Real good effort by the team. Bounce here or there and they at least get a point. In the end , however, Doughty took the game in hand and pushed LA over the line.
Good
Stecher - one of the best games he's played this season. Played with a real purpose and skated the team out of number of jams in their end. Showed the kind wheels and determination he showed last year.
Dowd - his skating is actually good. Maybe little lacking in other areas but looks like a decent 4th liner who can kill penalties and create the kind of pressure on the puck Green likes. Thought he was best of the bottom end forwards.
Gudbranson - stood up the best, I thought, against the bigger forwards of the Kings. Had to mop up some for Hutton and what did go wrong had most to do with Hutton. Skating better
Boeser - starting to get more attention. Thought he made some good set ups and forced Quick into some good saves. Moved the puck effectively through the neutral zone
Not So Good
Sedins/Eriksson - their shifts killed momentum a lot of the time. Got shoved to the outside most of the time and couldn't get to the net. Over passing on the early power play was brutal. Lot of wasted effort in Eriksson play. Trying but often skating himself out of position or reacting too late.
Pouliot - have to believe he is out if Tanev returns. Still not handling speed to the outside or, in general, playing defense well enough. Needs to somehow pick up step or two in his skating. Right now getting backed in too much and even then still beaten.
Others
Goldobin - beauty of a goal and showed off his nifty stick. Making a better effort to play both ways but still far from a complete NHL player.
Hutton - ok most of the time but got wandering out of position again and continues to demonstrate he does know how to use his body around the net effectively
Vitiranen - had real good second period and did create some offense. However, must show a better ability to convert chances. Comment that he needs to keep his feet moving is a good one IMO.
Gaunce - stick-handling at times was real awkward and at times getting caught on the offensive side of puck battles. OK going straight ahead but lateral movement offensively is very limited. Got to the net to screen which helped and decent on the PK.
Granlund - improved effort. Made a lot of little plays in the neutral ice zone to break up plays and allowed the team to transition to offense. Plays like this and you have some hope that he can game manage the puck well enough to be effective. Skating seems to have picked up and he is more continuously in motion.
