Did Westy have two shots on goal as well ? I know he had one for sure.
Don't know if he had 2 or not, but he was skating much better out there.
I'm one of the few that doesn't think the Kings bottom 6 is as dismal as their scoring indicates. There were 2 times on the same shift where Hunter recovered the puck in the corner and came away clean with the puck. He looked up to center the puck and the Kings had 3 players skating away and above the circles getting ready to play defense. How is Hunter supposed to score when he has no options other than to dump it back behind the net or send it to the point for a shot with no traffic in front?
It's just so frustrating to watch the Kings Perimeter offense, even when they are trailing in the game. How many times do the Kings gain the zone and do a quick stop up to allow the attacking players to pass by for a pass or to setup traffic? Most of the time the player tries to take the puck along the boards and is easily rubbed out and the puck ends up with the other team. How many times do the Kings attack the middle of the blue line? Other teams do it to the Kings all the time and the Kings have to back off because the offensive player has multiple options available to him. Attacking along the boards limits the options for the offensive player and is much easier to defend.
This is the fundamental shift that Murray needs to do to get the Kings offense on track. The Kings aren't always going to get 2 gift turnovers with their best players on the ice.
Don't know if he had 2 or not, but he was skating much better out there.
I'm one of the few that doesn't think the Kings bottom 6 is as dismal as their scoring indicates. There were 2 times on the same shift where Hunter recovered the puck in the corner and came away clean with the puck. He looked up to center the puck and the Kings had 3 players skating away and above the circles getting ready to play defense. How is Hunter supposed to score when he has no options other than to dump it back behind the net or send it to the point for a shot with no traffic in front?
It's just so frustrating to watch the Kings Perimeter offense, even when they are trailing in the game. How many times do the Kings gain the zone and do a quick stop up to allow the attacking players to pass by for a pass or to setup traffic? Most of the time the player tries to take the puck along the boards and is easily rubbed out and the puck ends up with the other team. How many times do the Kings attack the middle of the blue line? Other teams do it to the Kings all the time and the Kings have to back off because the offensive player has multiple options available to him. Attacking along the boards limits the options for the offensive player and is much easier to defend.
This is the fundamental shift that Murray needs to do to get the Kings offense on track. The Kings aren't always going to get 2 gift turnovers with their best players on the ice.
I really think that offense in today's NHL is created by broken plays, special teams aside. Every team stands up at the blue line, every team prioritizes blocking shots, and every team collapses down low when threatened. Attacking against that kind of defense is like biting on concrete. You need some way to catch defenses out of position, and the kind of grinding, cycle-to-point-shot offense that the Kings play just seems to play right into the hands of other teams' defenses. It's like WWI out there, where the enemy is all set up in their trenches, and you just keep going across no-man's land right at them, with horrific casualties.
It seems like there are basically three ways to disjoint a defense and create broken or semi-broken plays: speed, skill, and physical play. I think the Kings occasionally do it with all three, but they aren't really built to do it consistently in any one area. Thus, as we've seen, they struggle offensively and have a razor-thin margin of error when they play defense. Basically, they can win pretty consistently when the other team makes mistakes, like last night.
I watched bits and pieces of the replay. Thought the Kings were outplayed and lost the territorial battle in the first period, but good goaltending and solid defense kept it close until they could capitalize on some mistakes by the Blues.
What do you know, that can be an effective style leading to wins.
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By the way, I liked the fourth line last night. I guess that means Westgarth should stay in the lineup. That line played probably the best either of our bottom two lines have played all season. The third line was okay too. Weird stuff.
Don't look now, but the Kings are in 4th, only 2 points out of 1st in the conference. They must be elite!...for today.
Nope. Competitive, sure, but not elite. Look beyond the points, to the percentages (because of games in hand), and the Kings aren't 4th in the Conference -- they're fourth in the DIVISION.
San Jose - .694 (on pace for 114 points)
Phoenix - .605 (on pace for 99 points)
Dallas - .600 (on pace for 98 points) Los Angeles - .595 (on pace for 98 points, but only through rounding)
Anaheim - .400 (on pace for 66 points)
Now, the good news is that as of right now, I project the playoff threshold to be 95 points (Edmonton is on pace for 9th at 94 points). But the bad news is that winning-wise, the Kings are the 8th-place team in the playoff race right now. Yes, there's a lot of season to go, but let's not get carried away with being in "fourth place" because the team has played the most games in the West (tied with Chicago, Edmonton, and Colorado).
Nope. Competitive, sure, but not elite. Look beyond the points, to the percentages (because of games in hand), and the Kings aren't 4th in the Conference -- they're fourth in the DIVISION.
