The Kings are looking to elude elimination once again tonight against the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. This time, they’re holding ground in the home confines at Staples Center. This hasn’t been the location of choice when you’re talking success for the Kings in this series. They’ve lost both contests in the home barn, allowing an astounding 12 goals combined in the two games. If Staples can manipulate consumers with their ‘Easy’ Button, I’ve got something else for you.

Matt Greene’s on-board, just back it up with some sound defensive zone coverage buddy.

I’ve already put this thing through worse abuse than an ‘upper-cut’ button on a 1992 Mortal Combat arcade game.

Jonathan Quick hasn’t been the problem at home, and chances are he won’t be tonight. Maintaining the Sharks offensive output hinges heavily on focusing on avoiding coverage collapse. Numerous analysts, Jim Fox included, noted that Games 3 and 4 at Staples Center weren’t playoff hockey. I’d have to agree, the Sharks weren’t necessarily given their goals, but they were granted several opportunities in which an NHL player would have no excuse to justify not burying the puck. Hung out to dry, and I’m not talking mommy’s backyard clothesline. Jonathan Quick was helpless, as any goaltender would’ve been with that spotty defensive coverage. Our goaltender stood on his head to win Game 5 for the Kings, allotting 51 saves in a majestic performance, and his capabilities only grow when he’s getting decent defense in front of him. If the Kings can focus on formulating consistent coverage in their own zone, the chances for the Kings to extend this to a 7th game are quite attractive.

No Line Changes?!?!

“Terry, any chance you’re adjusting the lines for Game 6? Terry?…Terry?”

Put away your dancing shoes, no ‘Terry Murray Shuffle’ tonight. It wasn’t so much his decision, he’s been in complete shock since that train-wreck of a 4th-line he compiled actually did something in Game 5.

I stand corrected, as I’m sure many of you do as well. I was pretty harsh in criticism when Terry Murray announced his 4th-line combination of Dustin Penner, Jarret Stoll, and Kevin Westgarth. Can someone check if a Penner goal assisted from Westgarth was predicted by the Mayans? I’m trying to get to the bottom of this 2012 apocalypse business. Both Dustin Penner and Kevin Westgarth had pretty solid games. Westgarth has shown a noticeable step-up in his offensive zone play, he’s been on the puck and disrupting San Jose’s break-out quite well. Penner’s been alright, I’m hoping his goal Saturday night opens up his game a bit. He recently claimed to be “thinking too much” on the ice, which doesn’t attain to his style. The guy’s abilities revolve around effort and grit, getting to the puck down-low and along the boards. And yes, he needs to take advantage of open-ice when he’s not the first guy in. He did that well, executing on a beautiful pass from Kevin Westgarth in Game 5. I still can’t help but hate the fact that Jarret Stoll is centering these two, are his abilities not used better elsewhere? I think so.

Bottom Line

- Kings must support Jonathan Quick tonight and not allow the opportunities they presented San Jose in the previous games at Staples Center this series. Quick’s got the positioning and poise to stop the majority of shots he’ll see, it’s a matter of not exposing him in helpless fashion.

- The Wayne Simmonds, Kyle Clifford, and Brad Richardson line needs to continue it’s playoff tear. They’ve been an absolute crucial part of the Kings’ scoring in the series. Clifford and Richardson both have 5 points apiece, with Simmonds chipping in with 3. They’ve been hounding the Sharks’ defense on the forecheck, they’re getting to the net, and getting the puck there. There’s no question this line’s continuity will be a factor tonight.

- Scott Parse looked good Saturday night, and will continue to play alongside Michal Handzus and Justin Williams. I was surprised with how quickly he seemed to adapt to live-gameplay, the Kings will need a second coming of that tonight.

And it very well could be the last. The season’s life-span is in heavy threat, the Kings’ second consecutive postseason appearance is hanging by a thread. The Kings have officially struck “must-win” status heading into tonight’s contest at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The Kings are facing a 3-1 series deficit, in which three consecutive victories will be needed to advance past the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Right now, it’s one game at a time, one win at a time. That’s the way the Kings must approach Game 5 tonight. Simple mindset, stick to the system, and for the love of god – show some f*cking life in the defensive zone coverage scheme.

 

Guest Services

And the manager ain’t in, either.

