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Kings/Canucks Report: Shanghai Edition
September 21, 2017, 4:36 PM ET [14 Comments]
Sheng Peng
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So yes, there was a NHL game played in Shanghai after all.

There was no fog, some fans, and a lot of fouls, as Vancouver was given 12 power plays in a 5-2 Los Angeles victory.

"It just kind of kills the game a little bit," a visibly frustrated Jonathan Quick observed about the wealth of whistles. "There’s no flow, no rhythm to the game."

I went into this contest wanting to concentrate on some of the Kings who were on the roster bubble, such as Jonny Brodzinski, Adrian Kempe, Oscar Fantenberg, and Christian Folin. But it was difficult to do with so little 5v5 play.

Regardless, here are some thoughts:

In some respects, Folin is fairly mobile skater for his 6'3" frame. When defending, his ranginess is respectable. But when carrying the puck, his turns appear slow and studied. This makes him an easier forechecking target and a less-than-ideal fit for high-leverage defensive situations. Between he, Fantenberg, Kurtis MacDermid, and Kevin Gravel, there's an interesting if unexciting battle for #7 defenseman.

The lack of hesitation on Doughty's part (and other LA defenders) to join the rush throughout the night was striking. Such aggressiveness will certainly yield more chances for the goal-starved Kings, while leaving them open to reprisal:



In terms of methodology, the power play appears to be from another planet compared to last season. There were more pucks being moved in the slot on a Kings' man advantage than I've seen in years. There was also frequent switching and movement -- Anze Kopitar flowed freely from his customary half-wall perch to behind the net (facing front) to screening the net. It's hard to say if old habits will die hard during the regular season, but it's been an intriguing look so far. These types of set plays were not the norm previously:



Speaking of the power play, the second unit continued to generate little. I believe it's just a matter of time before Nic Dowd replaces Kempe up the middle. Dowd's ability to control space and attack the slot with passes seems like a better fit for what assistant coach Pierre Turgeon has in mind.

I don't mean to be hard on Kempe, who had a solid bounceback game after a pre-season debut which saw him take four minors in two periods. The Swedish speedster was an active, mostly disciplined forechecker, who also blasted home the league's first-ever goal in China.

***

As we mosey along to Beijing, here are some sights and sounds from three unforgettable days in Shanghai. I'll have more on the Kings in China on LAKings.com and NBC Asian America soon.

9/19/17


























9/20/17















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9/21/17




















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