Kings vs Canucks; How's It Looking?
by Connie Kim on Apr 13, 2010 2:58 PM PDT
in Playoffs
Email
PrintA year ago today I was looking at where the Los Angeles Kings would pick in the Draft lottery. Nothing could have beaten the prize the year prior with Drew Doughty entering the fold (2nd overall). Last year, it turned out the 5th pick got you Brayden Schenn, much to Brian Burke's dismay. This year has been a bit different, obviously, but I was definitely hoping the Kings wouldn't have to face one of the following three; Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks. In that order. But here we are and Thursday can't come fast enough. Both fan bases are eagerly waiting to get this show on the road, but I must admit, I'm staying pretty calm about this match up.
There have been various breakdowns already from different people and I was originally going to have this piece focus on one in particular because I love to "discuss"how some media think they know everything when, in fact, they probably have watched one Kings game this year (and that's because they played the Toronto Maple Leafs). Said writer is our dear friend Mr. Scott Burnside over at ESPN, but when I read his piece, I realized that he basically said nothing. How utterly boring.
Anyway, back to my original thoughts. At this time last year I was making my playoff bracket and had placed Vancouver as the winner of the Western Conference. I was pretty confident in my selection since it seemed like it was time for them to make a deep run, but that was not the case then and it will not be the case this year. To be honest, it's not because they're playing the Kings, more because they're not as good from my perspective. Right now I'm confident with the Kings' forward lines, the defensive pairings, and have just a bit less confidence with the goalie situation.
We're starting in two days, people. What are your concerns? What are you confident about?
Check back here and at Nucks Misconduct to get your info on this match up!
37 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
heh
looks like nobody has concerns to me…. ;)
I’m on the LA bandwagon, but I think it’ll be difficult to keep both the Sedin line and the Kesler line off the scoreboard. Also, Ryan Smyth and Dustin Brown need to be in Luongo’s face and not let him get comfortable in the crease. That said, Vancouver doesn’t scare me that much, although they are a veteran team so the Kings will have to have a good start to the series if they want to win.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Apr 13, 2010 4:07 PM PDT reply actions
He has scored several big goals this season
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Apr 13, 2010 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions
My breakdown of the series:
http://prosportsblogging.com/nhl-hockey/los-angeles-kings/kings-vs-canucks-series-preview/
prosportsblogging.com
by Great Ice-Pectations on Apr 13, 2010 6:26 PM PDT reply actions
heres to hoping the Kings don’t pull a Shark move and end up getting embarrassed, after 8 loooooonnnnnggggg years without sniffing the playoffs they might get over excited
If practice makes perfect....
Yet nobodies perfect.....
Then why practice ???
"Perish the man whose mind is backward now!"
That’s no way to have your head screwed on right now, if you’re a Kings fan. Certainly not the right way to have your head screwed on if you’re a Kings player!
And it’s actually the outcome that I would expect the least. Given that this team has shown a consistent ability to stay disciplined even when things are going badly and come back and win games both at home and on the road, I don’t expect them to get blown out. At worst, they will make this a competitive series.
Plus, I think that beating both Nashville and Vancouver late in the season were important milestones. After that, there isn’t a team in the league that should intimidate them.
Out of all the playoff teams, the one that I don’t envy is Phoenix, because they drew Detroit (successful veteran team on a roll).
by DougX on Apr 13, 2010 8:21 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
A Question from Nucksville:
Hi, hello, hey there, hi, just visiting you know:
Inquiring minds want to know-during games 3 and 4 in LA,
what quality of celebrity will show up for the Kings?
Kurt Russell and the ghost of Goldie Hawn? Alan Thicke? Dave Coulier from “Full House”?
I need answers here people, pronto.
Oh, and good luck in the series, Doughy is a beast.
Best Regards, Sneps-ish.
Celebrities?
Probably the ones who aren’t working right now. David Boreanaz says he goes to hockey games in LA, but I haven’t seen him yet.
I saw a Jonas brother there this December. He was really ugly but seemed vaguely familiar, and some girls were getting a picture with him and he was blathering about a screentest. I thought to myself, “How in the hell does someone like you get a shot at a movie?” And then the lightbulb went off.
But let’s pretend I was wrong. They all look alike, and I don’t want it to be true.
In Dinglebarn We Trust
Rob Zombie & Jerry Bruckenheimer. You might be lucky to get an encore appearance from Sooky and The Situation. Here’s a great article from today’s Wall Street Journal regarding the Kings environment at Staples Center.
and on the 93rd postseason of the National Hockey League, the Slovakian-hockeygod Zeus commanded from high atop Mount Figueroa..."RELEASE THE MEAT TRAIN!" And it was good.
by DodgerBlueBalls on Apr 14, 2010 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions
I think if the Kings can snatch away home ice
by winning one of the first two games, it will be a lot more likely for a Kings win, but it will be super competitive either way.
Leave it all on the ice, boys.
"I did nothing. I did absolutely nothing, and it was everything that I thought it could be." -- Peter Gibbons
Don't think home ice will affect the Kings much
Their record home/away was pretty much the same this season. I like their chances playing on the road.
Realistic Prediction
Kings in 7 games…
I think we have balanced scoring up front along with guys who can disrupt the play of any goalie in the league…
We have a solid defense( if we can find a way to keep Jones from turning the puck over to a scoring area every game) with both veterans and young premium talent….
We have Quick who may be waiting to prove something….He kinda seemed like a smart kid who got bored in class because the work was no longer challenging…i think he brings it in the playoffs!!!
Oh and did anyone see how the kings Olympians performed in a do or die environment vs how the Canucks players performed…ill take my KINGS!!!
GO KINGS GO!!!!
