alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />I will fully admit that I stole that title from a reader’s comment last night, but I thought it was really sharp. As was Anze Kopitar again last night, as he pushed his team-high goal total to 13 (in 16 games) and his league-high point total to 26. Kopitar’s play is so consistently strong that reporters are running out of original questions to ask about him, but one came up last night, when Terry Murray was asked if he had raised his expectations for Kopitar since the start of the season.
MURRAY: Yeah, they’re getting there. We’re looking for him, that line, to be an elite line in the game, absolutely. They are our No. 1 line, and when you have that kind of expectation put on you, as a coaching staff, as an organization, then there’s a need to respond. I’m seeing a more consistent kind of effort, that shows he wants to be that player. Now that’s up there at the top of the scoring in the National Hockey League, that kind of internal pressure, or response, is there. That’s what drives players to the next level, and that’s where you become a great player. It’s whenever you have those internal instincts taking over, and it looks like, at times, they are.”
A note: When Kopitar scores a goal, the Kings have an 8-1 record this season. When he doesn’t, they’re 2-3-2. Moreover, he seems to have an impact on his teammates. In games in which Kopitar scores, the Kings are averaging 4.7 goals per game. When he doesn’t score, they’re averaging 2.0 goals per game. Even if you subtract the goals Kopitar himself scored, it’s still a wide difference.
Heading off to the 11 a.m. practice now…
How about KOPI-alls-TAR
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Rich, perhaps you could offer this suggestion to someone who could facilitate change…
When David Courtney announces a Kings goal, he says… Los Angeles goal, scoring his XXth goal of the season, Number XX…
I’d love to see them go back to the pre-Courtney (Dennis Packer) era, and say… “scoring his XXth goal, and XXth point of the season…”
It’s minutia for sure, but especially with Kopi, as the points pile up, it’s nice to hear both numbers.
Agreed? Anyone?
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What a joke. I cant believe Dumbardi wasted our off season on a mediocre d-man an over the hill left wing and a broken down right wing. This team will never make it………… I’m so glad we aren’t seeing many comments like that anymore. I know you guys are still hiding out there in the weeds just waiting to pounce on the 1st weakness you see….. Here’s to keeping you in the weeds through the finals…GO KINGS
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Can’t wait Until the Blackhawks game on National TV.
The Kings have arrived!
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its great that Rich no longer has to use his pseudonym “Anthony” to spread the King’s “doom and gloom” and rile up the die-hard Kings fans to increase his post counts. Now he can just sit back and allow the players themselves to motivate all of us to post and revel in our team’s play. Just kidding Rich, but it must be nice to see the post counts up between 50-80 consistently. I attribute this both to the success of the team AND your dutiful and informative reporting. thank you! … oh and thank you Kings! Keep it up!
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I love the Los Anzeles Kigns! That’s a great name by Matt’s friend… whoever that is, props to you!
I’ve been looking down the road a bit, imagining what it will be like living in LA again with a winning hockey club. Exciting indeed!
But then a scary thought occurred to me. So I put finger to keyboard and came up with this…
http://deepinsidethekings.com/2009/11/06/the-los-angeles-ducks/
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Hey Teddy, can I come over and watch it at your house? Unfortunately, I have DirecTV…
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I almost think there should be a public viewing party for those of us with DirecTV for Monday’s game.
I’ll be watching a streaming feed from somewhere on the internet.
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@ Marc Nathan: totally agree
ALSO one of the things I love that the Rangers do after every home win is gather at center ice and raise their sticks to the fans. Rich you have to ask Brownie if the players are aware of such traditions in different buildings (NYR only started that after the lockout) and if they want to start one…
I think it would be especially meaningful for the Kings fans given that the patience over the past few years is finally paying off….
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Finally the Kings are being regarded as an elite team with elite players. I knew this day would come but didn’t expect it to be so soon.
