WCSF Gm 5 ... too little too late

[ADifferentTim]

Why can't we keep Carter with the two younger players, they are doing pretty well. We can't keep putting terrible players with Carter and expecting him to produce. He is good but he isn't Wayne Gretzky, he needs speed and skill around him and TT and TP provide that.

I don't think Clifford will be back anytime soon and DS isn't scratching Richards for Vey.

1. Gaborik - Kopitar - Brown
2. Pearson - Carter - Toffoli
3. Lewis - Stoll - Williams
4. King - Richards - (Insert black ace)

Muzzin - Doughty
Martinez - (Insert black ace)
Schultz - Voynov

I want nothing to do with Greene, Clifford or Nolan going forward.

I have to admit That 70s Line has been effective, but the Ducks are listing them like a flowchart.

1. Stays the same.
2 and 3. As an insurance move against becoming predictable "to the point of being listed like a flowchart" in front of the Ducks, I counter-propose:

Pearson -- Toffoli -- Vey
a. Chemistry, stemming from Manchester.
b. Tyler and Linden can play bait and switch; they can play C/RW fine.
c. A speedy "kid line", if you will.

King -- Carter -- Lewis
d. Grit on both wings, via King and Lewis.
e. Bait and switch between Carter and Lewis.
f. King can complement Carter and Lewis' speeds with his size.

4. This also goes for nki.

Richards -- Stoll -- Williams
g. Richards is a natural leftie, so I agree he could play LW; however, given his concurrent struggle, I see him playing bottom at the moment.

5. I dare propose a 5th line.

Andreoff -- Nolan -- Clifford
h. Andreoff is lefty and could play LW as his wing assignment.
i. Nolan is also a lefty and knows some center experience; both he and Andreoff can do some baits and switches.
j. Since Clifford is a natural righty, he might gain a new boon as an RW.

As for Greene, it's like his history of concussions is catching up to him; bench him for precautionary reasons.

 

[damacles1156]

Drafts don't effect you that season for good or bad unless you are getting a Doughty type guy.

You start to feel the pain a few years later when you miss on guys. The Kings have players like Schultz and Greene playing on D this season and have some issues going forward because we missed big with first round d-man in 2007 and 2008 and while 2010 is still up in the air the development isn't what was expected. Even if the Kings hit on one of those guys (ex. Alzner in 07 or John Carlson in 08) our defensive concerns are quite a bit less.

Even Voynov who looked like a homerun pick has played like a third pairing defender at best this season.

It's amazing for so long the Kings had offensive issues, but if they can re-sign Gaborik and use most of MR's buyout on another top line winger (or even center if Carter stays at RW) and the continued development of TT and TP the Kings offense should be pretty damn good next season.

I think Slava's problems are just mental, the Guy's talent is there. He is just not using it properly.

Really hope the off-season is just what Slava needs. You don't want to continue having Schultz carry you on the ice

 

[Reclamation Project]

You know what,

Lewis is going to make me eat my words next year. Watch him pot like 15 goals.

I'll wear a "I Love Trevor Lewis shirt" For like a week straight or something.

Hard to believe he was on pace for his best year - by far - last season. I don't like badmouthing him because I love his energy, but sooner or later we need goals. And it's WAY late.

 

[damacles1156]

I have to admit That 70s Line has been effective, but the Ducks are listing them like a flowchart.

1. Stays the same.
2 and 3. As an insurance move against becoming predictable "to the point of being listed like a flowchart" in front of the Ducks, I counter-propose:

Pearson -- Toffoli -- Vey
a. Chemistry, stemming from Manchester.
b. Tyler and Linden can play bait and switch; they can play C/RW fine.
c. A speedy "kid line", if you will.

King -- Carter -- Lewis
d. Grit on both wings, via King and Lewis.
e. Bait and switch between Carter and Lewis.
f. King can complement Carter and Lewis' speeds with his size.

4. This also goes for nki.

Richards -- Stoll -- Williams
g. Richards is a natural leftie, so I agree he could play LW; however, given his concurrent struggle, I see him playing bottom at the moment.

5. I dare propose a 5th line.

Andreoff -- Nolan -- Clifford
h. Andreoff is lefty and could play LW as his wing assignment.
i. Nolan is also a lefty and knows some center experience; both he and Andreoff can do some baits and switches.
j. Since Clifford is a natural righty, he might gain a new boon as an RW.

As for Greene, it's like his history of concussions is catching up to him; bench him for precautionary reasons.

Kudos man,

You put thought into the those lines, outside the box as well.

Kudos.

