Los Angeles Times - 31.10.2019

The Kansas City Chiefs remain hopeful that injured quarterback Patrick Ma- homes will be available when they play the Minne- sota Vikings on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes, who dislo- cated his right kneecap two weeks ago in Denver, prac- ticed on a limited basis last week before he was declared out Friday. Matt Moore started in his place and played well against the Green Bay Pack- ers, keeping the Chiefs in the game before losing 31-24. “We’ll see how it goes. I’m taking it day by day here,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “I’m going to watch them do their thing and see how they do.” Among the many things Reid wants to see in practice is the way Mahomes moves on his knee. “We do enough stuff where he has to move around and you get a chance to see,” Reid said. “He’s been moving pretty good. You saw that before our game, he was out running around. And ob- viously I will be talking and communicating with the doctors.”

Helmet discomfort Standout left tackle Trent Williams is back at the Washington Redskins’ practice facility, but there’s no certainty that he’ll play at all this season. Williams didn’t practice Wednesday, less than 24 hours after reporting follow- ing a lengthy holdout. Inter- im coach Bill Callahan said the 31-year-old failed his physical and couldn’t practice because of discomfort with his helmet. “All I know is the helmet wasn’t comfortable, little discomfort in there,” Call- ahan said. Williams previously had a growth on his head removed, and the dispute that led to his holdout centered on Washington’s medical staff and its handling of that situ- ation. The Redskins an- nounced they got a roster ex- emption for the seven-time Pro Bowl selection, who was not in the locker room when it was open to reporters.

Jets safety angry New York Jets safety Ja- mal Adams is angry that the team tried to trade him days after he said he wanted to stay a Jet long term. “Not saying I’m the great- est ever,” Adams tweeted on Wednesday. “But you shouldn’t tell a guy you are the cornerstone of the team on Friday, that you won’t be moved, and then negotiate terms with other teams 3 days later ... But look, I’m at

peace with everything! It’s all Luv!” Adams is bothered that general manager Joe Doug- las even listened to trade of- fers for him before the NFL’s deadline Tuesday to deal players — despite the con- versation the two had just days earlier. “I know he has a job to do and I respect that,” Adams told reporters. “But I hold myself in a high regard. I’ve done everything they’ve asked me to do since I’ve been here for the three years, so I didn’t take that lightly. I really didn’t.” The 24-year-old Adams was the Jets’ first-round pick in 2017 and quickly de- veloped into one of the best safeties in the league.

Raiders lose center The Oakland Raiders are preparing to make do without the anchor of their offensive line. Center Rodney Hudson missed practice on Wednes- day with a sprained ankle that knocked him out of last week’s loss at Houston and appears unlikely to be able to play this week against the Detroit Lions.

NFL NOTES

Chiefs cross fingers

Mahomes will play

associated press

LATIMES.COM/SPORTS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2019D3

WESTERN CONFERENCE Pacific W LOLPtsGFGA Edmonton 9 4 1 19 42 37 Vancouver 8 3 1 17 47 30 Vegas 8 5 0 16 42 36 DUCKS 8 6 0 16 39 35 Arizona 7 4 1 15 35 28 Calgary 6 6 2 14 37 41 San Jose 4 8 1 9 32 48 KINGS 4 9 0 8 34 54 Central W LOLPtsGFGA Colorado 8 2 2 18 47 34 Nashville 8 3 1 17 48 34 St. Louis 7 3 3 17 39 40 Winnipeg 6 7 0 12 36 44 Dallas 5 8 1 11 31 39 Chicago 3 6 2 8 25 34 Minnesota 4 9 0 8 30 45 Note: Overtime or shootout losses worth one point.

EASTERN CONFERENCE Metropolitan W LOLPtsGFGA Washington 9 2 3 21 54 46 Carolina 8 3 1 17 39 30 N.Y. Islanders 8 3 0 16 34 27 Pittsburgh 8 5 0 16 46 31 Columbus 5 5 2 12 31 43 Philadelphia 5 5 1 11 36 38 N.Y. Rangers 4 5 1 9 33 35 New Jersey 2 5 3 7 28 43 Atlantic W LOLPtsGFGA Boston 9 1 2 20 41 25 Buffalo 9 2 2 20 44 33 Florida 6 3 4 16 47 51 Toronto 6 5 3 15 49 49 Montreal 6 4 2 14 45 37 Tampa Bay 6 4 2 14 42 42 Detroit 4 8 1 9 30 46 Ottawa 3 7 1 7 29 37

NHL STANDINGS

RESULTS

VANCOUVER 5
AT KINGS 3

Brock Boeser scored three times, twice on the power play, and Elias Pettersson collected three assists.

