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About This Page: This is a discussion on LA Kings Talk within the LetsGoKings.com forums, at Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum. Useless Note: This is the final game for the Kings against an opponent that is outside of our Division. The remaining 9 games will be against Pacific Division teams. 3
Useless Note: This is the final game for the Kings against an opponent that is outside of our Division. The remaining 9 games will be against Pacific Division teams. 3 games left with the Sharks and 2 games each against the Stars, Coyotes, and Ducks.
I have added the Game Notes link (which can be found in the Notes section). Many thanks to RinkRat who has always posted the link in his replies.
Engaged in a four-team race in perhaps the league's deepest division, the Minnesota Wild realize how precious points are.
They'd prefer to start getting two at a time.
Coming off three straight shootout losses, the Wild will look to win for the first time in nearly two weeks when they host the Los Angeles Kings - the last team they beat - on Saturday.
The Wild (37-26-8) have lost five in a row overall, with the last four coming by one goal and the last three in shootouts.
They haven't won since beating the Kings 2-1 on March 2 and have gone just 3-5-4 in the last 12, but they are within two points of Colorado for the Northwest Division lead and have played one fewer game than the Avalanche.
Minnesota is tied with Calgary for second place, just two points ahead of Vancouver in the league's only division with four 80-point teams.
It looked like the Wild might finally win on Thursday, as they held a 2-0 lead after one period and a 3-2 lead after two against New Jersey. But the Devils tied the game in the third and the Wild couldn't score the winner despite outshooting New Jersey 18-11 in the third period and overtime.
Still, Minnesota scored three goals after managing just two in each of the last five games, and leading scorer Marian Gaborik netted a goal after going four straight games without one.
In the previous game, Minnesota had tied the score on Rolston's goal in the final minute, but the Wild lost 3-2 in a shootout to the San Jose Sharks. They're 1-for-9 on shootout attempts in the last three games.
They may not want to get into a shootout with the Kings (28-38-6), who are 4-2 this season in shootouts, including one in a 4-3 win over Minnesota on Oct. 16. The Wild, though, have won both meetings since that game and are 6-0-1 against Los Angeles over the last two seasons.
The Kings have a league-low 62 points, but they helped Minnesota's cause in the playoff hunt by winning 4-1 in Nashville on Thursday. The Predators are in ninth place in the Western Conference, just four points behind the Wild.
Alexander Frolov had two goals for the Kings, who now look to win back-to-back games for the first time since Feb. 5-7.
Los Angeles' Erik Ersberg stopped 37 shots Thursday, and the rookie goaltender is 2-2-1 with a 1.99 goals-against average in five starts this month.
The Kings have a road record of 13-20-3 and their last 10 games is a record of 3-4-3.
The Wild have a home record of 19-11-5, and their last 10 games is a record of 3-4-3.
The Kings return home on Tuesday night against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center.
"Good things ended up happening for me," Frolov said.
"We got a few breaks, but we earned them going to the net in the third period," Los Angeles coach Marc Crawford said. "But I thought the big story for us was our goaltending and our penalty killing, which were extraordinary."
"I felt pretty good out there," Ersberg said. "Obviously, I got lucky a couple of times. But if you are going to beat good teams you've got to have a little luck, too."
"My defense did a really good job," said Ersberg. "I saw almost every puck out there. It helps a lot of get that kind of support."
"When you can keep a power play that's as good as Nashville's off the scoreboard with as many chances as they got you need good saves from your goaltender," Crawford said. "But you also need the commitment of your guys to block shots, be in the lanes and battle in front of the net."
Los Angeles Kings
Jason LaBarbera (Sports hernia surgery on 2/21/08) IR
Ladislav Nagy (Sore neck on 1/19/08) IR
Scott Thornton (Upper body injury on (3/4/08) day-to-day
Minnesota Wild
Eric Belanger (Broken big toe and right foot on 3/7/08) day-to-day
Derek Boogaard (Back injury on 1/24/08) IR
Petteri Nummelin (Right groin injury on 3/3/08) day-to-day
Bottom of the Cellar Standings:
26 Islanders 71 points, 10 games remaining
27 Thrashers 70 points, 9 games remaining
28 Blues 69 points, 11 games remaining
29 Lightning 64 points, 11 games remaining 30 Kings 62 points, 10 games remaining
Key/Division Games Tonight:
Flyers @ Bruins 10:00 AM PST | 1:00 PM EST Predators @ Red Wings 10:00 AM PST | 1:00 PM EST
Devils @ Avalanche 12:00 PM PST | 3:00 PM EST Canucks @ Stars 4:00 PM PST | 7:00 PM EST
Sabres @ Maple Leafs 4:00 PM PST | 7:00 PM EST
Islanders @ Canadiens 4:00 PM PST | 7:00 PM EST
Rangers @ Lightning 4:30 PM PST | 7:30 PM EST Oilers @ Coyotes 7:00 PM PST | 10:00 PM EST Blues @ Ducks 7:00 PM PST | 10:00 PM EST
It's good to see the Team GAA and PK% are finally out of the dead last.
I just checked the PK stats real quick. In March (7 games so far). The Kings have been 95.6% (22/23) on the PK. Ellis must be doing something right compared to the PK units we used to have.
The only PP goal we allowed was to Montreal, and they had a whopping 25% (1st in the league) on the PP.
I just checked the PK stats real quick. In March (7 games so far). The Kings have been 95.6% (22/23) on the PK. Ellis must be doing something right compared to the PK units we used to have.
The only PP goal we allowed was to Montreal, and they had a whopping 25% (1st in the league) on the PP.
Ellis has definitely helped.
Lombardi, Crawford and the players keep referencing Christmas as the turning point in the season. I'd love to see how the Kings PP, PK, GS vs. GA and record compare to the rest of the league from Dec. 25 - today.
I just checked the PK stats real quick. In March (7 games so far). The Kings have been 95.6% (22/23) on the PK. Ellis must be doing something right compared to the PK units we used to have.
The only PP goal we allowed was to Montreal, and they had a whopping 25% (1st in the league) on the PP.
interesting...
I certainly wouldn't mind seeing Ellis back with us next season.
***GDT - Los Angeles Kings @ Minnesota Wild - 3/15/08*** 
PrteBvr
