Pre-Game Talk: PDSF: (2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Los Angeles Kings (Schedule in OP)

[deeshamrock]

Yuck. I want...

12-11-14
70-77-73
71-28-23
74-10-22

TWo relatively inexperienced rookies (on very green and one not very confident right now) on the same line in a top 6 role with larger minutes in the playoffs on the road is not something any smart coach will do. JC is far more effective at RW where his only job is to snipe and shoot, not be a distributor/ babysitter for 2 rookies. That line has been a weak one in their 200 foot game, too many turnovers in the O zone , too many odd man rushes and way too much time scrambling in their own end. McLelland would be all over that, putting the Thorton line on that line and exposing them.

Sutter is old school, he'll do what he's done historically and what works, relying on the veterans who have been thru the wars and know that pressure.
And burying MR on the 4th line where he can't be productive, which is something he's always excelled at in the playoffs, right back to Juniors, is putting him where he can't help the team.

MR in the playoffs from 2010 thru June 2013 has 57 points in 69 games, .83 clip , 2nd in the NHL only to Krejci (60 points) and only King in the top 20 (link below)
He's CONSISTANT, money in the bank in the playoffs when you put him in a position to produce, with the right wingers. MR has 28 pts in 35 Kings playoff games and Sutter has coached them all. he knows what he's doing.


http://www.hockey-reference.com/pla...val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=points

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Actually I'm a student at Georgia Tech, and we're two weeks away from finals week.

I won't be in bed before 3 anyway for about the first two rounds...


As a Canes fan, I'm more accustomed to ineptitude, and painful sarcasm to make up for that ineptitude. Is something based on Patrick O'Sullivan or JMFJ off-limits and poor form?

If so I can do something with Williams hoisting the Cup with both the Canes and the Kings. That'd be fun.

This could actually be perfect if you look at our avatar thread for the theme

Or, for the Williams touch, <-------

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

This could actually be perfect if you look at our avatar thread for the theme

Or, for the Williams touch, <-------

LOL, apparently y'all beat me to it.

I might just take that if I don't put together something different. I'll put a request in to the avatar thread if I think of something good.

EDIT: Completely missed the obvious "Elite snipers Anthony Stewart and Kevin Westgarth" theme. Possibilities...

 

[goosh]

Richards does but it doesn't go real well either if you haven't noticed. That's a bigger mismatch that carter vs. thornton.

Richards has held his own against Jumbo Joe in the past, and while he's had a down year, I think he'll turn it on and become a solid piece for us.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Richards hasn't exactly been a great matchup against Thornton on the road. Far from it.

And I'm hoping Richards wakes up in the playoffs. I've defended him ad naseum this season and I'm also one of his biggest fan, but if he's a no show I do think it's time at the very least to start considering his future in LA. This team isn't making it out of the first round if our second line center and captain keep playing like they have so far this season.

 

[deeshamrock]

Richards hasn't exactly been a great matchup against Thornton on the road. Far from it.

And I'm hoping Richards wakes up in the playoffs. I've defended him ad naseum this season and I'm also one of his biggest fan, but if he's a no show I do think it's time at the very least to start considering his future in LA. This team isn't making it out of the first round if our second line center and captain keep playing like they have so far this season.

He's not going to be a 'no show' in the playoffs, never has, and even if you weren't familiar with all the points (see chart above) he put up as Flyer, you've seen the 28 in 35 as a King.
Wouldn't it be fairer to use historical data and stats and give him the benefit of the doubt?
And with Pavelski centering the 3rd line (from Sharks practice today) Sutter will need ever player, not just MR and DB to play and play well.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He's not going to be a 'no show' in the playoffs, never has, and even if you weren't familiar with all the points (see chart above) he put up as Flyer, you've seen the 28 in 35 as a King.
Wouldn't it be fairer to use historical data and stats and give him the benefit of the doubt?

Of course. We're hoping he returns to the historical norm and puts up a beast playoffs. We need it and I think he's capable of it.

It's still a horrible matchup vs. Thornton. When I have a few minutes to post the underlying numbers I will, but even via the eye test, ugh. Thornton/Burns against Richards.

 

[YP44]

He's not going to be a 'no show' in the playoffs, never has, and even if you weren't familiar with all the points (see chart above) he put up as Flyer, you've seen the 28 in 35 as a King.
Wouldn't it be fairer to use historical data and stats and give him the benefit of the doubt?
And with Pavelski centering the 3rd line (from Sharks practice today) Sutter will need ever player, not just MR and DB to play and play well.

man getting Heartl back has allowed them to really up their 3rd line depth.
Our d still scares me.

