On tactical reinforcement and emotional pleas

Earlier today, Darryl Sutter referenced the youth on the Kings’ roster as an influence on how he addresses the team before a game and how he reinforces detail, even as the team advances deep into a playoff series.

There have been questions asked throughout the playoffs about whether he gravitates towards emotional or tactical reinforcement in the lead-up to a game.

According to now-injured defenseman Robyn Regehr on April 26, “the amount of preparation that we do doesn’t change.”

“It’s still a lot of, not only video, but a lot of mental prep too,” Regehr said. “Depending on the players, they’re all different as individuals, but preparation is a big part of Darryl and his coaching philosophy. So that never changes. Depending on the players, they’re all different as individuals, but preparation is a big part of Darryl and his coaching philosophy.”

The players will readily use the pulpit of a full dressing room in the lead-up to a game. Justin Williams delivered the team’s emotional plea to great effect prior to the team’s Game 6 Stanley Cup Final win over the New Jersey Devils, though he was unsure whether he’ll be the one providing the message in advance of tonight’s pivotal Game 5.

“It’s spontaneity saying something,” Williams said. “It’s certainly not something planned. It’s a big game, obviously, but not every big game deserves the same title. There are always subtitles to every series that you play. We know what we’re in for. Nothing needs to be said about it.”

Drew Doughty’s emotion is evident on the ice and, not surprisingly, in the dressing room.

“There is a lot said before the game, whether it’s the coaches or just some of the players,” Doughty said. “We have a lot to say and we know that we need to get everything out of every single guy. Whether it’s the leaders speaking up and just calling out someone to play better, that’s what we need to do. I know everyone is just ready and focused for this one. We’re just excited to play again. Having that day off is maybe good for some rest, but we’re refocused and reset.”

As a two-time gold medalist and a Stanley Cup winner at the young age of 24, does his experience influence his inclination to address the room?

“Yeah, of course, I have to be one of the leaders on this team,” he said. “I have been for a little bit now. I’m still young, but I’ve been here a while now, and I’ve been in a lot of situations like these. I definitely need to step up to the plate and have my best game tonight, too.”

Of course, there’ll be a pulse in the locker room down the corridor underneath the stands at the Honda Center.

“I think we’re expecting that too,” Doughty said. “We haven’t showed them our best yet. We’ve showed them here and there, like little spurts, but we haven’t showed a complete 60 minute game. That’s our entire focus tonight. We need everyone to step up to the plate. It’s gut check time now. We’re not up two-nothing anymore. It’s a new series.”

Drew Doughty, on feeling confident playing at the Honda Center:
Yeah, I think we’re coming in confident every game. The past is past. It’s just a three game series now. What happened before is over with. We know we can win in this arena, but we also know that they’re really good here at this arena too. It’s not going to be easy, but we have to win tonight.

Doughty, on how they played in the second and third periods of Game 4:
I think we just played desperate. We played desperate and we wanted to have the puck at all times. We played well defensively every single situation. Our forecheck was good, our neutral zone was good and our breakouts were good. When all three things are rolling like that, then you’re going to have the puck. We did a good job, but obviously the first period is what hurt us so we need to have a good first tonight.

Doughty, on Jarret Stoll’s play in the series:
Stolly is a good player. He’s going to work hard and do all the little things right. He’s a good leader off the ice. We’re confident when we have him out there on the ice, no matter who it’s against. We need everyone to be tilting the ice that way when they’re on.

Jarret Stoll, on Bruce Boudreau saying he expects the Kings’ best game tonight:
We expect it to be their best too, so it better be our best. We feel if we bring our best that it’s good enough we think, but it has to be our best and it has to be everybody going. It has to be that up-tempo pace, forecheck, physical, heavy game. Not the game where we’re turning pucks over in the neutral zone and playing D-zone coverage, because most likely it’s going to be a tough night.