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Does anyone know if the game against nashville tommorow is broadcasted? I cannot seem to find it on NHL center ice. Yahoo sports has no network name next to the game… thanks
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Shakes….. They do that at the Ontario Reign games
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The Blackhawks game won’t be on National TV. Seven people will watch it on VS. Damn effing shame, IMO! I can’t even pay extra to see it on DirecTV. Frankly, it should be included in the Center Ice package, regardless of all the BS between the networks–I PAID man!
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Marc Nathan -
agreed and I second the motion
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What is the Kings’ record when they wear the third jersey? It seems like they have a better winning percentage in those jersey. They look a lot better too. The Kings should switch to those jerseys full time.
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That is the kind of game I have waiting to see the Kings play!!! All four lines played great and Quick finally played the way we expect him to!
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Sev The Kings Fan From Montreal,
Bob Miller announced on the telecast last night that the Nashville game will not be televised.
Hope this helps,
THEROCKNROLL80S
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Sev: Tomrrow’s game isn’t on my NHL Center Ice either, so I’m guessing Nashville isn’t broadcasting it either. Big surprise there.
I still like what the NHL Network is calling Kopitar: The A-Train. :D
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Matter of fact, if you go to the Predators website and view their schedule, it doesn’t show any TV coverage either. I still don’t get how an NHL game in the United States on a weekend could go completely without TV coverage. Makes you wonder how on the ball the NHL really is about this stuff?
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And after this spectacular win,
TSN … Canada’s sports leader and NHL cheerleader had this to say:
Zero
Zilch
Maybe there was something on the site last night but is there anything on the front page today about the Los Angeles Kings defeating the Stanley Cup Champions and ending run at record road wins???
Nope
Are they still pissed about the Gretzky thing???
Jeez you’d think they’d be over it by now.
Also count me as one AGAINST the scoring announcement change idea … I like it as is.
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Cynic–
Hate to say this, but the Versus-NHL-DirecTV feud is why I have ALL THREE services (Cable/DirecTV/ATT-Uverse)…
I know. My wife HATES me right now. But if you like your hockey, football AND baseball, the ridiculous restrictions created with one-provider per region rules, plus the tradition of putting LA teams on channels 5, 9, 11 and 13 means cable is required, DirecTV is required and ATT is required (for the most reliable/fastest internet) in Bakersfield. Add on to that the local feuds (examples: the Quacks are completely blacked out in Bakersfield–considered a LOCAL market–can’t see a Crown-Quacks game EVER on local cable; what happened to HD hockey coverage?) and the in-season variables and there are gaps in coverage ALWAYS.
Advantage? The best flat-screen split-screen sports coverage a man can find. Disadvantage? Complete feminine disdain…
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keep up the consistent play and everything will follow—play-offs ect
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Let’s make Los Anzeles stick, please.
Great win last night against the (slightly wounded) defending champs.
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Here’s something we haven’t seen in the past several years – last night the Kings v. Penguins was a top story on Sports Center. Highlights were within the first 5 minutes of the show. Not only that – the lead in was the Kings logo and a picture of Anze and not Sid the Kid.
Lovin it!
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@ Matt George – TSN hates the Kings. It’s clearly personal. Up until Monday, they still had the Kings in the lower half of the power rankings (I went around and around with Scott.Cullen@ctv.ca, the rotisserie geek who maintains it, and he claims it’s an objective ‘methodology.’) Monday, they showed up 13th, while everyone else has them in the top ten.
@ Bako, you’re the man! It’s all about the BS they call “intellectual property,” a failed enlightenment-era scheme in which governments claim forms of information can be infinitely copied, shared publicly and owned by some corporate pig third party at the same time, all without any mutual agreement between the parties. The concept goes away entirely sometime before the middle of the 21st century.
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Rich,
Los Anzeles doesn’t work for me. It’s reads like Anze-less which obviously isn’t true.
Personally, I like KopiStar.
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Anzeles did some incredible stuff last night for sure. But I can help but think that without the fore/back check work of Parse, Smyth and Brown, the 3rd period may have a red light special for both side.
