Dustin Brown took 48 shots on goal, during his 14-game goal drought, that didn’t find the net (by contrast, Anze Kopitar had 40 shots in his 13-game slump), so the frustration clearly had to be there for Brown, who was getting good shots but not results.
Rarely did Brown seem to be getting too far away from his overall game, but today Terry Murray was asked if he felt Brown was “pressing” in offensive areas to score goals…
MURRAY: “I do think he was pressing, absolutely. He’s a very intense individual. He really cares about his game and he cares about the team. When you go extended periods of not getting that stat that’s important, for forwards in particular, you start to get some snakes running around in your head.
“It’s like getting over a putt in the Masters. It’s a two-footer and you’ve got to make it, and you’ve got all these snakes, these thoughts, in your mind. You start to think crazy things, I think, as a player, when it comes to that time when you’re not on top of your game. But you’ve got to work through it. You’ve got to deal with it and keep going, and try to do the right things all the time, and it paid off last night. Hopefully it’s a breakthrough.”
Off topic -
Simmer should lose the shield.
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On topic-
Good job Brownie, Kopi and Purcell keep it up!
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Why would you want a player, who is smart enough to wear a shield, to take it off?
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Ya good idea, so then he get his eyeballs cut open and career ruined, aka Bryan Berard
Holy Snake analogies Batman
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Dustin Brown wears a shield!
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To improve his game. Are you ststing that all the NHL’ers that don’t wear shields aren’t smart?
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That’s pretty silly to suggest that a shield will make or break someone’s game. I’m sure it would have negative implications if he were to lose it as his confidence would drop off.
Playing with a subconscious awareness that you are not as protected as you once were is one of those things that eats at you and is hard to shake.
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Damn snake voices in the brain. It’s just like Harry Potter.
I like the Master’s analogy, though. There’s some good stuff on overthinking like that here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jul/26/sports-psychology-choking
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Would you call NHL’ers that play without a cup smart?
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OK, so now those that don’t wear the shield are dumb and silly? Oh brother…I’m obviously talking to the wrong crowd here.
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Actually, yes (although I can understand and give some slack to some of the older players who never wore a shield before). Given the technology with the new shields (optically correct, etc) I don’t understand why someone who has the good fortune to play in the NHL would not wear a shield and risk their livelihood every time they go out on the ice. And yes I am aware that some eye/facial injuries will happen even with the shield. Why would it improve his game, when he probably has worn a shield since playing Junior?
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I was referring to you when I said that was a silly thing to say.
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And probably wore a full cage before that.
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“Why would it improve his game, when he probably has worn a shield since playing Junior?”
Exactly why I think it would have the reverse effect.
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Dropping the shield would actually offer more protection for Simmer. For those that don’t know, Simmer feels obligated to drop his lid when he sheds his gloves. This leaves him vulnerable to concussion when being wrestled to the ice. I’m all for his safety, and his continued success.
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I would rather have a healthy visored player than an injured one
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I hate when I get snakes running around in my head. Wait snakes don’t run!
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then again, I’m just being silly…
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Yeah VanKings, like Doughty?
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Doughty is not a good analogy as he was hit in the mouth.
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Not a good analogy for proving your point you mean?
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Well this will be a different tonight.
We tried Boyle on Defense Bust
We tried Harrold on Offense Bust
Who held their hand up today when asked who wnats to play up top tonight? Jones-JJ? WTF? sit SOD or JONES and rotate them every three games. DRago sitting is a good thing and should happen 80% of the time he does not need to play unless it’s the Flyers or Ducks..Thats it
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I must wholeheartedly disagree that the majority of Brown’s shots were of the “good” variety. He takes very low percentage shots that the goalie can see clearly. He also rushes them when often times he has the opportunity to take a step or two before he shoots. Of course, we all know that he loves to target not the net, but the stick of checking defensemen. Remember Iginla’s goal 13 seconds in? Brown needs to learn to do that: shoot through the defender instead of into him. He could also do a better job of involving his teammates instead of shooting the second he crosses the blue line.
