Just a few notes to close out the pre-season coverage as we march towards Friday’s season opener…
– LA finished their eight-game exhibition schedule with a 4-2-2 record.
– For the second time in three years, Anze Kopitar led the team in pre-season scoring, picking up five goals and four assists, nine points total, in six games played (more on that in another article soon)
– Justin Williams, coming off shoulder surgery at the end of the last season, looks to be in fine form. He had the second most points in the pre-season (two goals, four assists, six points)
– Slava Voynov and Kyle Clifford were the only two players to participate in the maximum number of games (seven). Due to the split-squad games with Phoenix on September 21, it would have been impossible for anyone to play in all eight games.
– Kopitar led all players with five goals. Five players tied for second place with two goals each – Williams, Voynov, Brad Richardson, Alec Martinez and Ethan Moreau
– Conspicuous by his absence among the team leaders in points was Jack Johnson. Last year he was tops on the team with seven points (two goals, five assists) and the pre-season before, he finished second only to Kopitar. This time around, he posted zero goals in five games played, with just three assists. Interestingly, he did that while consistently being among the team leaders in ice time.
– Although individual shot totals aren’t available from the Hamburg game yet, Kopitar looks to have led that category as well. Entering the final game, his 24 shots on goal were significantly more than second place Dustin Brown (17).
– Parse Watch Continues… after saying his problems were ‘between his ears’ earlier in camp (article link), Scott Parse somehow made it onto the final roster when the Kings sent Voynov down to Manchester earlier today
– Runner-up for best quote during training camp: Willie Mitchell admitting to forming a bro-mance with Mike Richards. (article link)
– Best quote: It was actually more than a one-line soundbite… Matt Greene taking on Ethan Moreau and Dustin Penner, saying they’ve been riding his coattails and under his wing for years. Classic. (article link)
That’s it. Time to turn the page.
Predictions for the 2011-12 NHL season will be posted in a few hours.
The Mayor
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