Here is my game story tonight from LAKings.com, with video and stats. Thanks for reading!
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LA Kings Insider LA Kings Official
Get um next time boys its only one game thats why they play a long season. Every team goes through ups and downs.
Go kings go!!!
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You are correct Lostjedi but the last 3 games have been only 3 games of a long season and we are going backwards in standings.
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One change that I would like to see TM make is to put Moller with AK and Smyth. He plays a very similar style to JW and has a sniper’s mentality which I think is what this line needs to compliment the strong forechecking, playmaking abilities of AK and Smyth.
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@RJC76
Very Quiet…is it because we are 4 points from being in 11th place with Calgary, Washington, Detroit, Boston, St Louis, 2 games with Sharks upcoming?
Yes your correct in being silent here. I have never seen an offense like ours. Totally non-existent. Doughty sliding one in without using his stick-PP finally and the major let down from our defense again. First in Phoenix after we tie the game late there and give it away and tonight giving it away after working so hard to tie it with 3 min left and 12 seconds later saying see ya to 2 more points and making it a 4 point turn about for Minn. Still think we dont need any help on this team? Please correct me if I’m wrong. Oh right they still have rust from having 8 days off.
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It is time for another poll question!
The question is…
Why didn’t Ivanans fight Boogard?
a) He was scared.
b) Murray can’t get him on the ice at the same time as Boogard.
c) We did’t need a change in momentum.
d) Ivanans didn’t see Boogard run Doughty or Smyth.
e) Ivanans pretended that he didn’t see Boogard run Doughty or Smyth.
f) Ivanans did see Boogard run Doughty and Smyth. But because Doughty and Smyth are Canadian, and because Canada just beat Latvia 16-0 in the World Junior tournament, Ivanans enjoyed seeing his Canadian teammates being run by Boogard.
Tough decision, I know. But I’ll go with A, B, E and F.
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We need help from our first line. Big time!!!
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Just watched the game so don’t know what everyone else is sayin, but here’s my two points:
1) The long break has seemed to bring JQ back down to earth, maybe time another fundamental session w/ Ranford again. Not callin for his head, and that was a sweet pass on the 2nd goal they scored, but he’s gotta make that save after the tying goal. That’s what he was letting in in the first 6 or so weeks of the season.
2) Anyone else notice that JJ shot was going wide (again) on his goal, if not for the shot hitting Jonsson (sp?) out in front of the net. Hey Rich, is Ryan Smyth’s shooter tutor still lying around the practice facility?
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Only watched part of the game (was helping a friend with a major issue) the one part I saw was the 2nd and 3rd goals against us. So you probably know what I am about to say.
Fro! What the hell where you thinking! If he would have skated to the bench and changed it wouldn’t have been as bad as the choice he made to just grab a stick, make that wide turn, and try to get back to the play (didn’t even make it to the blue line). For the person wondering a few weeks ago why players don’t just go to the bench and grab a stick when they break one on the PK, well I wish I didn’t have to say it now but there you go.
I still think we can turn this around. However the West is so tight we can’t afford these kind of mistakes.
Didn’t see the rest yet, so I can’t comment on it.
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It’s tough to win when the first line isn’t scoring. Kopitar has to play better. Purcell is not playing badly he just does not get the puck into the net or help to get it into the net. JJ loves to free wheel and sometimes comes through with big plays offensively but is clearly too often a liability defensively when taking chances to make plays.
Quick is fine. Moller makes things happen and needs more ice time. We need a second line center more than a goal scoring winger. TM was “getting it” for awhile that Brown needs to play with a speedy winger on the other side to take advantage of the breakdowns that Brown creates with his skating and hitting. Richardson was a good fit and now playing with a slow-down player like Frolov, Brown is less effective.
The Kings are a bit lost at this moment. Hope DL can swing a deal for a top six forward (preferably a center). Schenn and Loktionov are a year or two away from potentially filling that role.
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Some Fan
How about G….It was a clean hit and no need to retaliate against a clean hit.
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Tough way to lose a hockey game. I thought they played well enough to win the game. Just like when we don’t play our best but win, sometimes you play well enough and it’s still not good enough.