San Jose - .694 (on pace for 114 points)
Phoenix - .605 (on pace for 99 points)
Dallas - .600 (on pace for 98 points) Los Angeles - .595 (on pace for 98 points, but only through rounding)
Anaheim - .400 (on pace for 66 points)
Now, the good news is that as of right now, I project the playoff threshold to be 95 points (Edmonton is on pace for 9th at 94 points). But the bad news is that winning-wise, the Kings are the 8th-place team in the playoff race right now. Yes, there's a lot of season to go, but let's not get carried away with being in "fourth place" because the team has played the most games in the West (tied with Chicago, Edmonton, and Colorado).
You missed the point of his joke, which was that he was joking
It is way, way WAY too early to be looking at standings or projections.
I get that he was joking - I didn't make it clear that I was just using that phrase to point out something that people don't seem to be factoring into their outlook of the team at this point in time.
If it's too early to look at standings, why doesn't the league just do like the BCS, and keep them secret until they "matter" later on in the season?
That makes NO sense. I'm not saying the Kings are doomed to sneak into the playoffs as the number eight team (and the fourth Pacific Division team to qualify). I'm saying that RIGHT NOW, at this moment in time, the team is the fourth-best in the division at getting available points, not fourth-best in the conference. That's all. That's where the team is -- and where they should realize they are in terms of what they have to do in the next 61 games.
I get that he was joking - I didn't make it clear that I was just using that phrase to point out something that people don't seem to be factoring into their outlook of the team at this point in time.
If it's too early to look at standings, why doesn't the league just do like the BCS, and keep them secret until they "matter" later on in the season?
That makes NO sense. I'm not saying the Kings are doomed to sneak into the playoffs as the number eight team (and the fourth Pacific Division team to qualify). I'm saying that RIGHT NOW, at this moment in time, the team is the fourth-best in the division at getting available points, not fourth-best in the conference. That's all. That's where the team is -- and where they should realize they are in terms of what they have to do in the next 61 games.
Agreed. I will be happy if we make it to the playoffs. I would be thrilled if we win the stanley cup, perhaps, i would go streaking on colorado blvd in pasadena.
Watching the game last night, yes the first period was ugly but the 2nd and 3rd, completely different team. JB was lights out, how often do you get praises from the Doc about the Kings?
My only complaint is really about our consistency play. Can we maintain our scoring chances? Can we keep playing like we are in the playoffs every game? etc etc etc. I personally think consistency is the key to being an "elite team." We really don't need the stamkos or the crosbys on our team in order to be elite. It would be nice to have them, don't get me wrong, but we need players and leaders like Richards, Kopitar, Brown (at times), JJ, DD, and etc. These guys are poised to win, these guys want to bring the cup to LA, they are hungry every night! I believe in this team, I believe this year and the following will be our year, Go Kings GO.
Agreed. I will be happy if we make it to the playoffs. I would be thrilled if we win the stanley cup, perhaps, i would go streaking on colorado blvd in pasadena.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaAnimal
Watching the game last night, yes the first period was ugly but the 2nd and 3rd, completely different team. JB was lights out, how often do you get praises from the Doc about the Kings?
Not since they were in the playoffs last year and on the way to jumping the Shark, if you know what I mean....
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaAnimal
My only complaint is really about our consistency play. Can we maintain our scoring chances? Can we keep playing like we are in the playoffs every game? etc etc etc. I personally think consistency is the key to being an "elite team." We really don't need the stamkos or the crosbys on our team in order to be elite. It would be nice to have them, don't get me wrong, but we need players and leaders like Richards, Kopitar, Brown (at times), JJ, DD, and etc. These guys are poised to win, these guys want to bring the cup to LA, they are hungry every night! I believe in this team, I believe this year and the following will be our year, Go Kings GO.
Captures my take as well... consistency is everything in system play. Review the Detroit game. They just kept coming and playing the variations available within their structure. The Kings played exactly like that in the prior three games but were unable to pull it off against the Wings. (1pm start is an LA jinx) The Kings were a dominant, attacking, swarming team in those three wins. Now they have to keep raising that level to match the elite teams. They will be there in late January.
OTOH, it wouldn't hurt to have a pure sniper running around shooting from every angle at every opportunity to shake things up. A sniper must be relieved of many defensive responsibilities. Our team is definitely ready for that kind of player. (Herby can call for the "Return of the Camalleri" - not going to happen.)
Maybe Toffoli comes up in Feb and can light it up - if team defense can cover his inexperience and inevitable mistakes. I'd be interested in reading how other posters feel about that.
Maybe Toffoli comes up in Feb and can light it up - if team defense can cover his inexperience and inevitable mistakes. I'd be interested in reading how other posters feel about that.
I thought Toffoli is more of a gritty offensive player, kinda like Brown but a little bit bigger? Is he really purely just offense?
I know he has a lot of potential and is playing really well, but can he be the answer to our scoring woes?
