Today’s Kings practice was optional and Justin Williams was the only player from the ‘top line’ to take the ice. After the roughly 45 minute session of drills run by the team’s assistant coaches, here’s what #14 had to say…
– On playing San Jose again on Saturday night: “They were what we thought they were. They’re a hard-nosed team who has a good power play and they rely on it. We let them get the better of us in the special teams battle. I thought we carried the play for most of the game. But, either way, our goals against needs to come down significantly if we’re going to have any success.”
– On if San Jose’s size gave them trouble: “No. Obviously they’re a bigger team than when we played Calgary I suppose, but hey, not everyone’s the same. Obviously size is an advantage for them, especially size with speed, which a lot of their guys have. I’d say it’s more about determination and the will to win. You can beat a big guy if you’re really set on it, and he’s not prepared to do the same. We need to get our heads on straight and start making some headway in the Western Conference.”
– On the mood on the plane last night: “Well, everyone’s angry after a loss. I mean it doesn’t change, no matter if you’re 10-2 in your last 12, or if you’re 2-10. It’s an awful feeling that professionals have at this level, losing a game. You don’t want to have it too often. We haven’t had it lately, but two in a row is enough.”
– On his stronger play of late (10 points in 10 games, compared to only seven points in the first 16 games): “I feel my legs are getting there well enough. But I’m still certainly working on some things. My assists are there, but my goals aren’t there, so just working on a few things. Getting a lot of shots and opportunities, but I’ve just got to find the back of the net.”
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About John Hoven
First, keep your head up. Last game was crap this team should never lose to the sharks its crap. I understand muzzin standing up for Fraser but Dmen shouldn’t fight leaves you short handed for minutes, also pretty dumb to start a fight when nolan and clifford are already on the ice. Let them take care of it rookie.
From a fan perspective its easy to see what parts of the kings system are exploited by other teams. teams now know we start our offense deep in the zone with forwards loading up behind our own blue line. In fact they almost never do anything else amd are tentative to give up control of the puck so they hold on instead of forcing it out and letting your team work. Leads to turnovers breakdowns.
When we played the blues for the last 10minutes of the second they played a passive 1-4 in the neutral zone breaking up any offense starting at our blue line. Now I heard jim fox say ok you need to get closer and make it an easier pass, but what you need to do is skate the puck over the line. We closed out that period not adjusting and if the blues didn’t sit back so much in the 3rd we might now have won. If you’re not going to adjust for that long I have to assume they aren’t ready for it. Every team closely hounds our blue line.
Also teams know were top heavy for scoring. Wouldn’t call the stoll line too much of a threatyet. Which means its that much easier to shut us down offenseively.
There’s more but ill let the organization figure that stuff out.
P.s. hello penner?? lets go are you going to be part of that line or not? Without you mikes too small for this conference, I.e. he pushes the play up more often than down in zone. Without you jeffs the only one scoring, mike can score too which is very lost on that line. 3 man look pens!
-from el segundo with love.