CHL Mississippi RiverKings

Power-Play Struggles Big Concern For Kings

Published on February 23, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Mississippi RiverKings News Release


Memphis Sport

The Kings know they have to get better on special teams to stay in the hunt for a CHL playoff berth. The Kings have to come together as a group. We have to focus because powerplays are something that can win you games and a penalty kill keeps you in them.

Our special teams have got to get a lot better. The Northern Conference is so tight and teams are so good 5-on-5, you've got to be good on special teams. The Kings are more than a little concerned that a power outage could turn out the lights on their dreams for a playoff berth.

It's something that you have to work at with the different units. The Kings are constantly looking for the pretty pass or the one-on-one move with a high degree of difficulty instead of getting pucks at the net and looking to press the numbers' advantage around the opponent's crease.

Everyone knows what the job needs to be out there, and that's throwing pucks on net and getting some traffic in front and crashing the crease and swatting in a rebound.

Why aren't we doing that? I don't know.

We have to have our point men moving a lot quicker. I'd like to see our points establish a shot early in the power play. We're over-passing it and trying to beat people one-on-one. It doesn't matter who you are playing, it is not going to work.

We have to win more battles than we have, but that's indicative of a lot of parts of the King's game. Not winning the individual battles in the corners, getting loose pucks to the net, getting ugly in front of the net and willing to take a punch to the nose in order to score.

That's the way I see it and I'm Joe Sports.

Game Day/ Mississippi at Missouri (7:05 PM - WHBQ-AM)

Here I sit in my hotel room, getting ready for tonight's game verus the Mavericks. The Kings finished last week with a 3-1-0 record.The Kings begin this week with an overall record of 25-21-6 for 56 points and fourth place in the Northern Conference standings. The Kings are six points behind third place Bossier-Shreveport in the conference standings and are three points ahead of fifth place Tulsa.

The Kings have a 5-4-0 record against the first-year Mavericks, but are 0-3-0 in Missouri. Kings Netminders - Mark Sibbald is 2-1-0 in games against Missouri, while Tim Boron has a record of 0-1-0 in meetings with the Mavericks.

The Mavericks are 24-23- 4- for 52 points. The top three producers for the Mavericks are Jeff Christian (RW granted leave by league )(26goals, 37 assists) 63 points, Nick Sirota (17goals, 23 assists) 40 points and Jeff MacDermid (19goals,14assists) for 33 points.

Between the pipes, Gerry Festa has a goals against average of 2.31 and netminder Charlie Effinger has a goals against average of 2.45.

Mississippi is 25-21-6 for 56 points for fourth place in the Northeast Division. The top three producers are Ryan Held (24goals,31assists )55 points, Louis Dumont (18goals, 32assists) 50 points and Bobby Chaumont (17 goals, 20assists) for 37 points.

Between the pipes for the Kings - Mark Sibbald has a goals against average of 3.23 and Tim Boron has a goals against average of 3.44.

What Tuesday's Game means to the RiverKings

A tough loss on Saturday vs the Eagles. Conference is too close, we need to start separating ourselves from the Mavericks and Oilers and keep in reach of the Mudbugs.

THE WILDCARDS

Sibbald should get the start. He played a strong two periods versus the Eagles. The Kings powerplay has to get on board.

THE SICK BAY:

THE PREDICTION:

What do we need to do to win this game? The same thing we did on Friday night versus the Eagles. Play 60 minutes of hockey. Crash the net, shoot more, win the battle against the boards and hopefully we can get our powerplay working.

The Kings must put their hardhats on and rub on copious amounts of elbow grease. The Kings need to start hammering the puck on the goaltenders.

No more dipsy-doodles and cross-ice passes looking for the highlight reel goals. Drive the puck on net, crash the crease, and get some garbage goals like the other teams do.

Sibbald needs to come up with a solid game. If the Kings skate and play like they did against the Eagles, we'll win this game. We need these two points.

The other big game for RiverKing fans to watch. Texas is playing the Mudbugs tonight. Go- Texas- Go !!

Tonight the Kings will play the Mavericks in Missouri. Tuesday's game will be available on Sports 56, WHBQ-AM with Bob Bakken providing the play-by-play. The pre-game show starts at 6:50. The drop off the puck is at 7:05pm The game is also available on CHL-TV.

The boys and I will rev it up one more time tonight. Go- Kings- Go !!. I'm Joe Sports. Have a great day.

Upcoming games for the Kings

The Kings return home after their road trip, Friday, February 26th - Wichita is in town and on Saturday, the Allen Americans invade the DCC. Both games are at 7:05 pm - Radio-WHBQ-AM and CHL-TV.

Kings DCC Update

Having your jersey number retired ranks as one of the greatest recognitions of past accomplishments a sports franchise can give one of its athletes.

The Mississippi RiverKings of the Central Hockey League are about to give that recognition to just the second player in team history. March 13th has been set as the date for the retirement of the number "13" jersey worn by all-time scoring leader Don Parsons.

The RiverKings are scheduled to play the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs that night in a 7:05 PM contest at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven.

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Central Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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