You look for any positive outlook on the Kings’ situation, and I’d have to say it’s getting back on the road. For whatever reason, this team isn’t the same at Staples Center. In the first two games in San Jose, the Kings allowed just 3 goals combined, and left the Bay area with a win to their name. Back to Los Angeles, friendly confines, right? In two games, 12 goals allowed, two losses, and a gut-check at the door. All of the pressure is on the Sharks in front of their home fans, even tonight. They’ve got some of the most miserably hungry playoff hockey fans in the league, I mean they’ve been tortured with postseason failure. For the Sharks, tonight is a chance to push the underdog to the side, a team without it’s top player, hanging by a thread as elimination looms. Why does this setting sound somewhat good for the Kings?

One More Ride on the Carousel

“So Terry, what astonishingly terrible, senseless, and downright laughable line changes will we be seeing for Game 5?”

He had me at Dustin Penner and Kevin Westgarth…playing together. Wow.

In all seriousness, I’m quite perplexed with Terry Murray‘s line-shuffling, and that’s nothing new from a personal standpoint. Tonight, you’re looking for a roster that can provide the absolute best last-ditch effort possible. You’re looking for scoring touch, speed, and players who can create and/or finish on scoring opportunity. So with that, Terry scratches Alexei Ponikarovsky and Oscar Moller in favor of dressing Kevin Westgarth and Dustin Penner on the fourth line. Not just that, but Jarret Stoll is centering these two. Immediately you’re hampering Stoll’s value, face-offs aside. Maybe Penner takes off the rental skates for a pair of his own, and Westgarth does nothing with no negative consequence. There’s some positive outlook on the situation for you. Sheesh.

Final Tidbits

- Glad to see Terry Murray stick with Jonathan Quick for Game 5. Yes, he’s allowed 12 goals in his previous two games, but you can hardly fault Quick for any of them. He’s been victim of defensive zone coverage collapse, viciously hung out to dry. Calling for Jonathan Bernier could provide a spark, but goaltending hasn’t been the problem.

- A good omen? Today in Los Angeles Kings history, 10 years from the date, Adam Deadmarsh scored two goals including the OT winner in route to clinching the Western Conference Quarterfinals series against the Detroit Red Wings.

- Scott Parse returns to the lineup for the first time since November, fully healed from a hip injury that he suffered back in August during training camp. Happy to see Parse return, but is it the right decision? In just five games played this season, does he have more value than Alexei Ponikarovsky and Oscar Moller? Tough to say. The guy hasn’t seen live ice in over five months, and both Ponikarovsky and Moller have had decent showings in the postseason.

- The current white/purple away uniforms could be making their final appearance in team history tonight. They’re being scrapped for a white version of the current alternate uniforms next year. The Kings have been donning this template since 1998, although with numerous tweaks being made through the years. Don’t die on me now.

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*PHOTO CREDIT
Kyle Clifford, Jack Johnson, Kevin Westgarth – ‘Sharks Page’ at http://www.sharkspage.com

When pitchers in baseball are throwing flat with no injury symptoms, they call it ‘dead arm’. For Dustin Penner, he’s got a dead presence, and it’s effect has been lingering far too long. Expired is the explanation for more time needed to adapt to Terry Murray‘s system. I’m sorry folks, this is an NHL player here. I guarantee that you can’t count how many different systems the guy’s played under on two hands – dating back to his high school days. It’s been since the beginning of March, playing in 19 games over the span of 50 days. There’s no justifying his performance any longer, let’s get real. Yes, great pass by Penner for Michal Handzus‘ goal last night, but you can seriously argue that Penner should have shot that puck instead. He fed ‘Zeus a shiny dime, and anything less would’ve been intercepted for a turnover. Don’t get me started on Devin Setoguchi‘s OT winner, Penner defended that play like he was at the community rink for a Sunday afternoon public skate session. These numbers are quite horrendous, Penner has produced a petty two goals and four assists totaling just six points since joining the Kings. Not only that, but he’s been almost a complete non-factor anywhere in the offensive zone, and his defensive coverage has struggled with his laggy backcheck that often finds itself in the wrong spot – when it gets there.

It’s not easy to judge body language all of the time, but call me Sandra Day O’Connor if we’re talking Dustin Penner. The first thing that comes to mind when analyzing his play is fatigue, he’s just lumbering around, there’s absolutely no extra effort. Then you see that same dry-cut look on his face that shows less intensity and passion than a castle guard. Oh, it just hit me…

Who monitors this abomination of a pre-game entrance prop during the game, anyway? It’s probably like Davis Drewiske or Peter Harrold or something, or like a Staples Center security guard or something.

But hey, Perfect Fit!

