Jonathan Quick was able to take care of his tax returns tonight, facing a pathetic Columbus Blue Jackets offensive performance. In all seriousness, Los Angeles was all over Columbus from start to finish, out-shooting the struggling Blue Jackets 35-11. The Kings had a season-high three power-play goals, and Jonathan Quick recorded his third shut-out of the season; as he bumped up his league-lead in victories to 37. Six different players scored for the Kings tonight, and Alexander Frolov continued his solid play with four points. Columbus goaltender Steve Mason was replaced just 15 minutes into the game, after he allowed 4 early goals. In his second game as a King, Fredrik Modin recorded his 2nd goal in an LA uniform; against his former team. Coming off of two straight losses, much has to be said about the Kings ability to bounce back in dominating fashion. Head coach Terry Murray, along with the veterans on this team, are really showing their ability to control a locker room full of young players. In my opinion, especially after the deadline deals, this roster has the perfect balance of veterans and youngsters. You’ve got the unrelenting energy, that is guided by the wisdom and leadership of the experienced players. Short recap tonight, the final score says it all. Great hockey from start to finish by the Kings, something they will certainly have to bring to the United Center in Chicago on Wednesday.
If there was anything to stand out in tonight’s game, it was Montreal’s defense. Talk about shut-down. The Canadians had total control of the neutral zone, completely taking away the middle of the ice and covering the passing lanes…almost perfectly. You could say the same with Montreal’s defense in their own zone; quite impressive. The Kings two goals came directly in front of the net, the only loophole Los Angeles could find tonight. Let’s not take away what the Kings provided defensively, as this game had very few scoring opportunities on both ends. Coming out prepared has been an issue stressed by coach Terry Murray a few times this season, and the Kings faltered on that front tonight; allowing goals within the first minute in periods one and three. As for special teams, the power-play was very quiet. The Kings had trouble possessing the puck in Montreal’s zone, which was the factor in their failures in the man-up situations tonight, going 0 for 4. Below are my key notes to the game:
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On Montreal’s Defense: As I stated before, the key factor in tonight’s game was their ability to clog up the middle of the ice, especially in the neutral zone. They forced the Kings to keep the puck on the outside along the boards and in the corner, giving them few chances to create solid opportunities in the crease; in front of the net. Note on the turnover for Montreal’s 4th goal, a neutral-zone interception on a cross-ice pass off the stick of Drew Doughty.
On what I liked from the Kings tonight: By beating Montreal’s Glen Metropolit to score LA’s first goal with his much improved speed and strength, Anze Kopitar continues to show his growth into an elite player in the NHL; much of which was due to his off-season conditioning. Great play by Michal Handzus to keep the puck inside the offensive zone on Fredrik Modin‘s third period goal. Handzus had a stellar game, and his effort to leave his feet and use his glove to knock down a Montreal clearing attempt was the reason Modin was able to walk in point-blank on Jaroslav Halak to record his first goal as a King. Jarret Stoll came to play tonight, winning over 90% of his face-off attempts and continuously attacking in the offensive zone, even drawing a hooking penalty on Jaroslav Spacek with his consistent foot movement through traffic.
On the Kings mistakes tonight: Early in the third period, Jeff Halpern threw the puck on net as he entered Montreal territory. Halak easily handled the shot, there was no loose puck. Yet, Matt Greene and Randy Jones felt the need to join the scrum that ensued in the crease. Stupid, and Terry Murray should be livid. This turns what could be a face-off inside Montreal’s zone into a face-off outside the blue-line. IN THE THIRD PERIOD. OF A TWO GOAL GAME. GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF YOUR ASSES. Greene, you’re smarter than that. Not sure about you, Jones. A rare mistake was made by Drew Doughty tonight, and it was huge. With just over a minute to go, and goaltender Jonathan Quick on the bench, Doughty went for the cute tape-to-tape pass in the neutral zone. Easily picked off by Sergei Kostitsyn, Tomas Plekanec gladly received the pass and put the nail in the coffin with an empty-netter. Doughty needs to be smarter with the puck in that situation; by throwing it down-low, or looking for an option that doesn’t involve a cross-ice pass in the neutral zone.
