kings fan who – like the players themselves – is suffering from a bit of post Stanley Cup letdown? I go to most of the games at Staples, I watch most of the away games on TV, I visit this site 400 times a day – but my passion for the team this season is a bit lacking. Can anyone offer me a bit of advice on how to get over my malaise? Therapy may help, but I don’t want to spend the bucks…
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bbb7 Reply:
February 8th, 2013 at 4:12 pm
@rick, Three wins in a row will do the trick. When that will happen is anybody’s guess.
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IMO……we need to shake things up quite a bit.
Right now Kings are not playing with any cause or purpose.
Take the lines and mix and match like team simular to Dallas, Winnipeg, Florida, etc.
Look for a top 6 forward through a big trade.
Who to move……Penner, Richardson, Bernier, Williams, Stoll pick one, two or all for players with scoring ability.
Maybe multiple trades, no farm kids, no young kids just rid the fat around the squad today.
There are players out there who need a jump start or a new look……Kessel for one in Toronto. Would he look good with Kopi and Brown. Or with Carter and Richards.
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Trotz is perhaps the best coach in hockey. Nobody seems to get more from less than Trotz. Kudo’s to their GM as well. They’re doing pretty good and Weber isn’t even warmed up yet.
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