Kings-Blues: Game 5 Preview

by Niesy on Oct 18, 2011 6:45 PM PDT in Game Previews

Since we last ~~lost to~~ met the St. Louis Blues...

IN: With 291 man games lost to injury last year, just having the likes of T.J. Oshie and Chris Stewart back on the ice will be a welcome change. Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner provide veteran leadership to complement the Blues’ young core. Evgeny Grachev is a prospect acquired from the Rangers for a 3^rd round pick. Other additions: ex-Sharks Kent Huskins and Scott Nichol, Brett Sterling, and Brian Elliot.

OUT: Cam Janssen, Tyson Strachan, Nathan Oystrick, Ty Conklin, Dean Arsene

INJURED: Andy McDonald (head); BJ Crombeen (shoulder); David Perron, Carlo Colaiacovo (concussion symptoms)

With McDonald out, veteran multitasker Alexander Steen (3 goals, 2 assists) shifts to wing and joins the top line.

Blues lineup:

Steen - Backes - Langenbrunner
Oshie - Berglund - Stewart
Sobotka - Arnott - D'Agostini
Grachev - Nichol - Porter

Huskins - Pietrangelo
Jackman - Shattenkirk
Nikitin - Polak

Halak

*Further reading: St. Louis Game Time

Kings lineup: Welcome to the deep end of the pool, Viatcheslav!

Gagne-Kopitar-Williams
Penner-Richards-Brown
Moreau-Stoll-Richardson
Clifford-Lewis-Hunter

Mitchell-Voynov
Scuderi-Johnson
Martinez-Greene

Quick

*For the last couple of years, the Kings have come off as squirrelly to me during their home openers (same goes for home playoff games); hopefully they avoid that, and the dreaded post-trip letdown, tonight. This will be their first game in So Cal since September 29th.

All eyes will be on the defense, as Alec Martinez is back in, and Voynov replaces Doughty as Mitchell’s partner. Jack Johnson had a great game against Philly last time out, leaving people to wonder if he has a magical awesome switch that gets flipped whenever Doughty is hurt (seven-game sample sizes tend to make us cling to these things). Message to JJ: if you do have a switch, just leave it ON!

The Blues come into this game trying to turn their power play around (how does a 5% conversion rate make you feel about Kompon now?), but they've made up for it with strong scoring 5v5. I doubt Kings fans need a reminder that this club is a threat after what happened last year, though.

Alex Pietrangelo and is wand-of-God touched self is still roaming the blueline, and should be a treat to watch. Game on.

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Comments

St. Louis isn't the only team struggling in the power play

but at least the Red Wings are doing better than 5%

You wanna tell me that to mah face?!
YET ANOTHER Detroit Red Wings blog.

by uvgt2bkdnme on Oct 18, 2011 7:00 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah, and the Rangers and the Jets have a whopping 0%.

The numbers in the early going before regression to the mean kicks in are pretty hilarious.

Dinglebarnin' It JftC

by Niesy on Oct 18, 2011 7:02 PM PDT up reply actions

unless you're a fan of said team

who’s the victim of small sample size. it’s far too easy to get caught up in the moment.

You wanna tell me that to mah face?!
YET ANOTHER Detroit Red Wings blog.

by uvgt2bkdnme on Oct 18, 2011 7:08 PM PDT up reply actions

I can assure you that if LA currently had anything like a 0-5% PP conversion rate, we as a fanbase would collectively lose what’s left of our damn minds.

Dinglebarnin' It JftC

by Niesy on Oct 18, 2011 7:09 PM PDT up reply actions

unless Kompon got fired

then i’d pull up a chair and grab some popcorn

You wanna tell me that to mah face?!
YET ANOTHER Detroit Red Wings blog.

by uvgt2bkdnme on Oct 18, 2011 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions

he would probably have to carry a shield

just to ward off the projectiles

Dinglebarnin' It JftC

by Niesy on Oct 18, 2011 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions

he could just hide behind the players on the ice on the power play

they never move after all, right? and it’s not like fans would throw projectiles at their own players . . . riiiight?!

You wanna tell me that to mah face?!
YET ANOTHER Detroit Red Wings blog.

by uvgt2bkdnme on Oct 18, 2011 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions

If it were 2% I wouldn’t make any promises.

Dinglebarnin' It JftC

by Niesy on Oct 18, 2011 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Seems like it was just a couple of seasons ago when the Kings’ PK was something atrocious (like 50%) just a few games in.

"I think you just outed yourself as Dean Lombardi. I knew it all along." — Rudy Kelly

by DougX on Oct 19, 2011 1:04 AM PDT up reply actions

darren dreger

reports calgary might be lookin to trade rene bourque…….

thoughts?

by jmsalsa_ on Oct 18, 2011 7:08 PM PDT reply actions

fire sale?

why on earth would they be looking to trade him this early in the season?

You wanna tell me that to mah face?!
YET ANOTHER Detroit Red Wings blog.

by uvgt2bkdnme on Oct 18, 2011 7:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Nut spearing is in this season!

Dinglebarnin' It JftC

by Niesy on Oct 18, 2011 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions

tracking it back to the source (Dreger)

looks like it’s the other way around: Calgary’s saying Bourque’s off limits (as much as a player can be) and other teams have been asking about him. as it should be, unless Calgary’s serious about tanking. which i’d be pissed about because i got Kiprusoff in one of my leagues.

You wanna tell me that to mah face?!
YET ANOTHER Detroit Red Wings blog.

by uvgt2bkdnme on Oct 18, 2011 7:15 PM PDT up reply actions