Jason Lewis: Kings Drop First Game of the Series in Worrying Fashion

Posted this in the Sharks blog, curious what you guys think...

I have to say... Kris Versteeg is a damn hockey player. What an incredible and hugely underrated offensive talent. He managed to have the most shots on goal amongst the Kings forwards in less than 12 minutes of ice time (only the big-red-dog and the try-hard-new-kid played less). Insane.

Please keep playing him less than 12 minutes a night Sutter! Please.

I was stunned when the game winning goal was scored. you never see Kopitar get beat like that.

Hope you guys are enjoying 2016 Rob Scuderi as much as the Blackhawks did

1. agree about the comment on versteeg...he was effective for the time he had, and needs more of it.

2. kings predictably having issues with the speed of the sharks. the defense pairings are a mess after sutter loaded up and rode 8/6.

3. you can't tell me that giving gravel and forbort more time this season couldn't have helped the current situation. scuderi and schenn were abysmal out there.

as for scuderi laying down in the crease on hertl's goal...there were four kings to three sharks on that play. ugly ugly ugly.

hats off to the sharks, they played a strong effective game, particularly after getting the lead early in the 3rd.

7 & 52 cannot be out there together. EVER. McBain comes in if AMart is out. Kopi needs to remember what playoff physicality is all about. Brown needs to drop to the 3rd line all game. We got this.

Man what a fun game to watch -

the Sharks PP is really, really good and scary - they move the puck and get good looks -

Joe P. is a monster - the guys is fearless and just makes so many plays...

A Martinez is a huge loss - I've always believed if your injured don't play .. hurt is something everyone is at this time of yr .. he looks injured ..

JQ made some sick saves - on the other hand Kings can't expect goals like the first 2 to go in on a regular basis - off the Sharks skate and off and roll up over Jones shoulder ... he seemed to get better as the game wore on..

Man DD is a minutes muncher he never comes off the ice -what a player

I expect a huge game 2 from both teams on Saturday -

As I predicted in another blog it's going to be a good series but the sharks are taking it. They can put up anything as good as the kings can throw at them. They're as big, they're faster and deeper with a core of players that crave playoff success. Thornton and Burns have there grizzly adams beards in full affect and we know the importance of the playoff beard in hockey mythology. And with three players coached by Babcock all year what do you expect!! Spaling, Polak and Reimer = Stanley cup glory!

Totally agree with the above comments, especially the one about Gravel and Forbort. I think Gravel is better than at least 2 of the D currently playing.

The Sharks are much better than they have been the last few years. They are deeper on D than when it was just Pickles and Girardi, and their secondary players have been maturing. Meanwhile the Kings D core has gotten substantially worse.

I'm as big a fan of analytics as anyone, BUT the Sharks are also strong by these measures and the Kings haven't been able to beat a good team in a while, nevermind look impressive against one (unless you count an Anaheim team missing about 5 players). The Kings are roughly .500 against playoff teams since 1/1, they no longer hold leads, and they don't seem able to dig deep to win important games as they have in the past. And their record in the last 2 months is even worse. Its great they pumped up their stats on the Flames, Oilers, and and Bruins of the world, but this team looks outclassed against elite competition.

And IF they get bounced in the first round, (after missing the playoffs last year) they should probably reconsider resigning Sutter. The team will need to integrate kids into more prominent roles next year and beyond, and he doesn't seem like the ideal coach to do that. Baby steps: he can probably start by getting the Shore boy back in the lineup.

Or maybe Im totally off base and they will win four of the next six.....

As I predicted in another blog it's going to be a good series but the sharks are taking it. They can put up anything as good as the kings can throw at them. They're as big, they're faster and deeper with a core of players that crave playoff success. Thornton and Burns have there grizzly adams beards in full affect and we know the importance of the playoff beard in hockey mythology. And with three players coached by Babcock all year what do you expect!! Spaling, Polak and Reimer = Stanley cup glory!
- Chardcore709

Man, way to lose all credibility.

Love half of the kings' roster, but gotta keep seeing those sharks win!

That Adreoff was really noticeable on the 4th line. He has more skill than I thought. Your 4th looked better than ours for sure.

In my opinion the Sharks were not good last night. One of their worst performances of the year. I think the Kings out played them. Either that was a lucky win by SJ and Kings are gonna smoke the rest of the way. Or Kings couldn't beat SJ on a bad day and that means as SJ starts playing better Kings wont stand a chance. I guess what I am saying is, I don't think it will be a 7 game series. One team is going to dominate moving forward.

That Adreoff was really noticeable on the 4th line. He has more skill than I thought. Your 4th looked better than ours for sure.

In my opinion the Sharks were not good last night. One of their worst performances of the year. I think the Kings out played them. Either that was a lucky win by SJ and Kings are gonna smoke the rest of the way. Or Kings couldn't beat SJ on a bad day and that means as SJ starts playing better Kings wont stand a chance. I guess what I am saying is, I don't think it will be a 7 game series. One team is going to dominate moving forward.
- SJFreez19

You guys go into LA, win the face off battle, win the puck possession battle, and win game 1 of a playoff series.....

....and you're gonna sit there can call it one of your worst performances of the year?

Is Vinny dressing?

