Happy New Year -- Post-Game Bullets

by Quisp on Jan 1, 2012 9:34 PM PST

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 31: Goaltender Roberto Luongo #1 and Keith Ballard #4 of the Vancouver Canucks defend their net as Andrei Loktionov #48 of the Los Angeles Kings puts a backhand shot on net while teammate Trevor Lewis #22 and Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks skate to the net in the second period during the NHL game at Staples Center on December 31, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. The Kings defeated the Canucks 4-1. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Back on 12/19, I broke the rest of the season into blocks of 5-7 games and laid out what the Kings needed from those "blocks" to make it to the playoffs (short version: they basically have to go 4-2 out of every six games). I said they needed to go 4-1-1 (or better) in the six games starting with Toronto (the game before Sutter's official first game).
They did better than that, going 4-0-2. Including last night's game, 5-0-2.
Regarding the Winnipeg game, Sutter commented that a couple of Andrei Loktionov's passes could easily have resulted in goals.
One of them -- the pass from behind the net to Drew Doughty -- yielded a laugh-out-loud comment from Jim Fox, which I can only paraphrase as "Loktionov saw that Doughty was open before Doughty did."
Last night, against Vancouver, Loktionov had two crucial assists, and could easily have had a couple more points. On the Greene goal, he generated a scoring chance on the left side, then busted his ass to the right side in order to get the puck to Greene.
On the Richardson goal, he did something I've seen him do well over the years: he just laid the puck in the crease, not a tape-to-tape pass, but a pass to where the play was headed. This, he does better than almost everyone.
Maybe five seconds before the Greene goal, I said to my kid, "I love this line." The line being Brad Richardson - Loktionov - Trevor Lewis. Several times this season I have wished for Jarret Stoll - Loktionov - Lewis, but this is the same idea. Three centers, all speed, a call-back to the days of Donnelly-Millen, a third line to be feared, which opposing coaches would have to counter somehow...creating more "room" for Kopitar et al.
I also think Mike Richards - Anze Kopitar - Dustin Brown/Williams is a great idea, possibly a stroke of genius. One of Richards' superpowers is that he makes shit happen, just little things, turning nothing into something. Kopitar needs that. Brown needs it, too, since he sometimes demonstrates the opposite skill.
Dustin Penner seems much better with Stoll and Justin Williams/Brown; Penner never quite clicks with Kopitar, for some reason, but that line -- P-S-W/B -- has jump.
Kings are 10-0 when scoring at least three goals. If you count SO wins, 12-0.
Kings' record when Richards scores a point: 12-2-3.
Record with Richards in the line-up: 17-8-6.
Record with Slava Voynov in the line-up: 13-8-3.
Record with Willie Mitchell in the line-up: 18-9-6.
Record when Brown scores: 9-0. (13-1-2 when Brown records a point)
12-3-2 when Williams records a point.
12-4 when a defenseman scores.
This year's team is one point behind last year's pace.
Last year, after 39 games, the Kings had lost four in a row, and would soon make it five, en route to a nearly catastrophic 2-10 run.

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Any reason why this isn't showing up on the front page?

http://inplaynoouts.blogspot.com/ - A blog about teams I like, written by me.

by Carl Johnson on Jan 2, 2012 10:26 AM PST reply actions

weird. thanks for telling me!

JFTC / on Twitter / on Facebook

by Quisp on Jan 2, 2012 11:19 AM PST up reply actions

another one of richards superpowers

is that he sees where a play is going to develop. just look at his ability to create turnovers in the neutral zone. had a great steal at the van blue line. great reads on the pk. if you watch him during a game, he seems to be coasting a lot, but really just understands where to be. interesting player to watch.

he is already becoming the face for the kings in promos. probably his east coast exposure helps.

by okto on Jan 2, 2012 12:30 PM PST reply actions

Brown needs it, too, since he sometimes demonstrates the opposite skill.

Love it.

by Garrett79 on Jan 2, 2012 1:30 PM PST reply actions

ditto

Not saying DS was the best hire, but at least TM's gone.

by soccersucks on Jan 2, 2012 2:44 PM PST up reply actions

The new line combinations were excellent.

I had kinda wondered why no one had thought to use use Richards and Kopitar together outside of the power play but I’m glad Sutter now has.

I think Stoll-Penner-Williams will have better success than any other grouping that has involved those three this season too.

But that Loktionov-Richarson-Lewis line was by far the best one the Kings had in the last couple of games. Loktionov had been looking pretty good with Mike Richards and it was just a matter of time before he got going. I don’t know if you wanna break up the chemistry they seem to be forming, but how would Gagne look on this line in Lewis’s place when he returns? Unless Lewis starts lighting the lamp at least a little bit I think that could make this an incredible 2nd line (Stoll-Penner-Williams, I think has to be considered behind this one; even if they are getting more ice time now it won’t last if they don’t produce at the rate LLR are,).

With Voynov continuing to demonstrate that he is a superstar defenseman in the making and Doughty finally looking like he’s ready to play hockey again I am getting excited about this team for the first time in months.

by Garrett79 on Jan 2, 2012 1:35 PM PST reply actions

Schenn!

What a way to get his first!

by JZarris on Jan 2, 2012 2:18 PM PST reply actions

3 centers n Lokti line.. grrr baby!!!

i like your Lokti assesment/comments.. I’ve been a fan of the 3 C’s Line since i saw the Sharks 3 Center Line do well the playoffs. A super skating line is a must i think especially in the playoffs.
I’m a fan of Lokti /Datsuyk type style game. I wonder who’s Lokti’s favorite player growing up? on another note, i wish Lewis would work on his shot. all of them , snap,wrist, one timer and slapper.. Richardson, just keep on playing the same shift to shift..damn, i’m pumped again for the season.. thank you, Sutter? DL?

by Hapakid89 on Jan 2, 2012 2:31 PM PST reply actions

i don't know about growing up, but at least when he was in juniors he was known to study 90s Red Wings tapes of the Russian 5

he has said that Larionov is his role model (maybe that wasn’t the word, but that’s the idea). Larionov is also his mentor and agent.

JFTC / on Twitter / on Facebook

by Quisp on Jan 2, 2012 3:11 PM PST up reply actions

I think that we’re seeing Loktionov benefit from the new emphasis on cycling and puck possession in the o-zone. Given enough time to read the ice, he can show on a more regular basis the strengths that we always knew he had: vision and a gift for the quick, knife-between-the-ribs play. I would not be at all surprised to see him bank in another goal off of the goalie’s back before the season is out. :-)

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

by DougX on Jan 2, 2012 3:38 PM PST reply actions