Dean Lombardi, Ron Hextall and a large portion of the hockey operations and other front-office staff is here in Toronto today, while the Kings are in Chicago preparing to face the Blackhawks. Based on the morning skate at United Center, the Kings aren’t expected to make any lineup changes, with Jonathan Quick starting in goal and Peter Harrold and Randy Jones sitting out.
Also, even though this is now one of the posted rules, it always comes up, so I’m going to politely ask for no comments regarding the “streaming” websites for games. Obviously I don’t care if you view them, and I certainly understand the frustration of not being able to see the game on TV, but those sites are still illegal and I appreciate folks not using my blog to push traffic to them. Thanks…
It’s just not right. Went to look on my guide for the VS game tonight and saw that they are showing a lovely program called “blackout”. The rest of the US can watch the Kings game and we Kings fans get to watch the radio (in my case the radio via the internet).
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Are there other GM’s in town too? ie a chance for DL to talk to the others about trades and what not? Kinda like the GM meetings and stuff when lots of new talks begin?
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I don’t understand. Why would it be blacked out here when it’s on Vs everywhere else? It’s not a home game. It’s not like we have the option to actually go to the game. What is the logic behind that? Why, for example, would Vs, with its INCREDIBLE MARKET SHARE DUE TO BULL RIDING, want to limit its viewership?
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Time to make a big impression after a tough lackluster loss to Nashville. Hopefully the emotional highs and lows of the last few games have worn off and we can get back to solid hockey. It’s a long season and creating a good stretch on this trip and the rest of this month will be important as we head into a tough Dec and Jan. Go Kings!
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Off topic, but a nice article on NHL.com about Bernier vs. Zatkoff
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=505390
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Quisp,
I have spoke to Direct TV here is the deal, DTV and Vs. couldnt reach a agreement on what DTV would pay to carry VS. so they dropped the channel I think the thought that VS. would agree and agree with what DTV wanted to pay. But VS. called DTV bluff so that is where we stand.
At the begining of the year I was all pissed that VS didnt cover more Kings games on national TV now I happy they dont because evertime a game is on VS then it wont be on Center Ice Package.
Basically VS. owns the games it has on its network so if you have cable you are cool you will have the game tonighe on VS. but for us with DTV, the on way to have Center Ice is to have DTV but we will not have the game tonight. So now I have to go to a bar and beg for them to turn the KINGS game on over Monday Night Football in Ft. Worth Tx. Good luck to me! hahahha
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Go Kings tonight….Let’s get back to our winning ways!
I can see both sides to the argument of promoting the live streams.
Since this is a team website and a team-owned blog, I can totally understand Rich’s point of not having it on this website, but I find it comical that companies(Direct TV, Versus) can deny their viewership the right to see the game,thru no fault of the consumer, yet attempt to shut down websites that allow these same innocent viewers the opportunity to view the game.
It’s the same thing with direct TV and the NFL package.
You would think Bettman would get involved to protect the fans interest…and there goes another pig flying past my window!
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Chris Bond
Now you know how the people with cable feel about the NFL package…
We’re all getting screwed!
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Let me get this straight. For those of us who reside in LA and have versus, the game will be blacked-out???
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Khanon, If you live anywhere and have DTV then you are screwed but if you have cable and have Vs. you are cool. It dont matter where you live at all just if you have Vs. DTV dropped Vs. so we cants see the game even with Center Ice package.
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I have ATT Uverse and it shows Versus as having the game on tonight. Don’t know about Time Warner tho.
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I’ll be at the game, suckas!
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HERE IS THE DEAL IF YOU HAVE VS YOU HAVE THE GAME…..Period.
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in best Cartman voice:
NA NA NA NA NA NAH, HA HA HA HA HA
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Oh, thanks for the reminder, Rich. Forgot about that option.
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WRT DirecTV, Versus and the NHL, it’s fairly obvious they don’t give a crap about the fans.
BTW, DirecTV claims Versus wants them to pay more than anyone else, including Dish Network.
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The NHL really don’t give a crap about fans, and that evident in the placement of expansion teams and the insistence to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix. Just move all the expansion teams to Canada already, or perhaps move a couple to Portland and Seatle… Move detroit and chicago to the east, where they belong
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I have Dish Network and VS is available and will be showing the game tonight. So the only people that have it “blacked out” are Direct TV subscribers…and not because of location, but because of the lack of contract between them and VS.
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OR somelousyfeedthatfreezesupthreesecondsbeforeagoalisscored.net
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Chris,
I think the only GM’s looking to deal right now are Carolina and Minnesota. The rest are just having a slow start. If the Ducks don’t pick up their game soon… I could mention Toronto but all they have is Kaberle and who wants to overpay for him?
