Gameday Soundtrack: Haven’t We Been Here Before?

Didn’t we all just watch an LA Kings vs Vancouver Canucks game? They haven’t even been gone long enough for anyone to miss having the opportunity to grossly disappoint their fans.

Ugh, so Canucks.

It’s nice that they’re back, though, because the Kings have managed to come off another week of possession dominance that’s resulted in more losses than wins. Coach Darryl Sutter’s finally changing a couple more things up because of it. Tanner Pearson may finally get another chance to crack the lineup, and Jake Muzzin will be scratched in favor of giving Matt Greene ice time.

I’m not as sold on benching Muzzin, because his possessions numbers are great overall despite the bad decision that eventually led to a goal against last game, but whatever. Maybe the few changes and playing the Canucks can help the Kings bounce back sooner rather than later anyway.

Remember when the Kings played the Boston Bruins and four different players scored goals? Remember how they chased Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask? It was only two games ago. The Kings need to figure out how to get back on that track and away from having extraordinarily great Corsi and Fenwick numbers during games but few goals to show for all that control.

Averaging 42 shots per game over the last four match-ups should result in more than nine goals, but these are the Kings. Never underestimate their ability to never truly regress. If scoring inconsistency is going to continue to be their jam, then hopefully Jonathan Quick bounces back from the weak .885 save percentage he earned against the Red Wings and helps keep the Kings in it.

This is the last time the Kings will play at Staples Center until January 30th. They’re going on their annual extended road trip so that the GRAMMY Awards can take over downtown Los Angeles, and it would be good to close out the short run at home with a win. Plus, the Kings’ last road trip was a waking nightmare, and this next one is filled with tough competition, including back-to-back games against the San Jose Sharks and Phoenix Coyotes.

Grab two points and take that winning feeling right into other cities, please.