Good to see Mats Zuccarello back in action with the Kings.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a bumpy start in Los Angeles for the veteran winger, outside of his control. He sustained a shoulder injury just before training camp, which limited his practice participation during camp and he was the only veteran player to get just one exhibition game, though he looked pretty effective in the preseason finale against Anaheim. He played each of the first three games of the season, collecting his first point in San Jose, but after the loss against Florida, Zuccarello was placed on injured reserve, which cost him a couple of weeks. <\/p>\n
He was out ever since, until yesterday, that is, as he returned to the lineup in the win over Washington. <\/p>\n
Overall, it wasn\u2019t the start he wanted with a new organization and that brought on some frustration, in not getting up to speed as quickly as he\u2019d like. But he\u2019s got a chance now to settle in and integrate into the group, at a pivotal moment early in the season, which is where his focus is. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to come in and make an impact,\u201d Zuccarello said. \u201cWhen you miss camp and miss time, especially in a new group, it\u2019s not even just on the ice, it\u2019s getting to know everyone outside, around the locker room. When you\u2019re hurt during camp, early in the season, you feel kind of like an outsider, so that sucks, but it\u2019s a part of the game. It\u2019s a long season, I\u2019ve got time to settle in here and it\u2019s a great group of guys, easy to get along with. So, I just have to find my groove on the ice, feel comfortable. New system, new players, so a little bit of an adjustment, but hopefully that\u2019s not going to take too long.\u201d<\/p>\n
In terms of last night, Zuccarello didn\u2019t think he was perfect. But in watching the game, I thought he looked pretty effective and you could see things in his game that the Kings have really lacked, playing with the puck.<\/p>\n
There are still a lot of areas of his game he wants to get back to a higher level and in one game, he didn\u2019t think they were quite there. I think that\u2019s to be expected. He had a shortened training camp and what I felt was a slightly impacted training camp, meaning that even when he was on the ice, he wasn\u2019t a full participant on a lot of days. With camp shorter as it is, on top of the new fit, there\u2019s more to come. He knows that. Speaks to the standard Zuccarello has for himself and the top gear he is certainly capable of.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, I feel like I\u2019ve got a little bit to go to get my timing,\u201d Zuccarello said. \u201cObviously, I missed part of the camp, so getting your hockey conditioning up and timing and seeing the ice. The most important thing is that we won. Hopefully can get some confidence in the group and keep going like that, so that one was big.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zuccarello is here to help the Kings score more goals. He\u2019s got an eye for the game offensively and, all in all, he thought that the team created a little bit more than he saw in the past few games. <\/p>\n
I don\u2019t think anyone would really argue with that. The coaching staff felt it. Offensively, the Kings created more than they have been. With that came a looser defensive game, which they\u2019d like to clean up, but when you bury five goals in 60 minutes \u2013 one more than was scored in the previous four games combined \u2013 I think you\u2019ve got to accept what came along with that in the interim. The Kings had Darcy Kuemper to clean up a few messes and he did that. <\/p>\n
Offensively, though, the Kings were far more cohesive and dangerous and they got rewarded with the five goals and two points.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we were able to create a little bit more, to be honest with you, once we settled in,\u201d he said. \u201cYesterday was good. First line played really well, created a lot of chances. We had a couple. Every line, I think, played pretty good. There\u2019s some things on the back end we need to clean up, but that\u2019s just a part of the game, it goes fast out there. We\u2019re playing good teams, so you\u2019re not going to be able to take away everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
For his part, Peter Laviolette was very happy to have Zuccarello back. Zuccarello\u2019s gifts are greatest at the offensive end of the ice and that is exactly where the Kings need the most help. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe brings offense, he had a couple of really good chances, there was one in the second period where he walked in, puck was on his stick from about 10, 12 feet out, and the goalie made a nice save. It\u2019s nice to have him back. We\u2019re short on offensive pieces and to get guys like that back, I think especially with QB leaving the game five minutes in, having him back in there was a help. We need our guys back in the lineup, healthy, and back in in the lineup.\u201d<\/p>\n
Good first night back and Zuccarello seemed to come out of the game feeling good, which is always worth monitoring after that first one. Would expect him to continue to build his game from here. If he finds the timing he spoke about, he\u2019s a massive help for the group offensively.<\/p>\n
No update this morning on Quinton Byfield, consider things \u201cday-to-day\u201d with him but expecting the Kings to call someone up for \u201cprecautionary measures\u201d per Peter Laviolette. <\/p>\n
I am expecting that player to be Jared Wright, who will meet the team on Long Island.<\/p>\n