KORAB Grit Numbers: Kings-Ducks Games 5 & 6, The Luck is Gone
Well, here we go, another long, grind-it-out, sandpapery series going to a Game 7 for the Kings. The first ever Freeway Faceoff playoff series will not die easily, and why should it with California hockey supremacy on the line. This means something to Californians, possibly more than the Stanley Cup, as the winner will be showered with praise, while the loser will be taunted and booed until the collective throat of Southern California is sore.
It’s just unfortunate these two teams have played such a dull, quick-paced, passive series.
Just see for yourself.
But in Game 7 the style of play changes. As an athlete you lay it all out on the line for another chance at glory. TEAM glory, the best kind of glory there is.
Kings Game 5 KORAB:
Here the Kings put together their second lowest output of Team KORAB for the series. And lost. This is a striking turn away from the first four games where the team with the higher KORAB percentage actually lost. In those games, luck and bounces went the way of the less aggressive, weaker playing team.
Matt Greene disappeared for this game, and it showed in the leadership department. The Kings did not have a defensive leader to carry the play – only Martinez had a serviceable KORAB percentage – and gave up four goals as a result. The Kings defense took a night off, which you CANNOT do in the STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS, and let the TEAM down. Not Kings hockey, not one bit.
Ducks Game 5 KORAB:
The Ducks team, or defense, did not fair much better, but did put together a more complete game than the Kings. Fowler and Vatanen, though with fairly pedestrian numbers, out-grit the Kings defense, and the result was a one goal difference on the score sheet. For once, the Kings got out-defended, and out grit by younger, more determined players.
Kings Game 6 KORAB:
The Kings win and just look at the BACKBONE shown by some of these guys. Greene, Muzzin, and Voynov all come alive in Game 6, covering for Martinez’s off night. But the numbers by those guys result in only one goal against.
This was perhaps the most evenly matched game of the series, as it was decided on a rolling puck through the legs of John Gibson and a MANLY effort by the Kings during the scramble at the end to protect the net and secure the victory.
Kyle Clifford, that’s how you stay in the lineup, son. THAT’S HOW YOU GET IT DONE!
Ducks Game 6 KORAB:
Meanwhile, the Ducks got some unintended pluckiness from Palmieri, who also scored a goal. Perry had a grit performance, but it seems his grittier performances have usually come during Ducks losses this series. He’s like Bizarro Joe Thornton, so it’s unsure what the Ducks will get out of him for Game 7.
The Ducks defenders Vatanen, Beauchemin, and Allen all had hard-nosed performances, and its inconceivable how the Kings came out with the victory. Now is not the time to blame their goaltender John Gibson, but it mostly appears to be his fault. Will the defensive effort matter in Game 7, or will Gibson let in a bunch of soft goals? We’ll have to wait and see.
Overall, for the second straight game, the team with the highest KORAB has won. The luck well has run dry, my friends.
Kings Series KORAB:
Ducks Series KORAB:
Unlike the Kings previous Game 7 against the Sharks, the team with the highest KORAB has lost Game 6. In the Sharks series, the eventual winner of Game 7 ended with the higher KORAB percentage for the series. As it stands now, the Ducks have a slight edge in KORAB, but anything goes for Game 7.
Will Koivu and Selanne be effective, or beaten down by the rigors of the series and their affinity to passive, me-first play?
Will the Kings defense play determined, KINGS GRIT hockey for one more game?
How many Game 7 goals will Trevor Lewis have?
One thing we did not talk about – a prominent theme from last series – is the leadership of each team. Look at Dustin Brown’s KORAB, and look at Ryan Getzlaf’s?
Will the true leader prevail?
We’re just going to have to wait and see.