Only person passing through this gauntlet MUST HAVE CREDENTIALS

If you want to add some legitimate credibility to this abhorrent orange castle…jeez…orange? really? Well, then you need a guy who fits the bill. Who’s good at showing no emotion? Dustin Penner. Who’s good at always having the same stupid look on their face? Dustin Penner. Who shows little reaction when being publicly called-out by their coach? Dustin Penner. Who’s been torturing the Kings roster with lackluster play and can be subject to irrelevant criticism by me? Dustin Penner.
You could sharpen your skates with this guy’s teeth and he wouldn’t budge.

Plus, that would give Oscar Moller a chance to return to the lineup…

Holy Sh*t, Oscar. You’ve got a better playoff beard than Penner too!

But it won’t happen, and I’m not sure it should either. I’m confident Terry Murray will be sticking with Dustin Penner throughout the postseason, just as he probably should. It’s easy to call for the guy’s head like I’ve been doing, but his résumé is just too good to throw to the side, even with his elongated streak of disappointing passive performances. It may be another chance for Alexei Ponikarovsky to be the Kings’ top power forward tomorrow night. The way things have been going for Dustin Penner, you can’t refute that.

 

Keep that remote control idle, Chris and Keith are coming at you with the recap to tonight’s glorious victory with Episode 102 of Overtime. Stay on that couch.

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I was harping on conservative defensive play tonight, and boy was I wrong. But really, can you blame that mindset? The Kings’ powerplay has come out of nowhere and has suddenly become the storyline of the series. Jack Johnson with two points, and Drew Doughty doubling the pleasure riding the four-wheeler.

Jack and Drew, I sure don’t mind it, do you?

DIRECT DEPOSIT

The one aspect that has proved to be a struggle throughout the year for the Kings has become the most domineering factor for the club’s offensive production in the playoffs. Save yourself the trip to Downtown, Los Angeles for the weekly ‘Art Walk’ and watch video of the Kings’ powerplay in the first two games of the Western Conference Quarterfinals. Vincent van Gogh has got to be rolling over in his grave. Remarkable puck movement, astounding control and use of space in the offensive zone, and executing on open lanes for shots. No hesitation, and utilizing opportunity to stretch the twine in San Jose. Folks, we’ve got a roster that can win this series.

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Quick Satisfaction

You can’t ask much more from a goaltender than what Jonathan Quick has provided for this team in the first two games of the series. Although a loss in the opening contest, Quick maintained poise and posture after surrendering an early goal to keep the Kings in the game. You can’t pin Joe Pavelski‘s OT winner on Quick, there’s nothing you can do to defend a shot like Pavelski unloaded on a smooth transition odd-man rush off of an offensive zone turnover. Not only does the guy regroup from such a heartbreaking finish, but he epitomizes a brick-wall and silences the Shark-Tank with a shutout. The HP Pavilion was quieter than a college library during finals week, and boy was it a beautiful thing.

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And for Dessert, Kyle Frank Clifford

I’ll take another goal, please. Your chocolate cake tastes like shit.

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The White Hem-Lines Survive Another Day

My cult-like addiction to hockey uniforms took another step forward tonight. If the Kings were to get swept in the series, tonight’s contest would be the final installment of the current road uniforms. Well, you can stamp a ticket back to San Jose, and throw those white hem-lines in the washing machine. They’ll need something to wear for Game 5, and these beauty’s are what the closet will be calling for. Fashion show.

I really like that picture to the right, a lot. Is it because of the intensity of the shot? Nah. The black and white effect? Nah. Because Kevin Westgarth‘s face is blacked out? Yes. Look, I wouldn’t take shots at the guy all of the time if Terry Murray STOPPED PUTTING HIM IN THE LINEUP. JEEZ. The Kings showed their ability to hang with the San Jose Sharks Thursday night, and it’s vital that they don’t fall back on that precedent. Everyone knows who the favorite is, who’s expected to win, that we’re without our best asset in Anze Kopitar, and now our key player in the face-off circle and secondhand scoring outlet Jarret Stoll. The excuses could go on, but I expect nothing less from this club than what they showed Thursday, only with fewer miscues. As for the first installment of the playoff round, all who were expecting a Sharks win – myself included, were right. But not exactly, as the Sharks just barely muscled out the win in Overtime on a very well executed odd-man rush. Which brings me to the point that staggers in my mind as the single-most important aspect to the Kings having a chance in this series: Conservative defense, say it with me now. The back-end of this team is what’s going to win games, plain and simple. Capiche? Capiche.

Hey fellas, thinkin’ what I’m thinking?

And it ain’t politics.

