Angeles Analysis – But What About The But?

Preseason previews about the LA Kings all seemed to read the same thing.

This team appears close to contending, BUT……

There was always the but, and the but always seemed to center around a pair of aspects of the team – the goaltending and the penalty kill.

The way the Kings lost Games 1 and 2 of the season only loudened those external voices. A power-play goal against in Game 1 and 11 goals allowed across the first two games of the season. I saw a clipping from an article in the comments here on LAKI, posted after Game 1, that declared “Cam Talbot is not the answer”. After Game 1. 60 minutes into a season of 82 games, a large, sweeping declaration was made about an individual who joined the organization this summer.

Now, two games later, perhaps those exaggerate overreactions were a bit overblown. That’s not to say that a two-game sample size proves that issues don’t exist with the team, because it certainly hasn’t been perfect. But man, it’s kind of nice to just see a calming of the waters after some of those heavily scrutinized areas were driving forces behind a pair of Kings victories.

Todd McLellan said it best yesterday – “three games is not enough time.”

It wasn’t necessarily related to a specific issue in particular, but three games is not enough time, or enough data, to make judgements and decisions. Neither is four. We can look at each game individually and we can have our observations and begin to analyze the four-game sample size as a whole, but 12 periods is a small blip on the radar of a long season to come.

Still though, the last two games were wins for those who went against the groupthink.

Talbot was in net for both games and even including the Colorado game on opening night, he’s got a goals saved above average of +0.84 and a save percentage of .916 at all strengths. His career average is a .914, which was also his save percentage from 2019-22. Talbot was excellent in both starts this week. Excellent. When he’s spoken about his game, when it’s on, the word calm came up multiple times. We saw that on display in Winnipeg and Minnesota. The Kings badly needed calm in the first 10 minutes on Tuesday and they got it, keeping the game 0-0 when the ice was heavily tilted early. Against Minnesota, there was hardly any blame that could be sent the goaltender’s way. With a two-goal lead in the second period, Talbot turned aside several Grade-A chances that could’ve let the Wild right back into the game. So far, Talbot’s been what the Kings have needed him to be. Still expect to see both goaltenders used, and used regularly, over the course of 82 games, but for the player we knew less about as a King, good to see a strong week between the pipes for Talbot.

Oh, and then there’s the penalty kill. Unlike the goaltending, which was spoken about without seeing the process, the penalty kill was under fire because of the results during the 2023 postseason, as Edmonton averaged over a goal-per-game on the man advantage. The Kings turned their fortunes around on the power play last season. It wasn’t quite worst to first, but it wasn’t all that far off, either. Through four games, the penalty kill has surrendered exactly one goal. The Kings were shorthanded four times apiece in both Winnipeg and Minnesota and proceeded to kill off all eight of those situations. It wasn’t perfect – the first PK in Winnipeg was a scramble and in the second period yesterday, Minnesota got a couple of passes through the slot with a well-timed stick and a Talbot save preventing damage. Still though, as McLellan put it last night, if the Wild scored a power-play goal, it would’ve meant they worked for it and earned it. Nothing cheap on the PK this week and for a unit that has been much maligned over the last two seasons, it’s a very positive step forward.

So. Where does that leave us?

For starters, I will heed my own advice. The two-game sample size from this week is no greater than the two games at home to start the season. A four-game sample size doesn’t really carry a ton of weight, any weight really, in the long run. But it was encouraging to see two of the areas that had external question marks coming in, respond with a very strong week on the road. There were times in both games where things could’ve taken a twist or a turn against the Kings. With strong goaltending and penalty killing leading the way on both nights, that twist or turn never came. With s strong base in place, the Kings played the way they’re very capable of playing and we saw how good that can look. Establishing the direct play first will lead to offensive opportunies and the Kings have more talent offensively than they’ve had in McLellan’s time with the organization. 78 more opportunities to establish the winning formula and the Kings will continue to seek improvements and alterations to the process as they go. Getting strong goaltending and effective penalty killing will go a long way towards that process being a success.

As we look ahead, the early-season gauntlet of a schedule continues. The Kings will host the Boston Bruins tomorrow night, the fifth consecutive 2022-23 playoff team to begin the season. Of the first eight opponents, seven were playoff teams a season ago, including the Presidents Trophy winners and Stanley Cup champions. Not exactly an easy schedule, but here we sit with a 2-1-1 record through the first half of it, with a group that has only grown in confidence over the past week. An exciting game tomorrow lies ahead, with another test to be taken for this group. As long as the buts continue not to be buts, it’s a test this team is ready for.

Day off today, Insiders, and we’re back at it tomorrow morning. Expect to see a full morning skate before the game at TSPC, beginning at 10:30 AM. Ontario Reign play tonight at 7 if you want to get your hockey fix in for the evening.