Comments from coach Darryl Sutter’s post-game presser, following the Kings 5-2 loss to the Dallas Stars…
– On having a strong first period and then things going sideways: “It didn’t seem like a strong first period. My opinion. That’s your opinion, this is mine.”
– On the struggles in the third: “We couldn’t handle the Benn line. Nobody to answer the checking responsibility.”
– Forwards and defense? “Goalie, defense, and forwards. We didn’t have anyone that could handle that line.”
– On if Dallas looked like a different team than last season: “Well, not really. We were pretty familiar with all their players. They have some kids in their lineup this year that are similar to our kids. They’re energy, hard-working guys, but Benn and Jagr were too much for us.”
– On what he saw on the Stars’ third goal: “Stoll in the corner on his man. Slava shouldn’t go there, and Rob Scuderi…Not really sure.”
– On the team struggling to put together 60 minute efforts: “Giving up four goals a game; you can’t win. We need better goaltending, better defense. Simple. Four goals in Vancouver plus empty net. Beat Nashville 5-1. Give up four, have to score five in the third to beat (the Blues) in our last game. Gave up four tonight. You won’t win ANY games.”
– On if tonight being the third game in four nights played a factor: “No, we had a day off yesterday. No excuse for it. I felt good. I’m almost 55, I felt awesome today.”
– On if there’s any advantage in playing the same team (Calgary) back-to-back over the next two games: “Don’t know. Don’t know how it would… I think we have to do that several times. It’s no different than a playoff series, or…We do it with Phoenix right away. We do it with San Jose home-and-home right away.”
– On being surprised that goaltending is an issue this far into the season: “Well I’m saying…We didn’t get good enough goaltending tonight.”
– On Quick needing to improve his same percentage: “We do. It’s a stat that tells the truth. It’s one stat that doesn’t lie. Lehtonen tonight, was .940 or (something)…That’s a stat that always holds true…Goals for, goals against, save percentage…It’s a big thing. They’re both team stats.”
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About John Hoven
Stats reflect the truth but not the whole story.