Anze Kopitar’s postgame thoughts…
(on the game…)
KOPITAR: “We played decent, but those two breakdowns in the second period cost us the goals. When you’re behind, you’re trying to chase it and that’s what happened.”
(on the failed 5-on-3 power play…)
KOPITAR: “They sure gained some momentum off that. We got some shots, some not very good shots, but we got some shots and we had some chances, but it’s definitely the time of the game when you want to score and get a two-goal lead. But we didn’t.”
(on the frantic end…)
KOPITAR: “You just want to put the pucks on net and see what happens. We were a little unfortunate not to get a bounce, but it all starts from the second period, when we let in those two goals. That just can’t happen.”
“We played decent, but those two breakdowns in the second period cost us the goals. When you’re behind, you’re trying to chase it and that’s what happened.”
In other words, it was a typical 2nd period.
“They sure gained some momentum off that. We got some shots, some not very good shots, but we got some shots and we had some chances, but it’s definitely the time of the game when you want to score and get a two-goal lead. But we didn’t.”
You generally don’t score when you’re not IN THE OFFENSIVE ZONE. How do you fail to gain the zone 5-on-3?
“You just want to put the pucks on net and see what happens. We were a little unfortunate not to get a bounce, but it all starts from the second period, when we let in those two goals. That just can’t happen.”
The last 5 minutes is what ALWAYS happens when you mismanage the first 55. Fix the first 55 and the last 5 won’t happen…most importantly, fix the ten minutes after the first intermission–that’s where you’re giving away games!
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Yeah, I’m pretty bent. Time to blaze up.
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I hear ya Ken. I don’t know what it was about this game, but this loss is more irritating than any other this year. This was a measuring stick game and the team just didn’t measure up. This is why I feel this team is going to go into a funk. Same old Kings.
But still excited about the future. Just wish it wouldn’t take so long to see more consistent play.
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why does it seem easier to deal with a 7-0 loss than this one?
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For one, the 7-0 loss was on the road, against a team that played well…you expect to lose half your road games. At home…you’re looking to win as many as humanly possible.
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hey do you remember what seed the kings were going into the 01 playoffs with the deadmarsh squad?
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I think it was 6th.
I’m not down on the season, I’m down on the game; in particular, their inability to come out of the first intermission with the right attitude and their inability to take charge of the 5-on-3, plus, they’ve been running around a lot the last couple games. Calgary’s licking their chops!
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WRT deader’s squad, they buried the Wings and took the Avs to seven games before the Avs won the cup.
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6th? ok, see if the kings barely make it to the playoffs as an 8th seed, then get taken out. Would that be easier to deal with than if they were like 2nd seed team that had playoff bound written all over them? just a hypothetical. i just dont know if i even want to see them in the playoffs till they are a dominant force.
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We were a 7 seed. Detroit was a 2. You know the rest…
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The organization cannot afford to miss the playoffs this year (and they won’t.)
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your right, but i also dont want to create another dark cloud for us which is we always make playoffs but never take home the cup. Kind of how the sharks look. i just want to dominate teams like an unstopable rebel force…..
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They’re going to need more character…oh, and I don’t want to put a fine point on it, but Doughty didn’t look too sharp. He always seems to make the right decisions, and he made some dreadful ones early on. In general, I don’t think they were quite ready for the type of game Philly brought to them, but that’s not where they lost it–they lost it by failing to score on the gift they got at the end of the 1st and by failing to respond to the boost that gave the Flyers.
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2 things we needed to win or to shift momentum, 5on3 goal – you have to score on that especially with the full 2 minutes, and we need someone to shut hartnells dumb ass up via simmonds, ivanans, or OD. That could have been done in the second and we would have had 20 plus minutes of motivation. instead we sit on our heels and go for the hail mary in the end. By the way Simmonds was missing til the third. no where to be seen
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You’re right. That’s really what it was. It was letting the Flyers dictate the tempo until the last ten minutes. That’s what lead to the running around and poor decision-making.
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Now’s the time to flip Hickey to the Ducks for Selanne and Niedermayer. It would instantly make the Kings a true contender. Hickey’s value is pretty high right now, so it may be a deal the Ducks would jump at. Let’s face it, Hickey will never be any better than Jack Johnson. Plus there is still Voynov and Teubert in the system to replace Hickey. Kings fans have to realize that this is an opportunity we can’t let pass by. Frolov and O’Donnell will be gone next season, followed by Williams and Handzus the season after, and Smyth isn’t getting any younger. Isn’t this the reason why Lombardi picked up Williams, Scuderi, and Smyth. To have a chance to play for the cup!! Niedermayer and Selanne would put us that much closer
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(on the failed 5-on-3 power play…)
KOPITAR: “They sure gained some momentum off that. We got some shots, some not very good shots, but we got some shots and we had some chances, but it’s definitely the time of the game when you want to score and get a two-goal lead. But we didn’t.”
Some shots? You guys only had 1 SOG on the 5on3…How is 1 shot on goal SOME Kopi?
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@ Brad,
Hickey for Selanne and Niedermayer? So the captain of their team, future hall of famer and their all time leading goal scorer for an unproven prospect? Niedermayer himself will net at least a player like hickey AND a 1st round draft pick come February.
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Been reading for months and must say, some very intelligent reads here. Let all just relax and try to stay excited. Im mean come on now, the Kings haven’t looked this good in a while. We’re young, it’s only goingto get better. and don’t get me wrong I almost put my tv through the wall after that hidious display of 5 on 3 last night.
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Andrew
Hickey for Selanne and Niedermayer? haha i think Brad has been playin career mode in nhl 09′ a little too much. Hey i got an idea purcell for thornton and heatley…..rofl
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Murray should have called a timeout right before the 5 on 3 PP. Kopitar line was at the end of their shift.
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MK Ultra, I don’t disagree with that. It crossed my mind too.
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I thought the 4th overall pick in 2007(Hickey) was a steep price to pay for a 39 year old forward(Selanne) who said he’s going to retire at the end of the year, and a 36 year old defenseman(Niedermayer) who has also hinted that this will be his last season. You think it sould be Hickey and a 1st round pick? Isn’t that what the Leafs paid for Kessel? And he’s only 22. There must be a couple of Ducks fans on this site, if they think they can get better? We’ll see how many teams can afford a 6 million dollar player come trade deadline too. Good Luck Duck fans.
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