TRH GAMEDAY 72 – NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Richards Recharged
Coming off a tough loss against the Vancouver Canucks, the LA Kings now find themselves even further outside of the playoff picture.
Sure, they may only be two points behind the Calgary Flames, but the probability that the Kings make the playoffs has dropped down to a mere 47.9 percent, per Sports Club Stats. Their playoff probability was at 79.1 percent just 10 days ago.
So yeah, things are not going well for the reigning Stanley Cup Champions.
What the team needs now is a jolt in the arm, something that will boost production and stabilize both the offensive and defensive aspects of the game.
Richards on the ice for #LAKings practice in Newark.
— Jon Rosen (@lakingsinsider) March 22, 2015
BAH GOD, THAT’S MIKE RICHARDS’ MUSIC!
Richards spent the past 16 games with the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL where he scored 14 points in 16 games…
I don’t blame him for not being that excited.
He returns to a team that is desperate for some depth at the center position. And he very well may have been the best option for the Kings all along, at least according to War-on-Ice.
Of the Richards, Stoll, Shore and Andreoff group, it turns out that Richards has actually had the most success and worst luck. In even strength close score situations, Richards has the highest CF% and the lowest PDO. In fact, he’s the only one of the four who actually drove possession this season.
There are no guarantees that the return of Mike Richards will do anything for the Kings’ playoff hopes, but at least it’s something that could turn the fortunes of the team around. And, if nothing else, it gave fans a distraction from the fact that their team has not “turned it on” as expected.
Seriously, how amazing is the “Mike Richards Returns from the AHL to Lead the Kings into the Playoffs” chapter on the Blu-Ray going to be?!?
— The Royal Half (@theroyalhalf) March 22, 2015
@theroyalhalf Can we all just act like Richards has been in Columbus and the recall was a lopsided trade?
— Patrick Dennis (@WestCoastPat) March 22, 2015
I see Dean realized that the winner of 2 Stanley Cups, Olympic gold, Calder Cup & Memorial Cup might *possibly* be an upgrade over Andreoff.
— King Tufficult (@KingTufficult) March 22, 2015
What a beautiful day in LA. pic.twitter.com/Jpn2WB8cur
— PumperNicholl (@PumperNicholl) March 22, 2015
You know what? Screw it. With Richards back, Alec Martinez likely to return and Tanner Pearson on the mend, there’s nothing that can stop the Kings now!
…except a five-game road trip.
BEST OPPOSITION BLOGS:
BEST OPPOSITION TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER:
WORST OPPOSITION TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER:
