Terry Murray declined to say what lineup changes he would be making tonight, but it would be a surprise to me if Sean O’Donnell wasn’t back in the lineup. O’Donnell, who had played 82 games in each of the previous two seasons, has been a healthy scratch in the last two games in favor of Randy Jones. This is a big game, and it can’t hurt the Kings to have their most veteran player in the lineup.
This morning, I asked O’Donnell about his reaction to being a healthy scratch.
O’DONNELL: “Disappointment. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to play every game. At the same time, coaches just don’t do things. Terry has been around for a long time, and Terry is a smart coach. They just don’t do things for no reason at all. Sometimes, as a player, you maybe don’t see the big picture sometimes. Terry explained some things to me. I understood it. I didn’t like it, but I understood it. This is an 82-game schedule, and you can’t get too upset over a game or two. There’s not much you can do about it. You do what you can, you cheer for the team and you just hope that your chance comes and you get back in there.”
Also, since O’Donnell had a good view of the game — and I don’t mean that sarcastically, since the Atlanta press box really does offer a great view — I asked him for his thoughts on the way the game developed.
O’DONNELL: “From what I saw, from up top, it was a pretty good first period. I thought both goalies made some really good saves to keep it at zero, and then it seemed like we would be cycling down low, or we would have good pressure on them, and then, boom. One went off the skate and they had a breakaway, and then another breakaway. It just seemed like it was 4-0 like that. Maybe our focus wasn’t 100 or we had a couple of lapses to allow those things, but it wasn’t like they had sustained pressure. When they scored, it was like, `How did this happen?’ It was 4-0 quickly. It was kind of a funny game. You look at 7-0 and you’d think we got dominated, but I don’t think we did. We just made a couple mistakes here and there, a couple bounces their way, and that’s what happened.”
Can Jones plug in at 4th line RW a la Harrold? I’d rather not sit O’Donnell for any important game.
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Get OK back in the line up ASAP!!! The kids need a calming influence back there…
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the last blog update i posted why jon quick is so bad ….. because he comes out too far …….. go back and read it if u want …. yes i know its longwinded …. but im pissed ……… and hey now i just looked up zatkoffs and berniers stats at manchester …. lol its ridiculous we arent giving these guys a chance ….. check it out people …… bernier like 1.67 gaa with like 955 save percentage and zatkoff like 0.67 gaa with like 978 save persentage ….. absoulutely ridiculous we arent giving these guys a chance when quick is coming so far out of the net like this …. yes i know its not nhl in manchester, and its only short sampling of games, but still the way quick is vacating the net, these guys should be given the chance immediately ….. if quick ever decides to change his style and stay deeper in his net, he could be really good , but until he makes this change, hes a bad goaltender …………. p.s. ….. still dreaming of what could have been had we opted for gaborik instead of smyth ….. bad lombardi, bad
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gaborik = superstar age 27… top ten nhl player ………. smyth = not a superstar, but good player, about to be 34 years old pricetag = about the same ….. i just dont get it deano, i just dont get it
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clippers..
You have to be kidding.
This is a joke right?
HAhahahahah,….i get it,…good one!
Gaborik instead of Smyth…hahahahaha.
no.
Look, we’re right where we need to be.
Anybody who really thought our fast start meant we would win the Pacific is crazy.
This young team is gonna have stretches of downright awfulness, it’s expected.
We were predicted by most to barely miss the playoffs this season.
Kopitar is in my opinion over achieving right now, and he will come back down to earth at some point.
Saying Gabirik over Smyth….if so,maybe Anze wouldnt have been so hot to begin, perhaps Smyth fuels Kopi.
That line need not be tinkered with.
Im greatful for all the qualities Ryan brings, not only to Kopi, or that line, but to the team.
Jon Quick is inexperienced, and will be like a roller coaster to watch all season. Get used to it.
There is a ton of hockey to be played, lets just let the boys play it and see where we end up.
And clippers, don’t knock DL, the mans a genius, and isn’t done “fixing” this team.
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And Quick’s numbers were the same in the AHL.
Martin Jones last season had even better numbers than these guys, yet wasn’t recalled.
Theres a reason players are where they are.
Next Season, Ersberg out-Bernier in.
Quick/Bernier
Bernier/Quick
NEXT YEAR I PROMISE.
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Ahhh. If memory serves me right, DL did pusue Gabby. Gabby chose to go to NY for a longer contract. DL did the right thing, can’t give a long term contract to that guy. Plus, looks like Smyth turned out pretty well and maybe is better for the team overall. It’s a bad few games people. Chill.
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Ok, bringing up another young net minder would lead to the same problems as we have with Quick no matter how good he is (read TM talking about concentration). As for OD, who does he replace? I say Green. Too many bad penaltys. Green needs to sit a game or two. I hope I am wrong on both of those, but time will tell. I said the Carolina game was dangerous. I was right. To win after playing bad set a bad standard. A win is not always good. When you win only thanks to the other team not playing and not thanks to great play on our part, anyone would say “what’s the problem”. That was so not good. To quote RUSH “one day I feel I’m on top of the world, and the next it’s falling in on me”. We need a rebound game here. I think with a good work ethic here we can turn it around. GO KINGS GO!
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Clippers needs to realize that In the AHL, Bernier, Zatkoff are playing against, AHL players, not NHL players. The leauges are linked, but you pit say… The Rochester Americans against the Washington Caps.. It’s no doubt who’s going to win.
The Goalies stats in the AHL, aren’t a direct reflection of what they’ll be like in the NHL. A good indication, sure but not a direct reflection, give them time to grow.
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love having smyth in L.A. he always goes to the net and gets the goals nobody else seems to be brave enough to get.
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