Projected Starting Goaltender, Los Angeles – Jonathan Bernier
Season: 5 GP (4 GS) / 4-1-0 record / 1.64 GAA / .931 Sv% / 0 SHO
Career vs Nashville: 7 (7) / 6-1-0 / 2.00 / .930 / 1
Last Game vs Nashville: 3/17/12 / 60 MP / 19/21 shots / 4-2 W
2012-13, Home: 2 (2) / 2-0-0 / 1.00 / .957 / 0
Projected Starting Goaltender, Nashville – Pekka Rinne
Season: 20 (19) / 8-7-4 / 2.09 / .921 / 3
Career vs Los Angeles: 12 (12) / 7-5-0 / 2.65 / .902 / 1
Last Game vs Los Angeles: 2/7/13 / 60 MP / 32/32 shots / 3-0 W
2012-13, Away: 10 (9) / 3-5-1 / 2.48 / .908 / 0
Leading Scorers, Los Angeles
Total Points: Anze Kopitar (6-12=18)
Goals: Jeff Carter (11-2=13)
Assists: Anze Kopitar (6-12=18)
Plus/Minus: Slava Voynov (+9; 3-6=9)
Penalty Minutes: Mike Richards (30; 4-9=13)
Leading Scorers, Nashville
Total Points: Colin Wilson (5-10=15)
Goals: Colin Wilson (5-10=15); Gabriel Bourque (5-2=7)
Assists: Colin Wilson (5-10=15)
Plus/Minus: Sergei Kostitsyn (+8; 2-7=9)
Penalty Minutes: Rich Clune (39; 1-2=3)
A stick tap goes to: General Manager David Poile and Head Coach Barry Trotz. Nashville has been a model sunbelt expansion franchise since its expansion season, and though it took the Preds some time to establish an identity, the club’s consistent committee scoring has led to a 512-432-84-60 (W-L-OTL-T) record over 13-plus seasons, in which they’ve made the playoffs seven times.
A fist shake goes to: Nashville’s sputtering offense. The club ranks last in the league in goals and shots per game, and by virtue of that and its defensive-minded approach, the Predators have been generous in distributing points amongst themselves and the other 14 Western Conference teams via three-point games. Nashville hasn’t gone more than two consecutive games without heading past regulation. The Preds’ last two games have been regulation losses to Anaheim and San Jose. Could we see the second Kings-Predators shootout at Staples?
Why the Kings need to win this game: Should the Kings win and the Ducks beat the Coyotes, it would mean Los Angeles would jump from 11th in the conference to fourth, which is kind of incredible. Also: home game, game versus fellow playoff dogfight team, avenge two previous losses to Nashville, etc.
Rankings and Statistics
Goals/Game: LAK – 19 / 2.53; NAS – 30 / 2.00
Goals Against/Game: LAK – 8 / 2.42; NAS – 5 / 2.27
Power Play: LAK – 20 / 16.0%; NAS – t-24 / 14.3%
Penalty Kill: LAK – 14 / 82.0%; NAS – 22 / 78.7%
Shots/Game: LAK – t-13 / 29.5; NAS – 30 / 24.1
Shots Against/Game: LAK – 2 / 25.4; NAS – 8 / 27.6
Faceoffs: LAK – 7 / 51.8%; NAS – t-12 / 50.7%
Save Percentage: LAK – 19 / .905; NAS – 7 / .918
Projected Lines – Los Angeles
Dustin Brown – Anze Kopitar – Justin Williams
Trevor Lewis – Mike Richards – Jeff Carter
Dustin Penner – Jarret Stoll – Dwight King
Kyle Clifford – Colin Fraser – Jordan Nolan
Jake Muzzin – Drew Doughty
Rob Scuderi – Slava Voynov
Keaton Ellerby – Alec Martinez
Jonathan Bernier
Jonathan Quick
Notes: Alec Martinez re-enters the lineup after missing eight games due to an upper-body injury. The Kings were 6-2-0 in his absence. Because of Martinez’s return to the lineup, Davis Drewiske will be scratched for the first time this season. As always, lineup projections are educated assessments and not definite alignments.
