LA Kings defeat Minnesota Wild 3-2 (SO). Early on this looked like another road disaster for the Kings. Their uneven play early in the first period led to goals by John Madden and Nick Schultz within two minutes of each other at 5:52 and 7:42 respectively and a quick 2-0 deficit. But they fought back to prevent a repeat of last week’s Phoenix game and won in a shootout 3-2.
Coming into the game the Kings had an 11.1 power-play percentage, 22nd in the NHL, mostly as a result of having only one power-play goal in their first six games. However with Jarret Stoll’s power-play goal 18:37 in the first period and Anze Kopitar’s 5-on-3 power-play goal with 18 seconds left in the second period they have now scored four power-play goals in their last two games.
As for the Wild led the league in overall and home power-play percentage, and the Kings really had a test when captain Dustin Brown was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for his lateral hit to Antti Mietitinen’s head. The Kings killed that penalty allowing only four shots-on-goal during that five-minute span.
The game got to a shootout where Michal Handzus put it past goalie Niklas Backstrom for the Kings win. This also gives Kings’ goalie Jonathan Quick an 8-1 record in road shootouts. The Kings now have 12 points and the lead in the Pacific Division and only one point behind Western Conference leading Nashville Predators.
Quick made 20 saves for the Kings while Backstrom saved 32 shots for the Wild.
NOTABLE NOTES
Blah Blah Blah. Thank heavens the NFL played on Sunday because if I had to hear another big old queen bitch about the NFL’s re-emphasis on their already existing rule on helmet-to-helmet hits I would have gone crazy. Pittsburgh Steelers’ James Harrison whined the loudest even contemplating retiring - gee, that’s a winner. Baltimore Ravens’ Ray Lewis complained that is was these “kill shots” that got the most adulation during defense meetings during the week around the league. Miami Dolphins’ Channing Crowder said that since the league provided helmets he would continue to use it as a weapon.
I haven’t heard this much bitching from queens since attending a White Party in Palm Springs.
Just shut up and learn how to tackle correctly - you know, wrap the ball carrier and bring them down. These cheap “kill shots” are just a symptom of lazy self-aggrandizing let’s-get-on-the-highlight-reel attitude that is pervasive not only in sports but in the entire culture of our country.
Plus do we really want to see game littered with the Todd Boumans and the Seyi Ajirotutus of the world?
Tom Jackson of ESPN noted that Dick Butkus and Jack Lambert, who were feared during their times, never had to resort to these cheap shots. If it’s good for Butkus, it’s good for you. Anyhow this new emphasis on the rule didn’t seem to affect the quality of the play this weekend.
B(C)S. Oregon, which is a consensus No. 1 among the AP, Coaches and Harris Polls, had an average computer ranking of No. 8 in the BCS rankings. That allowed Auburn to leapfrog from No. 4 to No. 1. It’s not news that the BCS is flawed to put it as nicely as possible, but this is just ridiculous. Here are the average computer rankings:
- Auburn
- Missouri
- Michigan State
- TCU
- Oklahoma
- Boise State
- LSU
- Oregon
- Wisconsin
- Utah
Remember along with the Coaches’ Poll and Harris Poll, the computer rankings are 1/3 of the BCS equation.
As I mentioned on Friday’s college preview, Kenneth Massey publishes not only his BCS rankings but also his self-admittedly superior statistical rankings. His BCS rankings:
- Missouri
- Auburn
- Michigan State
- Oklahoma
- TCU
- Oregon
- Boise State
- LSU
- Wisconsin
- Utah
His real rankings:
- Oregon
- TCU
- Boise State
- Alabama
- Utah
- Auburn
- Missouri
- Stanford
- Ohio State
- Nebraska
It’s a little disturbing to see the stark disparity between the two.
Of course the BCS rankings are really useless until the last poll which does what it is designed to do: pit No. 1 against No. 2 in the BCS National Championship game. But since ESPN is broadcasting the BCS Bowl Games, they need to legitimize these rankings so they will continue to misuse them as an actual ranking metric.
So I’m done with it. This queen will not mention the BCS rankings until the final poll comes out. Besides I create the only poll that matters.
TONIGHT’S ACTION
Houston Rockets (0-0) at LA Lakers (0-0). 7:30 pm TNT, AM 710 KSPN.
Anaheim Ducks (7 pts., 3-5-1) at Dallas Stars (10 pts., 5-2-0). 6:00 pm FS Prime Ticket, AM 830 KLAA.
