Sunday Afternoon: Stars/Kings Game Preview
by Quisp on Feb 12, 2012 10:35 AM PST
Email
Print[Niesy, on some kind of world tour I think, composed this game preview on her phone (!) and asked me to post it for her. I couldn't be more impressed. -Q]
IN: Kari Lehtonen
OUT: Brenden Morrow (back/neck). Sheldon Souray (foot) is questionable.
Possible Stars lineup:
Lehtonen
Game outlook:
The Kings, as you may have heard, are dead last in scoring. Several key forwards experienced career low shooting percentages, and were expected to bounce back. Williams and even the maligned Penner are two examples of veterans with established scoring ability who picked up their pace after the All-Star break.
But with Gagne and Stoll out, and Penner going from praise in Tampa Bay to the doghouse against the Panthers, the Kings are now putting their hopes in a youth movement.
There's definite risk in this strategy. On the second and third lines, Nolan, King, Lewis, Loktionov, and Clifford -- five young players whose finishing ability is either low or unestablished at the NHL level -- are being asked to "carry the mail." Of those five, only Lokti has a track record of high scoring in Manchester. (Clifford came straight out of junior.)
Unless management brings in new players, these kids will all need to seize this opportunity and establish themselves quickly if LA is going to have a shot at the playoffs. So carpe that diem.
16 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I've been wondering if part of the point of Nolan and King is
seeing if they’re ready to step up, in advance of a significant trade
haha that kenny jonsson pregame ceremony was one of the most depressing pregame ceremonies of all time.
In case you haven't seen it...
Alan Ryder just came out with his annual review and Hockey Prospectus has some highlights, a couple of which pertain to the Kings. One interesting the other foreboding.
Interesting:
That’s precisely why Jarret Stoll makes an interesting appearance as the 18th-best forward despite just 43 points, minus-6, and a lackluster reputation among fans.
Foreboding:
The Unimportance of Defense
…
In 2011, the correlation between defense and winning was weaker than I have seen it in some time.
…
Based on Ryder’s approach, which includes concepts like shot quality, Boston’s defense is as bad as Edmonton’s.
ut oh. Defense doesn’t win? I think the Kings have the 2nd most expensive back end to go along with a defense heavy philosophy. Hmm. Welp, I’m still not worried.
Yeeeeeeeeaaaah
This is why it’s important to not lump all stats people in the same group.
That’s just — terrible. A terrible statement.
Dinglebarnin' It JftC
Ryder's Full Text on Boston from the Review:
Boston‟s defense was off 24 MGD. There is little doubt that greater confidence in goaltending leads to a more open approach to the game and, by implication, less defense.
"They" say that defense wins. New Jersey failed to win a playoff berth yet led the NHL in team defense. Anaheim was fourth seed in the West with the NHL‟s second worst defense. Boston won a Stanley Cup with a defense that was as productive as that of Edmonton (don‟t misunderstand my comment – the Bruins chose to invest skating energy in offense because of their goaltending).
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