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I understand your opinion Belexes, but clearly he has made this choice for himself and he obviously isn’t concerned about it negatively effecting his game, so why should you be?
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Back to Brown
“He really cares about his game”
I’ll bet he does.. And probably cares more about what his wife sez about his game.
Remember when they were showing the Browns at home a couple years back. She was tough on him, comparing her accomplishments to his.
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Belexes,
I don’t think its that Simmer feels obligated to take off his helmet when he fights, i think he has to or else he gets an extra two minutes. I remember way back when Pat Verbeek used to fight he would throw his helmet off before the punches flew. Verbeek wore a shield too.
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re: visors…
it’s time to break out the jimmy mac voice…:
“you can’t be serious…!”
i guess those people drive without seat belts…
evolution – it’s a great concept…!
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how often does Simmonds fight compared to how often he is in shooting lanes? that’s kinda silly to rationalize ditching the shield will keep him more protected in the less likely occurrences when he is fighting.
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Datacloud what Brown are you watching?? He drives hard to the net more often than he shoots.
“Brown needs to learn to do that: shoot through the defender instead of into him”
Pretty sure he has that down, being in the NHL and all, NHL caliber defensemen do occasionally do their job and block shots
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Rule 47 – Fighting
47.6 Face Protection – If a player penalized as an instigator of an altercation is wearing a face shield (including a goalkeeper), he shall be assessed an additional unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Should the player (including a goalkeeper) who instigates the fight be wearing a face shield, but removes it before instigating the altercation, the additional unsportsmanlike conduct penalty shall not apply.
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i think it comes down to habits and roles…
all players coming up today wear visors…that’s what they are being taught…enforcers will always have a different set of rules to live by, as log as its role is as vital to the sport as it is today…of course, that’s a debate for another thread…(perhaps?)…
what’s not up for debate is the sheer force of the game and the elements that are involved…bigger, stronger players and equipment that can often render as much pain upon impact…
i think visors are not as much of an issue as perhaps it was early on…the players are probably more than used to it now…they are athletes and they have and will continue to adapt to it…
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Continuing with the mysterious and nonsensical shield theme, did anyone else notice Kopitar start the game with a “ricky williams” dark tinted shield and then switch it after a while to the lighter one? I wonder why?
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Wow Belexes…I haven’t heard an idea that stupid in a long time. Lets look at the top NHL players that where shields (Kopi, Brown, Fro, Doughty, Ovie, Kovi, Datsyuk, Gabby, Hossa, Toews, Kane, Marleau, Heatley, Boyle…I can go on). Most players acknowledge that wearing a shield is better. However, most that have played their entire professional career without one don’t wear one now, until they get injured (Berrad, Lidstrom, and Doan just to name a few). Check out these articles if you want to read more.
http://www.mopsquad.com/artman2/publish/From_The_Sidelines_21/NHL_players_need_to_see_past_visor_issue_3814.htm
http://www.freep.com/article/20091107/BLOG09/91107023/Wings%5C–May-says–visors-should-be-mandatory
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amazing we have such a good record with brown, frolov, handzeus, johnson and purcell underperforming.
Speaks well for T. Murray and the second half of the season if those guys can step up
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i actually think johnson is playing up to par…he’s taking the body and gettin the puck through…i think the difference has been Stoll…he’s been that true number 2 center the past few weeks that we keep saying we’re in need of…hes been great
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yeah, where are all the haters that were proclaiming the season over when Smyth went down.
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AZ
how about all the purcell haters? He finally scored, and no one has said to trade him. Frolov didnt score last night, now everyone wants to trade him again. Wherever the wind blows i guess.