To have any chance, defense must be stressed as the primary factor every shift. That will feed to Jonathan Quick‘s success, and will provide the forwards with more opportunity to transition off of turnovers. You look at the Sharks’ game-winning goal Thursday night, and notice how vulnerable we can be when our defense creeps into the offensive zone. Especially in overtime, we cannot afford to be playing with the puck up-top, granted there’s powerplay and/or ample time and space available. Neither of those were the case. You give San Jose open opportunity, and we’re all but finished. We maintained that mindset throughout, but faltered at a terrible time. Now, I will call myself out here. If Alec Martinez does control that puck, and/or Wayne Simmonds is able to posses it, you’ve got a prime scoring chance in the works. That’s playing the risk and reward game, guess how that turned out.

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Stoll-en from the Lineup

Jarret Stoll will serve a one-game suspension for his hit on Ian White. Don’t enjoy saying it, but Stoll deserved the suspendo. So, how did Oscar Moller end up filling his void?

Hey, looks like Oscar’s playoff beard is improving by the year!

I’d be grouchy myself if I was victim of seriously questionable roster choices, time after time. Well, the Kings opted not to call up Brayden Schenn after his team was eliminated from the WHL playoffs. Even though he still had a one-game cushion before burning a year off of his NHL contract, the Kings looked the other way. Not saying I like the decision, but can’t hate it. Maybe playing it a little too safe, Dean? The kid could’ve come out and had a huge influence, even for just one game. And hey, who knows, maybe the Kings would’ve sought burning a year off of his deal worth his addition.

The Kings then pursued calling up John Zeiler from the Manchester Monarchs. What?

Zeiler couldn’t clear waivers in time for the NHL to grant his presence to the Kings’ lineup tonight, so Oscar Moller slips back into Terry Murray‘s notepad again. Moller will manage his duties on the 4th line, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some in-game shuffling for the Swede. He’s solid in winning races to loose pucks, especially on the forecheck. He won’t necessarily win those battles, but he’ll certainly disrupt the opponent enough to have an impact.

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Trap Game

This is most definitely a trap game for the Kings tonight, but the other way around. Usually when you’re talking this terminology, it means overlooking a sullen opponent and losing because of it. For tonight, it’s about the Kings not expecting to be neck and neck with the Sharks like the case was Thursday. A heartbreaking loss like that can often translate into a complete abomination in the contest to follow. Don’t come out just as hard, come out harder – with a vengeance. Focus on maintaining stay-at-home defense, protect Jonathan Quick, and execute on every offensive opportunity available. Get back what they took from you on Thursday, and head to Los Angeles with home-ice advantage.

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*Photo Credit:
Kyle Clifford, Jack Johnson, Kevin Westgarth – SharksPage at www.sharkspage.com

We’re less than 24 hours away, folks. The opening contest of the Western Conference Quarterfinals series between the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks is slated for 7:00 PM PST tomorrow night at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California. The two Pacific Division clubs will meet in the postseason for the first time in NHL history, the same year in which all California-based teams have qualified for the playoffs. Below, I’ll break down the series outlook, take a look back at their six meetings this season, note on key factors for the Kings, updates with analysis, and a prediction. Hey, and way to go NBC, no shock there. I bet it’s because Pierre Mcguire‘s forehead can’t fit into an airplane, that could explain the unbalanced regional telecasts.

These guys sure look ready, ARE YOU?!?

Maybe something a bit stronger, Anze.

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Season Series

Taking a look back on the six games played between the Sharks and Kings, you’ve got your share of lopsided scores, but the season series played out evenly with both teams going 3-3-0. San Jose outscored the Kings 18-13 in regulation, but the Kings were able to snag wins in both contests that extended to extra shots. Both teams have recorded shutouts in the meetings, Jonathan Quick on December 27 and Antti Niemi on January 1. The final meeting of the season was one you’d like to forget, the Kings got dropped like 5th period algebra in a 6-1 nightmare. However, that has failed to really have any significant lingering after-effect. An off-night for Jonathan Quick – he’s human, and a complete collapse by the defense. And of course, out Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams. Both aspects have recovered in decent form, and Williams looks to be making a postseason return. That’s a good thing, even if at 80%. As for venues, both the Kings and Sharks went 2-1-0 on home-ice, and 1-2-0 on the road.

November 15:   Los Angeles     3 @   San Jose   6
December 27:   Los Angeles   4 @    San Jose    0
January 1:         Los Angeles     0 vs    San Jose  1
January 26:       Los Angeles   3 vs    San Jose   2   SO
March 24:         Los Angeles   4 vs    San Jose   3   SO
April 2:             Los Angeles     1  @    San Jose  6

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Keys to the Series:

Not talking car keys, but some solid f*cking defense.