They made the pens break outs very sloppy and then our D capitalized on that.
Team effort FOR THE WIN!
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Los Anzeles KopiStar
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after 42 years it’s time to turn LOS Angeles into WIN Angeles.
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These are the ONLY rankings that matter! – http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/standings?season=2010&group=league&column=points&order=false&seasontype=2&standType=standings
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Anze went from Chokitar to Kopistar in the matter of one summer. It is amazing what hard work and conditioning can do for you. Go Kings!
Also, anyone else going to the Kings vs. Predators game?
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Like that, @What’s the Frequency Kenneth! Best of both worlds. Last night was so much fun to watch. Jim Fox couldn’t stop raving about Fro, too. It’s all good when we win like that.
@wavesinair – don’t even think such horrible things. LA Ducks of Anaheim. Shudder.
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For anyone in Canada the Kings/Hawks game will be shown on TSN2
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Ill be at the game, Sat. GO KINGS GO
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I agree with Marc Nathan, goal and points over pa! Let’s keep it positive boys, there will be some bad games, just like any team has. We need to back them during those moments too!
Love the team, thank you Dean!!!!!
Great job Rich and the Kings fans rocked Staples last night!
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I’ll be at the game Saturday. I will also be helping KingsCare before the game collecting food for the LA Regional Food bank. Will anyone attending the game PLEASE bring non-perishible food as a donation? I know money is tight right now, but everyone has a spare can of soup, pasta mix, power bars, etc. and every little bit helps. KingsCare does provide raffle tickets for many team signed items as a thank you for participating.
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I’ll be the first to admit ive ragged fro a few times on here, but they need him this season if they want to keep 3 effective scoring lines going, i hope somehow they can keep him happy on that line, wow this teams a legitamite 3 line scoring team, nice to have the depth, if they can keep it this way, every teams going to have trouble keeping pucks out!
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Hey any one know when ersberg will start?, i know tm said not sat, or mon but after that?
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2316, look for the next back-to-back on the roadie, and pick the weaker team. I’d say that’s a good bet.
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Your pick: Atlanta or Tampa Bay.
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I’ll be at the game too. Hope I can get up that early ;)
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Los Anzeles Kingsistar
…too far?
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Did anyone else notice the grin exchanged between Kopitar and Smyth after Kopitar drove hard to the net and got smoked by Orpik? It’s like he was saying, see I can do it too :-). I don’t think it’s a coincidence how his game has risen to the level it has with Smyth on his line this year. This trade could go down as one of the best Kings trades ever! We have not had a player of Smyth’s caliber since Deadmarsh who is one of my favorite players of all time.
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Shakes-
The Sharks ’salute’ the fans after a victory at well (at least they did when I went to the Kings-Sharks game in San Jose)
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I liked watching Kopi get sent flying into the boards by Orpik last night. That’s the sort of engagement he should expect, get used to, and even welcome when he’s playing at the top of his game and getting involved around the net. Sure, he’ll get popped, but the more fearless he is, the more effective he’s going to be. He’s obviously learning something important from Smyth. Way to play, Anze!
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Wow, Rich, I didn’t know that the clever nickname would made such an impression. I’ll let the guy who came up with it know, I’m sure he’ll be thrilled… :)
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The A-Train crushed Sid the Kid.
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Thanks Marc for your comment. I do miss saying, as the Kings entered the arena, “Now taking the ice, your Los Angeles Kings.” My 11 full-time years with the Kings was one of the real highlights of my announcing career: the excitement of announcing the “Mirale on Manchester,” the 1981 All-Star game, the Soviet Red Army v. Kings in 1985, fight cards with Dave “Tiger” Williams, and scorers like Guy LaFleur, Marcel Dionnne, Gordie Howell and Wayne Gretzky, to name a few, and the great people and fans behind the glass; I will never forget. Sure wish they would have a reunion night!
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