Back to Quick?

Not a surprise considering how Ersberg played last night and the fact that this gives Quick another shot at Detroit after he lost in his first game of the year.

All I want to know is, can we scratch Terry Murray as coach? Just for 25 or 30 games? I wish the Kings had hired a young coach that could grow with the team.

I almost miss Crawford. Almost.

Quick. Yes, for the Detroit reason, too. In other goaltending news, Zatkoff has -- surprisingly, if you ask me, been returned to Ontario -- and Dan Taylor has been recalled from Redding (to Manchester).

After 2 terrible games, I don't like the idea of going up against Detroit. God help us
Look what a bad team did to us yesterday.

Great.
Shifting around our goalies when Labs should be backing up in Manchester.
Just great.

ETR...why should Labs be backing up in Manchester? These young goaltenders need to play, not sit behind Labs, who really had no future with this organization.

The purpose of your affiliates is not to win (although it would be nice), it's to prepare your prospects for success at the next level, hopefully with your own club.

Has there been any reports about Ersberg's health coming back from that injury? I just don't see the same goalie as I did prior to the injury.. or is that just a reflection on how bad our D is playing these days?

mrbrett.
Zatkoff in Ontario, Taylor in Redding, Bernier in Manchester with Labs BACKING HIM UP.
That's all 3 young goalies playing all the time.
I said it then, Labs could still have helped us if only by playing backup in Manchester while the other guys get their minutes.
Instead were moving guys all over the country from team to team - all for a 7th round pick.

Reading is horrible, it's probably not the best idea to put a goalie there right now.

It really doesn't matter even if we had Patrick Roy in net. We can barely score more than one goal these days. Being at last nights game was extremely frustrating as the crowd tried to get into it but the team showed no effort. No intensity, no forecheck, very few offensive chances, just another dull effort. If you look at the last 6 games since we beat phoenix on the road the kings have been dreadful and have played the most boring brand of hockey I have ever watched. Games against Columbus, at Anaheim, devils, and tampa were awful performances and the two games we won we were fortunate. These are huge games to try to stay in the playoff race and they play this bad? Starting to wonder if Murray is losing the team.

You know what I just thought of. The Kings haven't been playing the same since the seats were being sold for $11.50. Maybe they prefer playing for the people who pay full price or STH price for the seats. I know thats not it, but they seriously are not the same team mentality than they were back at the San Jose game in December. I want to see that team, that mentality, back on the ice. I miss being able to cheer for the Kings. I'm not one to boo but they have had people leaving after the second period the last two games and I was tempted last night.

[Currently] a 'good' game should not equal an automatic start for the next... Further, a 'bad' game (or 'less than good' game) should not equal an auto start for the other. (This seems opposite from what TM & co. are doing)

-Quick's game against the Ducks was 'good': Ersberg deserved an opportunity to answer.
-Quick's play against the Lightning was 'stellar': Quick deserves the start against the Wings.

-If Quick plays 'stellar' against the Wings: He will be one step closer at being the #1 guy.
-If Quick plays 'good': Give Ersberg a chance to answer.
-If Quick plays 'less than good' (and Ersberg does not sub-in with 'stellar' play): Give Quick a chance to answer his own performance.

Meaning, Quick currently deserves a clear chance to run with the #1 spot, given he just came off of a 'stellar' performance.

CanadianKing: my guess is BOTH. no doubt Eric's still shaking off the rust, and something weird definitely happened on that 3rd goal (looked like he never picked it up) but the last 2 games the Kings looked like total garbage, worse than game 1 vs. Anaheim. I literally thought I was watching my own hockey team last night, that hadn't played a game in 4 weeks.

so I'm having a tough time deciding whether the offense or defense has been worse the last two games, but I'm giving the Stinking Rose award to the offense for these 2 games (just not by much)

Well. 13 home games, 27 road games left...

We'll go 5-5-3 at home, 8-16-3 or 9-15-3 on the road...

That's 13 or 14 more wins... 20-21 more losses...

That's 30-31 wins for the year... 39-40 losses for the year...

What was last year's record? Our record will be nearly identical to last year's record. Yet we will give up significantly fewer goals, fewer shots, have a better save percentage…

Why will there be no substantial improvement in wins? Our goals scored will significantly decrease. We are going to lose about twenty games by one goal, get shut out 10-12 times, and most nights generally bore everybody to death. This is the Year of Pain, during which the fan base wants to shoot themselves, or the coach, the GM, the star players, the role players, etc. This is when we start to find out which ones of our Wunderkind star young players are any good, who will be willing to give maximum effort when it counts, with the game on the line, and who is just a flashy dog with fleas. So, our season will seem like that light bulb we keep trying to screw in just right, only the socket has a short and the light keeps blinking on and off, random success and random dysfunction, no matter what goalie is out there or what lines the coach tries.

This is the year the team gets a little better, so we as long-suffering fans delude ourselves that something good is happening THIS year, not in 2010-11 when all the kids have grown up, the deadwood traded or cut, and the roster polishing has taken place. Right now, we have no real goal-scorers, no real team size or speed, and no team identity. By 2010-11, we will have all three. Don’t be surprised if only one or two of Brown/ Kopitar/ Frolov/ O’Sullivan are left. We can’t fall in love with any player if we really want to be good in the long haul. It’s all about line balance, team chemistry and the will to win. Right now, we don’t have any of that.