Projected Lines – Nashville
Colin Wilson – Mike Fisher – Martin Erat
Sergei Kostitsyn – David Legwand – Gabriel Bourque
Nick Spaling – Craig Smith – Patric Hornqvist
Matt Halischuk – Paul Gaustad – Rich Clune
Roman Josi – Shea Weber
Jonathon Blum – Kevin Klein
Scott Hannan – Ryan Ellis
Pekka Rinne
Chris Mason
Notes: Nashville claimed Bobby Butler off waivers from New Jersey earlier today, though the forward took part in the Devils’ morning skate is not expected to play. Matt Halischuk enters the lineup to replace Brandon Yip, who was injured Saturday in San Jose. Sergei Kostitsyn is likely to see power play time on the point opposite Shea Weber. “I think we need to distribute the puck a little bit better than we are,” coach Barry Trotz told Josh Cooper of the Tennessean. “That’s one thing Sergei can do and has done in the past.” The Predators are 1-for-11 on the power play over the last five games. As always, lineup projections are educated assessments and not definite alignments.
Berniers stats are sick so far this year!
I see AM giving our D a boost, the difference in the game tonight.
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Shuchuk Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 4:07 pm
@Osaka, Bernier has done well against Nashville in the past, he’ll keep us in the game. Got to find a way to beat Rinne…GKG.
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kingrussell Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 6:07 pm
@Shuchuk, it had better be bernier tonight.
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We really need two points tonight.
Strong and full 60 and I will be happy.
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shiny Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
@Mars, at the very least, don’t wait until you’re down to suddenly play like the champs we all know they are
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Hm I sense a fight will occur tonight. Question is between whom? Possibly Clune and Richards?
On a different note, the Preds’ PP sucks almost as much as ours does right now. And Pekka Rinne has not been on his game lately. What are the odds he suddenly becomes a superstar in net tonight?
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Bradapiller Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 2:49 pm
@shiny, I don’t think our PP sucks right now and as stated above they are worse not almost as bad. If you take away the 0-30something stretch we opened up the season with I’m sure we would be in the top 10 with our recent success. I do agree that they seem to wait till they’re down to turn it up though. Need to come out firing like its 0-2.
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Who does Clune fight tonight?
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shiny Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
@Lake Forest, I say Richards. I think Jordy is tired lol
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tornado12 Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 2:56 pm
@shiny, i think he lost his first fight at this level against VAN
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Duncanz Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
@Lace Glovests, Give us a Clune!
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fsd1 Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 2:51 pm
@Lake Forest, just one pop on the chin ought to take clune down and out since this is the first game without the jaw shield cause it was broke, he might not want to pick one tonight.
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hbjohn Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
@Lake Forest, He won’t fight Nolan.
I think round 2 vs Clifford
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Gotta get wins both tonight and tomorrow! It’s amazing what 4 points can do in the standings right now. 2 at a time though so let’s play our game tonight and get around their shot blockers. Go Kings Go!
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Kings need to sign a Veteran top 6 forward/winger. I prefer Iginla because of his style of hockey. Briere may be also be a good rental(might not have to give up much for him)
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shiny Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 2:48 pm
@Mike, why? Do you think it’ll help with the lack of scoring?
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Shotongoal Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
@Mike, sign? Or trade for? Neither player you mentioned is an available UFA right now so the Kings wold have to make trades for these players. So what are you willing to give up to get a top 6 forward?
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fsd1 Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
@Mike, I dont think we need anyone else really. At this point in time.
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Shotongoal Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:02 pm
@fsd1, me either, I just like to be humored by the NHL13 fantasy trades people like to make here!
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fsd1 Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
@Shotongoal, well, hell, than drewiski for Crosby! lol
Shotongoal Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
@Shotongoal, exactly!
shiny Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:12 pm
@fds1, forget him. Let’s get Malkin! Isn’t he the face of hockey or something? Best player in the league?
Kop11tar Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 2:55 pm
@Mike, So the new guy can be scratched just like Gange was? I dont think so..
