Gold: We (hope to) love L-A!

By Adam Gold radio host 99.9 the Fan

We do a lot of comparing as sports media folk -- too much, if I’m being honest. No two players are alike and no two teams are built the same, nor do they encounter similar obstacles along their respective roads. Yet, we still insist on bringing up the past to somehow justify the present.

The Carolina Hurricanes are off to their best start in franchise history. Thursday night’s win in Anaheim raised their record to 13-2-0 surpassing the 2005-06 team’s 12-3-0 mark through that edition’s first 15 games. Now, we all know what happened the following June, but I’m here to warn all y’all.

History has no bearing on the future. Zero. Nada. Zilch.  Bupkis.

I’m not gonna lie, though, the first 5 ½ weeks of the season have been fun. It hasn’t always been artwork, as evidenced by Thursday’s thrill ride win over the Ducks, but these Canes have a way of staying in it until they find their game.

That’s how you get to an NHL best .867 point percentage.

But, as fast as it came that’s how quickly it can disappear, and if you think the Kings can’t make that happen, think again.

Los Angeles had high expectations coming into the season. Promising rookie Quinton Byfield was coming, stalwart defenseman Drew Doughty was rejuvenated and there were high caliber additions to the team like Viktor Arvidsson and Phillip Danault. Well, something happened on the way to the playoffs.

Byfield was injured during the preseason and hasn’t played this year. Doughty got hurt in the 4th game of the season and is still out of the lineup. Arvidsson, who came over in a trade with Nashville was hurt, then came back and now is in Covid protocol. And, while he’s healthy and playing, Dustin Brown hasn’t scored in 11 games after averaging 22 a year for the last four seasons.

None of that has impacted the Kings in the win-loss column, however. Wednesday’s 2-0 loss to the Capitals snapped a 7-game winning streak and were it not for a dreadful 1-5-1 start L-A would be bearing down on the leaders in the Pacific Division. The reason for that has been great goaltending led by Jonathan Quick.

The one time all star, perennial Vezina Trophy candidate and former Conn Smythe award winner has turned back the proverbial clock on his career. Over the last three seasons, Quick had a substandard .896 SV%, a GAA of 3.05 and had had a goals saved above average (GSAA) mark of -40.9. So, roughly 41 goals that shouldn’t have gone in, did.

This year? Quick has these numbers in those same categories: SV%: .940. GAA: 1.88. GSAA: 7.6.

To put that last statistic in perspective, Quick has only played in 9 games. Carolina’s Frederik Andersen -- tonight’s starter -- has played in 12 and his number GSAA is 9.7. If you think Andersen has been great, that’s what the Kings have been getting from their star netminder.

Want to hear a joke?

This is the ninth game for Canes rookie Seth Jarvis. This means that after today, the Hurricanes could return Jarvis to his junior team in the Western Hockey League without even starting his NHL contract.  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Jarvis has three goals, has back-to-back game-winners on this road trip and is coming off a game in which he was the best player on the ice. The next time Jarvis will be in Portland is if Damian Lillard leaves him tickets to a Blazers home game. The kid is here to stay.

Who needs a cookie?

Andrei Svechnikov, Jordan Staal and Jesperi Kotkaniemi have all gone eight games since their last goal. Andrei does have 7 assists over that stretch while Staal and Kotkaniemi have combined for just one helper. Jaccob Slavin hasn’t scored a goal all year. Nor has Ian Cole, but no one is expecting Ian to fill up the net either.

Leaders of the pack…

Anze Kopitar leads the Kings with 8 goals and 16 points on the season. Alex Iafallo has 6 goals and 7 assists. Adrian Kempe is next on the team with 5 goals and 9 scoring points.

Trios and Duos…

Svechnikov-Aho-Jarvis

Teravainen-Trocheck-Necas

Niederreiter-Staal-Fast

Martinook-Kotkaniemi-Stepan

Slavin-Bear

Skjei-Pesce

Cole-DeAngelo

Andersen

Raanta

The only change to the group today will be Derek Stepan drawing back into the line up as Steven Lorentz comes out. It’s worth pointing out that Rod Brind’Amour is well aware that there really isn’t anyone not deserving of playing. There are 13 forwards playing well on the regular. But, you can only play a dozen. My guess is that we’ll see a bit of a rotation as long as the group remains healthy.

Wanna bet…

Canes -160, O/U: 5.5

Coverage begins at 3:30 pm with Storm Watch starring Alec Campbell on 99.9 the Fan. Immediately following with the play by play will be Mike Maniscalco and Tripp Tracy. Don’t forget to follow the Canes Corner Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. There is a fresh episode the morning after every Hurricanes game.