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John-
Very true. I admit I was getting impatient with Purcell. It’s nice to see him score, but he’s not out of the woods yet. He needs to build off what he has done right over the last couple of games (blocking shots, shooting the puck, being in good position) and keep showing up every game. It’s ridiculous to expect Teddy, Fro or anyone else to score every night, but if you’re not going to score you need to make an impact and not be a defensive liability. The way I was taught by my coaches was, if you’re not going to score a goal you better not let one go in your net either.
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VanKingsFan, your sarcasm comes across well. I’m afraid we’ll just have to disagree. I do concede that he does drive the net, but watch him enter the zone, when he’s not trying to slip past the D along the boards, he will often take a shot right after crossing the blue line, directly into the stick of a defender, rather than waiting for his linemates to cross the blue line or trying to shoot through the defender a la Iginla’s goal of which I am sure you are familiar with. Just watch these things for a few games and you’ll get what I’m talking about. He also has a propensity to try the same between-the-legs deke over and over again that almost never works to his favor. Please also understand that I am referring in part to the shots that don’t make it on goal. I would say with confidence that 70% of the shots he does get on goal are of the low-percentage variety and easily stoppable. If you have an argument countering the points I just made, please present it, with or without sarcasm, I don’t care.
The point is that, if the majority of his shots were not of the low-percentage variety, than he wouldn’t have one of the lowest, if not the lowest shot percentage in the league for players with over 80 shots. This has also been a trend dating back to last season and perhaps earlier. Look at his shot % over the course of his career and you will see that it’s quantity above quality with Brown. That’s a fact.
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Off-topic,
But the kings will be wearing their 3rd Jersey tonight.
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Off Topic, but the lead story on TSN.com/NHL has Drew Doughty as one of 2 early candidates for their ‘No Guts, No Glory’ award. Obviously the other is Former King Ian Laperriere. Video included. Check it out.
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=301846
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One person that hasn’t been talked about much is Moller. I really think TM should play him a little more just to see how he has progressed since his stint in Manchester. From the very few minutes that he has been playing each game since the call up, he’s looked pretty good. I would like to see him get a little PP time just to see how he has improved in this area. He’s earned it by going to Manchester with a positive attitude and working hard. But I know it’s tough to do since we are on such a roll right now.
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I was happy when he got that one last night. He was due.
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josh, JJ is playing up to par for what is essentially his sophomore year as a D in the NHL – he has a hard check and a good shot. But he chases too much and ends up out of position. He gets so focused on wanting to check a player that he loses track of where the puck is, and where the flow of play is going. But on the upside, there are less of the bad passes through the slot with opposing players in the zone, and the rest will improve over time. Its just hard to be patient and wait for him to develop when we need him to be more consistent NOW.
Back on topic, Brown has tried everything he knows to make opportunities happen – even a bad shot can have a good rebound, and 100% of the shots you don’t shoot won’t go in. Sometimes the ugly bad-angle attempts create a chance for a linemate. I was glad to see him get the game winner last night, he earned it.
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I agree with datacloud, most of Brown’s shots are very low percentage… actually the goal he scored yesterday was a low percentage shot(nice goal though). Even though it was from the middle of the slot, he was basically doing an out of control, spin-o-rama shot which rarely goes in. It just so happened that Nabokov was shuffling his feet… he probably thought Brown was going to pass it to DD who was positioned for a one timer to the side of the net(I actually thought he was going to pass it as well
). I think the problem is that Brown shoots so often(I’d say over 90% of the time), the opposition knows this(most importantly the goalie) and are basically ignoring the passing option when defending him. The last 1st assist I can remember him making was a great cross ice pass to Stoll for a goal(think it was against the Penguins). He definitely has good passing skills which needs to be incorporated into his game more. Hopefully he can get a few more goals and can relax and let the game come to him instead of pressing too much.
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Snakes on a brain?
I am getting really tired of these m….f….ing snakes on this m….f….ing brain!!!
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Just because we criticize players that doesn’t mean we hate them. I want them to step up and give their best every game. I’ve never suggested any player should be traded cause I love every single King and this team. So please, stop calling us ‘haters’.
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