*FUN FACT: Davis Drewiske ALSO ties Matt Greene’s skates.

*** Maintaining Quick: Goaltending is going to be an enormous factor for the Kings, much like the defense. Jonathan Quick is coming off of six consecutive starts, going 2-4-0 during the season-ending string. He’ll need to be solid, the Sharks have the clear advantage on the offensive side. Jonathan Bernier‘s previous start resulted in a shutout performance in Edmonton on March 29. Bernier logged 34 minutes of ice in relief of Quick on April 4, but you can hardly leverage anything on that. Bernier hasn’t shown signs of rust after lengthy periods on the bench, and he’ll have to do the same this time around.

*** Conservative Defense: This is how the Kings, coupled with goaltending, are going to win in the playoffs. It’s the best thing going for them right now, and it has been throughout the season; granted a few breakdowns. As long as the Kings’ zone is clogged and Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier are protected from odd-man rushes and open scoring opportunities, we can maintain the Sharks. Sticking to a consistent defensive scheme is crucial, its not their responsibility to make up for lost assets on offense. After Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams went down with injuries, too often did the defense get caught deep in the opponent’s zone. If the Kings’ defense can create turnovers and instability for the Sharks’ offense, that feeds to offensive opportunity for our forwards. Which brings me to…

*** Executing on Mistakes: And this is huge. We’re not going to see many comprehensive end-to-end offensive pursuits with the roster we’re icing. The forwards must work with our defense. This means being in position to transition on loose pucks, turnovers, and tight coverage. They’re going to have to fill support roles, and be able to hound on any small opportunity available.

*** Forecheck: Another major factor in the Kings’ offense creating opportunities. Grungy goals, plain and simple. Eliminating cluster and troubles in the neutral zone must be avoided with getting the puck deep, and hounding. You’ve got to work San Jose’s roster for everything they’re worth. Continue to dump the puck, and disrupt on the forecheck. Here, you’re keeping the defense in safe position, while implementing constant penetration against San Jose’s defense.

*** Special Teams: If the Kings can solve their powerplay woes, it could be the deciding factor in the series. This has hampered the offense throughout the season, and the Kings didn’t end the regular season on good terms with the man-advantage. A powerplay is an opportunity, and opportunities are going to be the storyline for this offense. Any chance they get, they must take advantage. Traffic, shots, smooth entrance into the zone, it’s vital. As for the penalty-kill, you can’t head into tomorrow night feeling nervous about it’s stability. Defensive zone coverage a man-down has been a consistently solid aspect throughout the season. If you think we can afford powerplay goals to San Jose, you’ve got another thing coming.

He’s Back!

It’s official, Justin Williams will be in the lineup tomorrow night in the series opener. Williams has been skating with the Kings for the past few days, even participating in contact drills. He was cleared by the medical staff, and gave Terry Murray the “good to go” after today’s practice. Huge, even if he’s not at 100%. Williams accounted for 57 points with 22 goals and 35 assists until missing the final nine games of the regular season after suffering a separated left shoulder. His recovery was a lot faster than initially perceived, his presence is huge. It has yet to be determined what line Williams will group with tomorrow night, but you’ve got to be grateful for the simple fact that he’s back in the lineup. Just-in time? Nope, it’s Justin Time!

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Prediction

San Jose Sharks in 6 games.

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Series Schedule

Game 1: Thursday, April 14, 7:00 PM PST – HP Pavilion

Game 2: Saturday, April 16, 7:00 PM PST – HP Pavilion

Game 3: Tuesday, April 19, 7:30 PM PST – Staples Center

Game 4: Thursday, April 21, 7:30 PM PST – Staples Center

Game 5: Saturday, April 23, 7:30 PM PST – HP Pavilion

Game 6: Monday, April 25, Time TBD – Staples Center

Game 7: Wednesday, April 27, Time TBD – HP Pavilion

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Don’t Forget!

Make Sure to head over to KingsCast on Facebook for your chance to win a Bernie Nicholls autographed stick blade! Just hit us up with your prediction for the series, and the winners are entered into a raffle for the prize!

