If the game goes to a shootout, take Jarret Stoll.
He’s pretty much Mr. Automatic at this point.
“I don’t know about that,” he said after practice on Monday. “It’s good to score some and try to help get two points. We just have to find a way to win those (shootouts) when we’re in them and maybe not get to that point anyway. But, yeah, they’re going in for me. I’m just trying not to change too much. Maybe it looks like I only have one option down there, but I have a couple options in my head.”
MM: You never like to second guess the coach’s decision, yet you had the game-winning-goal in the shootout vs. San Jose prior to the All Star break – so, were you surprised when the next game went to a shootout (vs. Minnesota) and your name wasn’t called?
JS: “No. That’s his decision. We have a lot of good shooters on this team that are very, very capable of putting the puck in the net. So, I’m not going to be disappointed if I don’t go. If you’re hot and you keep scoring, they usually put you out there. I’m sure that’s going to be the case now.”
Well that’s an understatement.
Switching over to coach Terry Murray…
MM: Before the shootout with the Rangers there was some 3-on-3 hockey in overtime. Any thoughts on that format?
TM: “Well, it’s exciting – 3-on-3 is obviously a lot of open ice. You get your best skilled players out there and you let them go play some hockey. It’s not something that you practice. Obviously, it happens a couple times, maybe every 30 games or so. So, you’re just relying on the players’ instincts to go out and take over and make something happen. It’s exciting.”
MM: Over the summer the NHL tested a variety of new rules. Is that format something you would favor over a shootout to end the game?
TM: “I would favor ANYTHING, anything you want to put in over a shootout. Now you’re leaving it in the player’s hands, the competitive aspect of the game. You’re playing hockey and if you ended up going from 4-on-4 to 3-on-3, I don’t know about 2-on-2, but if you played a little extra time on that look, you’re probably going to see a result.”
Murray and the Kings saw it for a full two minutes at Madison Square Garden…without a goal.
So, a shootout was needed. And if you missed it, yes – Stoll scored again.
The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor
RELATED ARTICLES:
Interview with Players at NHL Research & Development Camp
