Down 3-0, What Now?



Down 3-0, What Now?

Sunday night, for the first time in this series, I saw the Kings that I love to watch.  Sunday night stood in stark contrast to games one and two.  The Kings were moving the puck out of the zone.  They were exerting significant pressure on the Knights defense.  The Kings were hitting, breaking up the Knights break out by getting sticks on pucks and getting into passing lanes.  Adrian Kempe played like a full grown man.  They scored early to put the pressure on the Knights.  Life was really, really good, for a while.  Then, in the third period, the Knights adjusted both their breakout and their fore check.  The Kings got tired, began making more mistakes, and seemed unable to counter the adjustments.  After the Knights scored their second goal of the period, the players visibly looked like I felt, gut shot.  Then it got worse, and despite a great goal and a late comeback effort, the Kings are, now, down 3-0.  So what now?

To start off with, they win tonight.  One of the most crucial pieces of being successful in a playoff series is focusing on the here and now.  Down the road doesn't exist.  The Kings only have to win tonight.  One goal, one focus, to win each shift.  They have the skill.  They have the experience.  It's time to get the job done, tonight.

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