I’ll put these all on one post, for the sake of brevity. From Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar and Matt Greene…
DUSTIN BROWN
“It’s one of those plays where it went right in the corner off Dewey’s stick. That was a huge two points that got away from us. That’s all that really matters at this point, points, whether we’re playing good or bad. We found ways to win a couple weeks ago, and we need to find ways to win now.”
MATT GREENE
“It was just a tough break right there (on the game-winning goal.) We have to eliminate little mistakes throughout the ice. We were making mistakes on every one of their goals. We just need to tighten up a bit and we’ll be fine. We came out with a lot of urgency in the third. We are finally getting back to playing the hockey that got us success. It’s disappointing to come back in a game like that and then lose it but, hopefully we can carry our momentum into our next game at Calgary.”
ANZE KOPITAR
“I thought we were moving the puck a little bit better than we did in Phoenix, but we still have a couple levels left in us. We generated some chances. We had pretty good offense at times, but I think we just have a bit of rustiness which made the difference in the game. I am confident we are going to get our game back on track. We had two and a half minutes to possibly get another goal, but we just fell short. After such a huge goal, we can’t have defensive breakdowns like that. They were boxing out pretty well and you just have to battle through it.”
What momentum Greener?
Get over the mental breakdown first.
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I saw the game tonight as usually being in ny I don’t get to. But one benefit of listening on the radio is when they play on the road you hear the opposing teams play by play. I remember Distinctly in one game (can’t remember vs who) they made the comment that when the Kings went up in the game they immediately seemed to lose their focus (as goals were given up, just as happened tonight). IMO as long as the Kings continue to say ‘oh just a bad break’ instead of LOOKING at what keeps recurring, they may need another year out of the playoffs to take a good hard look at these patterns that seem to be repeating.
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And well Anze, I am glad you are confident. Because you will need it to get something going for your team.
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Personally, I don’t mind saying that I quite like my comments above. They aren’t negative and ripping the team when they lose, and I try not to go overboard in the other direction when they win.
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Nice observation number 6, an example of one of those mistakes are losing one goal games. (these will keep you out of the playoffs by just a couple points).
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number 6,
another year out of the playoffs means firing terry murray and unfortunately, dean lombardi.. can’t have that.. playoffs have to happen NOW
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“Bad bounces” and “bad breaks” are bad signs for us as fans. Out of all the comments from players, only Greene’s comment “We were making mistakes on every one of their goals.” shows any sign that they feel their actions were the reason for the loss. All players should be saying we screwed up and leave it at that. Looking for excuses for losses is not a good thing to do. Though I understand they are trying to be positive, young players need to get in the habit of owning up to their mistakes and say “I need to play better next time.”
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Oscar Moller & Brandon Segal looked good
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No6 -
I also quite liked your comment, but not as much as your second comment on how much you yourself liked your first comment.
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Purcell and kopitar need some home cooking from there parents. maybe it will help.
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PARSE played the way i thought he would
tough/hard/in your face- he picked up a goal and assist.
we where in the game.. minnesota had timely goals.
other then that Quick had didnt have his stellar game he usually does.
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This is the first time I agree with AK. If DL fires TM then DL is missing the big picture and needs to go also.
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LOL Quisp, too funny
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I thought trading captains was kind of taboo….think again:
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=303820
I just hope we don’t get the same idea. That would suck.
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Oh, where oh where has Kopi gone, oh where oh where could he be……
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Another tight, one goal game which we were unfortunately on the wrong side of. At some point, we will need to win a few games by more than one goal just because these types of games are so physically, emotionally and mentally draining and is probably unsustainable for 82 games. The good news is that we are getting secondary scoring, but the AK line needs to start producing soon to help provide some scoring cushion.
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Brown is not untouchable, trade-wise. The team is well-stocked on the right side, Brown is not a Lombardi pick, he’s underperforming, and he may not be a great captain. Also, his contract is attractive. Would you be upset at Brown and Frolov for Kovalchuk?
