Game 39: Kings vs. Ducks - 4/7/13 - Duck Luck Continues...

[Papa Mocha 15]

They don't have as much skill as the Ducks.

I agree they are much bigger and more physical than the Ducks though. The Ducks are soft - it's our biggest weakness.

I don't see how you guys have more skill though. Your bottom 6 is filled with grinders (nothing wrong with that), ours is filled with skilled prospects/young players that are just starting to come into their own.

Back when Anaheim won the cup, it was largely on the fact that your D was punishing to play against. You don't have that now. You have skill, but no sandpaper. Pronger brought a whole sense of nasty to the blue line. That's not there now and it has been replaced by skill but no grit. I just don't see you guys making too much noise in the playoffs. Sorry. You're kind of like Vancouver was when they won the President's trophy, skill but no grit, flash but no sizzle, all head no beer, all shot no powder, all lime and salt but no tequila, all crown no filling..oh wait, crown is ours right now

 

[Muzzinga]

If your bottom 6 is full of skill players, its because they are players not good enough to play in the top 6.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

They don't have as much skill as the Ducks.

I agree they are much bigger and more physical than the Ducks though. The Ducks are soft - it's our biggest weakness.

I don't see how you guys have more skill though. Your bottom 6 is filled with grinders (nothing wrong with that), ours is filled with skilled prospects/young players that are just starting to come into their own.

Attention Sierra. You are on stage 3. Sierra to stage 3

 

[RonSwanson*]

If your bottom 6 is full of skill players, its because they are players not good enough to play in the top 6.

So true.

 

[KINGS17]

They don't have as much skill as the Ducks.

I agree they are much bigger and more physical than the Ducks though. The Ducks are soft - it's our biggest weakness.

I don't see how you guys have more skill though. Your bottom 6 is filled with grinders (nothing wrong with that), ours is filled with skilled prospects/young players that are just starting to come into their own.

Well let's take a look.

Kopitar and Getzlaf may be a push and that's being generous to the Ducks. Kopitar pretty much shuts Getzlaf down whenever the Kings play the Ducks.

Carter and Perry may be a push, but since his arrival Carter has been a solid two-way player sacrificing a little (very little) offense to support the overall team defense.

Ryan is great and the Kings probably don't have an answer for him other than Justin Williams.

Brown as much as he is criticized on any of these boards is a wrecking ball with decent hands that scores, hits, and creates tons of space for his linemates. The Ducks don't have anyone like him.

Koivu versus Richards, it's Richards and his two-way game easily.

Doughty >>>> Fowler, then there is Voynov probably equal to Fowler. You guys really have no answer for those two after Fowler.

Sbisa is good and I'd love to have him on the Kings, but he would probably slot as our #4.

You can bring up Selanne if you want, but he has really shown his age the last month or so and is going to fade into the sunset at some point. His production is slipping and in a tight checking series the Kings will wear him down.

For the Ducks to beat the Kings in a 7-game series, Getzlaf, Perry, and Ryan would have to go crazy, and one of Hiller or Fasth would have to stand on their head in goal. It could happen, but odds are against it.

Regarding your bottom six, so you have some youngsters that probably aren't playing in their proper role. I enjoyed watching Etem just barely fight off Kopitar and dump a puck in during OT yesterday. Anze saw that Etem was the last man back and went right after him. Etem was lucky to get rid of it before Kopitar completely stripped him and went in all alone.

Overall it looks like the rivalry may finally pick up some steam with a playoff matchup becoming even more likely once the new conferences start play next season. When it comes to playoff hockey, I don't see the Ducks being able to hang with the Kings quite yet.

 

[kingsfan]

Doughty >>>> Fowler, then there is Voynov probably equal to Fowler.

I really, really like Fowler, but there's no way I'd call Voynov and Fowler equal. Give me Voynov every day of the week.

Unless Fowler starts to improve his defensive game he's going to become Tom Kurvers 2.0

 

[RonSwanson*]

Well let's take a look.

Kopitar and Getzlaf may be a push and that's being generous to the Ducks. Kopitar pretty much shuts Getzlaf down whenever the Kings play the Ducks.

Carter and Perry may be a push, but since his arrival Carter has been a solid two-way player sacrificing a little (very little) offense to support the overall team defense.

Ryan is great and the Kings probably don't have an answer for him other than Justin Williams.

Brown as much as he is criticized on any of these boards is a wrecking ball with decent hands that scores, hits, and creates tons of space for his linemates. The Ducks don't have anyone like him.

Koivu versus Richards, it's Richards and his two-way game easily.

Doughty >>>> Fowler, then there is Voynov probably equal to Fowler. You guys really have no answer for those two after Fowler.

Sbisa is good and I'd love to have him on the Kings, but he would probably slot as our #4.

You can bring up Selanne if you want, but he has really shown his age the last month or so and is going to fade into the sunset at some point. His production is slipping and in a tight checking series the Kings will wear him down.

For the Ducks to beat the Kings in a 7-game series, Getzlaf, Perry, and Ryan would have to go crazy, and one of Hiller or Fasth would have to stand on their head in goal. It could happen, but odds are against it.

Regarding your bottom six, so you have some youngsters that probably aren't playing in their proper role. I enjoyed watching Etem just barely fight off Kopitar and dump a puck in during OT yesterday. Anze saw that Etem was the last man back and went right after him. Etem was lucky to get rid of it before Kopitar completely stripped him and went in all alone.

