In the world of sports, there are always certain times when a team reaches a crossroad. For the Los Angeles Kings, that time was Saturday, January 7th, 2012.
Just when many were thinking about possibly buying into the modern-day alchemy of new Head coach Darryl Sutter, came Black Saturday - The Kings lost 1-0 to the worst team in the NHL, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and suddenly, the Kings' faithful were up in arms.
The loss exposed two major weaknesses, the inability to score goals and an anemic Power Play (0-8 in the game, including 38 seconds of 5 on 3).
There is no acceptable explanation for the events of that fateful day.
Sutter has coached nine games so far. The team has scored a total of 16 goals in those nine games, vs 15 goals in the nine games prior to him taking over.
The big difference, has Sutter's ability to get the most out of very little offensive production. Despite still being the lowest scoring team in the league, the Kings have garnered 12 of a possible 18 points during his tenure, vs only 6 of 18 points in the nine games prior.
B.S. (Black Saturday) rendered those stats, moot.
Most troubling to the team at this point :
1) Anze Kopitar, one goal in last 20 games.
2) Simon Gagne, placed on IR on December 28th (concussion).
3) On the blueline. While everyone has been in a quandary as to what is wrong with Drew Doughty's game, Jack Johnson has very quietly worked his way back down to having the worst plus/minus rating on the team (tied with Kyle Clifford at -8).
I have never been in favor of the fanbase making a team's personnel decisions, but some of the rumblings and grumblings from all the Kings' horses and all the Kings' men, may have some validity.
Coach Jamie Kompon, the team's power play consultant, seems to always draw the ire of the fans. The team's power play is clicking at a paltry 13.2%. Only Phoenix (13.1%) and Montreal (13.0%) are worse. How much longer should they stick with the power play philosophies of Kompon ?
Going with recent history, the Kings power play is a combined 3 for 61, dating back to December 6th.
Yes, the Kings' 88.9% penalty kill is second best in the NHL, but the team's current problems are on offense.
What was once a promising season, is on the verge of spiraling into turmoil:
With Simon Gagne out, and Dustin Penner still not contributing, the need for a true scorer at the LW position has now become paramount. This is a team which was a trendy pick to make a run to the Cup final, not just back into the playoffs.
The lone consistent bright spot for the team, continues to be the inspired play of Netminder Jonathan Quick.
Quick has started 35 of 42 games, and leads the NHL with 6 shutouts, while sporting a 1.93 goals against avg, and .934 save %. Despite the pressure associated with knowing he'll get very little goal support, Quick seems to be up to the task, night in and night out.
The Kings have scored 3 or more goals in only four of their last 20 games.
If the Kings are to have a chance of going anywhere this season, something has to change, and change very soon.
The Kings faithful will accept no more B.S. (Black Saturdays)
E-mail: Charles@Officialinsidesports.com
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