Didn't you say the Kings had ZERO chance of winning this series? (Postgame Bullets)
by Quisp on Apr 14, 2011 11:34 PM PDT
in Game Recaps
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Let's see. Where to begin?
- Sharks won.
- In overtime.
- They dominated early.
- Then the Kings dominated about half of the second and third periods.
- Jonathan Quick gave them one juicy rebound and let in a soft one.
- Then he played like a Vezina winner.
- Antti Niemi looked not great most of the game.
- Then he made that save on Clifford.
- And on the wrap-around by Ryan Smyth.
- Alexei Ponikarovsky played about the heaviest game I've seen him play as a King.
- Kyle Clifford and/or Trevor Lewis are going to score a GWG or two in this series, I think.
- Drew Doughty is trying to do too much. The missed hip-check was unnecessary.
- And the interference penalty could have been fatal.
- The Kings were nervous in the first period.
- Then the Sharks were nervous.
- I guess they still are, because Todd McLellan is on "the podium" right now talking about how the non-call on Stoll changed the momentum of the game and allowed the Kings to dominate, the theory being that Stoll takes a lot of face-offs (unfair, he should have been kicked out!) and the Sharks were down to five D.
- I take the fact that they're making excuses in a win to be a good sign.
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You didn’t mention Jack Johnson who I thought had a great game. Jumped up some and had some chances. Made some great breakout passes. Was very solid defensively. It seems like JJ always plays better when the pressure is higher(playoffs last year and Olympics).
I think Doughty will bounce back because he had a pretty bad game. Lots of turnovers and mishandled pucks to go along with the two bad penalties and getting beat by Couture. We definitely showed we can play with them though and it should be a great series
However...
I noticed some occasions, I think particulalry in the third, where the Johnson/Scuderi pairing had a particularly tough time clearing their own zone. I did notice Johnson stepping up, and Doughty gracing the steps the greatness; but damn it was close. I’m not sure if I saw the bit about Johnson/Scuderi having the toughest time of all the King’s D pairings of clearing the zone on here or on the Copper & Blue, but that was a bit evident to me tonight. Nonetheless, it was a great game, and I hope the King’s give them this much trouble for the rest of the series and even squeeze out enough wins of their own to advance to the next round. Other than the initial first goal, Marleau/Thorton/Heatley didn’t doo too much; but yeah, the Sharks are deep with Pavelski and Couture following up their big three.
That’s true about having a tough time at points in last night’s game getting the puck out. I thought that for the majority of the game we did a really good job breaking out though and when we did have problems it wasn’t always the D but sometimes the forwards weren’t deep enough to be available for passes.
Marleau and Thornton didn’t really do too much. They had a few half chances(by which I mean a chance but not a very good one like Marleau’s mini breakaway that Doughty was pressuring him and forced him outside so it wasn’t that great). Heatley played on the 2nd line with Couture while Setoguchi was on the first line with Thornton. Overall I thought we did a pretty good job. The first two goals were both pretty soft by Quick I felt especially the big rebound on the first one but he buckled down and showed we can shut their offense down and have a chance in the series
I thought we didn't have a shot (guilty)
But turns out the DERP is strongly with the Sharks… Truthfully, we can’t win the series, the Sharks can only lose it, but I’ll take that when it comes down to it…
Stoll is almost certainly gonna get suspended, which means Moller can finally play!!! Yay!!!
And what about Justin Williams? His shoulder basically hanging, and he has a game like that… Warrior…
Angelofdeath? Ringing any bells? He's dead.
Writer and raving lunatic at Barca Blaugranes
Lets be honest.
If kings played at 3/4 today, the sharks were easily at 1/2, and still got a win. Sharks in 5
Shave it and you will score - Randy Hahn
So how do you determine that? How much of the Sharks playing “at 1/2” is them holding back, or not playing up to their best, and how much of it was being frustrated by the Kings’ defense? It’s not like we haven’t seen the Kings doing the same thing to the Sharks before, or to other teams just as good as the Sharks during the regular season (Detroit, Vancouver).
