Players Talk Playing With A Lead + 2/20 Practice Notes & Extended Copley Interview

A natural topic over the last few days has been the notion of playing with a lead. Shared some opinions on the matter yesterday, but it’s one thing to come from me, reflecting back on those who are asked to speak in the moment. It’s another to ask around the locker room and hear from those who are most closely involved – the players on the team.

Todd McLellan said on Saturday that improving when playing with a lead was something that needs to come from within the room. So, speaking with those in said locker room, they offered a variety of takes and thoughts on what they can do better in those situations and how exactly they can work on it. It’s not something like a passing or shooting issue, or a systems issue, which can all be targeted specifically during practice. As Blake Lizotte put it, “you can’t just throw a puck out there and say, we’re up by three or four, go and protect the lead.” You can only replicate that situation in so many ways and the team knows that. Improvements in that area need to come from doing and executing during game situations, something the Kings know they haven’t done well enough as of late.

Hear from several members of the Kings with their thoughts and opinions on protecting the lead.

Mikey Anderson – Playing with a lead, you’re trying to do the same things you did to get the lead and obviously it can get a little casual. I think the big thing is, throughout practice, you’re honing in on the details, not taking shortcuts and doing everything the right way. It comes back to everyone in the room sticking together, doing what we need to do and not coming off the script. Obviously, you did something right to get a lead, so when you get that, you have to continue to do those things, it’s keeping up the pressure. In the Arizona game, we knew they were going to come out with a push when it was 5-1 after the first. I think we were just too casual with it and that’s something you can’t necessarily replicate, but within the room, we can talk about it and make sure that everyone is doing their part.

Phillip Danault – I don’t think it’s practice, I think it’s mental. It’s playing the same way as you did. I think it’s easier for a team to push when they’re down a lot of goals, you can cheat more and we’ve just got to stick to our game plan when we do have a lead. Be better and have confidence in that part of the game, it’s a big part of success for sure. Keep playing hard and not being afraid, make the simple plays.

Sean Durzi – It’s becoming aware of it and it’s fixing our mentality. You look at the games, you look at the goals, they’re fixable and you can correct them. It’s within us, it’s not just the leadership group but each and every guy being a leader in here and not only saying the right things but doing them on the ice. When you look at the best teams who have won, they all know how to play with a lead, so it’s something we’ve got to fix, something we’re going to think about and we’re going to be better.

Alex Edler – I think it’s simple, you don’t change the way you play when you have the lead. You make the right plays every time, there’s no secret. Whether you’re down or it’s tied, when it’s tight, good teams play the same way through everything. When you play in practice, you’re trying to play the right way and that’s how you’re supposed to play in the games, whether you have a lead or you’re down by two goals.

Adrian Kempe – I think we have to stay consistent and keep playing our game. I know it’s hard, [when you’re up big] other teams start to play with more risk when they have nothing to lose and you get more 3-on-2’s and then sometimes it’s hard, we’ve got to keep wanting to play defense in the third. We’ve got to chip out and chip in, it’s a good thing that we’re playing with a lead and that it’s a big enough lead that we can give it up and still win the game. We’ve got to just fix some things in the d-zone, a little too careless out there in the third period in the last two games. We’ve got to clean that up.

Blake Lizotte – I think it’s something that’s just a mentality as a group, you work on it in meetings, not on the ice, you can’t just practice it. I think it’s a mentality thing and I think our group needs to mature in that area, for sure, we’ve seen it lately. I think it’s more of a mentality, where we need to stay engaged throughout the full 60, rather than have that dip and it’s important for us.

Certainly easier to reflect on the matter coming out of a game the Kings won – Lots of insight today to what the feelings are in the room and what the team is aiming to do to make corrections. The Kings are saying and acknowledging the right things, as McLellan said they were on Saturday. Now, it’s about making those corrections during the game, hopefully starting tomorrow night at Xcel Energy Center.

Looking at today’s skate, the Kings practiced today for about 30-40 minutes, in advance of their flight to Minnesota this afternoon.

The biggest news in terms of today’s skate was the appearance of Carl Grundstrom, who has shed his non-contact red jersey in place of a regular one. Grundstrom skated on what could be considered the de-facto fifth line this morning, on the wing next to Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Brendan Lemieux. Grundstrom is currently on injured reserve as of this writing and considering his longer-term absence of around five weeks, I don’t think the organization will look to rush him back into action. Still, when that time comes, the Kings will have decisions to make both in terms of roster makeup and lineup composition. Grundstrom being ready would mean one too many up front and the Kings would need to make a move at that point. Something to monitor on this trip, as he continues to progress.

Here’s how the team lined up during today’s practice –

Byfield – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Arvidsson
Fiala – Lizotte – Iafallo
Vilardi – Kupari – Kaliyev
Grundstrom – Anderson-Dolan – Lemieux

Anderson – Doughty
Durzi – Roy
Edler – Walker
Bjornfot

Copley / Quick

Nothing crazy from today’s skate, with the team traveling to Minnesota following practice. Some situational work, focusing on 5-on-5 play, with the forwards working as lines and the defensemen rotating in and out with the odd number. Players like Bjornfot, Grundstrom and Anderson-Dolan were among the first players on the ice to focus on some individual work, with Grundstrom looking for extra repititions on his way back to full health. Anderson-Dolan and Bjornfot are frequently among the first on the ice, as they got some individual work in to stay sharp for their respective next cracks at the lineup.

Before you go, sharing an extended interview with goaltender Pheonix Copley on the All The Kings Men podcast. Copley joined Jesse Cohen and myself for around 20 minutes to share some stories on a variety of different areas, including Alaska, his trade experiences, his story growing up and his tea company, Athletes Apothecary. We recorded the episode prior to this weekend’s games, but a couple of additional minutes are also included where Jesse asked about *that* game in Anaheim.

Hope you enjoy!

Currently in the skies, Insiders, on our way to Minnesota. Full coverage to follow in the AM, as well as throughout the rest of this trip!

Proudly presented by Destination Vancouver. Pacific-ER. North-ER. West-ER. Go Norther.