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Weasel Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:05 pm
@Mike,
Would love Iginla, but only if they’re giving him away as a salary dump. The Kings with their cap flexiblity should be able to dictate a good deal to relieve a non-contending club of a high priced veteran in the last year of his contract.
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DesertKing Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
@Mike,
Trade Drewiske for Crosby
Trade Penner for Ovechkin
Trade Fraser for Stamkos
We will never win a Cup, but we will be on the NHL website and NHL Network 24-7-365
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shiny Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
@DesertKing, well with Ovi’s dramatic play making abilities, he belongs in Hollywird I mean wood. Hollywood.
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Mars Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:22 pm
@DesertKing, OVI? Blah! We dont need to see a diaper sticking out of a Kings Jersey.
He would focus on his acting out here not playing hockey.
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DesertKing Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:24 pm
@Mars,
Like I said, we wouldn’t win a Cup…….
I like the fact that A-Mart is back in the lineup, but between Drewiske, Muzzin, and Ellerby, i think Drewiske has looked the best so far this season so i don’t think he deserves to be scratched. I understand keeping muzzin and ellerby keeps size back on D, but Drewiske had been solid especially on the PK. Maybe im missing something here
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Riding the hot Goalie — the competition between the two Jonathans should really help the team this season.
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http://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=658564
cracks me up!
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shiny Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:20 pm
@Lake Forest, love his game day previews. He’s a troll, but the game day previews are hilarious
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Goring 19 Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
@Lake Forest, loved the pic of the late #15 Whitey Widing, great player…
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vindogla Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 4:14 pm
@Goring 19, Yes, I was just a kid back then but loved hima and all the rest of the Kings from that era. Favorite at the time: Gilles Marotte, the real #4.
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Jeff Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 5:52 pm
@vindogla, I always liked Dale Rolfe and Eddie “the Jet” Joyal when I was a kid.
Forum Gold Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 6:17 pm
@vindogla, Just a kid, ouch. I was a season seat holder at that time. I went to the photo studio the Kings used back then and bought an 11×14 picture of Gilles checking Bobby Clarke in front of Gary Edwards and one of Butch taking a slap shot. Still love looking at them. GO KINGS GO!!!
Forum Gold Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 5:57 pm
@Goring 19, Love the crown and no helmet. Crazy Kozak and all the guys, great memories. GO KINGS GO!!!
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So I guess the PP wasn’t all Kompon’s fault after all?
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Mars Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
@Weasel, We wont see the kompon effect wear off for another year or two.
Its like a breakup, the recovery takes half the ammount of time the relationship lasted.
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shiny Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:34 pm
@Mars, Oh, that explains why it’s so good then it regresses to being pitiful, like when Detroit basically gave us 4 full.minutes.of 5 on 3 and they couldn’t score
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This is gonna be Bernier’s first shutout this season!!! Go Bernier Go!
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shiny Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
@Csaba Bhody, crap, you said the S word! Quick, fellow bloggers, we need to reverse the jinx that has surely befallen our team from saying the dreaded S word too early!!
(Just kidding)
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Mars Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:14 pm
@shiny,
TUOTUHS
TUOTUHS
TUOTUHS
Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice
JUMANGI!
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shiny Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:30 pm
@Mars, crap, all you did was call that hunter out of the woods. RUN!!
ItsAKingThing Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:18 pm
@shiny, Oh Hockey Gods, please forgive brother CsabaBhody for his inadvertent utterences. He means no harm. GKG!!
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Shotongoal Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
@Csaba Bhody, dude seriously? You just gooched him and the team.
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DesertKing Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:16 pm
@Csaba Bhody,
Honey! We need more chicken blood! and a virgin! Hurry, the pots boiling!
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DesertKing Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:21 pm
@DesertKing,
What do you mean “What are you doing?” C’mon honey, I gotta remove a curse here and fast. The game starts at 7:30!
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shiny Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
@DesertKing, the store was all out of virgin blood. Will calf’s blood do instead?
DesertKing Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:32 pm
@shiny
Chicken blood! Chicken! cluck-cluck? peck-peck? fried with wings? chicken blood!
shiny Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:36 pm
@DesertKing, Look, this is the best I can do. I’m not going out again. The game is in 4 hours! There’s just not enough time.
