Kings biggest threat in the West?

[Ziggy Stardust]

Once their blueline is healthy with Greene back and Regehr adjusts here, and if Quick gets his game back, the Kings have to be considered one of the top two favorites.

 

[takk]

I'm curious to see what Jaybo will bring to the table for St. Louis considering his lack of postseason experience. If he and Gaborik adjusts well to their new teams (and with Bob maintaining his play), I can see Blues and Jackets get above of Detroit.

It seems we're likely gonna draw Minnesota or Vancouver in first round, I don't think either team makes much difference, only thing for Kings I hope they won't face a hot goalie right away in the first round.
Falling to 7th and facing Anaheim won't be a problem for me, it will be great for the rivalry and I don't see we'll get to play them if not the first round, I don't think they'll beat Blues or Sharks.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

Health and Jonathan Quick. With Regehr in the fold, all we need is Greener to get healthy and for Quick to work through whatever it is he is going through. At that point, I like our chances against anyone in the west, with Chicago being the only team that would worry me in the slightest because Toews seems to completely shut down Kopi

 

[LAKings88]

Not sold yet.

I don't doubt LA can beat any team but there are alot of tough teams this year.

It will come down to goaltending.

I want nothing to do with Vancouver or Chicago.

 

[damacles1156]

No one, The Kings have to beat good teams no matter what.

There is no good match up, Kings should fear no one.

People on this board thought the Kings were done in Five against the Nucks last year(before games were played).

No idea why everyone is so worried this year.

I didn't even think the Kings would make the playoff's last year.

 

[goosh]

Here's what I hope our defensemen pairings look like in the playoffs:

Regehr - Doughty

Scuderi - Voynov

Muzzin - Greene

AMart/Ellerby (extras)

 

[KingsKnight]

I'll have to see them play, but Min and Stl might give us more trouble now. But who knows, maybe Regehr will help fill the hole left by WM and we'll get Greene back.

 

[KingsCorona]

I don't see why we should be worried about Vancouver, I don't see them as being any better against us than they were last season. Would love to see Regehr smear the Sedins along the boards like a skidmark.

I know Anaheim has a great record but I'm not really afraid of them, either.

Chicago I'm nervous about. They're a difficult matchup for us I think. They have a TON of all-star skill players and owned us twice this year. OTOH, in our win against them the forecheck was working great and I thought that the game wasn't as close as the score showed.

All in all, although I'd like to face Chicago least, I think we have a good shot at winning any series we get ourselves into.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I'll have to see them play, but Min and Stl might give us more trouble now. But who knows, maybe Regehr will help fill the hole left by WM and we'll get Greene back.

Possibly Minnesota because of the unknown. However, I see us throwing St. Louis around. Like last year.

 

[losingsand]

If it comes down to goaltending, correct me if i'm wrong but don't we have a goaltender that is 8-0-0 in 9 starts with a GAA under 2?

I get that we're trying to get quick on track, but how many more bad goals/losses do we have to go thru before it's too late? I'm not as patient as you guys... right now i play the player that gives us a better chance to win and that's bernier.

I get that quick's "earned" it but in all honesty i'm not buying it. I love that he's brought us a cup and its awesome that he was nails and saved our buttz all season long. But right now he's not the same guy as before (major surgery, big contract). Especially playing a team like minnesota that is fully ready to get in quick's head again.

This kings team is forechecking like crazy and playing similar to the kind of solid all around game that we saw in the playoffs with one minor flaw in the goaltending.

Right now after watching 1902380129 hours of hockey analysts talk about the NHL. None of them consider LA a top 5 favorite to win the cup. Some of them listing montreal ahead of LA. I fully think we can make another deep run, even in some of the losses the team is playing solidly, only issue i have is Quick. It's gut check time.

 

[damacles1156]

If it comes down to goaltending, correct me if i'm wrong but don't we have a goaltender that is 8-0-0 in 9 starts with a GAA under 2?

I get that we're trying to get quick on track, but how many more bad goals/losses do we have to go thru before it's too late? I'm not as patient as you guys... right now i play the player that gives us a better chance to win and that's bernier.

