Elias Sports Bureau confirmed today that Jonathan Bernier is the youngest goalie in Kings history to record a shutout. Today, Bernier talked about his current situation. Also, check below for audio of an interview Bernier did with “Hockey Night in Canada Radio”…

Question: Have they given you any indication of what to expect here, beyond the next couple days?

BERNIER: “I just go day by day. I think the goalie that’s going to go [start] is going to get the most shots in practice, to feel the puck, but it’s good. But it’s good. I’ve played with Quickie and we get along. He’s a really good person and we get along pretty good, so it’s good that way.”

Question: What is this like for you? There has to be some pressure involved, but it has to be a lot of fun too…

BERNIER: “For sure it’s fun, but like you said, it’s a lot of pressure. I think a lot of people expect you to play at the level that you’re able to play, but it’s great. That’s what I’ve been asking for, just a chance to play, and I’m getting that chance, so it’s good that I got that good result in both games. I’ve just got to keep going in the right direction.”

Continue reading ‘Bernier’s thoughts’ »

“Shot mentality” is one of Terry Murray’s favorite phrases, and while the Kings are just 1-3-1 in their last five games, Murray believes the Kings are on the right track, offensively, because their shot totals are increasing. In their last five games, the Kings have averaged 30.6 shots on goal. In their previous five games, the Kings had averaged 22.8 shots per game. Anze Kopitar had a team-high eight shots on goal Tuesday, one fewer than his season high.

MURRAY: “Our shot attitude really changed after the Olympic break. When you break the game down, the numbers confirm it. Shots attempted, shots blocked, shots on net, it dropped significantly. Just in the last few games now, we’re starting to get that back. That’s where our game is at. You have to put up around 65-70 shots, at the net, to be able to score some goals in this game today. It’s starting to crawl back up into area.”

Continue reading ‘Shot mentality’ »

Scott Parse’s season is back on an upswing. Parse had the first two-goal game of his rookie season on Monday in Minnesota, then scored a huge third-period goal on Tuesday to break a scoreless tie in Nashville. Terry Murray’s analysis of Parse’s game, though, has always centered more on consistency than scoring, and on Wednesday, Murray gave a thumbs-up to Parse’s overall game and said he will stay in the lineup tomorrow.

MURRAY: “His energy is really good. I think the pace of his game, shift after shift, has been consistent. That was a bit of a concern when he was here in the early part of the year, to follow through, and he has grabbed onto that very quickly now. I like the attitude away from the puck, his awareness, his responsibilities in the checking part of the game are getting better. Overall, playing the game at a higher pace, shift after shift, was a concern of mine early, and it seems to be evident that he’s getting it, and it’s there every game.”

After practice today, Jonathan Quick gave his thoughts about the Kings’ goalie situation and Terry Murray’s decision to go with Jonathan Bernier tomorrow night and Quick on Saturday…

QUICK: “I feel good, and I’m looking forward to every game the rest of this season. I’m looking forward to getting in there and playing some games. I think I can speak for the guys in here, that we’re really looking forward to the playoffs. We didn’t clinch, but we think that game last night was just what we needed. We needed a big win to turn the team around and start going forward here.”

Continue reading ‘Quick’s thoughts’ »

Here’s what Terry Murray said, after practice today, about the decision to start Jonathan Bernier in goal tomorrow against Vancouver and Jonathan Quick on Saturday against Anaheim (and beyond, apparently).

MURRAY: “This is the first opportunity that I’ve been able to back away from Quicker for a little while. His opportunity just to get some quality practice time in, for several days, is there because of Jonathan Bernier’s performance in last night’s game. He was solid, he had a shutout and I’m going to reward that performance with the game tomorrow against Vancouver. I want to take advantage of that solid performance and, again, give Quicker the opportunity to get specific in some drills and just go back at those looks for a few days in a row.

Quick is our No. 1 goaltender. There’s no gray area on that one. He’s going to jump back into the net here against Anaheim, and he will play the following week also. This is just a look here, for me, to get specific in the practices and give him an opportunity to get away from playing games day after day. He’s been one of the top guys in the league, so it’s a good break.”

Continue reading ‘Murray, on the goalies’ »

The word, after practice, from Terry Murray is that Jonathan Bernier will start in goal tomorrow and that Jonathan Quick will return Saturday and “next week.” Murray jumped in right away with “Quick is No. 1 goalie” before even being asked. Murray said the move allows him to give Quick a little extra practice time and allows him to get another look at Bernier after Tuesday’s shutout. More to come from practice…

The Kings have all three goalies — Jonathan Bernier, Erik Ersberg and Jonathan Quick — on the ice for practice. It’s a situation that, long term, can be difficult for teams and goalies, since obviously there are only two nets. That’s a big reason why very few teams ever carry three goalies. Hopefully we’ll find out after practice what the Kings’ goalie plan is.

It’s a full practice, and for the second consecutive day, the Kings’ forward lines are the same. That ties a season high (just a little joke…)

Much more to come after practice…

The year-long scoring “race” between Sean O’Donnell and Matt Greene appears to have reached its conclusion. With his goal last night, O’Donnell now leads Greene in goals (3 to 2) and points (14 to 8). After last night’s game, Greene and O’Donnell had a good-natured, tongue-in-cheek exchange about

GREENE: “He’s pulling ahead. He’s just an unbelievable player. It’s tough to catch a player with that much offensive skill. He’s just `on’ every night. It’s an uphill battle for guys like me.”

O’DONNELL: “I’m waiting for the concession. I’m waiting for the phone call. Team O’Donnell is waiting for the phone call from Team Greene for the official concession. He’s holding on, maybe for a recount or something. I don’t know what it is. Chad problems.”

Please check out my LAKings.com feature this week, on Dustin Brown, centering on Brown’s development as a team leader since he joined the Kings in 2003. Thanks for reading…

On the Job Training

Reports out of Michigan are that the Kings have signed Northern Michigan University forward Ray Kaunisto to a entry-level contract, as an undrafted free agent. Kaunisto, a 23-year-old native of Sault Ste. Marie, recently completed his senior season and had 18 goals, 14 assists and 78 penalty minutes in 40 games. Kaunisto is listed at 6-foot-4, 197 pounds.