MONTREAL 4
AT ARIZONA 1

Brendan Gallagher and Jonathan Drouin each scored their sixth goal of the season to lead the Canadiens.

FLORIDA 4
AT COLORADO 3 (OT)

Jonathan Huberdeau scored the tying goal late in the third then added the winner 29 seconds into overtime.

AT ST. LOUIS 2
MINNESOTA 1

The Blues’ Alex Pietrangelo snapped a tie in the third period and the Wild fell to 1-8 on the road.

EDMONTON 4
AT COLUMBUS 1

Leon Draisaitl had two goals and Mike Smith stopped 23 shots as Edmonton broke a two-game losing streak.

TAMPA BAY 7
AT NEW JERSEY 6 (OT)

Tyler Johnson scored 1:16 into overtime and the Lightning avoided their first three-game skid since March 2018.

For complete NHL summaries, go to latimes.com/sports/scores

TODAY’S GAMES Calgary at Nashville, 5 p.m. Montreal at Vegas, 7 p.m. FRIDAY’S GAMES Vancouver at DUCKS, 7 p.m. Tampa Bay at New York Islanders, 4 p.m. Philadelphia at New Jersey, 4 p.m. Buffalo at Washington, 4 p.m. Detroit at Carolina, 4:30 p.m. Columbus at St. Louis, 5 p.m. Dallas at Colorado, 6 p.m. Winnipeg at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. SATURDAY’S GAMES Chicago at KINGS, 7:30 p.m. Edmonton at Pittsburgh, 10 a.m. New York Rangers at Nashville, 11 a.m. New York Islanders at Buffalo, 4 p.m. Ottawa at Boston, 4 p.m. Detroit at Florida, 4 p.m. Calgary at Columbus, 4 p.m. Montreal at Dallas, 4 p.m. New Jersey at Carolina, 4 p.m. Toronto at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. St. Louis at Minnesota, 5 p.m. Colorado at Arizona, 6 p.m. Winnipeg at Vegas, 7 p.m. Vancouver at San Jose, 7 p.m.

CANUCKS 5, KINGS 3 Vancouver ................................2 1 2 — 5 KINGS.....................................1 1 1 — 3 FIRST PERIOD: 1. KINGS, Carter 3 (Kopitar, Martinez), 3:53. 2. Van., Boeser 5 (Hughes, Pettersson), 17:39 (pp). 3. Van., Horvat 6 (Hughes, Pettersson), 19:34 (pp). Penalties—Clifford, KINGS, major (fighting), 6:28. Ferland, VAN, major (fighting), 6:28. Boeser, VAN, (slashing), 9:48. Lewis, KINGS, (slashing), 12:18. Kempe, KINGS, (hooking), 17:09. Doughty, KINGS, (hooking), 19:24. Carter, KINGS, (tripping), 20:00. SECOND PERIOD: 4. KINGS, Kempe 1 (Kopitar, Doughty), 10:06 (pp). 5. Van., Boeser 6 (Pettersson), 15:17. Penalties—Beagle, VAN, (interference), 9:31. Leivo, VAN, (hooking), 12:05. Wagner, KINGS, (slashing), 19:00. THIRD PERIOD: 6. Van., Boeser 7 (Horvat, Miller), 0:55 (pp). 7. Van., Pettersson 4 (Boeser, Hughes), 15:46 (pp). 8. KINGS, Carter 4 (Doughty, Grundstrom), 18:49. Penalties—Edler, VAN, (tripping), 1:42. Edler, VAN, (tripping), 7:07. Myers, VAN, (hooking), 13:13. Lewis, KINGS, (tripping), 15:28. SHOTS ON GOAL: Van. 15-21-13—49. KINGS 8-7-9—

Power-play conversions—Van. 4 of 6. KINGS 1 of 6.
GOALIES: Van., Markstrom 5-2-1 (24 shots-21
saves). KINGS, Quick 2-6-0 (49-44). Att—15,565
(18,230). T—2:30.