A sad day it was for the Los Angeles Kings community. Tanner Raboin, an avid fan, passed away this morning from his lengthy battle with Chronic Granulomotous Disorder. My thoughts and prayers are with the Raboin family, who have been a fixture among Kings fans since the mid-1980′s. It is only due respect to take a moment and grieve such a sorrowful loss. Here’s to the Kings making an honest push for the Stanley Cup in honor of Tanner Raboin. To get the full, in-depth story on Tanner, head over to Mayors Manor. R.I.P.

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There’s no easy way to transition to basic news, but there were some promising looks today in El Segundo at this morning’s practice. The Kings, who are just three days away from the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the San Jose Sharks, may not head into the Shark-Tank on Thursday night as short-handed as initially thought.

Looks like Alexei Ponikarovsky is giving Kyle Clifford a hard-time about the shiner that’s warped his left-eye. Funny thing is, that internal bleeding is probably better at maintaining puck possession in the corners than you, Alexei.

It may have more points, too.

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Just-in Time?

Justin Williams seems to be recovering from his shoulder injury at quite the pace. Suffering a separated shoulder on March 21st against the Calgary Flames, Williams was tabbed to miss up to six weeks. However, it is possible to see Williams on Thursday night in the postseason opener. On the ice today, Williams took part in contact drills, which is as good of a sign as you’re going to get from a victim of a separated shoulder. Talk about what would be a crucial return, Williams allotted 57 points with 22 goals and 35 assists before the injury. Even if not at 100% the Kings will gladly take what they can get, as the depth of the roster has seen a steep decline in talent since the recent string of injuries. Williams, who returned to the roster late last season after missing three-plus months to a broken leg, was a complete non-factor in the playoffs. The difference this time around, Williams has missed just about three weeks, and has been able to continue his lower-body conditioning. Further analysis will feed a stronger memo from the Kings tomorrow regarding Williams’ status. By the looks of it, I’d expect to see Justin Williams in the first-round, but not necessarily in the first game.

Who?

Things are also looking good for Scott Parse, who has played in just five games this season. Parse has been hampered by a hip injury he suffered in August during training camp. After more than a month of rehab, Parse attempted a return in early November that was cut short after five games. His short-stint was quite impressive, etching his name onto the score-sheet four times with a goal and three assists. Unfortunately, his ailing hip called the party. After a successful surgery and five months of rehabilitation, it looks as though Parse may be yet another last-minute addition to the Kings’ playoff roster. However, I can’t see Parse’s return more likely than that of Williams. Not only has he been out since mid-November, but his strength and conditioning has been idle. Just as important as the surgery itself is the strengthening of the muscles and tendons that support the affected area. Is it worth it for the Kings to bring back Parse at this point, or is four more months of rest and conditioning the smarter tactic for the long-term? Needless to say, if he’s cleared and willing to go, hop on board at-will, Scott.
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*Photo Credits:
Tanner Raboin: Mayors Manor, at ‘Mayors Manor’ on Facebook, and www.mayorsmanor.com
Kyle Clifford and Alexei Ponikarovsky: Meg Jarrell, at ‘Kings Court’ on Facebook, and at www.lakingscourt.blogspot.com
Justin Williams: Michael Zampelli
Scott Parse: Michael Zampelli

Solidifying their status in the NHL playoffs was the farthest the Kings went in handling their own destiny. The rest was shelved on two consecutive losses to the Anaheim Ducks, and a Detroit Red Wings victory this afternoon. Although a few contests do remain on the NHL‘s regular season slate, none have any relevance to the Kings. The final horn in today’s contest between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks officially stamped the Kings’ first-round opponent as the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks’ 2nd seeding matches with the Kings’ 7th spot, with home-ice set in Northern California. The series is tabbed to start Thursday night in San Jose. The official dates, times, and venues will be released by the NHL at 7:00PM PST tonight. I’ll provide those along with a full preview of the San Jose Sharks – Los Angeles Kings Western Conference Quarterfinal series early in the week here at ‘Dancing in the Reign’. In the meantime, a few tidbits on the NHL going Pacific.

California Love

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The California Republic is sending all three of its NHL clubs to the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. That’s three-times more than what the entire country of Canada is representing for the postseason. Crazy, eh? Since the trio was completed with the Anaheim Ducks‘ inauguration in 1993, not once has every California team qualified for the postseason in the same year. The San Jose Sharks finish the season at 2nd place in the Western Conference, the Anaheim Ducks at 4th, and the Los Angeles Kings at 7th. Stanley Cup dreams, California dreamin’.

