If you have been watching the kings all playoffs long then you know it was a 'Kings-type game" last night. I would hear the annoucers say stuff like, "the NJ offense is not lively tonight", or "Kovalchuk has been somewhat quiet", or "the NJ offense cant get on track." If you have watched the kings playoff run, then you know that is said during every kings game. Its an indictor of the Kings imposing their will on the opposing team, they have done it ALL PLAYOFFS long. The game was ugly, but the kings still were able to dictate the terms of the game. The game was physical, but I thought the kings should ramp up the physicalness just a bit, not too much. They started off physical and it seemed to taper off somewhat as the game went on, especially in the 2nd.
The kings are playing so well as a team, that they are winning even when the are not firing on all cylinders, like last night. Same case in game 2 at PHX, Quick had a rare 'off-game' and the Kings won anyway. Winning when your not on your 'A' game is a mark of a championship team.
The only goal scored by NJ bounced off Slava Voynov's chest and went past Quick, very fluke-y.
I think there are 2 reasons why the Kings have been playng so well the last few months:
1. The addition of Jeff Carter has given the Kings some offensive diversity, they still lack a go-to killer offensive guy, but carter makes opposing teams have to account for another scoring threat. This opens up the game enough for Kings to get their chances.
2. For me, without question, the addition of Darryl Sutter cannot be understated and is the biggest reason for the Kings turn-around at the end of the season/playoffs. He is a real 'Hockey Guy' and has this team firing on all cylinders. Darryl Sutter deserves alot of recognition for putting his stamp on this team.