Might it be that you a preconceived notion of how much better the Sharks are than the Kings, and when it doesn’t work out as planned, you automatically ascribe it to the Sharks playing poorly, rather than the Kings being better than you thought?
The Sharks may well win this series in 5, but if the Kings are on their game, every game will be as closely contested as tonight’s.
"Prepare your bladder for imminent release!" — Invader Zim
The Sharks may well win this series in 5, but if the Kings are on their game, every game will be as closely contested as tonight’s.
By which I mean, of course, that if the Kings play their system successfully, every game will be no worse for them than a coin-flip. And a coin can come up heads 4 times out of 5, or 4 times out of 4, or 4 times out of 6 or 4 times out of 7. But it will take a fair bit of luck for a coin to come up heads 4 out of 5 times.
"Prepare your bladder for imminent release!" — Invader Zim
The Sharks looked like they were both over confident and carrying the Gorilla of playoffs lost on their back. Now their thinking back on that 4-0 loss.
I think Stoll out Sharks in 5, Stoll stays 6. With 4 rookies, Williams hurt, Kopitar out, that’s a damned good showing.
One note Westgarth played well but most of the 3rd period SJ cycles started on Westy’s shift. Only one however (Scuds three clearing give aways) was poorly defended.
Are Teemu Selanne and Melanie Griffith Twins?
by USHA#17 on Apr 15, 2011 7:25 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
the odds of the sharks winning 3 out of the next 4 are about the same as the kings doing it
not very likely
Wait till this year.
Nobody...
in their right hockey-experienced mind – who watched that game – would say: either team “in 5” … or it’s gonna be a walkover … or that LA has ZERO chance (“unless the Sharks bus gets lost.”)
You won by 1 screened shot in Overtime. I like our chances.
Sig-na...ture
I counter your bullets
with bullets.
Drew Doughty is trying to do too much. The missed hip-check was unnecessary.
Perhaps because it was his buddy, Couture?
I wouldn’t be surprised if Stoll gets a game for that.
A virtual lock. However the Wheel of Justice has it at 3 games…which is possible given the man making the decisions.
The problem is, Kevin Westgarth had a great game and almost scored the game-winning goal.
And Clowe and Mayers took needless penalties. TM was right for all the wrong reasons!
Jon Quick this year is an upgrade over tired Quick last year.
I didn’t like either goal, but he locked it down afterwards. Grant Fuhr-rish.
Hey, if Jarret Stoll is suspended, does Lombardi bring up Brayden Schenn?
Now boarding, section A14 to San Jose…
Yes, it was a pretty even game overall. If the game goes to OT, it’s basically a coin-flip, and no definitive statement about which team is the better one has been made.
From Quisp’s description, it sounds like McClellan was a little rattled by how close the game was. Which is good for the Kings, and I hope it reflects the mood in their locker room. It means the Kings are getting inside their heads. All the pressure is on San Jose in the first two games; if they win, all they have done is hold serve, and if they lose one people will start to whisper that they’re in trouble (I know how this works; I’ve followed the Lakers for long enough). If the Kings can pull out a win on Saturday, all the momentum is on their side.
I wouldn’t be surprised or upset if Stoll gets a suspension for the hit on White. It’s a fair cop, as the Brits say (or at least used to say).
So who takes his place? Maybe Schenn, but Moller is a natural center. He made the adaptation to wing better than Loktionov, but as with Lokti, going back to center may unlock some of his skillz.
Listening to Hammond and Fox in the pre-OT intermission, it sounds like I correctly anticipated Lombardi’s lines of thought in sending Schenn to Manchester: expectations for him would get out of hand, and he’s probably not quite ready yet. It has been his tendency to err on the side of taking it slow with his young players (cf. Bernier), except when there’s no real reason to hold back (cf. Doughty).