The woes against the Nashville Predators continue as the Kings fall in a rough outing in a 4-2 loss. The Kings, who are 0-5-1 against Nashville the past two seasons, have had two ugly performances against the Predators this year. The game started on a positive note with an Alexander Frolov tally just 56 seconds in, but the 59 minutes to follow brought lackluster, mistake-prone play from the Kings. Nashville, who now only trail the Kings by 5 points and sit 7th in the Western Conference, have been a surprise much like the Colorado Avalanche. Solid teams capitalize on opponents’ mistakes, and Nashville has done so to the Kings twice this year. Jonathan Quick, who’s weakest aspect is playing the puck, got burned tonight. Too many Kings turnovers as well, especially deep inside our own zone. Nashville was winning the battles to the puck, and completely owned the 2nd period; They were the better team tonight. Not to worry, though. The Kings trade-deadline acquisitions Fredrik Modin and Jeff Halpern played their first games as a King, so the chemistry may have been off a bit. Other than that, Nashville simply played hard tonight, and had the extra step on loose pucks. Here are my notes on the game:
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– I’m going to blame Nashville’s scoring on two things tonight: Jonathan Quick‘s play with the puck, and a flat-footed defense.
– Jonathan Quick is to fault for Nashville’s first goal, and their third goal. Two bad plays with the puck led to golden opportunities for the Predators. As for the first goal, it looks like he may have taken his eye off of the puck caused by J.P. Dumont‘s pressure. The puck hit his stick on a bad angle and was redirected to an open Dumont who buried the puck into an empty net. As for the second goal, Quick hesitated again and fed a no-look backhander to Martin Erat who easily fed an open Marcel Goc for a goal.
– Sean O’Donnell had a rough game as well. The fault is on him as well for Nashville’s first goal. He found himself standing still as Quick misplayed the puck, and had no chance to stop J.P. Dumont from scoring. Another careless turnover from O’Donnell deep in the defensive zone in the 2nd period almost turned into another Nashville goal.
– At times, it looked as though the Kings were in skates made out of concrete. Jason Arnott‘s PP goal, are you kidding me? Three guys staring at the puck down low, clumped together closer than canned sardines, leave a wide open Arnott who absolutely unloaded a beautiful shot to beat Quick. Bad. Defense. Period.
– Keep up the good work, Alexander Frolov.
– Another PP goal was nice to see. Great play by Drew Doughty, who made a V-line to the back-door after passing from the point. Great play, keep up the success on the PP.
– Ryan Smyth records his 700th career NHL point on his 3rd period assist.
The trade deadline had passed, but minutes later the Kings announced another addition. Fredrik Modin has been traded to the Los Angeles Kings for a conditional 7th round pick. Modin, a left winger who has been in the league since 1996, brings more experience and leadership to this young roster. Modin will fill in at the the wing position on the 3rd and 4th lines, much like newly acquired Jeff Halpern. Modin, a 13-year veteran started his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs for three seasons, played with the Tampa Bay Lightning for six seasons, and most recently played for the Columbus Blue Jackets for four seasons. Through a career of 838 games, Modin has 222 goals and 225 goals to his name. Modin has only played in 24 games this season for Columbus, with 2 goals and 4 assists.
So, it turns out the Kings do in fact make a move at today’s deadline as they deal for Tampa Bay’s Jeff Halpern. Looks like a solid move from Lombardi, as he brings another seasoned veteran to the team. Halpern, a center, will most likely be a 3rd or 4th line player. As a captain of the United States’ World Championship team, and the Alternate captain for Tamba Bay, Halpern brings leadership the locker room as well. The price for Halpern was Teddy Purcell and a third round draft pick, so not too much. Purcell, who showed promise at the end of last season, never built on that this year. He was a major disappointment and performed under expectations all year long. Still young, however, Purcell may flourish with a change of scenery. Halpern has played 10 seasons in the NHL, playing in a total of 704 games while racking up 131 goals and 183 assists. Halpern started his career in 1999 with the Washington Capitals for 6 seasons. Following that, 1 and 1/2 seasons with the Dallas Stars and 2 seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning. No word on when Halpern will join the team, but chances are we’ll see him in a Kings uniform Thursday night in Nashville.
