Games 36-37: Kings @ St. Louis Blues 2:5, Kings @ Nashville Predators 0:7

Kings lose hands down against fellow cellar-dwellers

Helpless between the pipes

(photo courtesy of www.yahoo.com)

LA goals from: Anze Kopitar, Derek Armstrong
STL goals from: Backes, Stempniak, Rucinsky, McClement, Jackman

Pros: It's usually quite difficult to try to grasp any pros of a defeat to the worst team in your conference, especially, when a rookie scores (Backes) his first ever NHL goal against your team. The Los Angeles hockey team seems closer and closer to a high draft pick in next season draft, while our level of play could be summarized on most nights as "Anze and the rest". Thumbs up for Lubo Visnovsky for two assists on the night.

Cons: Another lame effort with Cloutier letting in four goals (the fifth one was an EN) to upkeep his league-worst GAA. I wonder how to classify seeing former Kings coach Andy Murray behind the Blues bench. It's a pro for some, and con for others.


Predators ashame hopeless Kings in a rough one

Will Barry Brust restore order in LA's goal?
(photo courtesy of ww.yahoo.com)

LA goals from: none
NSH goals from: Arnott (2), Legwand (2), Dumont (2), Karyia

Pros: It hurts so bad, that no words can amptly describe it, I suppose... About the only plus in this contest was Barry Brust seeing the light of day after Dan Cloutier got ejected for spearing Hartnell in front of the goal.

Cons: There was never a glimmer of doubt how much separates the two teams. Those of the Kings fans who did not suffer a heart-attack during the game, bid farewell to this season. Perhaps prematurely, but I can understand their anger and disillusionment. As for myself, I'm waiting to the Cloutier situation to clear out. Only then will the team be able to compete.

On second thoughts I wonder why coach Marc Crawford has so much to say after such an lop-sided loss:

"We had chances on the power play to make this a game," Crawford said. "Give their goalie credit for being good, but we didn't bear down on our chances. There was some open nets there and we didn't put the puck in the back of the net. For the first period-and-a-half, our power play was more effective than their power play, but we just couldn't finish."

I guess I'd have been hiding in the Tennessean woods had I been him...