One thing about the game that bothered me were the 2 offensive zone penalties Smyth took. He’s taken a few of those this year.
I have no clue why Fro decided to go for the new stick, other than he was near the blue line..but you have to realize that in the 2nd period,the bench is further away. I thought it was a bad decision.
Not as bad a decision as when he had the puck dead center between the circles and decides not to shoot. What the hell was he thinking there? His offensive game has regressed to the point where he’s become a non-factor offensively. I hope he gets his game back next year in the KHL.
Quick played well, but the 1st goal was a softee that I’m sure he’s love to have back.
The last goal was an aggresive play by JJ that didn’t work because he had no support from one of the forwards. We got caught standing around and that can’t happen at that time.
I thought the top line had some really goosd jump and kept the puck in Minn zone a lot. Unfortunately, they need to score some goals. You can blame the coaches and the Lord himself, but eventually it has to be oput on the players. I love Kopi but he needs to step up his game and put pucks in the net.
For the doomsday people, this isn’t the end of the season for the Kings. We’re going to go thru peaks and valleys. As long as the effort remains, the results will turn in our favor. It’s tough to lose points at anytime, but I don’t think the chances were too good that we weren’t going to lose another game this year.
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I didn’t see the game but my concern is the overall defense and goaltending. I know Quick will shine some more but when I check the standings and see the goals allowed is very high as it has been for most of the season, that makes me wonder how we’ll perform when the games and playoff drive really tighten down. I feel we’re one veteran d-man and a top 6 forward short of being a solid playoff team versus one on the bubble. These guys overall about half way through the season get B- grade from me. Hopefully a full healthy roster can be down the stretch for the Kings.
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Helene Elliot’s coverage of the Kings for the LA Times is so damn painful to read. She needs to move to the Travel section.
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Well, I think we are just a bit off the mark point wise to make the playoffs. I estimated 25 points every 20-game increment, and that would do it. Right now, we’re at 47 points in 39 games, 3 points off the mark and only 2 points to be had. How funny things change, 5 games ago and you had a team that was challenging for the Western Conference….now you have a team 3 points out of 8th seed. GOT TO GET THIS OFFENSE GOING!
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i thought it was a well played game, back and forth pressure, couple bounces here and there and we win that game, good effort from everyone, i really hav no problems with the game that was played. Thought Purcell fit right in on the top line and he’ll only get better as he plays with Kopi and Ryan. I do thnk that the last goal coulda shoulda been stopped but I also think we had our chances to win. On to the next game, dont change anything TM unless Stoll is ready to return. Ivanans didn’t fight boogard cause it was a clean check plus he had his back to it anyways, I’m sorta glad he didn’t see it and put us short with an instigator. Boogy will get his turn with Raitis, I guarantee it and anyone who thinks he is afraid to fight is an idiot.
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fsd1, seriously? Purcell? Man, maybe I’m missing something, but I would but Ivanans on that top line right now before Purcell. The guy creates nothing…and I’m really sick of watching him. I haven’t had this much dislike for a player since Craig Johnson.
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Something to digest:
The schedule is about to turn favorable, after the New Year. The last 10 games have largely been on the road, and with fatigue + injuries the one-goal losses have been understandable. Don’t forget, personnel changes have been with practically every game.
The Helene Elliot article was digestible, IMHO. That was a devastating loss for Kings fans yesterday, and she brought that feeling across accurately. Her descriptions when the Kings win are what singe my britches.
Last night Staples Center was full, for only the 5th time this season, and for a game with the Minnesota Wild, of all teams! That is great news for L.A. hockey fans because the team feeds off the energy of the fans, and the fans are starting to notice that the Kings are worthy of their entertainment dollar.
Sometimes I feel like the guy standing in the isle at the bottom of the section with the Gold and Purple hat on backwards banging his tambourine. Come on, people! Let’s make some noise and support this team! We fans have to own this team!
It’s the responsibility of the players to give their all in their play during the games. Certainly they are being paid well enough to do so. We the fans can b#tch, kvetch and moan as much as we want, just as we do here on Rich’s site. It’s our right. But for
Chrissake we gotta get out to the games and make some noise!