I get that quick's "earned" it but in all honesty i'm not buying it. I love that he's brought us a cup and its awesome that he was nails and saved our buttz all season long. But right now he's not the same guy as before (major surgery, big contract). Especially playing a team like minnesota that is fully ready to get in quick's head again.

This kings team is forechecking like crazy and playing similar to the kind of solid all around game that we saw in the playoffs with one minor flaw in the goaltending.

Right now after watching 1902380129 hours of hockey analysts talk about the NHL. None of them consider LA a top 5 favorite to win the cup. Some of them listing montreal ahead of LA. I fully think we can make another deep run, even in some of the losses the team is playing solidly, only issue i have is Quick. It's gut check time.

Deson't matter what we think, matters what Lombardi and Sutter think.

So Far Quick has the majority of starts and a 10 year contract that owe's him a ton of money.

We can cry bitc$% and Moan all we want, but Quick is the Kings Number one.

So far.

Wouldn't surprise me one bit to see Quick in net against the Wild.

Also wouldn't surprise me if we don't see Johnny B till the 23/24 the last back to back.

 

[etherialone]

Your stickers scare me.

 

[FrozenKing18]

Right now the question is our D and Jonathan Quick. I'd like to see how we do with Regehr. I believe we can beat any team IF Quick is back to form. I forgot who said it but last year in the playoffs someone said, "You can't beat Jonathan Quick 4 times in a row."

 

[Reclamation Project]

Jeremy Roenick said it in numerous interviews

 

[Omni Owl]

Not as dangerous as last year but I'm still expecting to do damage...

 

[johnjm22]

We're getting mediocre goaltending right now.

Unless that changes, it's unlikely we contend for another cup.

 

[Rorschach]

Right now with the addition of Regher and the Sharks and Nuck transactions, I now fear NO ONE.

 

[Rorschach]

I don't see why we should be worried about Vancouver, I don't see them as being any better against us than they were last season. Would love to see Regehr smear the Sedins along the boards like a skidmark.

I know Anaheim has a great record but I'm not really afraid of them, either.

Chicago I'm nervous about. They're a difficult matchup for us I think. They have a TON of all-star skill players and owned us twice this year. OTOH, in our win against them the forecheck was working great and I thought that the game wasn't as close as the score showed.

All in all, although I'd like to face Chicago least, I think we have a good shot at winning any series we get ourselves into.

No fear Vancouver since Kesler is out and now replaced with Roy. And we replaced a hole with Regher.

 

[Puck U]

We're getting mediocre goaltending right now.
Unless that changes, it's unlikely we contend for another cup.

I'll grant you Quick isn't playing his best, but we REALLY need to hold the defense and forwards somewhat accountable here as well ...

While we are limiting the Shots against ... The Kings aren't playing quite the same smothering defense they did last year, and are very sloppy at times with the puck.

We rank DEAD LAST WORST 30th in Blocked shots this year. We were 5th BEST during the Play-Offs !

We're 29th in Takeaways (stripping the puck) this year. We were 4th BEST during the Play-Offs !
We're 7th WORST in Giveaways (turn-overs) this year, means we're playing sloppy too often.

Our Penalty Kill has dropped to 11th this year, we were 4th BEST last year, and 2nd BEST in the Play-Offs.

You can't rest ALL of that on the shoulders of QUICK. The loss of Mitchell and Greene has meant a rough learning curve for our younger D men, and increased pressure and wear and tear on guys like Doughty and Scuderi, and those stats above reflect all of that.

 

[SettlementRichie10]

Jonathan Quick.

This cannot be overstated. If Quick regains Conn Smythe form, there's not a team in the league we can't beat in a seven game series.

 

[theMajor]

Kings biggest threat in the West?

J Quick

my biggest fear is that he doesnt get back into his groove. i dont think JB is ready for a playoff run

 

[TheSlovenian]

IMHO if Quick finds his groove back then the Kings are a threat, otherwise probably not.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

I'll grant you Quick isn't playing his best, but we REALLY need to hold the defense and forwards somewhat accountable here as well ...

While we are limiting the Shots against ... The Kings aren't playing quite the same smothering defense they did last year, and are very sloppy at times with the puck.

We rank DEAD LAST WORST 30th in Blocked shots this year. We were 5th BEST during the Play-Offs !

