LA Hockey Underground

 The Pacific Division race for the playoffs is heating up.  Only ten points seperates the top seven teams in the division.  Last year's cellar dwellers are surging forward while the talented, and presumptive playoff bound teams have hit some rough spots.  If nothing else, the Pacific is looking to be a dog fight down the stretch which is good for fans.  Realistically, the Pacific can only hope for four entries into the playoffs.  With the central division's top four teams outpacing even the Golden Blights, it is likely that they will sew up the first wild card spot.  I also wouldn't rule out a surge from Dallas to compete for that second wild card spot, which would make things even more interesting out West.  It is also conceivable that the West improves and competes for both Wild Card spots.   The Golden Blights are looking to improve as Eichle completes his recovery and joins the team.  If he is close to his old self, then a formi...

  Philip Danault, the man no one is talking about, probably should never have to pay for dinner, at least until the end of his career.  His linemates owe him; the players on the other lines owe him; the defenders owe him; and I would say that Quicky owes him, but Quicky doesn't owe anyone.  This guy, the man the sports media won't mention, makes everything on a hockey team work better. He isn't flashy.  He isn't going to be the focus on the various shows of the Toronto Hockey League Network.  He may never play in the all star game, but he is a hockey coach's dream.  He has historically put up half a point a game numbers and has a career plus/minus of 56.  with the Kings, he is surpassing those numbers.  Having a plus minus of twelve isn't sexy to the media.  Having nineteen points isn't sexy to fantasy players.  However, in looking at these two stats together, the hockey geek in me gets a little excited.  Other teams have only score...

  Sometimes surprises are sweet.  One of the most interesting stories in hockey is the development of the so-called role players of the Los Angeles Kings.  Too bad the Toronto Hockey League Network would never know this, because they can’t see past the blue haze of their favorite sons. Our gain is their loss, and a lot more losses for Kings’ opponents.    Earlier this year, I felt like there was one stand out as The Most Improved player.  Now the water is muddied by the continued, almost astonishing, improvement in play by multiple players. I have to start out with a player that drove me nuts last year, Mikey Anderson.  Game after game last year he made bad pass after bad pass and appeared to be a human turnover.  His play moving backwards in our zone was pretty good, but he really struggled to see the ice and make timely decisions to get the team out of the zone.  Largely that problem was solved over the summer.  Anderson has been ...