That was not an acceptable performance from LA's $10M man. His stupid, unnecessary penalty in the 1st completely stopped the great start that LA had and allowed SJ to tie up and get in the game. Just before that, as well, he passed up a scoring chance that could've increased the lead to 2-0 by choosing, on what amounted to a 2-on-1, to not make a pass or take a shot (instead, he skated the puck behind the net, where he lost it). In the 3rd, of course, he blew coverage of Pavelski on the game-winning goal. None of these things are typical for him, but the bar of expectation is raised when you sign a contract like he did and with that comes increased scrutiny for off nights, especially in the playoffs. His team can't afford for him to play like that again. He needs to be better. He most likely will be, but partly because he'll want to make up for what I'm sure that he, too, recognizes was a poor game from him.

BTW, who would've guessed that Lucic would go unpenalized all game and that it'd be Mr. Lady Byng, himself, Kopitar, who would take a retaliation penalty?

That was not an acceptable performance from LA's $10M man. His stupid, unnecessary penalty in the 1st completely stopped the great start that LA had and allowed SJ to tie up and get in the game. Just before that, as well, he passed up a scoring chance that could've increased the lead to 2-0 by choosing, on what amounted to a 2-on-1, to not make a pass or take a shot (instead, he skated the puck behind the net, where he lost it). In the 3rd, of course, he blew coverage of Pavelski on the game-winning goal. None of these things are typical for him, but the bar of expectation is raised when you sign a contract like he did and with that comes increased scrutiny for off nights, especially in the playoffs. His team can't afford for him to play like that again. He needs to be better. He most likely will be, but partly because he'll want to make up for what I'm sure that he, too, recognizes was a poor game from him.

BTW, who would've guessed that Lucic would go unpenalized all game and that it'd be Mr. Lady Byng, himself, Kopitar, who would take a retaliation penalty?
- Osprey

I was halfway through a thoughtful post that was going to refute a lot of the points you make here, but then I realized that the only time you ever post here is in an attempt to stir the pot. I have never seen a complimentary or positive post from you regarding the Kings. I have come to the conclusion that the only reason that you post here is to troll the Kings or Jason (albeit more concisely than most), and therefore I'm done feeding the troll.

I put more stock in game 2 than game 1, but man, the Kings defense looked bad. I'd be shocked if it get any worse.

Luke Schenn looked SO bad. I now he wasn't the only one, but he one was the one at least in my eyes that looked the most out of place.

Holy crap! Keep beating the hell out of each other boys. That was an amazing game. Did two of the Kings' three goals really come from behind the goal line? Ouch! I'd keep playing from down there.

That Adreoff was really noticeable on the 4th line. He has more skill than I thought. Your 4th looked better than ours for sure.

In my opinion the Sharks were not good last night. One of their worst performances of the year. I think the Kings out played them. Either that was a lucky win by SJ and Kings are gonna smoke the rest of the way. Or Kings couldn't beat SJ on a bad day and that means as SJ starts playing better Kings wont stand a chance. I guess what I am saying is, I don't think it will be a 7 game series. One team is going to dominate moving forward.
- SJFreez19

I was a harsh Andreoff critic at the start of the season but the kid has come a long long way. He has been very good the last two months

I was halfway through a thoughtful post that was going to refute a lot of the points you make here, but then I realized that the only time you ever post here is in an attempt to stir the pot. I have never seen a complimentary or positive post from you regarding the Kings. I have come to the conclusion that the only reason that you post here is to troll the Kings or Jason (albeit more concisely than most), and therefore I'm done feeding the troll.
- tkecanuck341

I really wish that you would've finished your thoughtful post. I would've appreciated reading it. We both lose out on a good debate because you chose to draw a conclusion about me. I won't hold it against you, though. You're hardly the first fan to do so. Perhaps you'll be willing to debate with me another time.

I was a harsh Andreoff critic at the start of the season but the kid has come a long long way. He has been very good the last two months
- Jason_Lewis

I was, too. I'm a little more reserved, since I'm afraid that it may not last, but he's been good for the last few weeks and was really hustling last night. (Now you can't say that I haven't made one complimentary or positive post regarding the Kings, tkecanuck341 )

I put more stock in game 2 than game 1, but man, the Kings defense looked bad. I'd be shocked if it get any worse.
- Gretz2Kurri

This is a great point. Let's see how they react. Patience is required...sort of like after the first 3 games of the season when a lot of people (me included) wanted to bury the team.

I really wish that you would've finished your thoughtful post. I would've appreciated reading it. We both lose out on a good debate because you chose to draw a conclusion about me. I won't hold it against you, though. You're hardly the first fan to do so. Perhaps you'll be willing to debate with me another time.



I was, too. I'm a little more reserved, since I'm afraid that it may not last, but he's been good for the last few weeks and was really hustling last night. (Now you can't say that I haven't made one complimentary or positive post regarding the Kings, tkecanuck341 )
- Osprey

Depends. Let's see if you edit this post.

I expect the Kings to have a better outing tomorrow night. The defense needs to step it up, not sure how, but that's a must. This is the defense of 2yrs ago and everyone knows this. PK needs to be lights out as well, but this goes along with better having better D. If that gets taken care of Kings take game 2.

Luke Schenn looked SO bad. I now he wasn't the only one, but he one was the one at least in my eyes that looked the most out of place.
- Deadmau55

Seems like some things never change, sadly...