-Jeff Carter has 12 goals in the last 12 games (12-1=13.
-Dustin Penner has assists in four straight games (0-4=4), a career high.
-Mike Richards has eight points (2-6=8) in his last eight games.
-Keaton Ellerby logged 11:40 of ice time, which ties for his second-lowest time-on-ice total with Los Angeles.
-All Kings recorded shorthanded time on ice except for Justin Williams, Dustin Penner, Jordan Nolan and Dwight King.
-The Kings received only one power play for the third time in eight games.
-Los Angeles won 41 of 60 faceoffs (68%). Jarret Stoll has won 64 of his last 97 faceoffs (66.0%)
-Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin tied with a game-high five shots on goal.
Friday’s practice is scheduled for 10:30 am at the Toyota Sports Center.
The way carter is going, maybe we should have him take the opening faceoff and have him play it forward. Fastest goal ever.
I cannot blame the refs, we were just mentally eshausted. Maybe I can blame the NHL for trying to squeeze so much out of so little time. We are getting a watered down product coming off a lockout. Not good policy
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King Alex Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 12:07 am
@jet, the schedule is just crazy & it not gonna get any easier any time soon. It’s gonna take conditioning, intestinal fortitude & Lady Luck in the western conference playoff race.
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shiny Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 12:11 am
@jet, Agreed. The NHL was desperately trying to recoup some lost revenue and this schedule is just taking a toll on players. And the Kings won’t be the only team affected. It’s going to affect all 30 teams in the NHL.
The one thing I was counting on with the schedule is that the Blackhawks would have to suffer as much as the Kings. However, when the Kings play them on the 25th, the ‘Hawks will be coming off a 5 day rest (game on the 20th then on the 25th) while the Kings will be coming off a brutal 3rd straight week of 4 games in 7 days. I just hope our boys can find a way to keep enough in the tank to crank it out the next 2 months.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 2:56 am
@jet, Can’t blame the NHL in any way for this one.
Till now Kings have had a very reasonable schedule to allow them to get up to speed and although it was a 3-in-4-niter, all 3 were at home and so zero travel was involved.
And sure it’s a tough schedule coming up but the computer gives everybody the same deal and the last thing Kings can blame any shortcomings on should be this factor.
Actually, it’s not a factor.
As @King Alex suggests, the team is just going to have to dig deep and show everybody what they’re made off.
Forget schedules, forget injuries, forget the game before. This never was a sport for sissies and this season that’s not going to change one iota. If anything it’ll be tougher than ever.
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Nykingfan Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 5:41 am
@Duncanz,
Agree 100%
I somehow get the feeling if we would have won last night nobody would have been complaining about anything.
Unless you’re the Hawks, nobody’s winning every game. To blame scheduling, being tired, etc is so friggin lame its comical.
We’re the Stanley Cup champs..nobody’s feeling sorry for us so as fans lets stop feeling sorry for our guys.
We’ll be just fine if somehow Quick can find his old form. If not, we’re in for a tough campaign..schedule notwithstanding.
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neil Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 6:15 am
@Duncanz, agree…we played great in the third period the other night and that was back to back
..
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California Royalty Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 6:44 am
@jet, Huh? I’m not on the side of the players or owners when it comes to the lockout, but they wanted to give us as many games as possible. Be honest, would you rather a 48 game season or a 38 game season? You have to play enough games to level the playing field.
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jet Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 9:45 am
@California Royalty, Well, did the NHL really want to give the fans as many games as possible or are they trying to offset as much of fixed costs as possible. The players will have more injuries per game this season and the fans are going to see a watered down product due to man games missed and palyer fatigue.
WRT, the issue of fairness. I am not sure how this format could possibly look fair to the Kings.
We do not get to play the East, which other than last season we have done well against
A compressed schedule exasperates the travel. We have one of the worst travel schedules
On top of the travel, the West is the toughest division in hockey.
So, yes I think when the league over loads the schedule and has mandatory off days, that makes it UNFAIR to the Kings, becasue when you are one of the youngest teams in the league, you need to practice. And, I am in no way bashing Sutter. He is trying to use video and such to compensate, but you can’t improve Ellerby’s pivot by watching tape. you can’t get Marty up to mental speed watching video. Sutter is doing his best, but he is not Houdini. It has to be frustrating as …. for him. Heck, I am frustrated watching his frustration.
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jet Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 10:21 am
@California Royalty, Definetly 38 great games would be better than 48 average games.
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Easy Bob Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 3:10 pm
@jet, Right on. Too many games for fans and players alike.
