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Game #37: Kings vs. Avalanche - 12/21/13 - Shootout Win! 3-2

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I thought Clifford worked great with Richards and Toffoli. As for Lewis, he's a pure grinder just as Dan Bylsma was. He should strictly be used in a checking role. As we saw when he was out hurt, the team didn't miss a beat with Lewis out of the lineup.
 
I love Sutter's post game comments...

Won't even address the Jones record,

Sutter "One guy doesn't win games, ask questions about the team".
 
I think Richards may be nursing some sort of minor injury. He got partially blindsided a few games ago (I think it was against the Islanders or Senators?). Very similar situation to the hit he took against Florida a couple years ago, where he got his head knocked around a little bit. It was right after that game that Sutter moved him to play with Toffoli and Clifford/Nolan.
 
Riposte! said:
I think Richards may be nursing some sort of minor injury. He got partially blindsided a few games ago (I think it was against the Islanders or Senators?). Very similar situation to the hit he took against Florida a couple years ago, where he got his head knocked around a little bit. It was right after that game that Sutter moved him to play with Toffoli and Clifford/Nolan.
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You could be right, but I do believe its around the same time carts came back and he was trying to find combinations to keep toffoli dressed and keeping Richards at center instead of LW.
 
Well I think Richards has been pretty eh before the Sens game. But I think it's just the line up.
 
Richards is fine. The line changes happened at the beginning of December and he had 7 points in 5 games. Clifford, Toffoli, and him were doing fine and still creating scoring chances, but since Lewis got on their line there's been no offense generated. He almost scored yesterday on the power play too. Him and Toffoli just need a different LW and for Lewis to go back to the 4th line.
 
jml87 said:
Richards is fine. The line changes happened at the beginning of December and he had 7 points in 5 games. Clifford, Toffoli, and him were doing fine and still creating scoring chances, but since Lewis got on their line there's been no offense generated. He almost scored yesterday on the power play too. Him and Toffoli just need a different LW and for Lewis to go back to the 4th line.
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He's also been slower, as other people have noted, and his puck possession game has let up a little bit. He hasn't been funneling the PP recently like he usually does. Seems like he's a step or two behind.

Then again, he always kind of plays like that and somehow manages to dominate games. He's a weird player to watch. He always looks like he's skating through molasses and he always stick checks (rarely takes the body against the boards), but he puts up great offensive numbers and is dynamite on the PK.

I swear, though, he takes the shortest shifts of any player on the team. Next time the Kings play, watch how he's always the first one off the ice with his line. He gets out for like 25 seconds and then hightails it to the bench.
 
Riposte! said:
He's also been slower, as other people have noted, and his puck possession game has let up a little bit. He hasn't been funneling the PP recently like he usually does. Seems like he's a step or two behind.

Then again, he always kind of plays like that and somehow manages to dominate games. He's a weird player to watch. He always looks like he's skating through molasses and he always stick checks (rarely takes the body against the boards), but he puts up great offensive numbers and is dynamite on the PK.

I swear, though, he takes the shortest shifts of any player on the team. Next time the Kings play, watch how he's always the first one off the ice with his line. He gets out for like 25 seconds and then hightails it to the bench.
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He's always like that though. I really haven't noticed that he has been any slower than normal. He's shortest guy on the team, so it'll take more strides for him than other guys, whih tire him out faster. He relies more on his IQ about where he should go rather than skating all over the place which you've seen. In fact I've seen a couple times this season when he's played the point on the PP and even when a guy tries to break out, he still manages to stop them.

Looking at the numbers he doesn't seem to have shorter shifts than any of his other linemates. And he's still had upwards of 20 minutes in some games this season. It's hard for me to analye anything though with Lewis out there on his line. Toffoli and Richards look like they are trying too hard to get him some points and he's like allergic to the puck. If you put at least a competent LW back on his line and it still doesn't look right, than maybe there's an issue. But up until 5 games ago, it was steady offensive production from that third line. And until Lewis was on that line, I didn't think there was any problem.
 
