Monday afternoon links: March 4

-Lisa Dillman chronicled the team’s defense of Jonathan Quick a day after he was awfully tough on himself for his performance in Vancouver, even in the absence of the 200-foot defensive help he generally receives. She also asked Rob Scuderi for his take on the early stages of his contract negotiations with the Kings. “If we want to talk, I hope we can talk,” Scuderi told Dillman. “I hope we can get moving on it and if it’s one of those things where we feel it’s going to drag on, I would rather say politely, ‘Look, let’s just deal with it at another time so we can focus on what’s important, which is the hockey.’”
LA Times: Kings come to defense of goalie Jonathan Quick a day after Vancouver loss

Helene Elliott chatted with Keaton Ellerby about his acclimation to the Western Conference and highlighted the lineup changes for tonight’s game.
LA Times: Kings’ Keaton Ellerby comfortable in not-so-wild West
LA Times: Bernier to start, Martinez to return on defense for Kings

-Stu Hackel likes the direction the Kings are heading, and paid particular attention to Anze Kopitar’s terrific third period against Detroit last week.
SI.com: Kopitar leading Kings back to Stanley Cup form

John Hoven looks at stats beyond goals and assists for Jarret Stoll and notices he hasn’t been shooting the puck as frequently as he has been dishing out hits at home. I see a lot of value in what Stoll brings as a third line center. His scoring is down from a top-six role, obviously, but he fits in his current slot quite well. He has speed, he hits, he kills penalties, he forechecks. It’s through the performances of players such as Stoll that help give the Kings their “heavy” identity. Perhaps I’m misreading fans’ and writers’ opinions (am I?), but I get a sense that there are beginning to be some grumblings over Stoll’s production. Stoll articulates what he feels his own responsibilities are: “Be a good penalty killer, be a good defensive player, try to be a plus-player when I can, and help our line chip in offensively and score some goals here and there.” He continues to do that.
Mayor’s Manor: Jarret Stoll has a few theories about statistics

Gann Matsuda recaps yesterday’s practice and identifies the ways the team will be looking to solve Nashville’s airtight defense, which has not allowed a Los Angeles even strength goal over 125 minutes of hockey.
Frozen Royalty: LA Kings Try To Learn From Sub-Par Effort At Vancouver, Work On Solving Nashville’s Defense

Quisp examines the varying identity changes for teams that relocate, using the similarities of the Jets and Thrashers as the principal example.
McSorley’s Stick: Guess What? The Jets ARE the Thrashers

Robert P. assigns grades from the Vancouver game, while Langluy previews Monday’s tilt against Nashville on Jewels from the Crown.
JFTC – Kings vs. Canucks; Game Grades and Stat Analysis
JFTC – Predators Preview: Save Us, Alec Martinez

KingsCast debuts a new segment, Who the Hell is Keaton Ellerby?, while Keith realizes that he kind of misses Jamie Kompon.
Episode 181 – Simon Gagne Traded To The Flyers

Life in Hockeywood has highlights from the Vancouver game and Patrick O’Neal’s post-game interview with Jordan Nolan.
Hockeywood Dailies: Mar. 2

Paul Armbruster links to the New Hampshire Union Leader and offers his own thoughts regarding Manchester’s two-game weekend sweep of St. John’s. Highlights are embedded.
Kings News Daily: Very scores, Toffoli with two helpers as Monarchs sweep

Lo, there is a new Kings blog! Go check out Hold the Point and share your thoughts as Player X strives to find his own voice within the Kings blogosphere.