Erik Ersberg Leading Kings' Charge

Erik Ersberg continues to win games and the Kings are moving up in the Western Conference standings after a slow start.

The overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks was a 1-0 heartbreaker, but Erik has been outstanding in his four starts, leading the Kings to a 3-0-1 record. Coach Terry Murray has already indicated that he will start his fifth game in a row tomorrow night in Dallas.

I was fully behind having a No. 1 netminder at the start of the season instead of a constant carousel. Jason LaBarbera didn't play poorly, but he just lacked that big save ability. At one point, the Kings were 1-6 in games decided by a goal. In Ersberg's four starts, the Kings are 2-0-1 in one-goal games.

I can't help but wonder if Erik Ersberg is the ONE that Kings fans have been waiting for.

A lot of hype has gone into Jonathan Bernier and Jeff Zatkoff. Jonathan Quick is also developing well. However, Erik Ersberg is rarely in the discussion when people discuss the future for the Kings.

In 14 appearances last season, Ersberg posted a respectable 6-5-3 record, with a 2.48 GAA and .927 save percentage. His performance was dismissed due to the Kings being out of the playoff race and playing without any pressure. I don't buy the lack of pressure argument; it was his first taste of the NHL and that was pressure enough.

This year in five appearances he has a microscopic 1.93 GAA. What is it really going to take for people to start taking notice of this guy?

Fans and analysts have written off the Kings this year and will do so every year until Jonathan Bernier makes his arrival. The solution could already be here.

It has always been a size issue with Ersberg. That he is too small has always been the knock. He has late bloomer written all over him.

This is especially clear in his comments about how the NHL has been the easiest league he has played in when it comes to reading the play in front of him. The players are more polished and he knows what to expect.

He makes big saves, is a black hole when it comes to not leaving rebounds, and is getting great support from the team, allowing less than 20 shots per game.

It is a little premature, but come January you should not be surprised if the Kings' netminder of the future has a different name than expected.