Practice notes
More from Don from practice today. Still more to be posted later...
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A full 90-minute practice today before the team departs for road games in Nashville on Thursday and Saturday in Minnesota. Coach Marc Crawford is leaning towards giving starts to both goalies, Dan Cloutier and Erik Ersberg, but would not initially tip his hand on who would get which game.
"We'll probably make that decision on the plane," Crawford quipped, then hinted that Ersberg might get to see the Wild again. "He played well in the last game against them, so maybe will let him see Minnesota again."
A glaring statistic from Monday's loss to Vancouver was the team's woeful performance in face offs. The Kings lost 29 of the 45 draws taken, with Canucks center Ryan Kesler - who victimized the Kings for both Vancouver goals - winning 13 of the 17 face offs he took for a 76% clip.
"It's an area where we've obviously got to get better. When you start with possession it's always better and when you play a team like Vancouver that is a great face off team it's important," Crawford said. "Michal Handzus is an experienced guy and one of the reasons he was brought in here was for his defensive zone prowess and his face off prowess and he's just got to be better."
Handzus lost seven of the 11 face offs he took on Monday.
Handzus' shortcomings include more than just losing face-offs.
Just an all around disapointment.
PERIOD.
This faceoff discussion is one of the reasons I would have welcomed a FA like Yanic Perreault, who, for all his shortcomings, wins over 60% of his faceoffs, and if you put him in a position to succeed, you gain exponentially. Look at former King first round draft choice David Steckel. The Kings gave up on him, and he joined his former Manchester coach Bruce Boudreau in the Caps organization, scored 30 goals for Hershey last year, and this year has become a vital part of the Caps resurgence under the new coach. Last week, he broke a finger, and without having the NUMBER 6 faceoff man in the entire NHL, and the man who logs MORE ice time than ANY OTHER NHL PLAYER on the penalty kill, the Caps lost two crucial games that have all but put an end to their playoff hopes. Winning faceoffs and puck possession can NOT be overlooked. The Kings are forever chasing. Definitely an area that MUST be addressed next season.
Does anyone else hate Handzus as much as me? He hasn't improved his play since the season started. the faceoffs are just another part of his game that sucks. He's not even an effective defensive center. He takes bad penalties in the offensive zone.
This is a guy I would like to see gone as much as Cloutier.
By the way...Way to go Lubo for costing us another game last night. Great job clearing the front of the net on the tying goal.
This guy should be investigated for possibly gambling on his own team...TO LOSE...its the only explanation for his lousy play. I'm not buying the injury theory. He just sucks night in and night out.
This team sucks at defending their own zone. Doesn't anyone know how to attack the puck. With even strength on the ice, everyone from the other team should be covered or so you would think therefore making it just a little more difficult to move the puck or get a good shot off. It works for the good teams. Also, if I was Dustin Brown, I would punch Cammy right in the face. Two times on two power plays, that little shitbird decides to try and jam the puck in on the short side with Brown standing wide open on the far post. After the second time you could see the frustration in Brownie's face after Luongo made an easy save. One would think that with all the shots that little shitbird takes, he would hit the net more. He's a self consumed ass.
Actually, nykingsfan, it was a poor clearing attempt by Harrold that had the puck end up in Lubo's feet. How did you expect Lubo to get to the puck he couldn't see under him before the player next to him would get to it? Try some reality for a change.
"It's an area where we've obviously got to get better..."
I've seen this quote (or some variation) from Crawford so many times this season, I believe, regarding the PK, team defense, goals against, and now faceoffs.
When will it be better?
How can the coaches help make it better?
It's been 71 games.
Once again, Crawford's quotes leave me unimpressed.