It’s Ron Burgundy Night at the Staples Center and if he would have been in the booth the previous 72 games, the season wouldn’t have seemed so bad:
They got Ron Burgundy doing commentary at the LA Kings game 😂
🎥 @FoxSportsWestpic.twitter.com/Y3JNk1oMjn
— SB Nation (@SBNation) March 22, 2019
When you wonder how the Kings got into this mess known as the 2018-19 season, remember that this Ron Burgundy quote applied to Los Angeles just eight short years ago (this clip is also the best call of the year.):
“Take that San Jose! Zero Stanley cups!”#SJSvsLAK #SJSharks #GoKingsGo #LAKings pic.twitter.com/i9NozsbfTn
— Eric (@Kingsgifs) March 22, 2019
105-Word Recap
A game after being eliminated from playoff contention, the Los Angeles Kings assumed the role of spoiler, overcoming a 2-1 deficit and netting three goals in the third period to take down the Stanley Cup hopeful San Jose Sharks 4-2. Anze Kopitar had a goal and an assist, Matt Roy scored his first career goal and Jeff Carter snapped a 21-game goalless streak. With the exception of Brent Burns (adding an assist for the third straight game / 76 points on the year), the Sharks looked anything but ready for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, dropping five points behind the Pacific Division-leading Calgary Flames with eight games to play.
Coach’s Corner: What Willie Desjardins Did Wrong Tonight
Where to start? The list was so long even before the puck dropped…
- The interim coach went with the ever-lethal 11 forwards / 7 defensemen lineup. No wonder the Kings are 122 goals behind the Tampa Bay Lightning (and 0.66 GF less than the league average – 2.36/gm vs. 3.03/gm). Even the Ottawa Senators have scored 228 goals this season.
- The 11/7 lineup meant that Willie D. actively chose to scratch Jonny Brodzinski and Ilya Kovalchuk to play Jeff Carter (21 games without a goal), Tyler Toffoli (16 goals without a goal), and Kurtis MacDermid (averaging 6:39 TOI since his call-up). Summer buyout candidate Dion Phaneuf also sat this one out.
- Willie boldly lies to tells us that he uses the 11/17 lineup to better evaluate players. Instant analysis: If I were Jonny Brodzinski—scratched for the fourth consecutive game—I would evaluate the Kings as an organization who doesn’t want me. As a pending UFA this summer, I would definitely be looking to move on. Nothing would chap me more than being scratched this often for an “11/7 Evaluation Lineup.”
- You see Willie, 11 forwards become 10 forwards with one LBI:/
Leipsic not to return; lower body injury.
— LAKingsPR (@LAKingsPR) March 22, 2019
- What goes through the head of the interim coach? Look at the veterans’ TOI: Drew Doughty plays 25:02, Anze Kopitar 24:04, Alec Martinez plays 21:38, Carter 20:26, and Dustin Brown 19:55. Now look at the kids: Carl Grundstrom 12:47, Austin Wagner 9:49, and MacDermid 7:24. I thought these were evaluation games where the kids were being showcased? Why would you scratch Jonny Brodzinski to play MacDermid 7:24?
- Willie, why are you under the delusional belief that these games matter anymore? Playing the veterans, especially forwards, 20 minutes a night isn’t doing anyone any favors. This is where #LoseForHughes kicks in! I mean, can’t you get anything right?/
The Game 73 Scoring
Kings 1. Sharks 0.
.@DustinBrown23‘s goal: SICK
The belly flop celly: 🤙🤙🤙🤙 pic.twitter.com/XULqUuhAt6
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 22, 2019
Kings 1. Sharks 1.
Goodrow? Vlasic? Doesn’t matter who scored, just that it happened. #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/truUGbUCn2
— x – San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) March 22, 2019
Kings 1. Sharks 1. Ron Burgundy 1. Bean Burrito 0.
You better believe Ron devoured a bean burrito on air because why wouldn’t he 🌯@BaileyLAKings | @LAKings | @_Attendee pic.twitter.com/UAI80vp7rJ
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 22, 2019
Sharks 2. Kings 1.
1-2 Hertl(32)-ASST: Burns(63): https://t.co/X88zbFJcaX#SJSvsLAK #SJSharks #GoKingsGo #LAKings pic.twitter.com/ETNDNetYAI
— Eric (@Kingsgifs) March 22, 2019
Sharks 2. Kings 2.
Matt Roy with the first goal of his NHL career!
Kings 3. Sharks 2.
Kings 4. Sharks 2.
Jeff Carter scores the empty-netter shorthanded; his first goal since January 15th.
Next: The Kings host the dreaded Anaheim Ducks at Staples Center on Saturday.
Quotables:
“At first, I was just wondering if it hit Brownie, but by the way he reacted, I guess it didn’t touch him.” – Matt Roy on scoring his first NHL goal pic.twitter.com/wgMTC2gO6P
— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 22, 2019
Ron Burgundy breaking down Bark Madness 🐶🐾
Did You Know: Baxter was actually the first ever Bark Madness Champion in 1979 …and he also ate an entire ham last weekend. We’re not even mad. That’s amazing.
🐶 https://t.co/f2ZKfjDGKx#GoKingsGo | @_Attendee pic.twitter.com/DnIn8ziE0Q
— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 22, 2019
“PUT THAT BABY TO BED WITHOUT A DIAPER”
We’ll save that goal call for later 😆@LAKings | @_Attendee pic.twitter.com/PPjZf1PvQ2
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 22, 2019
“The goalies left, he quit…”#SJSvsLAK #SJSharks #GoKingsGo #LAKings pic.twitter.com/3Aq2c58PcQ
— Eric (@Kingsgifs) March 22, 2019
60% of the time it works all of the time@LAKings | @_Attendee pic.twitter.com/mwtluy8Dyw
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 22, 2019
.@JimFox19 giving Ron Burgundy hair advice is everything 💇♂️@LAKings | @_Attendee pic.twitter.com/ElPZNjmdgJ
— FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) March 22, 2019
“I’m surprised Quickie didn’t go Ron Hextall on him and chop him in the legs”#SJSvsLAK #SJSharks #GoKingsGo #LAKings pic.twitter.com/b8ZTbJ3tlM
— Eric (@Kingsgifs) March 22, 2019
Hey @SanJoseSharks,
Some good off-ice info about Martin Jones from our pal Ron Burgundy 😂#GoKingsGo | @_Attendee pic.twitter.com/cCpXXlfwSd— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 22, 2019
Hi praise for @JeffCarter_77 from Ron Burgundy 😂🤣#GoKingsGo | @_Attendee pic.twitter.com/o5qldNP1ub
— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 22, 2019
Adrian Shempe#SJSvsLAK #SJSharks #GoKingsGo #LAKings pic.twitter.com/iDMQOmQbqR
— Eric (@Kingsgifs) March 22, 2019
Games Until the Kings are Eligible for a New Head Coach: 9