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I don’t think the team played bad tonight all things considered. It really only came down to Quick not being his 2011-2012 self. He clearly is still recovering from his back surgery and under the strain of a hurried schedule, he’s having a longer time to get back into 90% health.
There might be stuff behind the scenes we don’t see, but it might be best to let Bernier play more, hopefully keep winning, increase his potential trade value and let Quick rest and get in shape. Win Win.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 12:29 am
@LGK!!, You’re kidding, right? On three of the first four goals, it was a pass from one end of the ice through the slot and a shot topshelf. He’s not going to stop those. Bernier sure as hell isn’t going to.
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JD Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 7:13 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, has quick ever let in a bad goal?
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 10:15 am
@JD, Yup…several times in the first 10 games.
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 10:46 am
@JD, Have you ever not been a turd?
LT21 Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 12:54 am
@LGK!!, I love how everyone is so quick (pun intended) to blame Quick for every goal. I am not saying he couldn’t have saved a couple tonight but the 2 where Jagr is left wide open on the opposite side of the ice for a one-timer is hard for ANY goalie to stop and Quick can’t be held solely responsible for those. And yes, teams now know his weakness and shoot higher on him. What annoys me is how people say “Bernier would have had those” Well maybe so, but Quick can at least close his 5 hole. He is solid down below and that is why teams aim high. So instead of blaming Quick for every goal, every game and claiming Bernier would have done better, let’s all take a step back and realize they both have their strengths and both have their weaknesses. They are very opposite each other so comparing them is not fair.
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luc20rules Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 1:55 am
@LT21, +1, not Quick. I would blame positioning, lack of mental focus, and failure to win puck battles by the D & Centers for the GA. Goalies are very rarely going to stop perfect shots of one timers that come from crisp passes from the low in a faceoff circle to low board side in the other faceoff cirle. Only a goalie guessing high shot(low percentage most onetimers fail/or go along the ice) and even guessing that it would take an airborne dive across the crease even a save without control would have the goalie completely out of control leaving an empty net for a couple of seconds.
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neil Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 6:17 am
@LT21, DS mentioned the goalie.
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DesertKing Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 7:05 am
@neil,
DS mentioned everybody.
The Stars beat them on the boards, and they failed to keep the slot clear. Total failure. Props to the Stars, though. They played a good game. They’ve really given the Kings trouble the last couple seasons.
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That Dan Mauriati (?) guy on Fox makes me cringe whenever he does an interview…/
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There are some strange anomalies coming up in the schedule.
On March 18th, the Kings host Phoenix. Then the next night, they host Phoenix again. I’ve never seen anything like that. It’ll also be the third time in eight days they play Phoenix. Finally, there are THREE back-to-back sets against the same team in the next two weeks, starting with Calgary, and both of those are home games, but there’s a day between.
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California Royalty Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 6:45 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Yeah you can thank the lockout for that. The schedule is messed. I saw Winnipeg is in Florida, then in Tampa the following night, then back in Florida on the weekend.
This new realignment will be exciting!
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Hawks have better goaltending and more offensive depth. Defense is probably even. Sorry but we can’t beat em as it is now.
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luc20rules Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 1:59 am
@goldielocks, Are you adding in Mitchell & Greene to the equation?
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goldielocks Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 9:48 am
@luc20rules,
Nope. Just current stetus.
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I blame the whinning fans that demand the Kings start well even after victories. If the Kings just started horribly saving energy for the 3rd they would have been fine. But no fans whinned about poor starts so now the blew their wad early and had nothing left in the 3rd.
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Will someone be able to slip a Di Vinci H.S. student a twenty to ask Willie Mitchell when he might be ready to play for the Kings? I know he is giving it his all, but just starting to get worried it may not be soon enough, but better back for the whole season including playoffs than just a few and out. Get Well Willie.
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I find it kind of funny that when the season was set to begin, a lot of people on the blog we’re saying Mitchell should take his time and come back when he’s 100%..hmmm not hearing that as much anymore.
Surprise..when you lose a top 4 d’man it’s not so easy to replace him with young kids.
I love Willie Mitchell as a player, but he needs to get his ass out of the trainers room and back on the ice and start earning the $$ he’s getting. It may sound harsh, but I’d really love to win another cup and I’m not sure that’s possible without him.
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Lake Forest Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 7:35 am
@Nykingfan, I still stand by what I said in the beginning. He needs to be ready, assuming he is, is questioning the type of player you think he is.
We had a bad game last night. Nothing more, we’ve had good nights also from the kids on the back end.
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Nykingfan Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 9:01 am
@Lake Forest, it’s not that. He came with the rep of not willing to play hurt.
