It was a quiet morning at the Toyota Sports Center as only six players took the ice for an optional morning skate in advance of tonight’s game against the St. Louis Blues: Jonathan Quick, Davis Drewiske, Brad Richardson, Jake Muzzin, Alec Martinez and Keaton Ellerby.
Quick, Drewiske and Richardson remained on the ice for some extra work, which would be an indication that the lineup won’t change from the Nashville game and that Jonathan Bernier will draw the start for the second consecutive night.
I’ll post an evaluation of Bernier by Goaltending Coach Bill Ranford shortly, followed by some Darryl Sutter quotes. In the afternoon check back for a preview of tonight’s game against St. Louis.
Bernier deserves another start if anything to get Quick back on his game. Nobody has that kind of tandem in the NHL especially when they are both on their games. Looking forward to Ranford’s breakdown of Bernier.
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Lake Forest Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:03 pm
@KOHO, actually this is why the blues had such a good record last year because of their goaltending duo.
Now, not so much. Id’s say the closest team to us (obviously without the injuries)
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KOHO Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:13 pm
@Lake Forest, That’s right! St. Louis had a nice GT tandem last year. I just remember what we did to them in the playoffs which made me think otherwise. lol
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Cav Pilot Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:28 pm
@KOHO, They didn’t have a viable back up to rely on in the playoffs. Halak was injured and Elliott couldn’t shoulder the load alone.
KC23 Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 4:22 pm
@KOHO, Except that St. Louis did well until they did NOT have both goalies … their series against us. So think again.
Deke'r Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
@KOHO, ….never thought I’d be saying this(or typing)….but I agree, Bernie should get the green light…..looked solid last night…
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David Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 4:06 pm
@KOHO,
The Vancouver Canucks would like to say hello…
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KOHO Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 4:56 pm
@David, They sure did but we said GOOOOOODBYEEEEEEEE! ; )
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Looking at the video of one of Carter’s goals last night, Muzzin had the biggest grin of anyone on the ice.
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Michael J. Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 11:59 am
@DesertKing,
I was impressed with Muzzin’s overall game last night. The kid is beginning to figure it out.
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kings714 Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:00 pm
@Michael J., i like the physical aspect he’s been bringing
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Deke'r Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
@Michael J., …..yup…he can take it as well as dish it…
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Goedecke Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 1:53 pm
@Michael J.,
He was banging bodies like no other last night.
Solid effort from the young man.
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Kenny44 Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 3:51 pm
@Michael J.,
Very mobile and quick, too. He can cover a lot of ice and once he decides to go he gets there fast and with a purpose. Jim Fox was talking about decisiveness helping your teammates play fast, too, and I think Muzz is a great example of that
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KC23 Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 4:23 pm
@DesertKing, The guy has got skills without question. Playing along side of DD is no easy job and he is getting it done.
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Jon, anything on the horizon for prospect updates? Sounds like some of our non-AHL defensemen are having some pretty good years. (Roach, Gravel, Forbort.) Haven’t heard anything on Schumaker in a long time…
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JonRosen Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
@He Shoots, He Scores, Yes, I’m actually planning an Alex Roach report… anyone in particular you’d like?
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Weasel Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 12:23 pm
@JonRosen,
If you have the time Fobort. Considering we traded up to get him he must have a very high ceiling. Is he proving DL correct in his evaluation or is he lagging a bit.
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He Shoots, He Scores Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 3:17 pm
@JonRosen,
I think an ongoing series would be nice. This is a lot to ask for, but something like an up-to-date statistics database (something you could simply link to over in the right navigation area), with monthly interviews with select prospects. Interviews is probably the easy part. Getting Monarchs updates isn’t too hard to come by, but when it comes to some of our NCAA, USHL, and CHL prospects, it’s hard to keep track of their progress. Or, even in the case of Kitsyn, Holloway, and Moller (all still technically Kings’ property). For me, that’s a really enjoyable piece as a fan; to see the progression of the youngsters throughout the system (like Quick going from the NCAA ranks, to the ECHL, to Manchester, to the NHL) and how drafting and development goes a long way in creating a Stanley Cup winning roster.
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He Shoots, He Scores Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 3:23 pm
@JonRosen, In fact, (and please don’t take this the wrong way) Rich in the past would provide an incremental update on prospects. Pretty sure he’d just include high-level stats, but it was nice to see, since we’re a slice of the fanbase that’s interested in that sort of thing. Don’t mean to compare you to Rich because you’re different people with different styles, but I think that would be a nice addition (or holdover if you want to look at it that way).
I appreciate that you have an ear to the ground. Thanks for all of your hard work.
-Brian
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I think you have to ride the hot hand and thus Bernier should be the default no. 1 until he falters, BUT on the 2nd night of a back to back? I’d rather have the fresh guy (so in this situation Quick)
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Duckbasher Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 1:25 pm
@kings714, I agree. Quick should get the nod in a back-to-back situation. Although… Bernier has been absolutely as solid in goal as anyone in the league this season.
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Harrison Merkin Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 2:04 pm
@Duckbasher, JB stood on the ice for 60 minutes. He got more work between commercial timeouts than he did in regulation play. Given the work load there is no reason not to start him in this back to back. Quick played many B to B’s last season while facing 30+ shots and doing triple gainers for style points. it aint broke…
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Munchrat Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
@kings714, We will never know how JB can handle b2b games until he plays in b2b games.
This is the right move by BBF for that and several other reasons.
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Geez goal scoring really is a completely unique skill. And Carter really has it. I nver would have believed it until he arrived, even his mistakes go into the net sometimes.
We are finally seeing the Bernier that was projected from years ago when it was assumed that he would be the future not Quick. What a great problem to have!
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Sure Bernier deserves another start, but on back to back games?
Jeez, way to get in to the Conn Smythe winner’s head.
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Deke'r Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 1:22 pm
@California Royalty, ….personallly I think the Conn Smythe winners’ head is somewhere else anyway….
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John Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 4:43 pm
@Deke’r,
Right… the Conn Smythe winnner, who in the last five games before Saturday night had a .930 save percentage and a 2.00 goals against, but after one game his “head is somewhere else anyway…” No knock on Bernier, he’s playing well, but in this compact season with back-to-backs, better to go back to Quick, then maybe Bernier on Thursday.
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Munchrat Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
@California Royalty, Even if JB falters, tonight we will learn a lot about his value to this team. I love this call by BBF.
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I tend to agree, staring Bernier is a mistake. I love Sutter and he’s usually pretty spot on with his decisions, but we are going to need Quick to get back to his “A” game and not starting him once in a back to back has got to be in his head right now.
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Duckbasher Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
@winger23, I couldn’t agree more. Confidence is a huge part of the success of a goaltender. But then… some good old competition can also be a catalyst for success. Glad I’m not the coach.
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Osaka Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 2:15 pm
@winger23, We need A game from every player. Penner sat some games, why not Quick?
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Munchrat Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
@Osaka, +1
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Munchrat Reply:
March 5th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
@winger23, it is such the right decision.
See my above post^
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Don’t think Quick is fully recovered. Besides i saw Bernier leading us to a second Stanley Cup in a dream
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