Playoffs on the Pacific

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The NHL is seeing a lot of ‘firsts’ develop as the 2011 playoff tree approaches full-blossom. The Dallas Stars are the lone team in the Pacific Division sitting on the outside looking in. However, they can slide into the Western Conference‘s eighth and final playoff spot with a victory tonight against the Minnesota Wild. Dallas needs two points, and they must come with a victory in regulation or overtime. If they advance to a shootout, Chicago claims the tie-breaker and clinches the final playoff spot. They need two points without a shootout, plain and simple. The Stars own the tie-breaker with the Chicago Blackhawks at the moment, they’ll send the defending Stanley Cup Champions to the golf course a bit early with a non-shootout victory tonight. If the Stars do in fact pull off a win, this will be the first time since the NHL‘s division realignment in 1993 that an entire division qualifies for the postseason. Maybe a little more respect for the oft-forgotten NHL teams located in tropical climates, no?

 

No ‘subtitle’ option for hockey games, yet people can do everything but put food in their mouth with their cell phones these days. If I heard one more heavy-treble alternative rock song in the background of tonight’s broadcast, or during commercial-cuts which were just as guilty as Honda Center, I probably wouldn’t have done anything. But it was really annoying, and added to the lengthy ‘con’ list of everything having to do with Orange County. The music selection coincided with the night’s results, the Kings falling by a score of 2-1 to the Anaheim Ducks, who clinched a playoff berth with the victory. That’ll upset the gut.

And to top it off, these two trolls ran their mouths all night since Bob and Jim took the night off.
Take the ‘hlers’ out of ‘Ahlers’, and replace it with ‘sshole’. Then, take the ‘ayward’ out of ‘Hayward’ and replace it with ‘orrible announcer’.
There, that’s good.

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Western Conference Standings, At 81 Games

TEAM                     GP     W     L      OT     PTS
4. Nashville              81   44    26     11       99
5. Phoenix               81    43    25     13       99
6. LOS ANGELES     81   46    29     6        98
7. Anaheim              81    46    30     5         97
8. Chicago               81    44    28     9         97
9. Dallas                  81    42    28     11       95

81 Deep: The NHL‘s final weekend couldn’t look any better, each club approaches their 82nd regular season contest with an array of positioning possibilities. The top seven spots have been clinched in the Western Conference, with two teams still in pursuit of the 8th and final spot. The Chicago Blackhawks have control over their own destiny, they clinch with just one point attained in their final game against the Detroit Red Wings. The Dallas Stars need a regulation victory against the Minnesota Wild, and a regulation loss for Chicago in order to qualify. If that happens, it will be the first time in NHL history that an entire division qualifies for the postseason. For the Kings, they can finish anywhere from 4th to 8th in the Western Conference. It all hinges on one game, it’s either home-ice advantage or a seriously scary first round opponent.

Terry’s Quick

I’m going to bring up an issue that doesn’t deserve acknowledgment right now, due to Jonathan Quick‘s uncanny performance tonight. The guy stood on his head, but Jonathan Bernier should have gotten Terry Murray‘s call. I’m heavy on the mental aspect of the goaltender game, and Murray slipped again. Look, Jonathan Quick got the opportunity to redeem himself after the debacle in San Jose, why not utilize tonight as an opportunity to express both trust and respect to your backup? Tonight wasn’t a ‘must-win’, but a huge-win game. Seemed sensible to me, now you’ve got Quick going five straight starts heading into the postseason, assuming he gets the call tomorrow night. Bernier’s seen just 34 minutes of ice since his shutout performance in Edmonton on March 29th. It’s tough to argue the issue when Jonathan Quick stands on his head, at least the goalie situation is a lot healthier than this point last season.

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It’s Kings – Ducks for the regular season finale tomorrow night in Los Angeles. Both teams have clinched playoff spots, the game simply determines positioning in the Western Conference‘s playoff picture. Tomorrow night will also be the final night in which the black “Los Angeles” hem-line uniforms will be worn this season. The Kings have again opted to don the alternate uniforms at Staples Center for the playoffs. Not only is it the final time they’ll be worn this season, but the final time as a ‘primary’ uniform. They’ll be the alternates next season, with 10-15 appearances. Tonight was the final showing of the white ‘Los Angeles’ hem-line uniforms in regular season action. This design will be scrapped permanently at the end of the campaign, but will grace the team on the road throughout the postseason.