 

[Herby]

I think Lewis would thrive in a bottom six filled with a couple of more guys with some offensive skill. The problem is the Kings bottom six right now is a disaster offensively and the little things Lewis does are often overlooked because the guys down there who are supposed to score aren't.

I mean look at the bottom six, it's made up of guys who used to play larger roles on this team. Stoll was our 2C from 08 to 11, Richards was the 2C on our Cup winning team, King has played plenty of games as a top 6 lw, Williams was the first line rw on our cup winning team (although 2nd best rw).

Lewis is doing his job, it would be nice if some of the other guys did anything.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I think we need to throw names into one of those bingo ball tumbler things and make lines by randomly picking names - three at a time. We could have -

Muzzin - Lewis - Gaborik or...

Kopitar - Jones - Nolan or my personal favorite...

Quick - Doughty - Greene

Quick brings some needed sandpaper.

 

[damacles1156]

I think we need to throw names into one of those bingo ball tumbler things and make lines by randomly picking names - three at a time. We could have -

Muzzin - Lewis - Gaborik or...

Kopitar - Jones - Nolan or my personal favorite...

Clifford - Doughty - Greene

Awesome...Completely AWESOME.

Could you imagine Quick or Jones playing Forward or Defender. I want to see that.

Like a Terry Murray Line O Matic.

 

[Herby]

I think we need to throw names into one of those bingo ball tumbler things and make lines by randomly picking names - three at a time. We could have -

Muzzin - Lewis - Gaborik or...

Kopitar - Jones - Nolan or my personal favorite...

Clifford - Doughty - Greene

As long as it doesn't match bleach and ammonia again I'm for it.

 

[Reclamation Project]

 

[Reclamation Project]

Oh look, Silicone Valley is on. Even worse than I remember.

 

[Trolfoli]

Gaborik/Kopitar/Brown
Pearson/Carter/Toffoli
Lewis/Stoll/Williams
King/Richards/Nolan

Thought this team was supposed to be built to grind it out in the corners and physically punish their opponents. The personnel the Kings have at this point don't really match that type of game. 4th line would be fine in that roll. Really the other 3 aren't going to punish anyone along the boards. May be time to adjust the game plan to the players or get the correct players for the game plan.

 

[KingKopitar11*]

King, Lewis don't hit hard. It doesn't make sense why they're on this team.

 

[DocWest]

I hope we can at least make it to Game 7.

 

[triplcrown]

There's still life in these cells...It's not dead yet!

 

[KingsFan7824]

The Kings aren't getting that goal from the unexpected source yet. I think that's why they seem to be running out of a little steam. King has just 1 empty net goal in the playoffs. Brown has 2 empty net goals, and that's it. Richards has just 1 goal. Williams and Toffoli don't have any goals in this series. The Kings needed Voynov to outproduce his regular season, and he hasn't. Muzzin's goals came in the first two games of the SJ series. Kopitar isn't getting to the net against the Ducks. Doughty only has a single assist.

The Ducks are getting a combined 5 goals in this series from Selanne and Smith-Pelly. That's 5 goals in 5 games from two guys that had a total of 11 goals combined during the regular season.

The Ducks have scored 12 non-EN goals in the series, and the Kings have scored 10. The goal per game that the Ducks are getting from those two guys, and the lack of goals the Kings are getting from anyone but Gaborik, there's the issue. Gaborik has 5 goals in 5 games, Martinez has 2, and then Richards, Carter, and Lewis have 1 each. It's just not enough so far.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

The Kings aren't getting that goal from the unexpected source yet. I think that's why they seem to be running out of a little steam. King has just 1 empty net goal in the playoffs. Brown has 2 empty net goals, and that's it. Richards has just 1 goal. Williams and Toffoli don't have any goals in this series. The Kings needed Voynov to outproduce his regular season, and he hasn't. Muzzin's goals came in the first two games of the SJ series. Kopitar isn't getting to the net against the Ducks. Doughty only has a single assist.

The Ducks are getting a combined 5 goals in this series from Selanne and Smith-Pelly. That's 5 goals in 5 games from two guys that had a total of 11 goals combined during the regular season.

The Ducks have scored 12 non-EN goals in the series, and the Kings have scored 10. The goal per game that the Ducks are getting from those two guys, and the lack of goals the Kings are getting from anyone but Gaborik, there's the issue. Gaborik has 5 goals in 5 games, Martinez has 2, and then Richards, Carter, and Lewis have 1 each. It's just not enough so far.