That’s where Helene’s effete sensibilities bother me. Girl, don’t turn your nose up at this team. They ain’t that bad!
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Hate to say it, but we need some form of help for Kopi and the top line. With Willy gone for most likely the regular season. If they can’t generate any fear for the other team, it’s going to be a long season. I mean look at teams like the sharks, Pitt, Tampa, just to name a few, they a top line that puts fear into the other team.
It was a exciting game last night to say the least, But over aggression cost the Kings the game.
DL we need help and fast.
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Bob, yes seriously, for ever everyone has complained about Purcell but correct me if I’m wrong, Is this not his FIRST game at his natural position? Im going to give him 10 games, I think TM will too, and let whatever happen happen, I’m giving Purcell that much time. I actually think he looked good last night.
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I thought Teddy looked ok as well.
In the end he’s going to be judged on production, so lets give them a little time to gel. He’s not the only one on that line. Smytty and Kopi need to pull their weight as well.
Also a shout out last night to Moller. That’s the best he’s looked since he left us last year to play in the WJC.
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Simons in 1st line and no more problem.2 points in Min.
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I’m Just Saying,
Not quiet at all, just haven’t been on the comp since last night. I don’t disagree at all with the points you’ve just made. My problem and I’ve stated it before is some of the things you type are typed like it’s absolutely the truth, rather than what they it really is, which is pure speculation. And after the Smyth injury and no collapse I called you on it to no response, at least none that I saw, but oh well.
I totally agree with you that something is needing to change, whether it be personnel or whatever, that we agree on. And you’re also right that these next few games could really kill them if they continue to struggle defensively. With the West being as tight as it is, they can’t just be giving games away like they have been the last 2.
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I agree with fsd1…Purcell gets 10-15 games before I would pull the plug. Like I wrote yesterday, who else are we going to put in Williams spot?
Brown…NO He is our best checker and should he chip in 20+ goals a season I’m stoked! He’s not a 30 goal scorer, he doesn’t have that level of skill….its all heart and hard work. And we already have Smyth on that line. His role is putting guys through the boards night after night!
Simmonds…NO He is our second best checker and at best can play on the 2nd line. His role is to wear down the other teams top line.
I still think teams key on our first line (why Kopi numbers have tailed off) and we have to scrape and claw to get goals from the other two lines…a few goals from the 4th line wouldn’t hurt either.
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It would appear that Scott Parse belongs in the NHL, hopefully the Kings feel the same way!
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Purcell is no where near capable of playing on the first line, i would much rather see parse or purcell on the top line. this is absolutely insane to keep on pushing this guy up there, it hasnt worked so far so another 20 games will end up producing the same result.
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oops make that parse or moller
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Hubie
When Parse plays the way he played last night, he belongs in the NHL. When he plays the way he did on the Canada trip, he belongs in the AHL.
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Danny, We haven’t kept putting him on the first line, that is why we need to give him 10-15 games before we send him off into obscurity.
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I agree with the people who like Purcell on the first line for the near future. He did play better yesterday. The whole line had some good pressure. Now they just have to translate it into goals. This line should be producing, so let’s give it a chance. They can all be goal-scorers. If it doesn’t, part of the blame should go to Kopitar.
Parce and Simmonds fit well together on the 3rd line and produce secondary scoring. They seem to do well regardless of the center. But usually it’s been:
Parce—Handzus—Simmonds
I hope we get Stoll back soon; that should make for a better 2nd line center. Handzus is good as a 3rd line center.
However, if Brownie and Frolov don’t produce, maybe they should go to the 3rd line too… And Parce and Simmonds could be part of the top six forwards.
In that case (with Stoll back):
Smyth—Kopitar—Purcell
Parce—Stoll—Simmonds
Frolov—Handzus—Brown
Ivanans—Richardson—Segal/Moller
Or since Richardson plays well with Brown:
Smyth—Kopitar—Purcell
Parce—Stoll—Simmonds
Richardson—Handzus—Brown
Frolov/Ivanans—Moller—Segal
Oh-oh, Frolov on the 4th line?!
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Fire TM and hire Helene Elliot
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