Kings @ Oilers backstory
by Bruce McCurdy on Nov 26, 2008 11:02 AM PST
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Interesting to look beyond goals to shots differential. The Kings have outshot their opponents in 15 of 20 games, the Oilers in just 5 of 20. The Kings are averaging 27.8 shots per game, the Oil 27.6, but in the defensive zone the difference is stark: 24.8 shots allowed by the Kings, a spectacular number; and 33.2 against the Oil, a spectacularly bad number. Oilers rank 28th in the league in shots allowed, ahead of just Florida and Tampa Bay. The Kings, meanwhile, ranked 28th last year; this year they rank an astonishing first overall in the National Hockey League, 0.9 shots per game better than San Jose and 2.2 shots clear of the rest of the league. (I had to check that on two different sites before I believed it!)
All of this must be put in the context that the Oilers have played the fewest home games in the NHL and the Kings the fewest road games. So they've had friendlier crowds, friendlier match-ups, and very possibly friendlier shot counters on their side. Nonetheless, it's a promising start for the young Kings and their new-but-old coach, Terry Murray.
Kings' problem seems to be at the back end of the roster: Matt Moulson -4, Peter Harrold -4, Brian Boyle -7, Tom Preissing -7, Raitis Ivanans -8, Derek Armstrong -8, Denis Gauthier -8.
Up front: Kings have 3 forwards (Dustin Brown, Alex Frolov, Jarret Stoll) with 6 or more goals, which is 3 more than the Oilers have. Anze Kopitar, Patrick O'Sullivan, Michal Handzus and 19-year-old Oscar Moller bring an attack that is fairly balanced across three lines.
On the blue: L.A.'s top 4 defenders in TOI are all plus players: Doughty 23:18, +5; Quincey 22:02, +3; O'Donnell 21:22, +2; Greene 18:59, +1. All four are playing 16-17 minutes ES TOI per game; the other guys are 12 minutes or less but are getting lit up.
Between the pipes: For all the LaBarbera Love in the 'sphere, the emerging goalie in LaLaLand appears to be Erik Ersberg, who for the second straight year has significantly superior percentages to LaBarbera in Pts%, GAA, and Sv%:
2007-08: GP, Pts%, GAA , Sv%
-----------------------------
Ersberg: 14, .545, 2.48, .927
LaBar'a: 45, .429, 3.00, .910
2008-09: GP, Pts%, GAA, Sv%
-----------------------------
Ersberg: 12, .545, 2.32, .898
LaBar'a: 11, .389, 3.06, .884
Interesting to see how their Sv% plummet as the team reduces shots allowed. But that's a discussion for another day.
Ex-Oiler watch: Jarret (Minus Touch) Stoll has been on the ice for 9 ES GF, just 3 GA: on a per/60 basis that translates to +2.49/-0.83. Is this the same player that posted +1.51/-3.09 with the Oil last year? On the PK unit he hasn't been on the ice for a single goal against in close to 40 minutes TOI. Surprisingly his least contribution is on the PP where he is clearly second unit.
Matt Greene (pictured) just seems to be tooling along, his "offensive" totals a pretty typical 20 GP, 0-3-3, but so far he's keeping his head above water with +2.32/-2.13. Last night in the Kings 6-2 loss in Calgary, Greene posted an assist, +1, with 3 blocks, 2 hits, 1 shot, and 0 penalties in 19:58 TOI. I watched a chunk of that game and Matt was one of the few Kings who played well. Oiler fans will salivate at the memory of Greene's flaws, but I suspect we'll notice a different aspect of his game when he's dressed in opposition silks, namely that the big lug just gets in the way an awful lot.
Keys: Playing with five days' rust it is essential that the Oilers are up to the early tempo against an opponent on the back end of back-to-backs. Oilers should have the energy advantage at the back end of the game.
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by Jonathan Willis on Nov 26, 2008 11:58 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Flying the pond at 25 to play in Manchester was probably a bit of culture shock, but he seems to be settling in Los Angeles after getting the call partway through his first pro season. Whether that is turning the corner or whether he is the Swedish Niklas Backstrom -- wait a minute, that doesn't work, does it? there already is a Swedish Nicklas Backstrom -- remains to be seen. But I don't doubt for a second that the guy is for real.
by Bruce on Nov 26, 2008 12:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
That new PP rule where the faceoff always starting in the penalized teams defensive zone sure increases Stoll's value. His PK numbers are obviously not maintainable but sorely missed right now.
I got Horcoff, Gagner, Kopitar and Frolov in my pool. I dont care about a coaches nightmare, gimme an 8-6 Oiler win!
by Sean on Nov 26, 2008 2:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Greene is going to be as good as Jason Smith, who was good enough to be the Oilers captain.
by dstaples on Nov 26, 2008 2:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
The pic is actually meant to highlight the guy (mostly obscured) who is planting Z on his azz, "Mean" Matt Greene.
by Bruce on Nov 26, 2008 3:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Time will tell, David. Time will tell. I also notice that Matt Greene is the only Kings defenseman with a negative Corsi number.
by Jonathan Willis on Nov 26, 2008 4:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
It would also be nice to see Visovsky play like he something to prove tonight.
by Ribs on Nov 26, 2008 5:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Anyway... That pic is from a game in October that featured Greene getting a penalty (suprise, suprise) and Zetterburg scoring just as the Mean Greene Machine was racing out of the box. Good times.
by Ribs on Nov 26, 2008 7:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
by Ribs on Nov 26, 2008 7:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Boy, I sure called that one, eh? What a limp effort.
by Bruce on Nov 27, 2008 7:36 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
"Objects in the mirror are much closer than they appear"
As of this morning the Kings've got us in the rearview. $#!+
That's a killer loss, especially on home ice, especially especially in regulation. I don't care what point in the season, any night where the visiting team passes you in the standings is -- how would the sheeple put it? -- a b-a-a-a-d night.
by Bruce on Nov 27, 2008 8:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
by Doogie2K on Nov 29, 2008 9:59 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
by Bruce on Nov 29, 2008 9:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
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