By Paul Armbruster • KingsNewsDaily.com •
In one of the more intense practices I have personally ever witnessed, Darryl Sutter had the Kings skating, battling and scrambling for about 45 minutes this morning after a 5-2 loss to Dallas last night.
Sutter had the guys working hard in 3 on 2 drills in what I would describe as an opportunity for the defense to get in some quality work down low trying to prevent 3 forwards from scoring, not unlike the conditions at certain times during last night’s game.
After a breather and a well-deserved water break, Sutter had the boys battle in 5 on 5 mini-scrimmages, which saw lines and pairs take turns on offense and defense, rotating after every clear. Later, in a drill I’ve never seen, Stevens had the forwards and defensemen skate hard in a non-puck drill as you’ll see in the video below.
On a side note, Kings Legend Kelly Hrudey was at practice ahead of tomorrow night’s game where he will be honored. He was kind enough to take pictures with myself and Player-X over at HoldThePoint.com (see photos below). Rob Blake was also there taking part in the Kings Fantasy Camp, which was taking place on a separate sheet of ice.
KND Practice Report Part 1 – Intense 3 on 2 drills
KND Practice Report Part 2 – Breather between drills
KND Practice Report Part 3 – Mini-scrimages 5 on 5, Doughty gets dinged!
KND Practice Report Part 4 – Intense Skate Drill
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- Hrudey and Paul
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- Rob Blake and Hrudey talking with ?
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- 3 on 2 entry
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- 3 on 2
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- 3 on 2
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- 3 on 2
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- 3 on 2
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- 5 on 5
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- 5 on 5
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- 5 on 5
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- 5 on 5
Great coverage Paul! Thanks so much for posting. GKG!!!!
You’re welcome!
I think that’s one of the training staff guys, I’ve seen his face before. Not sure, oh well. Why is Blake wearing Penguins socks? LOL!
Look at you hobknobbin with the greats! Pretty soon I’ll have to stand in line just to say hello to you.
Great coverage Paul. The Kings got beat too many times backdoor against the Stars for sure. Probably overfocused on being aggressive in the corners and not being attentive to the others around them which led to lapses of coverage on the weak side. Good example is at 0:57 seconds of your first video. First D- attacks the puck on the 1/2 boards, Looks like Muzzin is the 2nd guy, he overcompensates to that side and then has to come back to cover the guy below the blue line (Which he should let Quick take and Muzz should cover the pass). Because Muzz is too far out of position and goes after the guy below the blue line, Backdoor is wide open and Quick is forced to make the save. At least that’s what I saw. Glad they worked hard on this. The young guys need it. Controlling all that energy will do them good.
Glad to see them get worked after a loss, that’s how it was for us growing up.
Looking forwards to tonight’s game! I am hoping we make Kipper look like a block of Swiss! But that may just make DS angry….
Ok..Really jealous of your Pic with Kelly..you Lucky S.O.B.
GO KINGS GO !!!
WWTC!!!