We all know by now that this Kings team has some fight in them. You don't win a cup by not having the fight inside you. You also don't make it to the conference finals the next year with several key players on a standing eight-count.
Viewed from the surface, the Kings are in deep trouble right now. They are without their most talented goal scorer, their most talented goaltender, and arguably their best shut down defenseman. However the team stayed hot, taking out the Devils and the Islanders on a back to back behind youthful enthusiasm, role players, and some reliable goaltending from Ben Scrivens.
With the New York swing wrapping up tomorrow against a Rangers squad who are turning things around, the team will take at least five out of a possible eight points. On a road trip where injuries have been the major storyline, you'll take those results.
Leading the charge has been Tyler Toffoli who has recorded seven points in six games, including two game winning goals. The young winger was thought to be an addition to the team out of training camp but he was reassigned to Manchester to start the year. Toffoli led the Monarchs in points with 12 in ten games before coming up to fill the void of Jeff Carter. Just watching Toffoli you know he has the goalscorer's mentality. He shoots when he can, makes smart and responsible plays, and man does he ever hustle. Also contributing in a variety of ways is Linden Vey. While Vey isn't going to have the score sheet impact of Toffoli he has been playing in all situations for the Kings. That's a huge statement by Darryl Sutter to be putting this kid out there in late game penalty kill situations, and trusting him with end zone faceoffs and second unit powerplay responsibility. He's risen to the occasion so far, although his faceoff numbers could probably stand to improve if he wants to one day be the Jarret Stoll replacement we all expect.
With the youthful energy the Kings are getting from players like Pearson, Vey, and Toffoli, a few old faces have stepped up as well. Dwight King, with his sixth goal of the season last night, is on pace for a 25-30 goal season and a 45-50 point season. Everyone that you talk to within the Kings organization seemed to expect this from King. I loved the quote from Sutter last night about King on LA Kings Insider:
Good penalty killer, good net presence guy, scores big goals, playoff proven. He’s still a young player, but that’s the difference – I always look at the young guys on teams. Well, he’s a guy what’s got playoff experience. So they don’t call him a young player...He had a tough year last year. It had nothing to do with gaining my trust. If you’d go ask him, he fully knows my confidence in him has nothing to do with it. Dwight King plays a lot for our team. He plays with a lot of guys, plays both wings. He’s a guy that can always go and stabilize the game for you.
Sutter nails it in my eyes. King plays a simple game. He goes out and does the same thing every shift. He plays big, he plays hard, he forechecks, and as of right now he is scoring some huge goals. If you ever talk to Dwight King you'll quickly realize he is cool as a cucumber. He is a very calm and soft spoken guy who doesn't seem to get riled by too much. When the team is behind, or the team needs to level off and get back in the game it seems like Sutter is turning to a player like Dwight King to stabilize the game for he and the Kings. We all forget also, maybe due to the playoff heroics of both Nolan and King, but these players are just 24 years old. Young players but looked upon as veterans.
When players get injured it can be a blessing in disguise. It grants the opportunity to others to step up and be big game players. As it currently stands the Kings are getting a solid collective effort from several role players like King, Nolan, Toffoli, and Jake Muzzin (Who is in the top 30 in scoring amongst defenseman). Meanwhile, Stoll, Brown, Frattin, and Lewis all still seem to be getting up to speed from slow starts and streaky play. It's possible that this team isn't even clicking on all cylinders yet. The Kings have had the benefit of some favorable opponents recently, but the schedule really kicks into high gear once they return home. The team will face top teams in Tampa Bay and Colorado on a three game stand before heading into a pacific swing. A Pacific division where five of the top ten teams in the league reside. Some true tests await them.
Random Notes and Stats -----------------------------------
- As mentioned before, Jake Muzzin at 29th in defensive scoring with 10 points in 15 games. However when you average out his scoring pace he is currently fourth in scoring amongst NHL defenseman behind Derek Morris, Peter Wiercioch, and Erik Karlsson.
- Martin Jones did not get the start on the backend of a back to back like many thought, but when Sutter was asked if Jones would play he replied; "Yeah, at some point he’s got to start."
- The Pacific division is currently destroying the NHL. Not only does the division have three teams in the top five (Anaheim, San Jose, Phoenix) the Kings are in 8th, and Vancouver are in 11th. Ah the wild west, where you can be 8th in the league and 4th in the division.
- In seven appearances this year Scrivens has a .940 save-percentage and a 1.51 goals against. He has two shutouts to go along with his stellar numbers.
- Slow start? No problem. Anze Kopitar has been white hot in his last 10 games, putting up 11 points and five goals. Mike Richards has also been fantastic with 11 points and five goals over his last 10. Justin Williams also has points in four straight and seven in his last seven.
- Last night marked the first game since his call up in which Tyler Toffoli did not have a point. If you are looking for a free agent fantasy winger pick up I'd say it's a safe bet that Toffoli will get you a few points this season. He has six points in seven games and has logged minutes on the Kings top powerplay unit as well as taking shifts with the first line. He is 14th in NHL rookie scoring despite playing a third of the games.
- The powerplay remains a strength coming in at 9th in the league, while the penalty kill has crept up into the right direction and now sits at 19th. More importantly, it seems the team has broken the bad habit of taking a lot of penalties. Once the most penalized team in the league, the Kings now 16th in the league in PIM per game, and 24th in minors.
- In an even 10-10 split for road and home games, the Kings are 7-3-0 at home and 6-3-1 on the road. They hold a +10 differential at home while sporting a respectable -2 on the road. Surprisingly there is a 10% difference in the road and home penalty kill. On the road the Kings are killing 86% while killing just 76% at home.
- The second period has by far been the Kings worst period of hockey. While in the first period they have scored 19 goals and allowed 12, and in third periods they have scored 22 and allowed 15, the second period has been a black eye. The Kings have scored just 10 goals in second periods this year and allowed 18. This is second worst only to Philadelphia who have mustered eight in the middle frame all season. However, 22 goals in the third period is second best in the league.
Poll time! The Kings have several young players making a key difference right now. Some are rookies, some are in just their second/third full seasons but still young by NHL standards. Who has impressed you the most?
Follow me on twitter for news and notes about the Kings and the NHL
++++I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR SPONSORS! If you, or anyone you know would be interested in sponsoring our blog here at HockeyBuzz then send me a PM!+++++