Gm #74 - 3/27/14 KINGS @ PENGUINS, 3-2 regulation WIN !!!

[kingsholygrail]

@Dustinpenner25: That was a nice "goal" @AnzeKopitar ... http://t.co/izbRah3IA7 #KOPI

Lol

That's our Penner.

 

[johnjm22]

Not trying to change your mind because I think it's fair to be skeptical but I think Regehr has been great lately though 2012 Scuderi > him. 2014 Doughty looks to be ready to continue beasting, not worried about his playoff version. Mitchell is a step slower but still powerful, Martinez is as good as ever. But I don't think they're far off and at least they're trending up. Edit: durr, forgot Voynov--I think that's a big worry but we will see. He's still on-and-off lately but at least his on moments are great--physical, decisive.

Quick I'm much less worried about as he's 8-2-0 with a .924 sv.% and 1.88 GA in March. I know we tend to remember the stinkers like the PHX game, but that's pretty damn good. Of course, that's a far cry from the record setting .946 in the 2012 playoffs, but I think that's an unfair bar to set.

Add that to the now-trending-up play of Brown and Richards and though I don't think we're yet firing on all cylinders we're definitely curving in the right direction just in time for the playoffs. That's very encouraging.

And let's not forget the 2012 Kings didn't look like they were going to run anyone over in the week or two leading up to the playoffs, either; we actually put ourselves in the unenviable-at-the-time position of facing the #1 seed Canucks.

I don't think people realize how great our starting 6 d-men were during the cup run. As unit, I think they were collectively one of the best this millennium.

You had:
3 young guys, 3 veterans
3 stay home defenders, 3 puck movers
3 Lefties, 3 righties

No injuries. Same 6 guys throughout the playoffs.

It was essentially as good of defensive unit as you can hope to have at the NHL level. Perfectly balanced.

At the time, Mitchell and Scuderi were ELITE stay at home defenders. Greene was the perfect physical shutdown bottom pairing defenseman.

The teams' current 6 man unit isn't nearly as good as the 2012 unit.

Yes, the team is scoring more lately, but it's come at the cost of team defense.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

I'm simply not yet convinced Martinez can play a top 4 role.

He is on a hot streak, and there is no question about his effectiveness on the PP, and he's been perfect in a 3rd pairing role next to Willie Mitchell, but there's the rub - he's generally against weaker competition. Its like Sutter has been saying, he's being "put in the best position to succeed." Keep him on the 3rd pairing next year and re-sign Mitchell. There isn't anything better than him out there for the price we could likely agree to with him. THEN start tinkering with Martinez in a larger role if we think he can handle it, but keep his regular role with Mitchell.

I see our defense next year exactly as it is now, except McNabb replaces Greene.

 

[Fishhead]

I don't think people realize how great our starting 6 d-men were during the cup run. As unit, I think they were collectively one of the best this millennium.

You had:
3 young guys, 3 veterans
3 stay home defenders, 3 puck movers
3 Lefties, 3 righties

No injuries. Same 6 guys throughout the playoffs.

It was essentially as good of defensive unit as you can hope to have at the NHL level. Perfectly balanced.

At the time, Mitchell and Scuderi were ELITE stay at home defenders. Greene was the perfect physical shutdown bottom pairing defenseman.

The teams' current 6 man unit isn't nearly as good as the 2012 unit.

Yes, the team is scoring more lately, but it's come at the cost of team defense.

I don't disagree with this overall, but the current defense isn't that far off, in my opinion. I personally think lately RR has been just as good as Scuderi was a couple years ago, and he's even pitching in points here and there. I feel both Doughty and Martinez are improved, Slava and Mitchell have regressed, but both have been picking it up. Greene vs. Muzzin, meh. I'm not a Muzzin fan by any means but overall he's not been bad lately, and has been using his size more and more.

One thing that both defenses (as well as the offense) have eerily in common with the 2012 team is they are both peaking at the perfect time.

And I'm not sure how accurate that last statement is. Since the break, the Kings have averaged 1.93 GA/G (slightly better than their season overall) and have averaged 3.06 GF/G (a huge improvement, obviously). There hasn't been a drop off in defense at all, it actually has gotten better.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I don't think people realize how great our starting 6 d-men were during the cup run. As unit, I think they were collectively one of the best this millennium.