"Prepare your bladder for imminent release!" — Invader Zim
Yeah,,but
Lombardi also said that assigning Schenn to Manchester didn’t mean that he couldn’t bring him up. He said he would be too tired to make it to tonight’s game, and if Stoll gets suspended, I would not be surprised if they brought him up for 2 games. Or even if Stoll doesn’t.
Like Quisp said in an earlier post, Schenn was great on the PP, but let’s not forget when Schenn DID actually fill in for Kopi in Vancouver, when Kopi’s lip was cut, Schenn was fantastic. I think the kid can handle the pressure. He didn’t score, but he certainly held down the spot.
If he does great in those two games, DL will burn the contract, but you can’t blame him for being patient and seeing what the rest of the players are going to do.
by kings4queens on Apr 15, 2011 2:14 AM PDT up reply actions
Zero chance
Hahaha. As Dean Lombardi would probably say, character is what wins….and fringing Justin Williams wins the most character award for me, with Captain Dustin Brown coming a close second.
by kings4queens on Apr 15, 2011 1:53 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Character
Heart, grit, whatever, the Kings certainly have a lot of it. Plenty more than the Sharks do.
Will it be enough to overcome the deficits in speed and scoring?
Maybe the better questions is: Will the Sharks’ advantages in speed and scoring be enough to overcome their deficit in character?
The Kings played exactly the way they have to if they are going to win this series – and that puck bounces slightly different in overtime instead of over Richardson’s stick, then the Kings have game 1. Williams was a force out there tonight – in my mind the best forward on either team. The shoulder didn’t seem to bother him at all, even when the Sharks were going way out of their way to hit him. The key to winning game 2 will be to survive the first 10 minutes – after that game, you know the Sharks are going to come out flying tomorrow night. Hoping that Quick will continue his play from last night and become this year’s Halak.
Very interested to see what the Kings do when (not if) Stoll gets suspended. That is the type of hit they are trying to eliminate, and I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that White is out for a while with that injury. Despite the fact that Stoll is not that “type” of player they love to make examples of, I don’t see how they don’t suspend him for at least a game or two. I’m hoping, of course, that he isn’t suspended, but I’m thinking he will be.
Quisp... wrt your comments on Penner the other day
You were saying that people were being rough on him on LAKI and stated your reasons that you found it a bit ott. I do agree that it had to be destabilizing to lose his linemates early on…. but that effort last night – wait – how do I create my phrase w/o using the word effort (?), the game he played, was simply not on. I had to make a constant effort to find him on the tv and he gives the distinct impression of either A) not wanting to be here or B) being a loner or C) create your own reason…. ok…. or gliding on the ice. it’s strange seeing a guy that big just glide around.
Brian Boyle was one of the Rangers best players in game 1 the other night. I’m not busting them for sending him packing, but if you’re gonna get a similar type of animal (in the generic sense) then my god mate…. do your homework…. or call him into your office and ask him what the h…. the problem is? If you don’t want to be here than we’d rather you wouldn’t be here.
I was ranting in the sports bar last night about that hit! He clearly left his skates, elbows to the head and followed through. BOO!
There is greatness in all of us, but only those who work hard and take responsibility for themselves realize it.
by Surfdudeken03 on Apr 15, 2011 8:32 AM PDT up reply actions
Wow that was bad. I have to watch the SJ feed of the game since I’m up north and they didn’t show a replay of that hit but that is just as bad as Stoll’s hit in my opinion. It doesn’t matter if Stoll’s led to an injury and that one didn’t, they should be punished the same if not worse because that one was clearly intentional where you can argue Stoll’s was more accidental as White did kinda bend over and put his head lower down than it should have been.
Kyle Clifford and/or Trevor Lewis are going to score a GWG or two in this series, I think.
Clifford, yes. Lewis, not so sure. But what about…..WESTGARTH!!! almost man….almost.
Drew Doughty is trying to do too much. The missed hip-check was unnecessary.
yes. hopefully TM can calm him down a little. or maybe willie and scuds can talk some sense into him. he’s starting to remind me of a ochocinco or a terrell owens. he talks too much off the ice and then blows big plays ON the ice.