Update: Halpern will wear #22 for the Kings
Fresh off of the Olympic break, the Kings put on a performance tonight at American Airlines Center that was quite reminiscent of their play two weeks ago. In front of what looked like about 2,000 fans, and on soft ice that looked to be of terrible quality, the Kings played outstanding hockey. Five different goal scorers, 10 players registered at least one point, and Jonathan Quick broke into the Kings record book with 31 saves. Winners of 11 of their last 13 games, the Kings picked up right where they left off. Even with having 5 Olympians scramble their way out of Vancouver to make tonight’s game, the Kings looked animated. There was absolutely no rust in their play. Solid puck movement, two power play goals, and genuine defensive zone play. The 16 days in between games didn’t slow down any momentum this team had. Here are some thoughts on tonight’s victory.
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– Alexander Frolov had a magnificent game with 1 goal and 2 assists. His puck control behind the net was the key to the first goal, protecting the puck on a wrap-around until he found Jarret Stoll open for a back-door tally.
– Frolov followed up with a goal of his own as he controlled a deflection from a Drew Doughty shot point-blank in front of Turco. Frolov patiently waited to find an opening and slipped the puck into an empty net.
– Later, Frolov made a smart play by throwing the puck to the front of the net as he saw Ryan Smyth set-up in front of Marty Turco; Which resulted in LA’s fourth goal.
– Drew Doughty recorded three assists, backing up the praise he was given by media during the Olympics.
– The Powerplay looked decent as the Kings recorded two goals when a man up. Given Anze Kopitar’s PP goal came in garbage time, still a good job of breaking the zone, setting up, and making smart decisions when moving the puck.
– Jonathan Quick had yet another solid game. His 31-save victory tonight makes him the all time leader in single season victories for a Los Angeles Kings goaltender. Quick was also able to record his first assist of the season on Brad Richardson‘s 2nd period goal.
The Los Angeles Kings resume play tonight to the face Pacific Division foe Dallas Stars in Texas. With that, could it be the final game for any players in a Kings uniform? Probably not. The Kings, who have been in the mix involving trade rumors throughout the season, are quiet as the trade-deadline looms just over 24 hours away. I’d lean heavily toward saying the Kings stick with their current roster as few players are available; And not many, if any, are worth breaking into our current line-up for. Dealing for a winger and/or an extra defensemen is enticing, but not completely necessary. Sure, it would be comforting to acquire a blue-liner to add stability with an aging Sean O’Donnell and the dissapointing Randy Jones for the playoff push; But yet again, not a necessity.
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J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News writes that “Kings GM Dean Lombardi isn’t expecting to make a blockbuster move”
“The Kings have salary-cap space and, for the first time in years, have won enough games to be considered buyers as Wednesday’s NHL trade deadline approaches.But Dean Lombardi is still maintaining his usual conservative approach when he scours the trade market. And this year, the Kings general manager said, “there’s not a lot out there.”
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And about that winger Kings fans have wanted? Not so fast, it looks like Justin Williams’ rehab is going quite well. Williams is traveling with the team on their two game road-trip, and looks like he’ll be back in a Kings uniform this season. Rich Hammond of LA Kings Insider is seeing promising strides toward his recovery:
“It’s becoming increasingly clear to me that Justin Williams might far exceed my expectations for his return. Since his injury, I’ve considered the idea that he might return this season to be doubtful at best, but given the way he has looked in practice for the past few days, I’d have to change my opinion of that.”
Hammond also stressed the importance of William’s travel with the team even though he won’t dress. Neither Terry Murray or Williams have expressed a time-table for his return, but all of the current signs are encouraging.
“Williams made it through his first full practice on Monday morning and accompanied the Kings on their two-game road trip. Williams still has quite a bit of conditioning work to do, but injured players typically don’t travel, so Williams’ presence on the road indicates that the Kings are very serious about his return.”
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As the clock ticks on the deadline, keep it here at Kingscast for updates on Kings transactions. Like Lombardi said, don’t expect a blockbuster move; but acquiring a role player is still a possibility. Will any Kings be playing their final game in the black & purple tonight? Who would you like to see the Kings acquire, if anyone?