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Chris,
The President of Versus was on ‘NHL Live’ – Here’s their side of it:
“We have an offer to them on the table which is for not one extra penny than what they were paying before, and we’re not asking for any extra money or extra distribution,” Davis said. “We just wanted to continue on a status-quo deal with no strings attached and they have rejected that.”
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=503276
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Time for the Kings to get over the Penguins post-game hangover and get into their A-Game! It’s about damn time.
The entire team sucked on Saturday versus Nashville the only player pulling through and saving the team’s ass was Quick…but he can only stake it out for so long…he’s just one man
Let’s kick Chicago’s butt today!
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Chris, the GM meeting are also this week too in Toronto, with various issues being discussed including a new helmet for fighting. I’m sure trade ideas are talked about and possible foundations for future deal are set up.
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i didnt even know there was site that were streaming the game lol
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With all due respect to the DirecTV subscribers, it’s 1 game out of the year. If I were you I’d have a much bigger problem with Saturday’s game with Nashville not having TV coverage at all. It’s outrageous to me that in 2009 there could be an NHL game that goes without any TV coverage, but that’s apparently what happened. There wasn’t even video of the game on NHL.com.
The DirecTV thing is a mess that will get resolved eventually. It’s not going to end up like the NFL and cable companies because the NHL can’t afford to have it’s biggest national broadcaster shut out of one of the most prolific distribution outlets available to it.
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A bit of topic but on the subject of broadcasting… Has anyone else noticed EXCESSIVE and REPETITIVE problems on FSN during the games this fall? I have TW cable and the image gets scrambled and freezes up for a couple-three seconds at a time (of course when it matters the most!). Don’t recall anything that bad and consistent last season although I did listen to majority of games on the radio and, yes, watched some on the web while burning midnight oil at the office.
Rich, could you please post a list of the sites we cannot mention here? JK
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I think all Kings fans agree on one point–
Bettman is bad for the NHL.
How is it that Anschutz’s buddy is still pulling the strings in Hockey?
And, why are Canadians allowing it?
The NHL needs major exposure even if it’s for less money.
I fully believe that a system of Promotion and Relegation would increase interest AND funds.
Anyone else agree?
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Nevertheless, its going to be nice hearing someone other than Jim Fox!
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@Paul from Oxnard – That would be one thing if it were just the slugs trying to get Kings games for free. People who pay WAY TOO MUCH for NHL Center Ice just for access to the Kings games are also being deprived.
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Thanks for the tip Chris Bond. I just got my $50 credit. Here’s the deal. If you call Direct TV and ask for the $50 Center Ice credit, They HAVE to give to you since they promised every game available in their ads for the package. So until they negotiate a deal with VS any center ice purchaser is due the $50 credit. That is what I was told by a very helpful customer service rep at DTV.
This Blog is paying dividends!
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Since I have digital cable, I totally forgot that the Versus/Direct TV thing was still an issue. Joe Benenati and Brian Engblom with the call. I’m sure you all have your sources for the game (radio/whatever), but midway thru the second period, Kings 1 – Blackhawks 1. Madden for the Hawks, Kopitar for the Kings on a rebound from a Doughty slapper.
Kings look good and it’s a fun, up-tempo game so far…
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oops… Joe Benenatti and Ed Olcyk, not Engblom… my bad.
Two periods in the books, Kings 1 – Chicago 1.
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the game on VS in Carlsbad was blacked out. talking about times warner normal basic cable here. not direct tv. what is that about? I get all the other vs hockey games… sucks. Like maybe I’ll fly to Chicago after work or take the bullet train.
Why not make it harder to be a hockey fan.
Just got home to find 2.5 hours of makeup commercials and build better abs ads recorded. so flip to MNF and see my fantasy football qb helplessburger fumble and have that returned for at td.
urg.
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I had to turn it off, the way the Kings were playing was making me sick. I love Fro but either they trade him or put him up with Kopi,cuz he isn’t doing anything.What a crappy third, stupid penalties, we were crap on the power play, and come on,way too much Ivan. Send Purse down cause he acts as if he’s carrying a purse. Lets bring up Loki and see what he can do with Fro.I think its time to rest JMFJ cuz his minus is getting worse and play Jones.I was pissed about the Preds game but I’m pissed even more about this one.
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Tonite’s game was like the Penguins/Kings game last Thursday in reverse. Total collapse in the third. It all came down to one 20 min. game and the Kings got blitzed and looked to be on their heels the whole period. Very disappointing and it being on Luc’s big night and the only game in the NHL on Nat’l TV (except the LA Direct TV subscribers and some other unlucky fans who didn’t get the broadcast). Bittersweet because the HOF Ceremony and Luc’s moment were very touching. Then the third period of the game tonite… big buzzkill. Hopefully the Kings can break this streak and beat Carolina, who has been having a lot of problems of their own…
GO KINGS!
CONGRATS, LUC!
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