DesertKing Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:42 pm
@shiny
What were you thinking? Trying to find a virgin at a gentleman’s club? The only thing you find there are aspiring rappers and NBA players. Chop chop! Dammit, now they tell me I need bat wings! Honey, are the kids still in little league?
shiny Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:52 pm
@DesertKing, I was hoping to find a nerdy kid looking for his first time. No such luck, though. I got the chicken blood! Can we substitute chicken wings for bat wings?
Briere is the same as Gags, I dont know why people keep eyeballing him, same slumps, same knock off the puck easy, same lack of using size/body. He doesnt fit our style.
Iginla would be a good addition, but at what cost. We do not want to part with Brown, Kopi, Richards, Carter or Cliffy? j-Dub? Lewie? King, Nolan, Pens? Fraas? Stoll?
I dont see the needs for a pickup. Especially with the cap for next year shrinking. We have a lot of UFA’s that we need to lock in or get ready to trade so we dont lose out.
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Mars Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:12 pm
@Mars, this was supposed to be a reply to Mike above, dont know why I lost the reply there sorry.
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DesertKing Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
@Mars,
I agree. We are no longer in the position of “Needing 1 or 2 guys”. We have a “team” that has won the Cup, and they can do it again. Carter was the final piece. Right now we just need to replace people as we lose them to free agency or injury and no longer need to build or re-create the team.
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Looking at the stats, is there any reason at all why the Kings shouldn’t win this one?
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Mars Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:20 pm
@NOW IMPRESSED, If they show up for a full 60, unlike the last game, we will be fine.
They have won a few games showing up for 30!
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:50 pm
@NOW IMPRESSED,
Quite honestly, looking at a lot of other rosters, is there any reason the Kings shouldn’t run the table? (aside from normal human tendencies to make mistakes) The only teams that compare on paper are Pittsburgh, Vancouver and Chicago. When healthy of course.
I certainly don’t expect them to go 29-0, but I will say a loss tonight would be disappointing…And the only reason I’ll say a loss during this week is not totally unexpected is the fatigue factor.
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I know Sutter isn’t big on previous stats, but historically speaking, Bernier is unbeatable versus Nashville. Just sayin’.
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Mars Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
@dmoney, Are you just trying to get out of giving us stats to back up your statement?
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dmoney Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 5:47 pm
@Mars, Yessir. But just to prove my point …
6-1 vs Nashville all time with a .930 save percentage.
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Go Kings Go!
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I think that we need to warned the Predators that I know that the Predators likes to injured hard from the LA Kings but the Predators will not allowed to punch hard on Bernier on the boading grease hit will be not allowed and no hand toss the puck to the net same like the Devils did against the Kings for the Stanley Cup Championship of 2012 and thats my point
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Bradapiller Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:42 pm
@Adam M, I wish I could start pregame drinking already
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DesertKing Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:43 pm
@Adam M,
I agree. What was Parise thinking?
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Shotongoal Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:50 pm
@DesertKing, I don’t know, but I don’t even know what I’m thinking now…..
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DesertKing Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 4:00 pm
@Shotongoal,
Starting early?
fsd1 Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 3:53 pm
@Adam M, I agree! That was a nice post Adam M………
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LT21 Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
@Adam M, Wow! Not only did that not make much sense but there wasn’t a “.” anywhere in that paragraph.
@bradapillar that cracked me up
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@Poorman1 Your thoughts?
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Funny preview courtesy of JFTC http://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/2013/3/4/4062676/kings-predators-preview-save-us-alec-martinez
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PalmSpringsKingsFan Reply:
March 4th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
@shiny, Martinez is not ging to save us, but he can help
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IF Brown does not show up tonight (again) who knows WTF will happen. I thought I read somewhere he is up for trade?Have to play like its the end of the line, every game.
Come on KINGS Just like last season when the chips were down I talked about the parade and the cup…look what happened. Dig deep and pull out the victory
go kings go….GO KINGS GO!!!
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