#LAKings Kings need to flip the switch on their power play (Daily News)
The pandemic-shortened NHL campaign has the feel of an 800-meter race rather than a mile, and if the Kings are going to kick in the final stretch they will need their power play to provide some momentum.
Heading into Mondays game against the Arizona Coyotes, the Kings had not scored on their previous 20 power-play opportunities, and they made it 21 straight during the first period before finally cashing in on power play No. 22 when defenseman Drew Doughty found the net through a screen.
The Kings have just three power-play goals since March 12. A group that had been ranked eighth in the NHL found itself a hair from 14th, and falling fast. They once had two effective units, and now seem to be struggling to assemble just one.
(We are) disappointed in the second unit. In fact, we created a third unit. That group has to give us more. Theyre very, very capable of it and they just flat out have to give us more, Kings coach Todd McLellan said last week.
The Kings had last scored with a man advantage (or more) on March 21 in a 3-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Their paucity of pop on the power play has left them with limited scoring overall: during the stint in which they have lost five of six games they scored 10 goals, and only six in the five losses.
On special teams, the penalty kill has continued to be the backbone of the team, ranking third in the NHL. That unit has scored as many goals (one) as the power play has over their past seven games. It did surrender two uncharacteristic goals the Kings had killed 30 of their previous 31 penalties in the first period on Monday, helping the Kings fall into an early 3-0 hole.
The Kings rank 28th in five-on-five scoring and in overall even-strength scoring, factoring in four-on-four and three-on-three goals as well. While it seems unlikely that they will begin pouring in goals five on five, recovering the first-half magic of the power play would be a welcome boost to the Kings as they navigate a competitive race for the West divisions final playoff berth.
LEMIEUX DEBUT IMMINENT
Winger Brendan Lemieux, whom the Kings acquired from the New York Rangers for a fourth-round draft pick, is out of COVID-19 protocol and almost ready for action.
Hes cleared, obviously integrating him is the next step. We just saw him this morning for the first time basically, said McLellan, who said the coaching staff was acclimating Lemieux to his new teammates and the Kings system.
Lemieux has power and straight-line speed in his skating, but he is most known for mixing it up with opponents. Hes averaged nearly two penalty minutes per game in his career, and he has also been effective at drawing penalties. He has been a net positive on minor penalties in his career despite a willingness to agitate and play physical defense.
He wont be in the lineup tonight but hell have a good practice tomorrow with us, McLellan said. Then moving forward well throw him to the wolves, for lack of a better term, and I think hell be able to handle it just fine.
BJORNFOT TOUCH AND GO
Defenseman Tobias Bjornfot missed his third straight game Monday with an apparent head injury he sustained when he caught an elbow from Vegas forward Chandler Stephenson. Stephenson was ejected and then banned three additional games for the play.
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Hes day to day right now. With that being said, hes evaluated every morning and well see if he makes progress. When he does, hell be back on the ice, McLellan said.
Defenseman Matt Roy remained on the COVID protocol-related absence list and Olli Maatta was still out of action with an upper-body injury. Maatta skated with the team on Monday, but he was wearing a red, non-contact jersey. That meant Kurtis MacDermid, Austin Strand and Kale Clague were back in the lineup.
Theres no doubt that were thin on the blue line, but we think the players who have put the jerseys on and got in for the three who are out have done a real good job and will continue to, McLellan said.
https://www.dailynews.com/2021/04/05...ir-power-play/
Heading into Mondays game against the Arizona Coyotes, the Kings had not scored on their previous 20 power-play opportunities, and they made it 21 straight during the first period before finally cashing in on power play No. 22 when defenseman Drew Doughty found the net through a screen.
The Kings have just three power-play goals since March 12. A group that had been ranked eighth in the NHL found itself a hair from 14th, and falling fast. They once had two effective units, and now seem to be struggling to assemble just one.
(We are) disappointed in the second unit. In fact, we created a third unit. That group has to give us more. Theyre very, very capable of it and they just flat out have to give us more, Kings coach Todd McLellan said last week.
The Kings had last scored with a man advantage (or more) on March 21 in a 3-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Their paucity of pop on the power play has left them with limited scoring overall: during the stint in which they have lost five of six games they scored 10 goals, and only six in the five losses.
On special teams, the penalty kill has continued to be the backbone of the team, ranking third in the NHL. That unit has scored as many goals (one) as the power play has over their past seven games. It did surrender two uncharacteristic goals the Kings had killed 30 of their previous 31 penalties in the first period on Monday, helping the Kings fall into an early 3-0 hole.
The Kings rank 28th in five-on-five scoring and in overall even-strength scoring, factoring in four-on-four and three-on-three goals as well. While it seems unlikely that they will begin pouring in goals five on five, recovering the first-half magic of the power play would be a welcome boost to the Kings as they navigate a competitive race for the West divisions final playoff berth.
LEMIEUX DEBUT IMMINENT
Winger Brendan Lemieux, whom the Kings acquired from the New York Rangers for a fourth-round draft pick, is out of COVID-19 protocol and almost ready for action.
Hes cleared, obviously integrating him is the next step. We just saw him this morning for the first time basically, said McLellan, who said the coaching staff was acclimating Lemieux to his new teammates and the Kings system.
Lemieux has power and straight-line speed in his skating, but he is most known for mixing it up with opponents. Hes averaged nearly two penalty minutes per game in his career, and he has also been effective at drawing penalties. He has been a net positive on minor penalties in his career despite a willingness to agitate and play physical defense.
He wont be in the lineup tonight but hell have a good practice tomorrow with us, McLellan said. Then moving forward well throw him to the wolves, for lack of a better term, and I think hell be able to handle it just fine.
BJORNFOT TOUCH AND GO
Defenseman Tobias Bjornfot missed his third straight game Monday with an apparent head injury he sustained when he caught an elbow from Vegas forward Chandler Stephenson. Stephenson was ejected and then banned three additional games for the play.
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Hes day to day right now. With that being said, hes evaluated every morning and well see if he makes progress. When he does, hell be back on the ice, McLellan said.
Defenseman Matt Roy remained on the COVID protocol-related absence list and Olli Maatta was still out of action with an upper-body injury. Maatta skated with the team on Monday, but he was wearing a red, non-contact jersey. That meant Kurtis MacDermid, Austin Strand and Kale Clague were back in the lineup.
Theres no doubt that were thin on the blue line, but we think the players who have put the jerseys on and got in for the three who are out have done a real good job and will continue to, McLellan said.
https://www.dailynews.com/2021/04/05...ir-power-play/