Kings need to play with some swagger / skill / creativity. Not just dump and chase and hand pucks over to them. Can't simply grind out wins anymore in this league.
Yep,It's one shift at a time now for the next four games.
I can think of only two specific instances where the Kings generated quality scoring chances from the middle of the ice. Kopitar in the first OT period, which he shot wide. And Toffoli in Game 3, late in the 2nd period, which he shot directly into Fleury.
And that's it. This team is not making it difficult for Golden Knight defensemen. They need to get more shots from within the dots, and Kings defensemen need to be a considerably better job of getting shots through and generating shots that can be deflected or create rebounds. How often have we seen this team generate second or third scoring chances caused from loose pucks in front of the net? Barely any.
If we see the same strategy employed by the team from the previous three games, then we can expect to see them shaking hands when the final buzzer sounds.
The fact that they have averaged 1 goal per game thus far tells me something has to change in their attack. The intensity was there for about 40 or so minutes, but as the game wore down, as did the Kings.
The seem to just be content with letting shots go in a straight line rather than changing it up and forcing Fleury to have to go post-to-post to make tough saves. I'm sure if you looked at a shot pattern chart, not much of the Kings' shots have come from the tough areas of the ice.
At least the drive to Anaheim isn't too far for you.I'm pretty much resigned to tonight being the last pro hockey game until October in which I have a positive local rooting interest. There'll be hatewatching tomorrow night, and my sister's Capitals left (until they also meekly bow out in four games in a couple of days), and mild curiousity about the AHL playoffs, but the end of this season has been pretty brutal for me, with my local minor-league team crashing out of playoff position by losing six of their last seven and being eliminated by the ROW tiebreaker.
At least I have the Padres to look forward to this summer... (shhh, don't tell me).
I'm pretty much resigned to tonight being the last pro hockey game until October in which I have a positive local rooting interest. There'll be hatewatching tomorrow night, and my sister's Capitals left (until they also meekly bow out in four games in a couple of days), and mild curiousity about the AHL playoffs, but the end of this season has been pretty brutal for me, with my local minor-league team crashing out of playoff position by losing six of their last seven and being eliminated by the ROW tiebreaker.
At least I have the Padres to look forward to this summer... (shhh, don't tell me).
They're playing an extremely conservative system right now. They have 3 men back most of the time. When they go on the attack there's rarely an F3.I can think of only two specific instances where the Kings generated quality scoring chances from the middle of the ice. Kopitar in the first OT period, which he shot wide. And Toffoli in Game 3, late in the 2nd period, which he shot directly into Fleury.
And that's it. This team is not making it difficult for Golden Knight defensemen. They need to get more shots from within the dots, and Kings defensemen need to be a considerably better job of getting shots through and generating shots that can be deflected or create rebounds. How often have we seen this team generate second or third scoring chances caused from loose pucks in front of the net? Barely any.
If we see the same strategy employed by the team from the previous three games, then we can expect to see them shaking hands when the final buzzer sounds.