Islanders at Kings: Real Average Antics

Once again, the Kings failed to really take advantage of a team on the second night of a back-to-back. The Islanders have an improved roster this season and have been surprisingly successful so far, but the Kings still allowed them to keep pace in a game in which the visitors should’ve been tired and outmatched.

To the Kings’ credit, they did have more control to start the game. Dwight King then tipped in Mike Richards’ shot almost four minutes into the period to give LA a 1-0 lead.

 
Control didn’t last too much longer. The Islanders were able to get their feet going and began closing in on the Kings in shot attempts. What Richards’ giveth, he taketh away, too, because it was his tripping penalty that ended up allowing the Islanders to score later in the first period. The goal was mostly goaltender’s Jonathan Quick’s mistake. Brock Nelson’s shot didn’t get high enough to beat him top shelf, instead it slipped under Quick’s arm where he wasn’t hugging the post tight enough.

 
Shot attempts stayed relatively even throughout the game, went to an eventful overtime, and then the Kings eventually lost in the shootout. No huge whoop but not particularly inspiring either. The Kings’ continued inability to really establish themselves as a good possession team this season remains irritating but not quite alarming.

Other takeaways:

1) Heading into the match-up, the Kings were averaging a ridiculous 35 shots per game. The finished the night having only allowed 26. Quick was given first star despite the loss, though that might’ve been a small reward for actually showing restraint and not smashing his stick against the post.

Proud of him. I also dig that it looks like a choreographed dance move the longer it loops.

2) Dustin Brown had a good night. After scoring the game-winner against the Stars a few days ago, Brown followed it up with a strong performance at home. He was a +10 in possession at even strength, the best forward on the team and just behind Jake Muzzin and Drew Doughty. Sutter rewarded his efforts by bumping him up to the top line during the third period to play alongside Marian Gaborik and Anze Kopitar.

3) Muzzin and Doughty are the only defenseman playing well consistently. Brayden McNabb’s double minor in the second period highlighted what everyone knows — he’s a rookie. It’s frustrating to watch new guys make mistakes, but like Muzzin, I think he’ll improve as the season goes on. He’s adjusting. He at least has an excuse, unlike the other three. All four of the guys in the second and third D-pairings finished the game with Corsi percentages as 50 or lower, and McNabb was the best one (though he also played the fewest minutes).

Matt Greene is an odd case. He finished at 52 percent at even strength but suffered a lot more on the penalty kill, making him a -8 on the night overall.

4) The Kings had the man advantage four times, but only about 30 seconds of one of those opportunities seemed particularly useful. Power play struggles aren’t new to the team, but it’s almost impressive how useless most of them are. Woof.

5) Though he keeps taking a lot of penalties, Mike Richards’ assist also pushed him to fourth in scoring on the team. He now has seven points, just two behind Tanner Pearson. So, that’s something.