Early In The Season Coach Darryl Sutter Said These Kings Were Not The Same Team That Won The Cup In June. Little Did We Know How True That Statement Would Become.
Photo: Mark Mauno
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By Gann Matsuda • FrozenRoyalty.net •
After a 3-0 shutout defeat at the hands of the Nashville Predators on February 7 in Nashville, the Los Angeles Kings have dropped to 3-4-2 to start the abbreviated 2013 campaign.
Indeed, after raising their black, white and silver 2012 Stanley Cup banner on January 19, the Kings are now raising red flags due to their inconsistent play in the offensive zone, and lots of blatant defensive blunders in the neutral zone and especially in their own zone—they look nothing like the team that dominated the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
So what gives?
What stands out the most is the fact that veteran defensemen Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell are out of the lineup. The two eat up significant minutes on the blue line, they are key penalty-killers, and are often on the ice in key defensive situations.
POSTGAME READING
- ESPN: Pekka Rinne stops 32 shots, helps Predators blank Kings
- THE SPORTS NETWORK: Rinne and Preds blank Kings
- ASSOCIATED PRESS: Rinne stops 32 shots as Predators blank Kings
- LATIMES: L.A. starts slow and can’t get past goalie Prekka Rinne
- LAEXAMINER: Kings fall short in Nashville
- INSIDER: Darryl Sutter Quotes
- INSIDER: Justin Williams Quotes
- INSIDER: Dustin Brown Quotes
- INSIDER: Postgame Notes
- PREDATORS: Nashville looks sharp in shutout of defending champs
- PREDATORS: Postgame Quotes
one thing i can name this new team…Pathetic
I wouldn’t name them pathetic or sth like that, defending Champs missing two key players and with the best one still getting into form – more likely… Season is still young and we can turn this around pretty soon, starting with next game. GKG!
yea true,i went way otu of line by calling them that..Sorrya bout that..
Their effort on defense is just horrible,letting Quick hung out there to die..Quick has to save big saves every time..That game should of been 6 to nothing if it wasnt for Quick..Still they only shot 14 but those 14 shots was harder than our team 32 shots.
So right there blows up the theory shot at goalie its about how the shots are taking..
ha np KFFTW…agreed on this. Quick is not the problem, it’s (collapsing) defending I’d say. But at the same time it’s hard to be as effective again without two key defenders in the line-up as last season/PO’s. I guess they need to step it up not just defensively, but or especially offensively as well. A lot of shots at goal are fine, but we do need more quality scoring chances out of them.
this team needs a reboot…
it’s not too early to do a reset and clear the slate…i’m not big on coach-initiated meetings…however, i like when players call their own meeting where everyone is welcomed to talk openly, without fear or favor…i realize that you have to choose wisely if yr the captain…or one of the leaders…as to when to have one…
now is as good of a time as any, especially with the arrival of a new player, to talk it over and get back on the same page…
Per NHL Network:
Tyler Myers will be a healthy scratch in tonight’s game (buffalo)
Involved in a trade?
Just sayin’