Say the pressure’s off the shoulders, take pride in labeling them an underdog, and have more faith than a chapel on a Sunday morning, but you can’t ignore the fact that this isn’t the roster we planned on leading us into the postseason. With just three games remaining on the Kings’ regular season slate, things look alright – but don’t necessarily feel that way. We’ll be looking for another taste of Midwest magic tonight. If the Columbus Blue Jackets win, the Kings are in. However, it’s always better to control your own destiny. It would take a complete collapse for the Kings to not etch their name into the NHL‘s playoff tree for the second consecutive season. The Kings would have to lose all three remaining contests, with the Dallas Stars winning their final four. After last night’s 6-1 drubbing by way of the San Jose Sharks, the final three games must instill rejuvenation. Below, I’ll break down the five key components that must attract focus for this club’s survival.

The Remaining Three, They’re Key: This is a seriously vulnerable team without Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams in the lineup. In their first opportunity to clinch a playoff spot last night, the Kings dropped a dud. The 6-1 San Jose slugging exposed the Kings’ defense and goaltending in the harshest manner we’ve seen since February. With three games remaining, the Kings need two victories; Not for playoff positioning, but for confidence and momentum. This team needs something positive to feed off of entering the postseason terribly shorthanded. A date with the Phoenix Coyotes, and two with the Anaheim Ducks. Both playoff teams, and both possible first-round opponents. The Kings most certainly have to pocket some points before the postseason arrives. Don’t let last night’s monstrosity be the kicker, it is crucial to segway into the Western Conference Quarterfinals on a positive note – especially with the injuries that have bruised the roster.

Goalie Carousel – Keep It Moving: Miserable performances from Jonathan Quick AND Jonathan Bernier last night. There’s one way for Terry Murray to react to the collapse last night, and that’s with consistency. You’ve gotta go Quick-Bernier-Quick for the remaining three games. With this, you provide our starter with an immediate chance to abolish last night’s disaster. Just as important, Jonathan Bernier gets another start before the postseason. Two opportunities for Quick to regain composure, and continuity for Bernier. You’ve got to establish clean trust in both goaltenders with the playoffs so close, while providing opportunity for both to enter the postseason on good terms.

Conservative-ism: With our top two goal scorers out of the lineup, the Kings must stick to conservative play. Our defense, Drew Doughty especially, has been caught deep in the offensive zone making extra efforts to create scoring chances. The aggressive mindset isn’t terrible to see, but the opposing odd-man rushes that have ensued from the defense pinching is a problem this roster can’t afford. This was spotlighted in Thursday’s loss to the Vancouver Canucks, which materialized two of their tallies. Last night posed the same issue, it’s crucial that the same approach is taken in the defensive zone as it would be if our offense was healthy. Unfortunately, the defense and goaltending is going to determine the outcomes of games for the remainder of the year. The first priority must be establishing solid presence in our own zone. Scoring will have to hinge on turnovers, neutral zone transition, and puck control in the offensive zone.

Act Your Age, Ryan: I’m appalled at how drastically, and how quickly Ryan Smyth‘s production has curtailed. Smyth has 11 points in the previous 29 games, split with just 2 goals and 9 assists. His numbers, if you want to call them that, may not even be the worst part. His overall presence on the ice has taken a serious downfall. He looks sluggish, he’s been slow on the forecheck, he isn’t establishing any presence in front of the net, and just looks downright exhausted. Smyth turned away a lot of off-season criticism with a strong first-half, and suddenly the critics may have a point. He doesn’t look 34, he looks 40. You talk about veterans who need to step-up to subdue the losses of Kopitar and Williams, and Smyth is on that list. Dustin Brown and Michal Handzus have answered the call, where are you Ryan?

Westgarth’s Gotta Go: I’ve shared my displeasure with Kevin Westgarth numerous times throughout the season. Now, I can do that with more confidence. Those who refuted a claim that Westgarth shouldn’t be getting ice vouched for his “protection” of the team’s superstars. Well, no more Anze to tend to, get Westgarth off the ice. Not to mention, players whose abilities don’t go farther than playing the ‘enforcer’ role are not valued like they once were. More clubs are icing two-way tough guys, players who can contribute in some other fashion than throwing fists. We’ve got that player in Kyle Clifford. Shouldn’t we be worrying about dressing offensive outlets rather than ‘enforcer’ types, anyway? For the love of god, you’ve got Peter Harrold wasting away on the bench. Yes, wasting. A swingman who can play both sides of the ice, and has a bit of an offensive touch in his repertoire. Does anything else need to be said, Terry? Sheesh.
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*PHOTO CREDITS:
Jack Johnson, Los Angeles Kings, Home Primary: Michael Zampelli
Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings, Home Primary: Associated Press
Ryan Smyth, Los Angeles Kings, Home Primary: Michael Zampelli