Drew Doughty was un- equivocal on Tuesday after- noon, the Kings’ veteran defenseman’s faith unwavering even in the wake of a sudden losing skid that felt eerily sim- ilar to those that sunk the team last season. “I know that we’re a better team than we were last year,” Doughty said. “There’s no doubt about that.” The Kings’ performance Wednesday night, however, was less convincing. In a 5-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks at Staples Center, they were outshot by a season-worst 49-24, surrendered a season-most four power- play goals and dropped a season-high fourth game in a row. “It affects the whole team,” coach Todd McLellan said of the repeated penalty kills. “It takes guys out of the play. The momentum goes away, or you never get a chance to gain it. You’re either killing or you’re getting scored on.” Where complacency took hold last season — leading to a last-place finish in the West- ern Conference and losing streaks of six, four and 10 games — McLellan this week

tried to light a competitive fire under his squad after three consecutive defeats at the end of last week’s trip. The first-year bench boss inserted rookie forward Carl Grundstrom, recalled this week from the minors, into a newlook top line alongside Jeff Carter and Anze Kopitar. Tyler Toffoli was a healthy scratch, snapping a streak of 207 consecutive appearances (which had been the 20th- longest active such streak in the league). Defenseman Jo- akim Ryan was replaced with Kurtis MacDermid. The message: The Kings are willing to make changes in search of results. Their players understand the new standards. “Last year, the frustrating thing was, early in the season everyone was saying, ‘Oh, it will turn around. It will turn around. It’s going to come.’ It just never turned around,” Doughty said. “This year ... it’s about making it turn around.

I think that’s what our focus is in here. We’re a lot more confi- dent in this team this year than we were last year.” They looked so early Wednesday, striking first after Kopitar (who recorded his 900th career point) set up Carter (who scored twice) in front of the Canucks goal for a backhanded finish. But then the Kings’ pa- rade to the penalty box began. They took four minor penalties in the opening period, leading to two Canucks goals from Brock Boeser (a sharp- angle shot) and Bo Horvat (a deflected point shot). In the second and third, they took two more — both of which the Canucks capitalized on. “We took two or three penalties tonight that were un- necessary,” McLellan said. “They didn’t prevent goals, they didn’t affect the play at all. As a result, the penalty kill goes to work and it’s been very poor, tonight especially ... Certainly not of NHL standards.” Adrian Kempe scored a power-play goal to tie the game at 2-2 in the second before Boeser got behind the Kings’ defense on a partial line change later in the period and lifted a backhanded deke past goalie Jonathan Quick’s blocker for a go-ahead goal. Boeser scored again 55 seconds into the third — the Canucks’ third power-play goal — after his centering pass deflected off Doughty’s skate and into the net for his third career hat trick. Elias Pettersson sniped Quick on the man-advantage

later in the period, dropping the Kings’ season-long penalty kill success rate to 68.8%. “Let’s face it, if we gave up one penalty-kill goal tonight, we’d maybe be talking about a different story,” McLellan said. “We can talk about lines and combinations and sitting guys out and all that [but] the penalty kill is the story.” The Kings will end the season’s opening month with only eight points in 13 games, stuck in last place in the West- ern Conference. Already, vultures are be- ginning to circle (Ottawa Senators general manager Pi- erre Dorion and more than 20 other league scouts and exe- cutives were listed as Staples Center attendees Wednes- day). The promise of the season’s early weeks is fading fast. Yet, their search for answers continues. “We dropped three in a row [before tonight],” Kopitar said. “So you know changes are going to happen.”

Kings searching for answers

The Canucks score

four power-play goals

as McLellan laments

the penalty-kill unit.

VANCOUVER 5 KINGS 3

By Jack Harris

GOALTENDERJona- than Quick faced 49 shots in Vancouver’s victory over the Kings.

Harry HowGetty Images

NFL tonight

SAN FRANCISCO (7-0) AT ARIZONA (3-3-1)

TV: 5:15 PDT, Channel 11, NFL Network. Line:49ers by 10. Over/Under: 421 ⁄ 2. Sam Farmer’s pick:Kyler Murray is unquestionably entertaining, but that 49ers pass rush is going to keep him hemmed in the pocket and limit what he can do. On offense, the 49ers will grind it out on the ground. 49ers 27, Cardinals 13 Troy Aikman says:“I was expecting a lot from Carolina’s game against the 49ers, and it wasn’t even a game. San Francisco took it to them. The 49ers are really talented in a lot of areas, and to be doing it without their two starting tackles, and to see how they’re still running the football, is a real credit to both the players and the coaches.” Joe Buck says:“People are starting to bring up the Lawrence Taylor comparisons with Nick Bosa, which is unfair to both parties, but with seven sacks in seven games, and that interception he had Sunday, you just don’t see that, especially with rookies. But Kyler Murray is fun to watch too. Both teams are happy with their picks.”