Disappointing result
I was pretty worried after period one when the Kings were down 14-3 on shots and had two PPs fizzle out. Great recovery after the first part of P2 and for the most part carried the play from there. No doubt the Kings can “compete” in this series, they do need to take advantage of opportunities any time they get them. Buck up and get it tied Saturday! Go Kings Go!
No need to pile on, but Dustin Penner needs to give up his role of Caspar the Friendly Ghost and start contributing! I was really down on the Kings signing Ponikarovsky but much of the season and certainly last night he has been a beast. Not putting up big numbers but you notice him for sure and he’s creating plays.
DD needs to stop trying to do too much. Accurate analysis there. See what happens tomorrow… GO Kings!
Sharks fan here
That was an amazing game. I’m honestly not sure what got all of you to think that this series was going to be a cake walk for the Sharks… but hey, if that suits you.
It should be an interesting series for sure. Of course there was the Stoll hit, and the subsequent Demers hit. IMO, the Stoll hit is a little worse… but both hits should’ve been penalized last night.
Anyway, just thought I’d drop by.
"Logan Couture is a dirty, filthy man. Tell all your friends" - Mr. Plank
Member of the Torrey Mitchell Fan Club
Nice to have you, It certainly was a great game.
I’m honestly not sure what got all of you to think that this series was going to be a cake walk for the Sharks
I don’t think this characterizes ‘our’ feelings at all, actually. There was a certain level of doom and gloom following Kopi’s loss and the final two games but as Game 1 approached things began to settle down. If anything I think people here were responding to the overwhelming opinion among hockey “experts” that the Kings had no chance.
Certainly, I always felt that the Kings had a puncher’s chance in this series. But what I think we Kings fans didn’t foresee is that Williams would be able to contribute as much as he did last night. Up until a couple of days ago, we had basically conceded that he wouldn’t be available so soon.
"Prepare your bladder for imminent release!" — Invader Zim
My next jersey is going to be #14
Williams was the Kings (maybe the game’s) best player on the ice last night. Oh how I have missed having his creativity out on the ice. After working his ass of and postponing surgery on the shoulder, I was really happy to see him come through like that.
I’m really pulling for Penner but he definitely needs to take it to another gear. Poni and Brown were wrecking Sharks all over the ice. I’d like to see Penner put in half of that grit and determination.
Other than the OT goal, I really liked the Simmonds/Richardson/Clifford line. At times in the 3rd period, they had some great cycling going on. Good mix of size and speed.
I was very impressed by the composure Martinez showed. As a young defensemen in his first playoff game against an offensive power, he was very solid. Scuderi was a rock out there; I lost track of how many chances he stopped with his long reach. Doughty looked liked he was itching to get involved offensively but just couldn’t get it going. I don’t think he played bad but he certainly could and probably will elevate his game.
Overall, I came away very proud of the Kings effort. I was hoping they simply would avoid getting blown out in game 1 and the goal 28 seconds in certainly didn’t help. But the team dug in, tied it twice, and put themselves in a position to win it in OT. Hopefully Stoll doesn’t get suspended and they take it back to Staples all tied up.
All I can add is I hope the Kings can take advantage of the few scoring chances they’ll get the rest of series than they did last night. No way can they win in a shoot out against the Sharks, but it’s doubtful they can win the series only scoring 2 goals a game either.
As bad as Penner was, I think Simmonds was worse, but maybe you can’t give away the puck when you never touch it (knock on Penner).
by Throwdeuce5150 on Apr 15, 2011 10:00 AM PDT reply actions
I don't care if he did score...Dustin Brown had a crappy game.
On Heatley’s goal, both Dustin Brown and Heatley began the play in front of the Shark’s net; when the play was over, Heatley was cheering and Brown was 20 feet behind the play.
HORRIBLE effort shown by Brown. HORRIBLE back check. All three goals-against were scored with Brown on the ice
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