Nearing the crucial games that will be documented as the “playoff-stretch”, I’m taking a look at each player on the Kings roster and evaluating them with a grade on their performance thus far. A roster that has worked together to post a 37-20-4 record (78 points) at 5th place in the Western Conference has to be doing something right, Right? Which players have contributed most? Which players have disappointed? In Part 3 of a 3-Part series, we’ll take a look at the forwards of the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings have tallied 185 goals so far, which ranks them 4th in the Western Conference and 6th in the NHL. The production from this offense has been a big contributor to the Kings success this season.
FORWARDS
DUSTIN BROWN #23
GRADE: B
SYNOPSIS: Dustin Brown has had a solid season for the Kings, bringing his high intensity, physical play whenever he’s on the ice. Brown has been impressive on the forecheck, utilizing his speed and strength to create offensive zone posession. With 15 goals and 27 assists, Brown has been a key contributor, but there are still some flaws. I like to see Brown make the dump & chase work for the Kings with his heavy pressure down low, but often find myself frustrated when he enters the zone with the puck. Too often Brown is fancy with the puck with his through the legs deke, and still has an issue with missing the net with his shots. Bottom Line: You can always count on Brown to make a presence physically, but he’s had issues with the puck. A couple of scoring droughts have lowered Brown’s point totals, but his leadership on and off the ice is crucial to the team.
ALEXANDER FROLOV #24
GRADE: C-
SYNOPSIS: I’ve been frustrated with Frolov’s play all season, which I see as having a lack of heart and intensity. Whether it’s giving up on the back-check, or skating circles without the puck, Frolov has been a huge disappointment. The guy has skill, and his 13 goals and 27 assists is sub-par for a player with his capability. Frolov has made plenty of bad decisions, namely his constant wrap-arounds, and has shown his inability to occupy the front of the net. Bottom Line: Frolov has been the center of trade rumors this year, and there’s still a chance he could be dealt after the Olympic break. Frolov, even with his lackluster style of play, has the ability to create points for the Kings as they stride toward the playoffs.
MICHAL HANDZUS #26
GRADE: B+
SYNOPSIS: Handzus, with 33 points this season, has been a solid contributor up front for the Kings. Not a flashy forward, but extremely versatile. Handzus has shown he is capable of winning face-offs, scoring from the top of the circles, and creating traffic in front of the net. #26 is a veteran who can center a wide variety of wingers. Handzus’ smart play has worked well with the various line combinations Terry Murray has drawn up. Bottom Line: An essential part of the Kings offense, Handzus rarely makes costly mistakes. Whether it’s his puck control down low, his body in front of the net, or his shot selection from the top of the circles, his intelligence on the ice meshes well with his line-mates.
RAITIS IVANANS #41
GRADE: C-
SYNOPSIS: Ivanans is on the roster for one reason; To be the enforcer. If there’s a player who’s going to drop the gloves, look to Raitis. Even though it’s not his function on the ice, Ivanans has yet to record a point, which is troubling at 54 games played. My main problem with his play is the stupid retaliation I’ve seen from him this season. I have no problem with him dancing when necessary, but it’s been a recurring instance where Ivanans takes a revenge penalty that hurts the team. Bottom Line: Ivanans has a spot on the roster to have the back of his skilled teammates. #41 needs to be a little smarter when choosing to stick up for his team, and make sure he isn’t a burden to their success.
ANZE KOPITAR #11
GRADE: A-
SYNOPSIS: Kopitar had a stunning start to the season, even leading the NHL in points for a period of time. The hot start was quickly crushed with a lengthy stretch of games where Kopitar failed to produce. However, he regrouped to again become an offensive force for the Kings. I believe his slump was in part to pushing too hard. #11 never stopped working, but just couldn’t catch a break. He never left his game, but over-did it at times. Once he was able to settle down, and had healthy surroundings, he’s become the vastly improved player we saw at the start of the season. Bottom Line: Kopitar’s skill has been coupled with his revamped strength this season to create a player who is on the verge of being a superstar. A long stretch into the playoffs will only help Kopitar’s process of maturing and growing into an elite NHL player.
