Vegas

Vegas trip was great. The Cluck'in Omegas didn't have a great showing this year. They went with an upgraded roster and expectations to match, but the team didn't make the playoffs for the first time in 3 years! It's a bummer. They won their division two years in a row, then made the finals last year. I was expecting a rebound year, but it wasn't to be.

I'm not even sure why I like this Vegas trip. I'm not a gambler or partier. I don't react well to smoke filled casinos. I have yet to see any of the shows or concerts. I just enjoy having a routine vacation each year and it's fun hanging out with the ladies on the team. It was a great weekend. So much so that it's really hard to get back in the swing of things here at work. Back to reality...

 

2-game win streak...

It's taboo to bring up a shutout before it happens. Likewise, it's probably bad from to bring up the Kings' 2-game win streak. It's only a big deal since they haven't put two wins together for awhile. But there were some good things to come out of last night's game. The 0-22 powerplay finally scored, Quick got shutout #5 on the season, and youngster Loktionov scored. I think any possible run the Kings get on will start and end with goaltending and the powerplay. It's a start...

 

LAKings Time is Now

My Kings started the season winning 10 of 13 and leading the League, which ironically brings them to today having lost 10 of the last 13 and out of the playoffs.  In November they won only 4 games, but in December lost only 5. The roller coaster season that is the LA Kings comes to a crucial point. Fortunately they are due for a long winning streak.

LA has two more home games to close out a brutal January, then it's a 10-game road trip. We don't see the Kings at home in February until the 24th. I can easy see this as the make-or-break point in the season. They went 2-6 in the 8-game homestand that started the New Year. I figure, 7-3 is the what is needed for this roadtrip. I don't want to make too fine a point of it, but missing the playoffs this year would be catastrophic.

I'm getting ahead of myself. Tonight is Boston and the Sharks are in town on Wednesday. Time to get things rolling before the roadie with a 3-game win streak.

Mid-season Update

I can't believe my Kings are out of the playoff picture as of today!
They had a solid start to the season, but went through a losing streak
in mid-November. I figured it was my fault, since I was out on
business travel a lot during that time and couldn't watch the games.
But a current homestand has been horrible and I've had the displeasure
of watching each one of those losses.
It's hard to pinpoint a specific problem. But mostly it's lack of
focus. There are nights where they blow big leads, other nights they
immediately allow a goal after scoring one. Goaltending has been off,
but you could easily say that defense has been as well. Murray has
done a TON of line juggling. I'm all for mixing things up to get the
offense going, but at this point the haphazard line mixes are starting
to look like desperation moves.
Am I panicking? No. I can easily see is it as a rough patch the Kings
are getting though. But I was concerned 3 losses ago. The last thing I
want to do is look back to this point in the season as the losing
streak that was the beginning of the end.
There is a lot of season left, but I'd much rather be in a more
comfortable position. Fortunately, no one in the West, beside maybe
Vancouver can claim to be "comfortable". The playoff race is so tight
that losing a few games can drop you 4 spots in the standings. Win a
few and you are right back in it. But I've been waiting for the Kings
to get back on track for 6 games now....

The Senators are only looking forward to the draft. I don't think
anyone's job or contract is safe. Lots of rumors about player
movement. It wouldn't surprise me if older players are moved, the
coach and GM are fired and the playoffs are a realistic goal in 3 to 4
seasons from now. The only positive side is that maybe the Kings could
somehow get Mike Fisher. His contract is horribly overpriced and the
Kings would not want to give up any prospects for him, but what a
heart and soul player he is. Nothing fancy with Fisher. Think Dustin
Brown's checking combined with a 100+ mph snap shot. Maybe what the
Kings need is a seasoned wrecking ball, with locker room presence like
Fisher. But PLEASE do not confirm the rumors over this last summer and
wind-up with Jason Spezza.

Resolutions 2011

The first Monday of the year is typically the worst time to hit the gym. I have no such fears at my gym. Still, to my surprise, it was much busier than normal this morning. There were easily twice as many people signed-into the gym than normal. I give it one-week, max. Last year there was a very small spike in attendance that lasted all of three days. That's right, not even a full week of increased gym activity. Granted, I go in the morning and most people are lunchtime or after-work gym goers. But, my experience has led me to believe that not even New Year's resolutions will get people out of bed in the morning for more than a week.