Kings of the Road

[Ziggy Stardust]

Can they stay on the road from here on out? Their home record is 7-5-2. Seems like they get a bit too comfortable playing at home.

The Kings also have the best team +/- rating in the Western Conference with a +24, and that would put them second overall in the league behind Tampa Bay's +28.

The Kings are 14th in Goals For with a 2.96 average, and they have a league best Goals Against of 2.18.

The worst team stat is their 16.5% powerplay percentage, which puts them at 27th in the league. On the flip side, they have the best ranked penalty killing unit at 89.5%.

Considering what they've accomplished without Carter, it is safe to say that this team has exceeded all expectations up to this point. Let's hope this persists and they keep receiving balanced contribution from every line.

It's also worth noting that the only minus players on the team appear to be the fourth liners who receive limited ice time. Andreoff leads in that category with a team worst -4, followed by Dowd and Shore at -3, Amadio a -2, and a couple of -1 guys which includes the newcomer, Torrey Mitchell, Jeff Carter, and Christian Folin.

Of course, we shouldn't expect significant offensive contribution from the bottom line, but that is one area that they could get better at. The last time the Kings had a legitimate fourth line was in 2014, mainly because the team depth on that roster was insane.

All that being said, I'd say that Jonathan Quick deserves a ton of credit for where the team stands today in the standings. Having missed him for most of last season, you learn to appreciate just how much of a difference maker he is in net.

Click to read more...

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

reaaaallly hope this is where they begin to correct the home record. No excuse for the flat performances at home after what we've seen on the road.

Kinda funny that the offensive system seems to have helped the defense in a roundabout way as well. We check better in our own zone now even though we spend much more time in it--we're focused. There are scrambles but like last night towards the end of the game for example we were patient yet assertive, holding lanes, making sure Chicago didn't bust thru.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Can they stay on the road from here on out? Their home record is 7-5-2. Seems like they get a bit too comfortable playing at home.

Only against western teams. 6-2 against the East, 1-3-2 against the West. Almost lost that Ducks game too.

 

[kings11]

Only against western teams. 6-2 against the East, 1-3-2 against the West. Almost lost that Ducks game too.

Im not too worried about the record versus West teams, we were still incorporating kids into the lineup and adjusting lines and of course the bottom 6 finally seems to have been stabilized with the additions of Gaborik, Jokinen and Mitchell, plus the improved play of Brodzinski... Oh and lets not forget Shore with drop down and strengthen the B6 once JC returns.... Now about our D

 

[KingsFan7824]

Im not too worried about the record versus West teams, we were still incorporating kids into the lineup and adjusting lines and of course the bottom 6 finally seems to have been stabilized with the additions of Gaborik, Jokinen and Mitchell, plus the improved play of Brodzinski... Oh and lets not forget Shore with drop down and strengthen the B6 once JC returns.... Now about our D

All that incorporation hasn't stopped them from winning the other games though. Even at home, but especially on the road. It's just a weird stat is all.

 

[mbar]

Hard not to feel real good about this Kings team especially when you imagine incorporating Jeff Carter into it. I feel like all 12 forward spots would be solid (love the jokinen and mitchel acquisitions) and maybe we can add a top 4 dman at the deadline. If we do that and are healthy we have as good a chance as anyone.

 

[sinister6000]

The team got off their game at home. But they're back on now!

 

[Vino]

All that being said, I'd say that Jonathan Quick deserves a ton of credit for where the team stands today in the standings.

Yes. And also Darcy Kuemper, who has been an excellent backup goalie.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

The most impressive stat is not a single loss (EN goals excluded) with more than 1 goal after 1/3 of the season.

Basically every game we were close in getting a point, every game.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yep, our goaltending tandem is the best in the league at the moment, can't overlook that.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I'd be curious to study what their record is in the first game back home after a road trip, and whether or not there is a pattern, not just with the Kings, but league wide.

Do players have more of a workman mentality on the road, whereas they tend to be more lax and lackadaisical at home?

The precision and decision making seems to differ, as it was apparent from how they performed on this most recent road trip compared to their homestand, and the overall record on the road versus at home seems to help support this theory.

 

[onlyalad]

Kings have at least one goal in every game so far.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I'd be curious to study what their record is in the first game back home after a road trip, and whether or not there is a pattern, not just with the Kings, but league wide.

Aren't the last game of a road swing, and the first game back home, sort of iffy for all teams? We're finally done the road trip, and then we're finally back home.

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Kings have at least one goal in every game so far.

I guess my strategy of picking a King’s shutout in the First Goal of Game contest isn’t working out for me. LOL

 

[Stimpythecat]

I admit Keumper has played much better than I thought he would.