I’m not anti-Brown and I’m not advocating a deal. I just think it’s not out of the question.
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I think you hit on it, EternalOptimist. People are so damned negative because the Kings had been winning the close games, and now they’ve lost a few. The players need to focus on the mistakes, not the outcomes. The outcomes solve themselves when you fix the mistakes.
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Worst game by Quick in a while. JJ, pretty much par for the coarse to add (or should I say subtract) to his already horrible plus/minus stats.
Parse is a keeper.
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I saw Quick stand on his head in this game. I’d say if he was playing like he was at the start of the season, the Kings don’t get out of the first period without giving up a couple goals. 7-1 or something like that.
Chalk this post-Christmas stink to the Sports Illustrated jinx, get on the road, and start picking up points again.
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In terms of work ethic, intensity and effort you’ll be hard pressed to find a player in this league that can match DB which is what makes him a good captain. The big knock on him has always been about hockey sense which was brought up in his draft year. In fact, if this wasn’t in doubt he would’ve been picked much higher. He plays the game almost all the time with a straight ahead, football mentality of trying to go through opponents which is not a bad thing, but sometimes he needs to slow down, process the game and utilize his teammates better which comes down to hockey sense. Maybe DB should watch some old game tapes of Deadmarsh since they play similar styles but the latter was much better at balancing these aspects of the game.
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Kopi – Purcell – Pick = Kovalchuk
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number 6, bad breaks are definitely part of the game. Yet you make a very good point.
I didn’t get to see the game (work sucks!) but whenever I read that Quick let in a high one (his weakness) it’s usually a sign of him not being on his game and stealing one for the team.
Maybe the layoff, maybe a slight letdown at getting a couple of key hurt guys back and, subconsciously, thinking they’ll now take some of the work load away from you…??? I really don’t know, but it sure seems that if every single guy doesn’t come to play there’s a very good chance you won’t come away with any points, unless the other team has more players take the night, or at least a shift or two, off……
ps – This is not aimed at anyone, nor is it really in regards to tonight’s game, but it just seems as though people like to rip on Dustin Brown a lot. IMHO he may not be tearing it up, but I really don’t get all the frustration at the guy when he carries the weight of the captain, hits more than anyone and still is 2nd on the team in scoring; And oh by the way has had far more linemate combos to try to get in a groove with than Kopi. He comes to play every night and I doubt you’d find a team in the entire league that wouldn’t be ecstatic at having him on their side. As far as team chemistry goes he’s a very valuable player and most in the league with his terrorizing abilities don’t come close to his point production, even in this apparently slow year, so far, for him. Sure he needs to hit the net with more shots, etc, but maybe we should lay off and just let him go out there and play his game..!
GO KINGS!!!
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Mmm .. wait a minute. That 4th goal by Wild happened just 12 seconds after Parse scored. And I’m pretty sure Fro and Handzus were on the ice when JJ didn not get any support. Does that mean another bad line change caused that defensive breakdown?
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Nah … not a chance cause Fro and Hadzus were already down low so it can’t be the line change. Sorry.
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But I thought Handzus won the face-off or he lost?
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Interesting take on Brown Eternetnal Optimistic.
I see it the exact opposite way. When Brown thinks he sucks, but when he just plays like a big dumb oaf, cutting to the net and hitting with abandon, he is at his most effective.
When he tries to slow down and think, he never passes (because he’s thinking about the system and getting pucks on net asap), and he thinks the same move will fool every defender. When he stops thinking and starts muscling, he has an extra gear the let’s him get inside position on rushes and lays down game-changing hits on a regular basis.
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Eternetal… Awesome.
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Playoffs!!! You got to be kidding! Who are they going to beat?They lack grit,balls and are a one line team!!Wake up
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Brown used to be effective when he was going in strong on the fore-check consistently and leveling people. He is no longer as consistent and more frequently than not he is the one getting leveled. If he can become the bulldozer he once was I’d be perfectly fine with that as he isn’t the skilled scorer people want him to be.