King would be an unexpected source because he sucks

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

The Kings aren't getting that goal from the unexpected source yet. I think that's why they seem to be running out of a little steam. King has just 1 empty net goal in the playoffs. Brown has 2 empty net goals, and that's it. Richards has just 1 goal. Williams and Toffoli don't have any goals in this series. The Kings needed Voynov to outproduce his regular season, and he hasn't. Muzzin's goals came in the first two games of the SJ series. Kopitar isn't getting to the net against the Ducks. Doughty only has a single assist.

The Ducks are getting a combined 5 goals in this series from Selanne and Smith-Pelly. That's 5 goals in 5 games from two guys that had a total of 11 goals combined during the regular season.

The Ducks have scored 12 non-EN goals in the series, and the Kings have scored 10. The goal per game that the Ducks are getting from those two guys, and the lack of goals the Kings are getting from anyone but Gaborik, there's the issue. Gaborik has 5 goals in 5 games, Martinez has 2, and then Richards, Carter, and Lewis have 1 each. It's just not enough so far.

You hit the nail on the head. We're lacking enough secondary scoring. Kopi, Gabby, and Martinez can't do everything themselves if the Kings want to win.

 

[GKJ]

This is annoying because the Kings have been the better team the last 2 games and lost both.


Not a third time. They'll come back and win big in Game 6.

 

[KingsHockey24]

I thought Clifford has been fine this series.

 

[Hockeypete49]

Flyers fan here and I come in peace. You guys know I am a big Jeff Carter fan and like Mike Richards to. Even though I loved the trades for both teams I have to ask what has been going on with Mike Richards all year? Thanks and Good Luck.

 

[YP44]

Flyers fan here and I come in peace. You guys know I am a big Jeff Carter fan and like Mike Richards to. Even though I loved the trades for both teams I have to ask what has been going on with Mike Richards all year? Thanks and Good Luck.

Holy hell is that the number one question out there.
I was fine with him being on the fourth line, but last night he was set up to fail with wingers in King and Nolan.
I like him as our PP QB with Doughty being the trigger guy, but Richards is instead glued to the bench.
Such a frustrating night last night

 

[KingsFan7824]

King would be an unexpected source because he sucks

And he was that unexpected source of offense against Phoenix in 2012. 4 goals in 5 games against the Coyotes. He picked up the slack when Brown went cold in the conference final. That may end up being King's 15 minutes of fame, but, it would be nice if he started going to the net again. Gaborik has 5 goals in this series, and Kopitar has 0. The Kings need someone, anyone, to pick up that slack if Kopitar can't get it done.

You hit the nail on the head. We're lacking enough secondary scoring. Kopi, Gabby, and Martinez can't do everything themselves if the Kings want to win.

It just all has to come together at the right time.

In 2012, everyone was scoring. Brown, Kopitar, Carter, Richards, Williams, and Penner were all better, and most of the much better, than half a point per game. Again, King and Lewis threw in unexpected points as the playoffs went along. Last year, different story. It was basically Carter and Richards up front, and Williams added a few points. Kopitar was too much of a none factor offensively, while guys like Penner and Brown also didn't add much. This year, it's Kopitar and Gaborik, with Carter thrown in there a bit. Williams had a big end to the series against SJ, but outside of that, not much so far. Brown doesn't have a goal with the goalie in the net, and Richards just isn't there. Those two especially had to do better than their regular seasons if the Kings are to go far, and that has not happened through 12 games in the playoffs.

As long as there is another game to play though, everyone has a chance to turn things around.

 

[YP44]

Gaborik/Kopitar/Brown
Pearson/Carter/Toffoli
Lewis/Stoll/Williams
King/Richards/Nolan

Thought this team was supposed to be built to grind it out in the corners and physically punish their opponents. The personnel the Kings have at this point don't really match that type of game. 4th line would be fine in that roll. Really the other 3 aren't going to punish anyone along the boards. May be time to adjust the game plan to the players or get the correct players for the game plan.

For some reason when our wingers get the puck on the side boards as soon as they are pressured they pass it back. This is leading to a lot of turnovers or the puck leaving the zone and having to re set up. What happened to dumping it deep and then punishing the other team along the boards.
Nolan and king looked terrible last night

 

[Scottkmlps]

Our D needs to be reworked completely for next season. The only two players I would keep are Doughty and Muzzin.

Muzzin was absolutely terrible tonight. Sure he lost an edge on the first goal, but to get up and just coast towards Bonino was down right disgusting and inexcusable.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Our D needs to be reworked completely for next season. The only two players I would keep are Doughty and Muzzin.

Completely reworked? This summer? Have you seen what's out there?

It's going to be Doughty, Muzzin, Martinez, Voynov, Regehr, probably McNabb from the sounds of it, and then 1 more guy.