I don’t really know the full extent of his injury so I may be way off base…we need him badly. There’s no comparison between him and Ellerby. I know it’s only 1 loss and that’s not what bothers me. I’m smart enough to know without him in the lineup our chances to repeat become less. That’s a fact.
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LT21 Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 9:35 am
@Nykingfan, I agree with you. I don’t know his full issue but I do know what it is like to have a knee surgery, have a setback with it during recovery and then be told by doctors that “everything is fine” but yet it still doesn’t feel right. I’m not a hockey player but have been any athlete my entire life and when something just doesn’t feel right and nobody can give you the reasons why it is frustrating. We really could use him, and Greene, but unfortunately, these are the hands the Kings have been dealt. The kids have stepped up a lot but there was just no replacing Mitchell and Greene this season.
Duncanz Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
@Nykingfan, I think this is more desperation talk than anything.
It’s just no use trying to fight the swing of the cosmic pendulum.
WM isn’t back yet for a reason. DS and the coaching staff aren’t casting a woeful eye in his direction and neither can the fans.
Right now it’s all about sailing through the swell while the young crew on hand learn the ropes, and trusting the skipper and helmsmen to navigate the vessel to where the sailing’s plainest.
On top of that, how often has a star player (on any team around the league for that matter) returned with expectations to single-handedly enact a superturnaround and nothing has happened, or things have gotten worse?!
All this is to say, we’ve simply got to trust the manpower the Kings have on hand.
Not worth rueing those not available, and no use demanding their return forthwith.
Reality is biting and the pain needs to be withstood and managed.
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Fans forget there is another team out there…Dallas played great…
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 10:16 am
@neil, They did.
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Too many shots from the defense
10 between DD and Muzzin
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Bad game for us all around. Offensively, defensively and goaltending. Yes quick had no chance on two of those goals, but the other two I thought he should have. No blame towards him, he was let down by our defense……
I don’t know about anyone else, but scuds is killing us. This short quick season is taking a toll on him. A little bit hesitant to see him play with our continued busy schedule.
AM needs to pick it up. He played horrible too.
Just stating my opinion, lets get the next one and forget last night.
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Eh…one of those nights where nothing goes right.
I will say though, Martinez needs to pick it up drastically, or sit. He was god awful last night.
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fsd1 Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 7:41 am
@mrbrett7, pretty much the whole night he was a pylon out there, looks lost.
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puck73 Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 7:50 am
@mrbrett7, Totally agree. You can throw Ellerby in there as well Brett. Jagr and Benn schooled those 2 guys like they were still in juniors !
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Duncanz Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
@puck73,
Jagr/Benn ……. 1788 career games (2036 pts)
AMart/Ellerby …. 294 career games
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The killer last night was again diving up a goal lated in a period.
Beaten Ellerby has got to get with the Western Conference defensive ethic.
Another bad penalty and another piece of burnt toast.
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vinny Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 8:06 am
@Munchrat, just a tough call, penalty killers cant leave that lane open
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vinny Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 8:13 am
@Munchrat, sorry got that you meant the second one there a little late..well anyway kid blew by two defenders upon entry, and well, you know what they say about those backhand shots
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I do not blame JQ in the slightest for this loss. Massive defensive breakdowns last evening. Scuds and A-Mart were pretty horrid. There were point blank shots that nobody would have stopped. If Jagr is left open with basically an empty net he will score 100% of the time.
It is surprising that Scuds is struggling like he is. I agree with the Lake above, the crazy schedule is probably killing him.
Anyway Go Kings!
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OK, the real question is what will Lombardi get for Bernier at the deadline? This should be the leading story going forward.
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LT21 Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 9:24 am
@johnjuan, I don’t think he should be traded at the deadline. If he goes, it is after the season. Quick is still trying to get back to his “Quick-ness” and unless we get Greene and/or Mitchell back (and up to speed) before the deadline (highly unlikely) then Bernier is too much of an asset this season to be traded before it is over.
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Didn’t get to see the game last night, but from reading the posts, it looks like the one of the significant things that saved us last year, our PK, isn’t at the same level it was last year. It seems that this is due to 2 reasons:
1. JQ isn’t back to the level of performance that he was last year (he will get there eventually)
2. We are missing our top to PK defensemen, WM and Greene, who not only killed alot of those minutes but also brought stability and consistency to the PK.
It also sounds like Dallas played really well while we played lower than our potential. We are currently 5th in the conference, 2 points behind #4 Detroit with 2 games in hand and 2 points behind #3 Vancouver with 1 game in hand. If someone said that halfway through the season we would be 2 points out of the #3 seed with 1 game in hand, and that the #3 team was last years President’s Cup winner, we would all say we are doing pretty good.