Of course I suspect he has been playing injured all season or maybe it’s just getting older as a player and starting a family etc…
By the way, Quisp, I’d do that trade.
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Nothing wrong with Quick’s performance. His positioning was solid on both the high goals. Havlat made a perfect shot through a defenseman. And as was posted in Doughty’s quote, Belangers shot was deflected and went into the extreme high corner.
Really the Kings played well enough to win. The 3d line looked great as Meat Train is starting to get his wind back and Parse looked good. I’m sure part of the top line’s problem is a combination of Smyth’s comeback from injury, alot of scrutiny from other teams, and facing top D lines on most shifts.
Anybody notice that Moller was on the ice for the PP goal?
All of this hemming and hawing about Kopi and Purcell is pretty tiresome. Kopitar is a stud. Anybody who ever played hockey knows that if you stay in your role that good things will happen eventually and that’s what he has to do. The core of this team is very young and still has a lot of developing to do. The team’s best player just turned 21! So chill and enjoy this as it unfolds, this team is going to be competetive for a long time.
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I think Greene was referring to the momentum in which the Kings absolutely dominated the third period. Unfortunately, they did such a good job that it put Quick to sleep.
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i see aanthony came back as cebukid, and obviously is watching some other sport than hockey, and….Im just saying…..have you totally gone over the deep end? Put down the pipe, trade Kopi? Argh!
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I also think Quick stood on his head this game, his level has been raised since his “extra” time and I personally am going to say this…..Quick is a Number 1 goalie and he plays for the KINGS!
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There will be wins and there will be losses. The Kings have matched their season high of three losses in a row. One could hardly say the wheels are falling off at this point. It’s way to early to be talking about the firing of coaches and GM’s. They are still a young team that has exceeded expectations so far this season. With the injuries and reshuffling of lines to adjust, the dynamic has changed somewhat. With that, roles have changed somewhat. That’s where the little, albeit costly mistakes happen. I feel confident the coaching staff will be addressing those little things and they will get back on track.
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EO & Roadtripper-
I’m with you guys about Brown. I’ve always thought of him as a potential Shane Doan type. Shane is a little better at finishing right now, but don’t forget folks, DB just turned 25. He has a lot of hockey to go to catch up to Shane. Trading him would be a BIG step back. Not for his leadership abilities per se (He’ll develop those in time), but for his hard hitting, (as mentioned) Deadmarsh style of play which this team would desperately lack if he is traded.
Q- Fro & Brown straight up for a SIGNED Kovy at 6 years 48 mil, that would be a good deal and good value. Still would not do it with Brown though. I’d part with Fro + Bernier + (Pick a prospect) + High Draft Pick. I still think ATL needs a real solid prospect goalie as Pavelec and Lehtonen are not a solid future for that team. I liken them to a Ceckmanek and young Jamie Storr combo. Hedberg is 36 and on his way out. As far as their pipeline, they have 5 prospects, 2 are over 25. 2 4th rounders, a 5th & a 6th and one free agent. No quality in that group. Bernier would be absolutely attractive to them.
Too much for this team to lose by trading Brown. I think DL realizes the investment this team has made in him and if you’re looking for guys who BLEED Forum Blue and Black (And White, And Gold, And Silver, And whatever color we use in the next few years), this team is all DB has ever known and has been through the tough times here. He wants to see it through. He has a young family. He’s the kind of player that will do whatever DL asks him to do. I can’t see him being traded. Not for the type of team DL is trying to build.
Been wrong before, but I hope I’m not here.
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How about Frolov and Johnson for Kovy? How about forgetting the trade and throwing Johnson out of the charter plane to Calgary?
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Datacloud, you must be talking about Lyndon B. Johnson, former president of the US, Now i could agree with us throwing him out of the plane, but Jack Johnson? Please, he will be a fixture for years to come.
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TO QUISP: Hey Quispy, that was beautiful. Don’t know if you’ll see this as I posted last night, but calling me on admiring my own comments was great. There’s a reason we all like you so much on this site!
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