In opening the season 3-5,
the Chargers at times have
been accused of lacking ur-
gency.
The same cannot be said
this week of coach Anthony
Lynn, who Monday fired Ken
Whisenhuntas offensive co-
ordinator.
“I just felt like it was time,”
Lynn said Wednesday. “If I
was eventually going to do it,
why not just do it right now?
We have eight weeks left in
this season, and we still have
everything in front of us that
we want.”
Whisenhunt was in his fifth
season overall and fourth in a
row guiding the team’s of-
fense.
He was let go after the
Chargers made it four con-
secutive weeks of being un-
able to run the ball, produce
big plays or consistently reach
the end zone.
In a 17-16 victory Sunday at
Chicago, the offense didn’t
pick up a first down until early
in the second quarter. It took
more than 10 minutes for a
second first down to be
achieved.
“That wasn’t all on Ken,”
Lynn said. “There was no flow.
There was no rhythm. It was
just time for a change.”
The Chargers have aver-
aged only 35.5 yards rushing
over the last four weeks, a per-
formance that has led to the
offense being severely out of
balance. They ran only 12
times against the Bears.
For the season, they’ve
passed on 66.7% of their
snaps, giving them the third-

most lopsided offense in the league. Although the NFL was a different game in the early 1980s, it is worth noting that even the most wide-open of the Air Coryell Chargers never passed more than 60% of the time. “You hate that it got to where we stand today,” quarterback Philip Rivers said. “As a player, when a coach gets let go, you feel deep down, ‘Gosh, I had a hand in that. I need to do a better job.’ I think we all just need to dig deep and keep going and find a way to get it turned around.” Said running back Austin Ekeler: “Ken was here when I first made the team. That was probably one of the reasons why I made the team, because he liked me on the field. So I’ll never forget him as an OC.” Starting Sunday against Green Bay, Shane Steichen will take over calling plays. He has been the Chargers quarterback coach since 2016, but this will be his first experi- ence as a play caller. At 34, he’s three years younger than Riv- ers, though Lynn is convinced Steichen is ready for the pro- motion. “He’s young,” Lynn said. “He’s innovative. He has a lot of juice. I think the players are going to respond to Shane. He’s a good communicator. I’m just looking forward to seeing him do his job.” Lynn can relate to what’s in front of Steichen. Two weeks, and two losses, into the 2016 season, Lynn took over play calling for the Buffalo Bills, the immediate result being four consecutive victories.

He said the key to that turnaround was simplifying the offense, which allowed the Bills to play faster and more physical. Lynn said that play calling can be “kind of addicting.” He also said he has “always had the urge to call plays again, for sure.” But he also spoke of the importance of the coach dele- gating to his assistants. Although Whisenhunt was the Chargers’ play caller, Lynn was involved in the process and said he “had to hold back” at times to avoid disrupting the rhythm the offense was trying to establish. He’ll con- tinue to assist in making those decisions, particularly as Ste- ichen transitions into his ex- panded role. But Lynn said the play-calling duties ulti- mately will fall to his newly ap- pointed interim coordinator. “I’m going to let him call it,” Lynn said. “I do not want him looking over his shoulder for any reason. I will assist like I’ve always assisted, but I have a lot of confidence in Shane and our offensive staff to get this done.” Offensive line coach Pat Meyerwill coordinate the running game, a significant assignment for a team that has struggled trying to rein- corporate Melvin Gordon. The team’s No. 1 running back, Gordon sat out the first four games after ending an ill- fated contract holdout. He has averaged only 2^1 ⁄ 2 yards and scored one touchdown in 44 carries. Lynn, a former NFL running back and running backs coach, dismissed the notion

that he is driven to primarily move the ball on the ground. During that 2016 season in Buffalo, the Bills led the league in rushing. “There is this narrative that I just want to run the ball all the time and that’s not true,” he said. “I just want to win. I want to advance the ball down the field [the] best way possible. Sometimes that’s passing and sometimes that’s going to be running. But I do expect a better balance.” Even though Steichen will be calling plays for the first time, Lynn and Rivers said they anticipate that his expe- rience has him ready for the job. A former quarterback at Nevada Las Vegas, he has been coaching in the NFL since 2011. What develops over the next eight games could have a major effect on Steichen’s fu- ture, along with so many oth- ers in the organization. “I guess you could say it’s an audition,” Lynn said. “I believe in him. I believe he’s going to do a heck of a job. We’ll see what happens for all of us after the season.”

Etc. Starting defensive tackles Justin Jones (knee) and Brandon Mebane (shoulder) sat out practice. They have sat out the last two games. ... Receiver Keenan Allen(hamstring), left tackle Russell Okung(calf) and safety Roderic Teamer (groin) were limited. ... Kicker Michael Badgley, who sat out the first eight games because of a groin injury, will re- turn Sunday.

MIKE WILLIAMSof the Chargers can’t grab a pass while defended by Chicago’s Eddie Jackson on Sunday.

Nuccio DiNuzzoGetty Images

CHARGERS REPORT

Lynn has confidence in Steichen

By Jeff Miller

Los Angeles Times - 31.10.2019

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