We're 29th in Takeaways (stripping the puck) this year. We were 4th BEST during the Play-Offs !
We're 7th WORST in Giveaways (turn-overs) this year, means we're playing sloppy too often.

Our Penalty Kill has dropped to 11th this year, we were 4th BEST last year, and 2nd BEST in the Play-Offs.

You can't rest ALL of that on the shoulders of QUICK. The loss of Mitchell and Greene has meant a rough learning curve for our younger D men, and increased pressure and wear and tear on guys like Doughty and Scuderi, and those stats above reflect all of that.

Interesting stats.

Blocked shots....is that really a positive stat ? I think not. People think blocked shots are some kind of art but it is not. I'm not saying it is a bad thing but the Kings are 3rd best in shots against, that's much more important.

Giveaways does not necessarily mean sloppy play. Players like Datsyuk and Kopitar are always ranked high in that category. You cant say they are sloppy. It says you are willing to make risky plays. Sometimes that pays off and sometimes it is not.

Penalty got worse but not life threatening, we know why it got worse.

29th in take-aways. If you're always in puck possession, like the Kings, you dont have to take it away...

 

[Sydor25]

I'll grant you Quick isn't playing his best, but we REALLY need to hold the defense and forwards somewhat accountable here as well ...

While we are limiting the Shots against ... The Kings aren't playing quite the same smothering defense they did last year, and are very sloppy at times with the puck.

We rank DEAD LAST WORST 30th in Blocked shots this year. We were 5th BEST during the Play-Offs !

We're 29th in Takeaways (stripping the puck) this year. We were 4th BEST during the Play-Offs !
We're 7th WORST in Giveaways (turn-overs) this year, means we're playing sloppy too often.

Our Penalty Kill has dropped to 11th this year, we were 4th BEST last year, and 2nd BEST in the Play-Offs.

You can't rest ALL of that on the shoulders of QUICK. The loss of Mitchell and Greene has meant a rough learning curve for our younger D men, and increased pressure and wear and tear on guys like Doughty and Scuderi, and those stats above reflect all of that.

THIS SEASON:

Quick 12-11-3; GAA 2.54; SV% 0.896
Bernier 8-2-0; GAA 1.95; SV% 0.919

I'm pretty sure that both goalies are playing in front of the same "weak" team that you are trying to describe. If Quick was around a SV% of 0.920, then no one would be complaining, but he is not. Something is definitely off about Quick this season and it isn't the "poor" defense that you are trying to intimate. At a 0.920%, Quick would have given up 15 fewer goals, that could easily translates into 4-5 more wins for the Kings. Then we would be talking about winning the division instead of talking about making the playoffs.

Takeaways and giveaways have a lot more to do with possession than anything special that teams are doing. If you have the puck more, you are going to have fewer takeaways and more giveaways.

Penalty killing is where the Kings miss Mitchell and Greene the most.

We all know that Sutter isn't going to change his strategy with the goalies and Quick will get the majority of the regular season starts and all of the playoff starts, but the Kings aren't going anywhere with this season's Quick. Repeating as cup champs is nearly impossible and I'm okay with that.

 

[johnjm22]

I'll grant you Quick isn't playing his best, but we REALLY need to hold the defense and forwards somewhat accountable here as well ...

While we are limiting the Shots against ... The Kings aren't playing quite the same smothering defense they did last year, and are very sloppy at times with the puck.

We rank DEAD LAST WORST 30th in Blocked shots this year. We were 5th BEST during the Play-Offs !

We're 29th in Takeaways (stripping the puck) this year. We were 4th BEST during the Play-Offs !
We're 7th WORST in Giveaways (turn-overs) this year, means we're playing sloppy too often.

Our Penalty Kill has dropped to 11th this year, we were 4th BEST last year, and 2nd BEST in the Play-Offs.

You can't rest ALL of that on the shoulders of QUICK. The loss of Mitchell and Greene has meant a rough learning curve for our younger D men, and increased pressure and wear and tear on guys like Doughty and Scuderi, and those stats above reflect all of that.

Good post, I agree.

The Kings haven't been playing as well in their own zone this year. This has a lot to do with Greene and Mitchell being out of the lineup, plus Scuderi slowing down a little.

Goaltending stats are often reflective of team play. I think Pheonix has demonstrated that.