 

[Reclamation Project]

He's not going to be a 'no show' in the playoffs, never has, and even if you weren't familiar with all the points (see chart above) he put up as Flyer, you've seen the 28 in 35 as a King.
Wouldn't it be fairer to use historical data and stats and give him the benefit of the doubt?
And with Pavelski centering the 3rd line (from Sharks practice today) Sutter will need ever player, not just MR and DB to play and play well.

I'm aware of that. He's my favorite player and has been for years. No one probably wants him to show up bigger more than me. I'm hoping he has a huge reserve that he uses in the playoffs this year.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Just want this damn series to start already. Tired of talking about it.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

Just want this damn series to start already. Tired of talking about it.

Was just going to post the same thing. This series is going to be great, can't wait for it to start!

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Sharks forward lines from their practice today:

Hertl-Thornton-Burns
Marleau-Couture-Nieto
Wingels-Pavelski-Havlat
Torres-Desjardins-Brown

 

[KingKopitar11*]

Yuck. I'm not happy about Richards on the second line. I think we all remember how Sutter tried to bail out the Richards line off the ice when Thornton got on. Richards just can't handle the match up.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Thornton had 1 goal and 3 helpers in 7 games against the Kings in last years playoffs. In 3 of the games at Staples Center, Thornton was held scoreless. I'm more concerned with Couture.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Brown needs to play the mental game with Couture.

 

[YP44]

Sharks forward lines from their practice today:

Hertl-Thornton-Burns
Marleau-Couture-Nieto
Wingels-Pavelski-Havlat
Torres-Desjardins-Brown

This scares me.

 

[Herby]

It's still a horrible matchup vs. Thornton. When I have a few minutes to post the underlying numbers I will, but even via the eye test, ugh. Thornton/Burns against Richards.

The numbers are posted in the series thread on the Sharks board, to the surprise of no one who has watched MR play defensive hockey the past two years, it was complete and utter domination whenever MR's line matched up with Joe's. I can't believe someone actually posted that MR has had past success against Joe Thornton, I mean, when?

Sutter did a poor job of keeping Richards away from Thornton last year, but was able to help cover up some of MR's hideous defensive play this regular season by starting him in the defensive zone less than any other Kings center (although he still lead all forwards in GA/60, which is a testament to just how bad MR is defensively)

Richards and Carter are going to be a liability defensively no matter what line Sutter tries to match them up against, but I would rather it be the Couture line. Couture is a good player, no doubt, but he isn't the physical mismatch that Thornton-MR was. Kopitar needs to be out there for a good chunk of defensive zone draws and everytime Thornton is out there at Staples when the Kings have the last change.

But either way, with the Sharks moving Pavelski to center and the Kings putting Richards at 2C the Kings are grossly outmatched down the middle in this series, we are going to need Quick to come up big and score a lot on the PP with Kopi-Carter-Gaborik.

I understand Sutter doesn't want to be to young up front. But that's no excuse to give a guy who has been as awful as MR has been for months now a top 2 center spot. I still would have gone with

12-11-14
23-77-73

 

[onlyalad]

Richards will be the Penner replacement: bad season, awesome playoffs

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Sharks forward lines from their practice today:

Hertl-Thornton-Burns
Marleau-Couture-Nieto
Wingels-Pavelski-Havlat
Torres-Desjardins-Brown

Those lines are sick.

Hertl's return and the emergence of Nieto has allowed them to do sort of what we did with Pearson/Toffoli but on a grander scale.

 

[YP44]

Those lines are sick.

Hertl's return and the emergence of Nieto has allowed them to do sort of what we did with Pearson/Toffoli but on a grander scale.

Yup and if Havlat can have any form of his old game we could be in big trouble.

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

From Kings insider:

practice lines: 12-11-14, 74-10-77, 73-28-23, 70-13-22-71; 6-8, 44-26, 33-27, 2

Misdirection? Or Richards really going back with Carter? Those third and fourth lines are...not great imo too.

Bleh. Richards doesn't deserve to get a top 6 spot back with his play recently, and Pearson is a waste on the 4th line.

 

[Reclamation Project]

The only thing we can hope for is that every player, regardless of ice time and line spot, contributes and plays responsible hockey. The Kings basically floated that final game and the Sharks certainly didn't impress me when they were obviously trying to send a message.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Thornton had 1 goal and 3 helpers in 7 games against the Kings in last years playoffs. In 3 of the games at Staples Center, Thornton was held scoreless. I'm more concerned with Couture.

Rat face always score against The Kings.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Rat face always score against The Kings.

We can only hope he's too busy diving and looking to the refs to save him from himself to score.

Deploy Brown.

 

[Steve Zissou]

That's one thing I like about our team. They don't usually ever lose their cool. And if they do. They respond quickly and get immediately get back on track.