You had:
3 young guys, 3 veterans
3 stay home defenders, 3 puck movers
3 Lefties, 3 righties

No injuries. Same 6 guys throughout the playoffs.

It was essentially as good of defensive unit as you can hope to have at the NHL level. Perfectly balanced.

At the time, Mitchell and Scuderi were ELITE stay at home defenders. Greene was the perfect physical shutdown bottom pairing defenseman.

The teams' current 6 man unit isn't nearly as good as the 2012 unit.

Yes, the team is scoring more lately, but it's come at the cost of team defense.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to argue against that. The 2012 defensive unit was as good as you could as for and were performing as a well-oiled machine. It may be the best unit top-to-bottom since the early 2000s (Pronger-Neidermeyer-Beauchemin obviously better top-end and played like 3/4 of every game, but you get my point). I'm just saying that and Quick's nearly .950 are an impossibly high standard to hold our team defense to.

The current roster defense has some shortcomings, no doubt, but we're 2nd in GAA and just starting to heat up. Reach for those high numbers, sure, but I'm just trying to not shortchange what we have right in front of us.

 

[johnjm22]

I don't disagree with this overall, but the current defense isn't that far off, in my opinion. I personally think lately RR has been just as good as Scuderi was a couple years ago, and he's even pitching in points here and there. I feel both Doughty and Martinez are improved, Slava and Mitchell have regressed, but both have been picking it up. Greene vs. Muzzin, meh. I'm not a Muzzin fan by any means but overall he's not been bad lately, and has been using his size more and more.

One thing that both defenses (as well as the offense) have eerily in common with the 2012 team is they are both peaking at the perfect time.

I do think the current team is a contender, but it's going to be a lot harder than 2012.

I'll just have to disagree with you about the defensive unit. I think the 2012 version was significantly better. It's not necessarily about individual players; that six man unit complemented each other perfectly and had great balance in a way that's rarely seen.

And I'm not sure how accurate that last statement is. Since the break, the Kings have averaged 1.93 GA/G (slightly better than their season overall) and have averaged 3.06 GF/G (a huge improvement, obviously). There hasn't been a drop off in defense at all, it actually has gotten better.

Indeed, but they're giving up higher quality chances against. I've noticed a distinct difference in their team play over the past 10 games or so. Opposing teams have had an easier time on the rush against us and getting to the net on the forecheck. So far it hasn't burned us, but I think it eventually will. IMO, the teams' current GAA is not sustainable if they keep playing the way they are.

Also, who's going to be able to match what Brown & Quick did in 2012?

The 2012 team went on one of the better SC runs in modern hockey history. There's no way this team current is as good.

 

[KingKopitar11*]

Mark Fayne, Stralman, and niskanen are pretty good.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Mark Fayne, Stralman, and niskanen are pretty good.

Niskanen is the only one who'd interest me, but I'm concerned that he may be too offensively oriented, and I also think he's going to get PAI by somebody.

 

[KingKopitar11*]

Niskanen is the only one who'd interest me, but I'm concerned that he may be too offensively oriented, and I also think he's going to get PAI by somebody.

Just wondering, is there something wrong with Fayne? He'd be an upgrade over Greene and Mitchell

 

[Little Psycho]

Gaborik: "Oh god, what is he saying?"

[

 

[Dykstra]

Gaborik: "Oh god, what is he saying?"

[

Looks more like "Yeah?"

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

Just wondering, is there something wrong with Fayne? He'd be an upgrade over Greene and Mitchell

I would take Niskanen over Fayne, but I wouldn't mind Fayne either.

I have a feeling Dean takes a run at Brooks Orpik though.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I would take Niskanen over Fayne, but I wouldn't mind Fayne either.

I have a feeling Dean takes a run at Brooks Orpik though.

I worry about this seeing as he seems overly enamored with him, but I trust our talent assessment so eh. I'm conflicted.

Nothing at all wrong with Fayne. I think Niskanen is the 'sexier' name if there is at all one there but Fayne is a good one too and maybe a little under the radar. He is also a RHD so maybe a greene replacement, but I'm not really invested in any of these guys.

 

[Reclamation Project]

The Pennsylvania connection will definitely be out in full force.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Just wondering, is there something wrong with Fayne? He'd be an upgrade over Greene and Mitchell

Fayne's more of a puck mover as I understand it. If we're bringing in an outsider I want to be confident in what we're paying for, defensively.