Winger23 said:
Wrong. If you can't tell he's not providing anything else either and there are better options I don't know what to tell you.
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Nice reply but it has nothing to do with my post. All I said was Sutter put him up there because that line needs speed. He has no other reason for being there.
 
HookKing said:
Nice reply but it has nothing to do with my post. All I said was Sutter put him up there because that line needs speed. He has no other reason for being there.
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You implied posters only look at offence. I was telling you that you were wrong.
 
Winger23 said:
You implied posters only look at offence. I was telling you that you were wrong.
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Actually I didn't imply it -- I stated it...easily the vast majority of posters just look at offensive production in the forward ranks. That's why so many think Vey should be playing, Lewis shipped out, Stoll shipped out, Brown shipped out etc.
 
HookKing said:
Nice reply but it has nothing to do with my post. All I said was Sutter put him up there because that line needs speed. He has no other reason for being there.
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That line is expected to score, by definition it's the Kings 2nd line. They desperately need a true LW to maximize what Richards and TT can do.

Right now they have a right wing who has zero points on the season playing an un-natural position and before that they had a 4th line left winger.

The Kings lines look pretty solid other than that, the first line is playing insane, and the 3rd line is doing their job as well. If they can upgrade that left wing and slide Lewis down to centering the 4th line with Clifford and Nolan the Kings have a dangerous squad.

Someone like Moulson or Cammalleri would go a long way. And both are UFA's, no serious financial commitment if things don't work out.
 
Herby said:
That line is expected to score, by definition it's the Kings 2nd line. They desperately need a true LW to maximize what Richards and TT can do.

Right now they have a right wing who has zero points on the season playing an un-natural position and before that they had a 4th line left winger.

The Kings lines look pretty solid other than that, the first line is playing insane, and the 3rd line is doing their job as well. If they can upgrade that left wing and slide Lewis down to centering the 4th line with Clifford and Nolan the Kings have a dangerous squad.

Someone like Moulson or Cammalleri would go a long way. And both are UFA's, no serious financial commitment if things don't work out.
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Going by minutes played they are actually the 3rd line. Stoll-Brown-Williams have been playing more minutes. Since the change has been made it's almost like like we have the 1st line and 2A/B.
 
tsanuri said:
Going by minutes played they are actually the 3rd line. Stoll-Brown-Williams have been playing more minutes. Since the change has been made it's almost like like we have the 1st line and 2A/B.
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I think because the Kings have been up a lot recently and they don't want anyone on that line having a ton of defensive responsibility.

I think when the opponents get tougher, especially in the playoffs and the Kings need key goals, we will see more of Richards, Toffoli and hopefully their new LW buddy.

I think the line has a chance to be really good if they get a left shot goal-scorer.
 
HookKing said:
Actually I didn't imply it -- I stated it...easily the vast majority of posters just look at offensive production in the forward ranks. That's why so many think Vey should be playing, Lewis shipped out, Stoll shipped out, Brown shipped out etc.
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Nevermind. Not worth it.
 
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HookKing said:
Actually I didn't imply it -- I stated it...easily the vast majority of posters just look at offensive production in the forward ranks. That's why so many think Vey should be playing, Lewis shipped out, Stoll shipped out, Brown shipped out etc.
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If Lewis had just 7 to 10 points no one would be wanting the guy gone.

He would actually be on pace for career normal production.

But understand this.....Lewis is on a career worst pace right now.

Career worst, I actually think he would set a record of playing 70+ games and not scoring a single point...

It is not ok to play in the NHL and provide ZERO production....

I can guarantee Lombardi/Sutter are not ok with that.

Right now management is giving Lewis some time to figure himself out, no doubt they feel he has earned it.

But make no mistake, the guy wont be on this team much longer producing NOTHING.
 
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