On the negative side, #6, #7 and #8 all have the same point totals we have (26) with us having 1 game in hand on #7 and #8. My only real concern is that with the compressed season, there is less room for teams to either fall behind or surge ahead.
The Kings need to be aggressive every night on offense, attacking the net and getting grit goals or drawing penalties. I still have great hopes for this season and still think it is a crapshoot that anyone playing defense-first hockey can win. GKG-AGAIN!!
By the way, anyone going to tomorrow nights game? We will be there supporting our Kings.
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I get the feeling that most posters are all looking for someone to blame (this guy, that guy, lack of another, the NHL, ect. ect.). Problem lately is just defensive adjurtments during games. Tempo and offense are good but St. Blewit scored 4 goals off deflections before the Kings adjusted defensively. 4! Last night the Kings did little to stop backdoor plays. Allowing 1 or 2 goals on the same type of play happens all the time. When it starts getting into 3 or 4 of the same types of goals happening on the same night it means the Kings aren’t making the adjustments fast enough to stop the damage. Looking at it over a 10 game period and it’s a problem that just recently has crept into the Kings game. No point blaming 1 guy.
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DesertKing Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 9:25 am
@Dominick,
Perfect! I knew you would figure out the problem
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Michael J. Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 9:29 am
@Dominick,
I blame the Dallas Stars for the Kings’ loss. If they hadn’t wanted to win so badly the Kings would have come out with the two points. I blame Lehtonen and Jagr specifically. If Jagr had only ignored his instincts and stayed over on the half wall he wouldn’t have been in position to score. Additionally, if Lehtonen didn’t work as hard as he did to find pucks, stay square to the shooter and focus for all three periods the Kings likely would have scored two or three more goals.
No, I won’t blame 1 guy for the loss. I will blame two.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 11:50 am
@Michael J., Quite correct you are!
Now, if only a couple of guys on our team woulda stepped up like that in response … let me think …. JQ & Kopi?
(sorry @Dom, but at least I didn’t blame one guy..)
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Go Kings Go!
win one lose one that’s the way it goes, just get ready for the next one coming
Go Kings Go!
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Something I’ve noticed recently is Quick’s body language after giving up a goal. Last season he would hop back up and be ready for the drop of the puck. He actually played better after giving one up. This season he’s been looking dejected, staring up at the rafters, almost afraid to give up another one. He need’s to get his confidence back and I think that comes with more playing time. He played great last season with very minimal rest the last 6 weeks of the season and playoffs. DS should get him back into the #1 goalie role, where he belongs. Bernier is a great compliment to him, but is still the back-up. Just a thought
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LT21 Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 9:29 am
@Batfan13, I agree. I have been talking about Quick’s confidence a lot too. It seems very different now and he needs to get it back up. We all know he plays better the more he plays and I agree with you that I think he is more afraid to give up another goal after giving up one. He seems like he is “trying” too hard. Once he gets back into his groove and confidence comes back he will be fine… he just needs to get there.
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I thought this was a 3-2 league what’s with the 5 goals against?!
Good game by Dallas as far as getting the chances and capitalizing on them. We had some chances but didn’t get the bounces we needed.
Time to move on, next game can’t come soon enough.
GO KINGS!
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Michael J. Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 9:31 am
@KOHO, Apparently Dallas didn’t get the memo. Or, they are simply being nonconformists. Hmmmm… Hockey in Texas??? I’d bet on the nonconformist thing.
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KINGSFANSINCE1969 Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 9:59 am
@KOHO, ADD THE GOALS UP 3-2 =5
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The dallas coach and players noticed that the KINGS seemed a bit fatigued.
If you recall, they started the 3rd period hitting every KINGS player in sight,
seeing if there would be any response. Unlike the past 2 games, there was not.
What will happen first:
Chicago loses in regulation or Jeff Carter gets an assist?
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It baffles the mind to read some of the nonsense assumptions some bloggers make here about Quick:
I’ve noticed recently Quick’s body language after giving up a goal
YEAH, I’M SURE THE COACHES HAVE NOTICED, TOO. BUT HOW CAN YOU SEE WHAT HIS BODY IS DOING UNDER ALL THAT EQUIPMENT?
Last season he would hop back up and be ready for the drop of the puck
QUICK DOES NOT NAP AFTER A GOAL IN FAVOR OR AGAINST. HE’S ALWAYS UP RIGHT AFTER EVERY PLAY.
He actually played better after giving one up.
SO DID LAST YEAR’S DEFENSE DEFENSE, BEFORE AND AFTER A GOAL AGAINST OR IN FAVOR.
This season he’s been looking dejected, staring up at the rafters, almost afraid to give up another one.