OSCAR MOLLER #9
GRADE: B
SYNOPSIS: I, for one, didn’t expect much out of the young Swede this season. I figured Moller would get shut-down because of his size. Yes, I judged, but you can’t deny that was the story last season. Now, he hasn’t been putting up the points, but he’s not afraid to go into corners and fight for the puck. I like to relate him to a mosquito. Small, but extremely bothersome. Moller uses his speed to disrupt the opposition. Does he always win the battles? No. But he distracts the flow of his counterparts. Bottom Line: Moller is annoying to the opposition. He doesn’t scare them, he bothers them. This is what allows him to create turnovers down-low utilizing his small stature and quick feet.
TEDDY PURCELL #54
GRADE: D+
SYNOPSIS: Late decisions, and bad ones. That can describe Purcell’s season so far. Teddy had a semi-promising ending to last season, but has completely flopped this year. 3 goals and 3 assist through 41 games, Purcell has been awful. There hasn’t been one positive to his play. At times he looks lost, and at other times he just looks bad. Bad passes, bad shot selection, poor puck control down-low, I’ll stop now. Bottom Line: I’ve just about given up hope with Purcell. Will he be a factor down the stretch? I don’t think so. A part of me wants to have some faith in him, but there’s been no reason to build it.
BRAD RICHARDSON #15
GRADE: B+
SYNOPSIS: Boy, talk about an impressive player coming from nowhere. Richardson, who was pointless for a long stretch at the start of the season, began to blossom into a key forward. The guy just works hard. Always hard on the forecheck and backcheck, Richardson works for his points. He’s provided a spark to the offense with his work ethic, and has earned every single one of his 21 points. Bottom Line: A young winger like Richardson who takes pride in hustle, he can create big plays for the Kings down the line. No question he’ll be a factor in plenty of games, and his intensity will be a great fit come playoff time.
WAYNE SIMMONDS #17
GRADE: A
SYNOPSIS: There’s no question Simmonds play has led him to become a fan favorite. A forward who mixes in a bit of everything when on the ice, he has posted 35 points. Simmonds physical play on the forecheck and ability to fight make him even more of a threat. His speed allows him to beat the opposition to the puck. His long, fluid stride helps as well. Bottom Line: In only his second season, Simmonds has been a huge surprise. A player who is still developing, only expect to get more results from Simmonds for the rest of the season and beyond.
RYAN SMYTH #94
GRADE: A
SYNOPSIS: Smyth is hands-down the best off-season acquisition for the Kings. He’s had such a big impact on the team both on and off of the ice. Smyth has managed to tally 19 goals and 19 assists even being out for over a month. His presence in front of the net is a key factor on the PP. Knowing where to be on the ice at all times, Smyth makes his line-mates better. He gives his teammates confidence when putting the puck on net or down low, knowing Smyth will be scrapping for possession or a deflection. Bottom Line: There’s no doubt Smyth will be an important factor down the stretch. Not only is his play crucial to the team, but his experience as well. Smyth went to the Stanley Cup Finals with Edmonton in 2006.
JARRET STOLL
GRADE: B-
SYNOPSIS: Stoll has fought back from numerous injuries this season to put together a solid overall performance. With 12 goals and 23 assists, Stoll has backed up his success in the face-off circle with production in the offensive zone. A key part of the PP, Stoll moves to the blue-line because of his shot. You have to be impressed with the embattled forward fighting through injuries and still bringing a strong performance to the ice. Bottom Line: Stoll’s biggest contributions to the team will be face-offs in the O-Zone and to continue to pose a threat from the blue-line on the PP.
Nearing the crucial games that will be documented as the “playoff-stretch”, I’m taking a look at each player on the Kings roster and evaluating them with a grade on their performance thus far. A roster that has worked together to post a 37-20-4 record (78 points) at 5th place in the Western Conference has to be doing something right, Right? Which players have contributed most? Which players have disappointed? In Part 2 of a 3-Part series, we’ll take a look at the defensemen of the Los Angeles Kings. With 166 goals allowed, the Kings stand at 8th in the Western Conference, and 12th in the entire NHL. Don’t give Jonathan Quick total credit for the success the Kings have had in their own zone this season, this group of defensemen have been solid all year.
