|
The equation for why they lose so many close games, I think, is quite easy to understand. Their front line offense, which is very good, would be second line on any other team. Frolove, Kopitar, and Brown, although great young players are just too young right now to anchor a consistent winning team. Over time, this will change. The Kings probably lost as many as 20 pts in the standings last year because of their inability to maintain leads and tie opportunities late in games. This has to be the result of poor coaching (I always maintain, the best defense is a good offense) and the Kings, when holding a lead would always be outshot badly when trying to HOLD on to games. Your best teams in the league always put the pressure on. The Kings style is a horrible coaching game plan-with that young offense they should have been looking to extend their leads late in the game-the Kings always played a football style of the prevent defense, and theat NEVER works-this philosophy has to change. Also, look at the Kings power kill-wow, was that always so conservative-they would just let teams enter the zone with no pressure and play that stupid box defense, where the Ducks, Red Wings, Flyers, etc.... would put so much pressure on the puck handler and their aggresive styles would often lead to opposing teams never even getting a shot off. When the Kings would defend the power play late in games, in close games, I would generally turn the channel expecting a bad result, and it usually happened. Lastly, the Kings have been one of the worst teams in maintaining a solid goaltender-this has been a complete disaster and will continue until they get a proven commodity there.
|
