Good news, bad news

Testing 1-2

Is this thing on?

Normally I'd jump all over the Kings for their "typical poor play" that led to the defecits.

But in the case of these 2 games, I thought they outplayed both the Ducks and the Stars for the first 2 periods of each game, and the puck just wasn't going in.

I'm much more encouraged that the team didn't get down on itself and stop playing then I am discouraged that they fell behind in both games.

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I think that in both of the last two games we dominated the opposition early, but nothing would go in. And then Labarbera, in both games gave up bad goals and then the tables kinda turned as the momentum switched, and we fell behind badly! As we all know, in both games we were able to make great comebacks, one being VERY exceptional!

Labarbera MUST go!!!

I think that we should have Aubin as our #1 and call up Ersberg as his backup. And if those two can't get the job done, then we need to work a deal for a solid goalie who can do the job for about 2 maybe 3 years until Bernier is ready.

Without this move, we will be in a up hill battle all year long! And if we are somehow able to make the playoffs, we will be WAY TOO tired to be successful.

This team would be down right dangerous without Labarbera and Blake!!!

While I don't yet think any of us are convinced that LaBarbara is a #1 goalie, I know that none of us think Aubin is.

If we dumped yet ANOTHER goalie, who would we get for the next 2 or 3 years?

We already got Cloutier. He can't even win in the AHL right now.

Kiprusoff is off the market.

Maybe with the change at the top of the Stars, Turco may be available, but he's 32 years old, has a worse GAA and a worse SV % then LaBarbara.

None of the other names that are out there are any good.

LaBarbara is 21st in the league in GAA and 18th in SV %. We've CERTAINLY seen worse in L.A. in recent years.

And as for Blake, it's true that he hasn't been great, but he's also been hurt. His play has improved almost every game since Nov. 1st.

Now if we can just get him to hit the net with his slap shots, rather then other Kings.... ;)

Ersberg has done nothing to prove he can play in the AHL with any level of consistency, much less the NHL... you want Brust/Fukufuji all over again?

I agree with the above post. The kings dominated the Ducks in the 3rd and should have won. The difference was goaltending.

Any goalie can play well in short spurts. Labarbara has shown that he can do well over 10 games but he has never shown consistancy.

Until the Kings get a goaltender they will have a tough time

Dumping Labarbera is certainly not the answer. I think he is our best option and apart from the third Ducks goal where he lost his stick he was solid.
As stated on here, the list of available proven goalies is short and nobody in Manchester or elsewhere looks NHL ready.
Stick with Labs and lets see how far he can run with the opportunity in front of him.

The Kings knew what they were getting for the year in goal when they sent Bernier down. We're stuck with what we have and Labarberra is playing a hell of a lot better than Cloutier EVER did last season.

He's not a great goalie but there are only 5-8 of those in the league at all. He's giving the Kings a chance to win this season and that's about all we can hope for.

Contrary to the poster above a bit, he's not giving up that many bad goals.

i cannot agree with the people who say that the kings were dominating--or even outplaying--the stars or the ducks early on. i think that they were competitive early in both of those games, but i would still give the edge to the stars and ducks. more importantly, the kings continue to give up WAY too many chances off the rush, and their defensive zone coverage remains spotty. goaltending is not the problem. the problems are (a) containing opposing teams' speed in the neutral zone, (b) playing a tighter-checking game in their own zone. other teams simply get too much speed in the neutral zone, and too much space in the defensive zone. until those issues are substantially addressed, the kings will continue to give up too many goals.

The bottom line is points, right guys?

In the last 30 days, the Kings have earned 15 out of a possible 22 points.

The Kings are certainly playing better then they did after they returned from London.

I'm not sure what you guys who are advocating more changes expected from this team? I know I didn't think the Kings were playoff material this year, and I doubt many others did either.

It could be worse. We could be Toronto, giving up goals in bunches, or Nashville wondering what city our team will be in next year.

The future is bright in L.A. Let's not destroy it by tinkering.

dfousor, that's where Blake comes in. If not trading him, which we can't do because he has a no trade clause, he should be sitting and resting until he is 100%.

Paul, Aubin might not be the answer but he has most definitely out played Labarbera so far this season, even with his limited ice time. If nothing else, the Kings should have them rotating each game. Do this and at least we will have a better shot at the playoffs.

I must be watching a different Aubin?

LaBarbera: 2.64 GAA, .910 SV.%

Aubin: 3.21 GAA. .900 SV.%

That's before tonight's game. Hopefully Aubin can pitch a shutout and get his #s closer to Labs. :)