You mean Canuck players like tournament-leading scorer Pavol Demitra (who led Slovakia to their best ever finish), Bronze medalist Sami Salo, Silver Medalist Ryan Kesler (who scored in the gold medal game), and Gold medal winning goaltender Roberto Luongo?
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 14, 2010 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions
no
like non medaling Pavol Demitra…..and Luongo who was shaky all game in the Gold Medal game….or should i say typical response for him in a pressure situation? he got the win, but didnt convince anyone that he WON the game for Canada…
All i am saying is is i like how the Kings players performed MORE than the Canucks….
Doughty-Gold
Brown Johnson-Silver
Handzus- who also didnt medal but “helped Slovakia to their best ever finish”
(yes Quick got a silver also so if were counting Medals as wins in this series Kings4 Canucks3)
Bonus—
Q:What did the twins do in their hometown?
A:Suck.
Comparison of medalists:
LA
Doughty – He was awesome, no question there.
Brown – Zero points in the entire tournament.
Johnson- USA’s number 5 defenceman at best; 1 assist in the meaningless game against Norway and that’s it.
Quick – Didn’t play one second.
Vancouver
Luongo – .927 S%, 1.76 GAA; and didn’t need to convince anyone that he WON the game for Canada, which is not his fault… he was good. He can’t stop Miller from being amazing.
Kesler – The #1 Center on team USA; Scored two goals in the tournament – both against Canada. Led Team USA in faceoff % and in +/- for forwards.
Salo – Scored a goal in the bronze medal game; also had an assist in the tourny; in the top defense pairing for his team.
Comparison of Slovaks:
LA
Handzus – 6 points
Vancouver
Demitra – 10 points; tournament leading scoring; named to tournament all-star team
So what if the Sedins didn’t have a great tournament. Without them, it’s still Vancouver FTW.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 14, 2010 3:40 PM PDT reply actions
WOW
That really pissed you off didnt it?
Stats do not always paint a clear picture of who plays well and contributes.
Since Brown and JMFJ returned from the Olympics they have played their best hockey of the season. Doughty is Doughty and does whatever he wants cuz he can.
Your stats from the Olympics i am sure are correct, but all i was trying to say is i prefer the way our Olympians have been playing by comparison…thats all.
Whats Luongos Save% in the games post Olympics?
Points for Kessler/Demitra…
Points for the Handzus/Brown/Johnson….
As much as I respect the Canucks team...
… I don’t think their fans have any more reason to feel cocky going into this series than we do. I was just over at AOL Fanhouse, and one of their resident sages predicted that the “hot” Canucks would win the series easily. So I checked, and VAN was 5-4-1 in the last 10 games of the season, compared to 4-3-3 for the LAK. Not terribly fearsome by comparison, if you consider overtime/SO losses as games that could have gone either way.
Plus, I wouldn’t underestimate the importance of the last game between the two, at least for the Kings. It removed whatever psychological blocks the Kings may have had about playing the ’Nucks, and Luongo looked entirely beatable.
Doug. I agree that the series can go both ways, that is what will make it exciting.
But really, that 8-3 game just meant the Kings were better that night.
The Canucks had nothing to play for, were resting two defensemen, and left their goalie all alone all night.
The Kings definitely did well to score 8, but those goals were the result more of forwards FAIL on the backcheck, and defensemen playing at an inferior level that game as well.
I am glad you think Luongo looks “entirely beatable”, and you should, being a Kings fan.
But that was a typical end of season game when one team needs it more than the other. I doubt you will see the same kind of FAIL in the playoffs.
At least, I hope so!
http://intenttoblow.com/?p=448
Reporters asked Sedin how he could possibly have accomplished the feat.
"Look guys, I don’t know how to say this any other way, I’m really fucking fast. I’m like a greased up Pavel Bure that craps lightning," he said.
From Vancouver, that game may not have meant much
I’ll give you that. All of the factors you cite are legit, especially the depleted lineup (one of the Sedins was hurt that night, IIRC).
But from down here, the ’Nucks looked like one of the two teams in the West that the Kings just could not beat (the other one being Nashville, whom the Kings had beaten the previous game). The ’Nucks were the last stumbling block for the Kings that season, and I think that beating them so decisively was good for team psychology, regardless of what it meant to the Canucks.
Now I can totally agree with that!
From a fan who’s team was regularly the Oilers whipping boy way back when…I totally get where you are coming from, especially the long term thing.
http://intenttoblow.com/?p=448
Reporters asked Sedin how he could possibly have accomplished the feat.
"Look guys, I don’t know how to say this any other way, I’m really fucking fast. I’m like a greased up Pavel Bure that craps lightning," he said.
You’re the one who made the claim that your Olympians played bigger in the big games in the Olympics. That’s all I was trying to dispute. Stats don’t say everything, but they do say a lot. Now your point has morphed into “look at how they’ve played since” in which case I can say…. look at how the Sedins have played since! So which is it? Your players were more impressive at the Olympics than ours? Or your Olympic players were better post-Olympic than ours? You’re going to find I don’t agree on either claim. Anyway, I’ve already stated my case for what it’s worth. I have a lot of respect for the Kings, you guys are an exciting team and I love Drew Doughty. I think he’s got the clear potential to be this generation’s Nick Lidstrom.
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 14, 2010 8:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, there’s one fact regarding the Kings and Canucks which I know cannot be debated – Our Johnson is much bigger than their Johnson.
and on the 93rd postseason of the National Hockey League, the Slovakian-hockeygod Zeus commanded from high atop Mount Figueroa..."RELEASE THE MEAT TRAIN!" And it was good.
by DodgerBlueBalls on Apr 15, 2010 10:36 AM PDT reply actions
Haha. And our Johnson is currently limp! And he’s not going to be getting any action for 3-5 weeks!
by Beantown Canuck on Apr 15, 2010 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