And this will take place whether or not Dean Lombardi is still here, because he will have done all the heavy lifting, drafting and trading for the right players, or picking them up off the waiver wire, setting things up for success. It’s not about 40+ years futility, Dean’s 5 year contract, or Terry Murray’s line juggling. TM will definitely be gone, by the time we are a steady winner. It’s all about the Kings as a team learning how to win a hockey game. And, until that happens, we will just continue living in our House of Pain.

And, THAT sucks!

As far as this edition of the Kings goes, Kopitar, Ersberg and Brown are the key. When Kopitar can score points, he’s happy; when he can’t he suffers. Kopitar is our designated star, the marquee guy. Right now he’s beside himself. The last two games he’s had at least one good chance, an empty net on one, and couldn’t even get off a shot. The puck rolls or hops over his stick. For the first time all year, Ersberg has won himself a job; now, he’s pressing and can’t stop a beach ball. Brown is chosen as our captain, and seems like the Junior Lieutenant in the Caine Mutiny—the guy who was everybody’s friend couldn’t kick ass and get the whiny Ship Doctor to step up when he needed to. Watching the Kings play last night was sad, truly sad. They seem totally lost. Nobody seems to be able to do anything, not even the things they were doing a month ago.

It’s all growing pains. This team has some talent… but, far from enough talent. Even to make the playoffs. It was telling when Bobby Holik has his 2nd intermission interview at the Ducks-Devils game Sunday. If I were on the Kings I'd be steamed. Holik dismisses the Kings offhandedly—like a JV team—as he was calling out his own team for slacking off against the Ducks. The fact is that there is some truth in his comments, and that makes them hurt even more. It DOESN'T take a great effort to beat the Kings, for an experienced club like the Devils. It should. The Kings should have been embarrassed—they weren’t.

It's time to earn back some respect, and I hope the Kings eventually get the message. Perhaps someday this Baby-Steps team can grow up with a little edge of nastiness to its play. Otherwise, they just remain another patsy of a team to play.

And, THAT sucks!

why do you guys keep saying have Labs as a back up in Manchester? give me a break... quick has played SO few games. pretty soon you guys will be harping on him too... lucky for labs that he's gone to a WAY better team. with WAY better defense. this team is falling apart fast.. good for Labs for getting out, its definitely going to be better for his career. if i was him, i'd way rather be a back up to Luongo on a SOLID team.

Erik will come back... he just needs to get back into game speed. He's unreal. its not always the goalies fault, but in the end, they''re the ones who look bad and its unfortunate.

there's not anyone in particular that you can blame with the team. Something about this organization that brings the guys down. notice when guys go to other teams after here, they do much better? hmmmm weird.

No offense (no pun intended) but any time you watch a Kings game and the other scores 2 goals resulting in a sinking feeling of "can we actually score 2 goals in this game" is not a good scene. even last night, giving up 3 goals shouldn't be the end of the world, and yet it requires a Herculean effort...

One mistake and the coach benches you..that is not the best way to coach...

Hey, one positive of last night was that, broken down by periods, we won one.
I think the team, if the playoffs are out, needs to approach every period as a game within itself. It helps keep everyone in the game if the score of the GAME is ignored in favor of playing every minute as though it matters.
I don't think there's always a place for this mentality, but when a team is struggling in hockey maybe its the best approach to take.
I mean, last night Quick came in and played really well. No goals in 2 periods.
Our defenders didn't cost us any goals, though they did make some errors.
OVer periods 2 and 3, we actually won the game. I think our last 2 losses are hallmarks of a young team and if anyone is panicking its Murray.
F the playoffs and just try to get better incrementally, just like in Quisp's algorithm.
Set the lines in the most balanced way you can, and let the guys go for 5 or 7 games.
Let them be upset with themselves for the mistakes.
Create lines where the skills complement each other...
Let them be uspet with themselves if they make mistakes.
Let them be uspet with themselves if they make mistakes.

But, make Matt Greene write

"I will not skate the puck out of the zone by myself and ruin the game for my teamates who are working their asses off"

1,000 times.

To those that say have Laboratory Rat backing up in Manchester must REALLY hate Manchester...

Ivanans better be not playing he is useless,and there is no room for him on this roster,he prooved it last game. Get Westgrath up, sit or waive Drago.

Why were people chanting for Quick? I understand Ersberg didnt have a good game, but this isn't Cloutier or Chokemanek. Ersberg has been arguably the most consistent player, and you guys turn on him when a rookie comes in and plays 6 good games? I like Quick. He's great. He's a god send even. But don't bash players for no reason. Show some respect. There's zero patience in the fans. None. Zilch. These guys haven't been here 40 years. Don't blame past misery on them.

I would really like to see Westgarth get a chance. The way hockey is played today you need a tough guy who can also bring a little game. I`ve seen enough of Drago chasing people but never catch them. Reminds me of the old Gregg Johnson days.

Reb-I completely hear you with regards to the team intensity then(Dec)as opposed to now. They played so damn good in that SJ game. I hate to say this, but maybe they feel they don't have a chance now and are giving in. I'm sure that's not all of it, but it could be part of the reason.

Wait I don't get how people think Labarbera could have been the backup in Manchester? He would have gone through waivers and I am sure Vancouver (or the Islanders) would have picked him up? Am I missing something here?