Jason Lewis: Kings finally getting on the right track

really hope the goaltending stabilizes a bit more. have zero appetite to trade for another goalie due to 1) assets required to make a deal and/or 2) likely it would suggest that 32 is done for the year.

I liked the Kings speed and how they pushed the play
When they had the lead. Hopefully the goalies will settle in and make the saves they're supposed to.
Let's build on this boys! GKG!!

Well, my 0 and 20 prediction is shattered, but this team is far from out of the woods. Just like losing 3 games is "just 3 games" , winning 1 is just one game. I'm not penciling them in for the cup or even the play offs for that matter just yet.

Apparently, losing three straight (by a combined score of 6-11) to start the season elicits "overreaction," but winning just one game, in overtime, gets the team "on the right track."

Last night was better than the first three games, but, if we're honest, that's not saying that much. They still lost three separate one-goal leads (including one in the final minutes), were one shot away from losing their fourth straight game and needed four goals to win, which this group is not likely to get very often. They were better, and it's something to build on, but they need to be even better to look like they're "back," to say nothing of winning 7 more in a row, especially with the goaltending situation.

No one else is going to say it, so it falls on me to point it out, as usual, but one of the things killing the team has been the play of Muzzin. He wasn't good in the first two games, he was culpable on two goals against in the MIN game and he was also culpable on two goals last night (and, actually, the third, as well, since his poorly executed pinch pressured King to hook a player to prevent an odd-man rush and the ensuing DAL powerplay scored). He hasn't been the only one to blame, since Budaj probably should've had both goals last night, but the shots came in the first place because Muzzin left his side of the ice and was in bad position. That and sloppy pinching are common habits for him, so it's not as though he's playing any differently than usual. It's just costing the team more than usual because the weak goaltending and younger forwards aren't able to bail him out as often.

With that out of the way, I'll end with some positives. I've liked Gilbert so far. He doesn't appear to be a liability on defense and he has some offensive instincts. That pass to Dowd last night was beautiful. Speaking of Dowd, I've liked him so far, too. He's winning battles for pucks in the offensive zone and making impressive short passes. That's nice to see from the bottom six and I'd like to see him stay there over guys like Andreoff and Nolan. Finally, Pearson's two game performance has been quite impressive. It's really early, but you can't help but wonder if this'll be a breakout year that sees him become a legitimate scorer (i.e. break the 20-goal mark). Besides the fact that the team really needs scoring from outside of the big guns, he's probably the fastest player on the team, so heavier usage also helps slightly with overall team speed.

I was waiting to see how Osprey would crap on your blog. I expected him to say something about how you accused fans of overreacting, nitpick the play of Muzzin since you praised him in your last blog, bring up something about how one game does not constitute a hole of which the Kings are fully dug out, and something about how Darryl Sutter is making terrible lineup choices, especially with the defensive pairs.

I guess 3 out of 4 isn't bad.

Good win for Jack Carter and the Kings

I was waiting to see how Osprey would crap on your blog. I expected him to say something about how you accused fans of overreacting, nitpick the play of Muzzin since you praised him in your last blog, bring up something about how one game does not constitute a hole of which the Kings are fully dug out, and something about how Darryl Sutter is making terrible lineup choices, especially with the defensive pairs.

I guess 3 out of 4 isn't bad.
- tkecanuck341

You're welcome to tell me what I'm wrong about. Is the team dug out of its hole? Is it logical to chastise fans for overreacting to three losses when you're reacting to one OT win? If not, then you're getting after me for predictably being justly critical. Perhaps you take it as "crapping" on the blog to disagree with some of the things said in it, but at least I'm willing to and am not looking for his approval, as you seem to be doing here by addressing him instead of me.

You're welcome to tell me what I'm wrong about. Is the team fully dug out of its hole? Is it logical to chastise fans for overreacting to three losses when you're reacting to one OT win? If not, then you're getting after me for being predictable in being justly critical. Perhaps you take it as "crapping" on the blog to disagree with some of the things said in it, but at least I'm willing to and am not looking for his approval, as you seem to be doing here by addressing him instead of me.
- Osprey

clearly if 3 games isn't cause for concern than on the flip side a single win shouldn't elicit much of a reaction beyond " on the right track". Which, in his defense, is what the title of his blog happens to say. I'm probably within the extreme minority of fans that don't react much at all within the first week plus of hockey. Frankly, I've always felt it's pretty assinine to assign much value, if any, to the first couple weeks of a season. Teams win 4 or lose 4 in a row and they're either considered the next coming of the 70's Montreal Canadians or they're the Edmonton oilers of the past decade. I'd put significantly more emphasis on playing "winning hockey" as opposed to focusing on the results. Still to this day some of the most bizarrely insightful things Sutter has ever said ring true... that if you're playing hockey the correct way, eventually you win. As contradictory as it sounds, results are not the most important thing at this juncture of the season. Whereas certain teams get lucky and confuse a hot streak for quality, sustainable play. Fact is the last 2 games have been significantly better than the first 2. Goaltending is the only legitimate concern I have at the moment. Without it, the greatest system in the world is basically rendered useless. If we get adequate goaltending, the Kings win games . Relatively simple formula.

clearly if 3 games isn't cause for concern than on the flip side a single win shouldn't elicit much of a reaction beyond " on the right track". Which, in his defense, is what the title of his blog happens to say.
- Woodysdemise

There's nothing wrong with arguing that they're on the right track after a couple of games, but there is with using that as basis for mocking people (as overreacting doom-and-gloomers) for arguing that they were on the wrong track after a similar number of games.

Goaltending is the only legitimate concern I have at the moment. Without it, the greatest system in the world is basically rendered useless. If we get adequate goaltending, the Kings win games . Relatively simple formula.
- Woodysdemise

Even with adequate goaltending, you can still miss the playoffs, though. Quick had the same SV% and GAA last season, when the team had one of their best regular seasons, as he had the year before, when the team missed the playoffs. The difference, believe it or not, was only 5 more goals scored and 5 fewer allowed last year. If they lose the 5 more goals that they gained last year and allow 5 more, to go back to 2014-15 levels, which seem plausible with the greater reliance on depth and youth this year, they could find themselves in the 2014-15 position again. That's the concern that I have even if they get adequate goaltending.

Dowd

How is Setoguchi so far? Wasnt able to see any LA games yet but his stats look solid so far: 2 assists and +3

Wow --- goalie price going up by every practice.

You need Miller as a stop-gap or the season will be over in November.