Games like this are why when people were complaining about regulation wins earlier in the year and suggesting that the Kings were getting lucky via the loser point, I was pointing out that other teams were actually lucky to be hanging in there by getting soft goals to come back.
Yeah, with JQ in there its likely a shutout. Still, Budaj is hanging in there with a huge workload to boot. Who tends tomorrow?
It's a little bit of both. The Kings were living by the 3v3 point, with Quick, last year too. Are we saying Quick didn't give up a few too many of those softer goals himself? Quick's numbers last year and Budaj's numbers this year, they're not that dissimilar.
The Kings have already had 7 games scoring 1 or fewer goals, and not shocking in any way, they're 0-7 in regulation in those games. Unless Quick is in 2012 form, he's not winning those games either. They're 4-2 in the other regulation games where they've scored 2 or more goals. If they could've scored, I don't know, maybe a PP goal once in a while in those 7 games, maybe they're not 0-7.
Speaking of scoring goals, now that the 70's line is scoring 2 goals per game again(like they did for a couple weeks early in the 14-15 season), the Kings have a little breathing room in these games. That kind of production won't keep happening for one line, so you have to win the games when they are doing it, and so far so good.
Big game again tomorrow. They can tie for the division lead with a win in regulation.