DEFENSEMEN
DREW DOUGHTY #8
GRADE: A-
SYNOPSIS: The 19 year-old Defenseman for the Kings has been a strong asset on the blue line from the start of his NHL career. Playing in every game so far this season, Doughty has posted an exceptional stat-line of 11 goals and 34 assists. His awareness of the ice when he has the puck allows him to be an offensive defensemen. Once he controls the puck in his own zone, Doughty has the ability to create space and either move the puck up the ice laterally with a pass or take it himself with a rush. Doughty has also become a staple on the Kings PP with his puck movement up-top and his stellar shot. Bottom Line: Although Doughty is often a standout player, he’s had a few rough games this year. At his age, that is perfectly reasonable; his ability to recover from his mistakes is impressive.
DAVIS DREWISKE #44
GRADE: C+
SYNOPSIS: After signing a 3-year contract extension before the season, Drewiske’s play has been moderate. Not the type of player who’s going to rack up the points or drop the gloves, so his contributions often go unnoticed. Drewiske, with his lack of speed, has had a little trouble in the transition game, mainly in the neutral zone. Most of the time he knows where to look for passing lanes on the break-out, but we’ve seen a few too many turnovers from #44 this season. Bottom Line: A tough call on Drewiske because he’s not the solid stay-at-home guy you’d like to pair with Doughty or Johnson, or the guy you’d like to pair with another shut-down D-man. Drewiske, for this year, will continue to float around Murray’s D-line pairings.
MATT GREENE #2
GRADE: B+
SYNOPSIS: The guy is providing the Kings with exactly what they acquired him for. His physical play down low is some of the best in knocking opposition off of the puck. You’re not going to see a lot of anything else from the Alternate Captain. He makes the simple passes, and puts the puck on net when necessary. His mindset is always Defense; And this is key when you need a partner to pair with our flashy D-men. Bottom Line: Greene will bring a physical presence to every game, and is smart to not push it to the point where it hurts the team. His leadership in the locker room is vital, where his toughness rubs off on teammates and his humor builds camaraderie in the locker room.
PETER HARROLD #5
GRADE: C
SYNOPSIS: Harrold is a role player for Terry Murray. You could call him a “swingman”, as he accepts the call for taking the ice as a forward or defenseman. A guy like this is good for a team, yet underrated. Harrold, who’s only dressed in 36 games this season for the Kings, has played a conservative style of hockey this year. I haven’t seen a lot of big mistakes from #5 this season, but not too many impressive plays either. He’s not a skill player, but a smart player. Bottom Line: Harrold is a safe bet for Terry Murray when it comes to filling a spot on the bench. I think the word “fill” describes his play perfectly. For now, a good option to have on the roster down the line this season.
JACK JOHNSON #3
GRADE: B-
SYNOPSIS: In what was a tumultuous start to the season for Johnson, his game has stepped up as of late. Missing two games due to an arm injury, Johnson has posted 6 goals and 20 assists in 59 games for the Kings. I had to think for a bit on Johnson’s grading, and I find myself appreciating what he always brings to the ice. Quick feet, good vision of the ice, solid passing. What I see missing from his game this year was his physical play; stepping up on the top of the circles. Johnson also hasn’t been the offensive threat I think he is capable of. Less shots from the blue-line and fewer end-to-end rushes. Bottom Line: Johnson has the tools to be an elite defenseman. Don’t get me wrong, he’s close to having that stature, but right now Johnson seems to still be learning how to utilize his skills to become an exclusive player at the NHL level.
RANDY JONES #12
GRADE: D
SYNOPSIS: Randy Jones has been awful for the Kings this season. Acquired by the Kings off of waivers in October, Jones has posted 5 goals and 9 assists. His performance has been questionable all year; From wary physical play to terrible passes through the middle of the ice, Jones’ mishaps strongly overshadow the positives in his game. Bottom Line: I don’t think Randy Jones will make an impact on the rest of the season. He hasn’t done much to win over the fans, or Terry Murray; Who’s expressed frustration with him. Look for Jones to continue with his mediocre play.