Overall it looks like the rivalry may finally pick up some steam with a playoff matchup becoming even more likely once the new conferences start play next season. When it comes to playoff hockey, I don't see the Ducks being able to hang with the Kings quite yet.

But... but... Souray.

 

[KINGS17]

I really, really like Fowler, but there's no way I'd call Voynov and Fowler equal. Give me Voynov every day of the week.

Unless Fowler starts to improve his defensive game he's going to become Tom Kurvers 2.0

Yeah, I was giving him the big benefit of the doubt.

The _ucks are inferior to the Kings on the blueline. If Greene gets back to even 80% in the playoffs that will be even more apparent.

 

[onlyalad]

Yeah, I was giving him the big benefit of the doubt.

The _ucks are inferior to the Kings on the blueline. If Greene gets back to even 80% in the playoffs that will be even more apparent.

The ucks believe the best defense is a good offense. So far it has worked for them, much better than I thought it would. They will be the second seed going into the playoffs.

 

[Reclamation Project]

They don't have as much skill as the Ducks.

I agree they are much bigger and more physical than the Ducks though. The Ducks are soft - it's our biggest weakness.

I don't see how you guys have more skill though. Your bottom 6 is filled with grinders (nothing wrong with that), ours is filled with skilled prospects/young players that are just starting to come into their own.

 

[kingsfan]

The ucks believe the best defense is a good offense. So far it has worked for them, much better than I thought it would. They will be the second seed going into the playoffs.

I really like Bruce Boudreau as a coach, but that's his flaw. He likes to focus to much on offense and while it generates good results in the regular season, it doesn't do much in the playoffs. In the regular season his winning percentage at the NHL level is .659, which is second all-time behind only Tom Johnson. His regular season winning percentage is higher than even Scotty Bowman now, courtesy this seasons run with the _ucks and he's the quickest coach to ever reach 200 regular season wins. His overall record is 255-116-53.

In the playoffs though his teams are 17-20, which is a winning percentage of .459, or a drop off of .200. That is massive, and it shows that while Boudreau's run and gun style works well in the regular season, it doesn't hold up in a seven game series. His great teams have only won two of six playoff series.

Even in the minors, Boudreau's had great seasons repeatedly. And while he has had some success down there, posting an AHL title, an ECHL title and a second finals appearance in the AHL as well as one more in the IHL, his teams have also been bounced in the first round seven times, including five straight years, the last four of which were with the Manchester Monarchs.

If we wanted a Presidents Trophy, I'd be all over having Boudreau as the coach. For a Stanley Cup though, he's done little so far to justify any faith in him.

 

[SLang]

If your bottom 6 is full of skill players, its because they are players not good enough to play in the top 6.

And most likely unable to fill the roles required of a team's bottom six.

 

[DaDucks*]

It's that difference that wins you championships.It was the grinders that wore down most of the playoff teams. Lewis was directly involved with the GWG with his backcheck that lead to the turnover, which Stoll scored to finish Vancouver. Nolan and King were all over the Blues and took them out of their game. Fraser and Clifford were equally important too.

Fraser Nolan king Clifford don't look the same as last year... Clifford looks more like a liability as of late..

 

[Live in the Now]

Fraser Nolan king Clifford don't look the same as last year... Clifford looks more like a liability as of late..

Clifford has improved as a hockey player but he is fighting less. Playing him on the 2nd line probably isn't a good idea either.

I don't think we are the same team we were last season but we'll see how that works out. I still do strongly believe we would beat the Ducks. Of the teams we beat last year, when it comes to Vancouver...I do not know.

 

[DaDucks*]

Clifford has improved as a hockey player but he is fighting less. Playing him on the 2nd line probably isn't a good idea either.

I don't think we are the same team we were last season but we'll see how that works out. I still do strongly believe we would beat the Ducks. Of the teams we beat last year, when it comes to Vancouver...I do not know.

No your not... Pretty top heavy... Better defensively for sure.. Scoring a lot more... Stoll has been doing work, Williams doing everything.. Quick has taken a half step back..

No injuries to top 6 forwards all year???? Ohh my.. I think that's the real kicker


After running through everyone last year u guys should have a no fear attitude...

 

[Live in the Now]

No your not... Pretty top heavy... Better defensively for sure.. Scoring a lot more... Stoll has been doing work, Williams doing everything.. Quick has taken a half step back..

No injuries to top 6 forwards all year???? Ohh my.. I think that's the real kicker


After running through everyone last year u guys should have a no fear attitude...

I don't fear anyone, I just don't know because it's a different year. Vancouver doesn't have the sieve in net anymore. The Kings beat Schneider twice even still but I'm sure the Canucks players will have a different attitude knowing their guy in net isn't prone to letting something in at all times. In any case 3 playing 4 is unlikely before the WCF and I think the Blues and Wild are most likely to play them and will beat them. I think the Ducks will make it out of the first round too so perhaps the Kings can play them at some point.

 

[Papa Mocha 15]

I don't fear anyone, I just don't know because it's a different year. Vancouver doesn't have the sieve in net anymore. The Kings beat Schneider twice even still but I'm sure the Canucks players will have a different attitude knowing their guy in net isn't prone to letting something in at all times. In any case 3 playing 4 is unlikely before the WCF and I think the Blues and Wild are most likely to play them and will beat them. I think the Ducks will make it out of the first round too so perhaps the Kings can play them at some point.

We are overdue for a freeway series. Way overdue.