-Saturday night’s game was an appropriate example of Darryl Sutter’s assertion earlier in the week that save percentage is a team stat. Entering the game, Los Angeles was tied for 24th in save percentage and Calgary was 27th. The first period contained five goals, including a Flames neutral zone turnover that led to Trevor Lewis’ odd-angle rip, Jake Muzzin being allowed ample time from the left point (and then out-waiting a sliding Tim Jackman, whose shot blocking attempt was unsuccessful) to unleash his post-in wristshot through traffic, and a Kings breakdown re-entering their own zone late in the period that allowed Alex Tanguay’s tap-in on a cross-crease pass from Mark Giordano. Anze Kopitar’s stick-side snapper early in the third period (off a terrific diagonal feed across the neutral zone by Justin Williams) added to Miikka Kiprusoff’s rough night, and wide open lanes of space on Colin Fraser’s one-timer appeared to be a reflection of defensive coverage and the inability of Calgary’s forwards to create pressure on the backcheck after they turned the puck over in L.A.’s zone. This was mostly a reflection of the Flames’ defensive inconsistencies; other than the late first period goal, Jonathan Quick and Los Angeles’ team defense enjoyed a much stronger performance than in the loss to Dallas two nights prior.
-As Sutter alluded to at yesterday’s morning skate, Jeff Carter continues to use diverse means to get the puck in the back of the net. Not all of his 13 goals over 13 games have come from quickly released wristshots from the circles – perhaps his most impressive tally this season was the game-tying power play goal against Detroit two Wednesdays ago in which he had his back to the net when he redirected a Mike Richards pass between his legs and past Jimmy Howard. He scored from close range once again in Saturday’s win off a selfless feed from Dustin Brown, who appeared to have plenty of net to work with himself when he received a Slava Voynov pass at the side of the net through a seam. While Carter’s six game-winning goals lead the league, don’t overlook his four first-goals, which can help a team impose its own tone on a game and reduce the nagging stress that can accumulate if a team has to fight from behind too often.
-General managers, players and fans of other teams in the playoff hunt may want to send a thank you note to the Los Angeles Kings, who have taken part in the fewest three-point games in the Western Conference. The Kings have now appeared in 17 consecutive games without heading to overtime, the longest stretch of one-season regulation play since they appeared in 22 consecutive games without heading past regulation from January 27 to March 14, 2003. L.A. also appeared in 17 consecutive games without heading past regulation between March 17 and October 14, 2007, though that streak was spread over parts of two seasons. Since the epic 22-game non-OT run, the team has appeared in 16 consecutive games without heading past 60 minutes three times: February 11 to December 14, 2005, March 31 to October 19, 2009, and December 26, 2010 to January 24, 2011. Last year the Kings were squared away after 60 minutes 24 times, tied with Minnesota and Vancouver for the second most in the league behind Florida’s 25 overtime games.
Season is just about half over…this lock-out really sucked.
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Mmmm … rumor thickens … Tofolli’s GF tweeted her BF has been called up.
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goldielocks Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 12:19 pm
@goldielocks,
More sources indicate the same story. Waiting for the confirmation.
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goldielocks Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 12:27 pm
@goldielocks,
It is confirmed. Toffoli is now on his way to LA.
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Neil Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 12:20 pm
@goldielocks, confirmed!!!!! Richards injured??? King or Nolan scratched??? Penner .. No Penner is playing great !!!!
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yuri Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 1:03 pm
@goldielocks, who is toffoli’s GF?
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Save, Hrudey! Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
@goldielocks,
You follow Toffoli’s GF???
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Duncanz Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
@Save, Hrudey!, Lol
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goldielocks Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
@Save, Hrudey!,
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not a twitter stalker but yes.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 2:36 pm
@goldielocks, And I’m not a blog-bound voyeur, Lol.
goldielocks Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
@Duncanz,
That’s very convincing …
Duncanz Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 3:13 pm
@goldielocks,
Tyler Toffoli called up to the show?!?!?!
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This worries me, not sure why they would call up a forward unless someone was going on IR (richards?)
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Jeff Carter scores! Weird having two home games in a row against the same team but it’s always easy to watch this old Smythe division pairing. Kings taking care of things in regulation has been a change for the good this year.
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CO Kings Fan Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 12:24 pm
@Mikey J., Don’t the Kings have a back to back with Phoenix and both games are in phoenix this year?
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CO Kings Fan Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 12:27 pm
@CO Kings Fan, Yup, March 18 and 19th. Odd season.
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Mikey J. Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 12:27 pm
@CO Kings Fan, Those are home games.
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The Kings suck..they cant score…Kopitar isnt the same WRT his injury.Penner is slow…Carter is just a partyer…Richards is out of shape…Brown isnt hitting anyone…Stoll doenst do anything….Lewis isnt a finisher and was a waste of a first round pick…Is there any wonder why the Kings are bringing up Toffili??? To save the season !!!!!!!!!!!!
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HockeyNerd Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 12:32 pm
@Neil, You forgot the sarcasm font?
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Neil Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 12:33 pm
@HockeyNerd, I figure if you cant understand that Iam being sarcastic then oh well..LOL !!!
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Neil Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 12:33 pm
@Neil, Parody of bloggers !!!!
JD Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 3:55 pm
@Neil, wonder how long before toffoli starts getting ripped
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I wasn’t here for a long time. Too much work to do to stay watching thru the deep night. But, it’s great to see at least video shortcuts and see how great play we make. Really makes me happy, great games. I was just sad little bit that we lost with Dallas in the same day, when Jagr’s czech team eliminate my local team from play-off… anyway, kings rule.
GKG
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Duncanz Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 2:34 pm
@NamidaEurope, Won’t happen again!
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Where are these ‘confirmed sources’ of Toffoli’s call up? His GF’s Twitter account isn’t enough. Man I hope Richards is okay.
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Dallas and Calgary are two different teams…….
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KC23 Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 1:05 pm
@Lake Forest, Especially Calgary on the 2nd half of a back to back. We dang well should of won that game by 4 goals.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 10th, 2013 at 2:35 pm
@Long Viewest, Well spotted.
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“The first period contained five goals, including a Flames neutral zone turnover that led to Trevor Lewis’ odd-angle rip, Jake Muzzin being allowed ample time from the left point (and then out-waiting a sliding Tim Jackman, whose shot blocking attempt was unsuccessful) to unleash his post-in wristshot through traffic, and a Kings breakdown re-entering their own zone late in the period that allowed Alex Tanguay’s tap-in on a cross-crease pass from Mark Giordano. Anze Kopitar’s stick-side snapper early in the third period (off a terrific diagonal feed across the neutral zone by Justin Williams) added to Miikka Kiprusoff’s rough night, and wide open lanes of space on Colin Fraser’s one-timer appeared to be a reflection of defensive coverage and the inability of Calgary’s forwards to create pressure on the backcheck after they turned the puck over in L.A.’s zone.”
This reads like hockey porn. Like the penthouse forum of hockey writing.
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