SEAN O’DONNELL
GRADE: C-
SYNOPSIS: O’Donnell’s role on the team is to provide stability in the defensive zone while bringing veteran leadership to this young roster. While his experience is huge for this team, it seems that his game is slipping. O’Donnell’s age may be showing, as he’s getting pushed around in the corners more often this year. O’Donnell has blown coverage several times and is getting beat to the outside too easily. Bottom Line: O’Donnell is a key part to the Kings locker room. A player with his experience and wisdom will help this team as the playoffs loom. I can see O’Donnell lasting one more season with the Kings, but there’s no question his performance on the ice is on the downhill.
ROB SCUDERI #7
GRADE: B+
SYNOPSIS: A key off-season acquisition for the Kings, Scuderi brings playoff experience, solid defensive play, and more veteran leadership to the table. Scuderi has been a wonderful addition. He can be paired with any defenseman on the roster, as he is able to work with the offensive-minded and the stay-at-homers like himself. He’s been able to clear the front of the net and cut off passing lanes through the slot. Bottom Line: Scuderi may be the most important player on the roster when it comes to the playoff stretch. A smart, physical shut-down defenseman who has all of the post-season experience you could ask for, #7 will be a big factor later this season.
Part III: “Dancing in the Reign” on Kingscast.net will be pulling out the grade-book on Kings forwards on the next installment of Kings Grade Reports. What would you grade King’s defensemen so far? Please post comments downstairs!
Nearing the crucial games that will be documented as the “playoff-stretch”, I’m taking a look at each player on the Kings roster and evaluating them with a grade on their performance thus far. A roster that has worked together to post a 37-20-4 record (78 points) at 5th place in the Western Conference has to be doing something right, Right? Which players have contributed most? Which players have disappointed? In Part 1 of a 3-Part series, we’ll take a look at the goaltenders of the Los Angeles Kings. With 166 goals allowed, the Kings stand at 8th in the Western Conference, and 12th in the entire NHL.
GOALTENDERS
#32 JONATHAN QUICK
GRADE: A+
A great way to start off this whole rating process, huh? Makes me look like an easy grader, but let’s be honest; would it be fair to mark Quicker any lower? In his second full season in the league, Quick has already started 55 games. What Fatigue? Quick is 1st in the NHL in goals allowed (139) and Victories (35). He has proven time and time again this season that he has the ability to perform at an elite level on a consistent basis. What I’ve been most impressed with? Quick’s poise. We’ve seen a few sloppy starts from him this season, but how he reacts to these slow starts is striking. Plenty of times Quick has made remarkable saves that have changed the momentum of a game, and that is huge for the players in front of him. The team has confidence in his play, and the Kings know they can be more aggressive offensively after falling behind because of having a goalie who knows how to regroup & compose. Bottom Line: Quick is a young goalie who has validated himself in having the traits of being a prestigious goaltender. With a young roster, it is key to have a persistent leader in net to spread confidence, and ultimately, success.
#31 ERIK ERSBERG
Grade: C-
With Jonathan Quick having such a stellar season, Erik Ersberg hasn’t seen a lot of ice-time. Ersberg has faced action in only 8 games so far, allowing 20 goals. You have to realize, though, Erberg’s situation isn’t very easy. He has been called upon rarely this year, which gives him no groove to work with. His starts often come so far apart, he’s rusty in terms of live-play. The reality of the situation is that a backup goalie needs to take full advantage of the few opportunities he has, and Ersberg has not done that. He has been average at best, but I’m marking him just below. This year, the Kings haven’t developed a confidence in Ersberg. You could argue that he hasn’t seen enough ice, and you could argue that Terry Murray is relying too heavily on Quick. But, how can you blame the guy? So, it’s tough to grade Ersberg, but an NHL back-up needs to be ready to provide stability in net whenever called on, no matter how infrequently. Bottom Line: Erik Ersberg will have a few more appearances this season; And one, if not more will be important games. Back-up goalies can be the difference late in the season, can Ersberg step up?
Part II: “Dancing in the Reign” on Kingscast.net will be pulling out the grade-book on Kings defensemen on the next installment on Kings Grade Reports. What would you grade King’s goaltenders so far? Please post comments downstairs!
