Angeles Analysis – Let’s Enjoy A Sunday

Let’s enjoy a Sunday.

There were a lot of worthwhile takeaways from yesterday’s win over the Rangers, but there was one that caught my attention in a different way than a quote usually catches my attention.

Todd McLellan was asked during his post-game press conference about how he analyzes this win in particular, knowing that it was an important two points from an important team performance that was far from perfect. The Kings got back in the win column, but scored only two goals. His answer, below, on how he analyzes that win –

“We won’t, we’ll enjoy the evening, how does that sound? Then, we’ll get up and we’ll watch a football game. Then, we’ll come in and you can ask me on Monday, because I’m not going to answer that one tonight. A win’s a win right now.”

A fair answer to a fair question.

The Kings had lost 10 of 11 games entering yesterday’s game. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t have taken a 2-1 win coming into the game against the Rangers, regardless of how the game went. That’s not to say the Kings didn’t play well, because I think there were a lot of good things. It wasn’t perfect, but they did more than enough to win, from the goaltender out.

It was the second consecutive 2-1 scoreline for the Kings – one each way – with McLellan pointing to the team’s execution of the structure as being a positive last night. He highlighted the play of the six defensemen as well as goaltender David Rittich as being standouts in a tight-checking, one-goal win. McLellan still believes that the Kings are a team that should be winning games that way. The Kings were one of the NHL’s best teams in one-goal games over the last two seasons, ranking in the league’s Top 10 in one-goal wins, but have won just 6 of 19 one-goal games to date this season. With 5-on-5 goals currently hard to come by, it’s a good thing to have in the locker.

That ties into the part of the game where the Kings have struggled the most of late and that’s offensive output. A 7-6 win would have also been a one-goal game, certainly, but that’s six goals allowed. It would’ve meant that one area goes up when the other goes down. I think a 2-1 win is more meaningful, because the same problem existed, with a lot of puck possession that only turned into a couple of goals, but last night it was enough to get a win. The Kings found a way to build on the areas they’d performed well in, led by the penalty kill and the checking performance, while also taking a small step forward offensively. I think it’s important not to give back the good while trying to improve the bad. Yesterday’s win showed that.

“When I look at that game, we had to win like that,” McLellan added. “We weren’t going to……at 7-6, we’d all be saying hey, great, the offense is back, but that’s not who we are. We’re a 2-1, 3-2 team.”

None of that is why I took note of the McLellan quote embedded up top though.

It’s a quote that shows we’re talking to and about humans.

I think this Sunday off day if one that everyone is appreciative of.

The last Sunday the Kings had off was December 24, as a part of the NHL’s holiday break. A day off certainly, but it’s not exactly a regular Sunday. Practices and games have filled the three weeks since and a game in St. Louis will take place next Sunday. Today marks a rare opportunity to enjoy a day off that the rest of the world enjoys. Playoff football on television, significant others off from work, kids off from school. 10 losses from 11 games wears on a group of players, coaches and staff. To get one back in the win column, heading into a Sunday off, marks a rare opportunity to reset a bit and enjoy some of the things that everyone gets to enjoy on a normal Sunday. That’s something I think is appreciated by all.

If I was to look back at last night’s game, I think that it will ultimately be the moments within the game that are much more memorable than the game itself. Perhaps we look back after 82 games at this game as the season’s turning point. Perhaps it’s a blur on a down spell that continues. Won’t know until we come through it. What we’ll know for sure, though, is what happened at selected moments during the game.

A special moment for many in the building to honor the greatest goaltender in franchise history. Even though his post-game reaction was as typically dialed in and focused as Jonathan Quick has always been, a glove and stick raised to a loud ovation says there was something meaningful about what happened at the first media timeout. Everyone deserved that moment. The way Quick’s time with the Kings ended 11 months ago, there was never that moment to recognize and honor Quick while he was still a King. There will, one day, be the opportunity to recognize and celebrate Quick as a retired player, when the number 32 ultimately rises into the rafters. To be able to see Quick back in Los Angeles still as a goaltender, still impacting games with his play, was important too though. Everyone got that last night.

Moments came as well from David Rittich, who used every inch of his toe to keep out the game-tying goal late in the third period. Moments for Jaret Anderson-Dolan, who has gotten a steady run of games as of late and created the game-winning goal with an aggressive drive to the net. Moments for Quinton Byfield, who looked comfortable and confident in his return to playing center for the first time this season. Goals with less than two minutes to play in the first and second periods, with the biggest save of the night in the same timeframe in the third. Moments, individual or team, that haven’t gone the Kings way all that often as of late.

Home games against San Jose and Buffalo on the docket for the week ahead. Yesterday’s win is great, but so was the win in Carolina last week. The Kings enjoyed that win last night and they’ll enjoy it again today. Back to work tomorrow, when the goal transitions to building on that win.