WHO ARE YOU? KARNAC ‘THE MAGNIFICIENT’ WHO CAN READ INTO WHAT QUICK OR ANYONE ELSE IS THINKING OR FEELING? BTW, HOCKEY PLAYERS DO NOT HAVE FEELINGS. THIS IS NOT BASEBALL, YOU KNOW
He need’s to get his confidence back
QUICK AND ANYONE ELSE IN THE LAK TEAM CAN OUTCONFIDENT EVERYONE IN THIS BLOG PUT TOGETHER. THEY’RE THE CURRENT STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS.
I think that comes with more playing time. He played great last season with very minimal rest the last 6 weeks of the season and playoffs.
AGAIN, SO DID LAST YEAR’S DEFENSE DEFENSE.
DS should get him back into the #1 goalie role, where he belongs.
DS WANTS YOUR CELL PHONE # SO HE CAN CALL YOU FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO COACH THE TEAM.
Bernier is a great compliment to him, but is still the back-up. Just a thought.
BERNIER IS PLAYING BETTER THAN QUICK, AT LEAST THAT’S WHAT THE STATS SHOW. DS WILL PLAY HIM ACCORDINGLY
I have been talking about Quick’s confidence a lot too.
SOUNDS LIKE PURE GOSSIP TO ME. YOU SHOULD NOT GOSSIP NEGATIVELY ABOUT CHAMPIONS, SPECIALLY ONE WITH A CONN SMYTHE TROPHY
It seems very different now and he needs to get it back up.
FOR COITUS SAKE, IT IS DIFFERENT NOW, LOL!! YOU JUST REALIZE THAT? WHAT’S NEXT? SOMEONE IS GONNA SUGGEST TO GIVE QUICK A BLUE PILL?
We all know he plays better the more he plays and I agree with you that I think he is more afraid to give up another goal after giving up one.
NONE OF US BLOGGERS KNOWS ENOUGH TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT. IF WE DID, WE’D BE COACHING OR MANAGING THE TEAM. MY WIFE DOES NOT AGREE WITH YOU, SHE SAYS QUICK JUST NEEDS A HUG.
He seems like he is “trying” too hard.
I HOPE HE NEVER STOPS ‘TRYING’ AS HARD AS HE POSSIBLE CAN.
Once he gets back into his groove and confidence comes back he will be fine… he just needs to get there.
GROOVY, DUDE..HANG TEN…HAVE A COKE AND SMILE!! (ANOTHER NONSENSE ASSUMPTION THAT QUICK HAS NO CONFIDENCE.)
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Duncanz Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 2:19 pm
@Gust, Have a coke, take a blue pill and your confidence in the blog will return, I’m sure!
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LT21 Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
@Gustavo, Wow buddy. How do you really feel? This is a comment section in a blog where people post their opinions. That’s what they are, opinions. My opinion is he has lost a little confidence. Only a blind person would really think he is fully confident right now. It baffles MY mind to read this nonsense and that people think professional athletes can’t have something such as confidence be tested when they aren’t playing at their best. They’re human. Calm down… and have a coke, apparently.
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YoBro Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
@Gustavo, Well, your “nonsense assumptions” aside, how’s about FACTS. JQ’s GAA. JQ’s SV%. JQ’s W-L record. THIS yrs stats, not last yrs. If DS can see that his goalie played poorly, what omniscient ability do you have, that allows you to dispute that?
I’d love to see the JQ of last yrs playoffs on the ice right now, but it just ain’t happening. I had hoped that by now he’d have come out of his funk.
I submit it’s not the media or the folks on this site creating the “goalie controversy”, but rather JQ’s own play thats doing it. We all know that DS has ALWAYS rode his goalie hard all year, every year (see Kipper, Nabby). But, for the first time now, he’s platooning G’s and you know HE has to be scratching his head a lot more than we are. He, like me, doesn’t give a flying fig about butt-hurt egos, he’s just trying to get wins. Period.
Go Kings
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Gustavo Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 8:12 pm
@YoBro,
If you want the JQ of last year, bring back the defense of last year.
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YoBro Reply:
March 8th, 2013 at 8:38 pm
@Gustavo, Clearly, right now, it’s neither / nor.
Go Kings
LT21 Reply:
March 9th, 2013 at 1:02 pm
@Gustavo, Sutter quote from today “Quick needs to get his swagger back” Hmmm wonder what that means. Oh I know! It means Quick needs to get the confidence back up to where it was and into his “groove” again. Thank you, Sutter, for proving my point. Guess the people who were thinking Quick’s confidence was a little down weren’t way off the mark.
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