Saturday’s game will be the third of four meetings between the Kings and Wings this season, and the initial two were quite different.
In the first game, Oct. 15 at Detroit, the Kings led 1-0 after a strong first period but gave up a goal less than four minutes into the second period and never recovered. They went on to trail 3-1 and lose 5-2. Then, of course, on Jan. 7 in L.A. was the game in which the Kings outshot the Wings 52-24 but lost 2-1 on Darren Helm’s final-minute goal.
Terry Murray, though, said there’s a theme to having success against Detroit…
MURRAY: “It’s going to be about how we get through the middle of the ice. Detroit has, inevitably, been a team that has taken it to us in the middle of the ice. Their transition game is outstanding. They have three guys back, four guys back. They pressure from behind all the time. Datsyuk and Zetterberg are excellent players tracking back. They get a lot of pucks turned over just before the tops of the circles in their end, and they get on the transition. So if we’re managing the puck and making hard plays, getting it deep and letting the forecheck work for us, that’s going to be a key read for me.”
Payback time!
We’re definitely taking this one!
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This is about the biggest game of the year so far (although… in a sense, every game from here on out is the biggest game so far)… but this one in particular.
Both because of the tight race, with Detroit trailing us by a point for over a week, and equally important, we need to win both of these last two meetings with Detroit to nullify that tie breaker.
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Ok, is there an interpreter in the house?? What in the heck did Murray say? I can hang with the first three sentences but then…wow, away he goes!
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It means they catch you before you can penatrate deep.Turn the puck up Ice and attack you before you have time to regroup.
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Interesting.
Murray is dead on, but I recall last time we played Detroit him mentioning the big problem being defending attacking Detroit players coming out of the corners and how good they are at small give and go plays along the boards.
They are both right, but its interesting that when we last lost to them, Murray pointed out one thing as a big culprit for the loss, but then says something completely different here (though still accurate) , will be the key to the game.
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Tomorrow night @ 8PM PST, the Kings will be 1-0.
MAKE IT HAPPEN BOYS!
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Thanks Dominick:) Where is Fox chalk when you need it?
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HUGE GAME! I took off work for it!
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Lets get em boys, they must be feeling it after that emotional win, now just come out firing!
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For all you Kovi fans; this should go to the ‘Kovaclhuk’ thread but he’s destined for a new home surely…http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=307228
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I want to see Zeus with his butt directly in Howard’s face just like he did to Miller last night when O’Donnell scored. That is key for us to be able to score on these hot goaltenders. GO KINGS!!!
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TERRY MURRAY SAID THIS
“HE CAME BY ACROSS THE RED LINE I LOOKED AT HIM, HE BLINKED
SO I HIT HIM WITH THE PASS; Did THAT SPINNERAMA. I DIDNT SHOT
UNTIL I CROSSED THE TOP Of THE CIRCLE. THEN WE BANG BANG BANG BANG AWAY TIL THAT PUCK CROSSED THE LINE. but yes your right it is a tough match up i agree.”
THAT IS WHAT HE MEANT TO SAY:
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been looking forward to this one for awhile.
game 1 vs detroit was a bit of a ref job, thus frustrating.
game 2 vs det was just plain frustrating.
couple those with the standings situation… big time game!
lets go kings!
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It seems to be a mental thing with the Wings. Time for the “Mentalist” to figure this one out. Kings win.
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we need some Zen meditation, MAybe the “Zen master” can drop by the locker room to; have a chit chat and some green tea with Lombardi ,MURRAY, kompon; talk powerplay and hold hands…..
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I hope we win in Detroit. Traffic in the slot, Cutters to the Slot, Elevation of the Puck, and bench Ivanans for this one its not that type of team.
Off the subject in one of my last blogs I mentioned at the 2008 Draft Party I had a short 20 second tantrum when the Kings moved up to the 12th overall pick and then instead of drafting Tyler Myers traded down one pick to 13th and a 2009 3rd rounder. Buffalo proceeded to take Tyler Myers and the Kings eventually picked Colten Teubert and Nicolas Deslauriers. Where do you think the Kings would be this year with Tyler Myers?
That would also have given us 2 Franchise Defencemen for the for see able future. I should have better control of my behavior, but now know it was a justified outburst. I still do apologize to the 3 groups totalling 8 people that moved 5 seats or so further away from me.
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Bad,
Are you suggesting that they smokem peace pipe and play guitar,and sing koombuyyah also.
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DOM-
im hoping they have an open mind and puff puff pass my friend.
kompon is gonna need something other then purcell to get the powerplay in order.
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Hey Chris Bond,
For you I really hope the Kings win. When I have cancelled my plans to watch the game, the Kings usually lose and I get so pissed. If I’m home, I’ll watch it. Otherwise, I’ll record it and watch it later. At least then I’m prepared for the result.
Go Kings Go!!
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THE true test of where this season is heading for the Kings. A victory here is the invitation to the playoffs.
Go KINGS Go!
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What’s up with lombardi? I don’t get it….
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/teams/story/?id=307298&hubname=nhl-kings#YourCallTop
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Jeez, rontheking, I dunno.
http://lakingsinsider.com/?p=3473
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Oh my God! Dean even if this was a test it is you who have failed. Jack has been a stand up guy, and in my opinion took a short low ball contract to prove himself to the organization. While he should have gotten this straightened out with you behind closed doors. That was just a cheap shot DL. Not a Michigan guy, but haven’t they been to the finals in the last 15 years than organizations that had you on board. That said you’re both important to this organization suck it up, make it right, and bury it. We don’t need this in a playoff run!
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Oh, i get it now…loose lips sink ships….Bail! Bail!
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-elliott23-2010jan23,0,5491100.column
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Waiting for Murray to say “They Are A Better Team Right Now”
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Dont worry fans, we will break there wings apart Saturday with a win, no doubt !!!
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I hate that woman. She is stirring the pot. And believe me, other women know when another woman is up to no good. She is definitely either trying to get back at Dean or trying to mess with JJ. That article really pissed me off!
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Hi Rich,
Did you mean The Kings outshot the Wings?
Then, of course, on Jan. 7 in L.A. was the game in which the Kings outshot the Kings 52-24 but lost 2-1 on Darren Helm’s final-minute goal.
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JDM,
From what I understand the play along the boards is one of the starting points to Detroit’s transition game.
If the Kings control the neutral zone and stick to the LA system they will also nullify that Detroit board play essentially.
What it really comes down to is how to focus on ho the Kings can avoid beating themselves which if they do, should result in the Kings walking away with the win regardless if any other focus was placed on how to beat Detroit specifically.
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please lets all give praise where praise is do.
scott parse deserves to be on the L.a kings and in the nHL.
TEDDY purcell is not NhL ready or able to play in game situations.
at least not yet; plain and simple
i dont want to have or watch teddy purcell play the way that he plays, he’s a hazard.
can we all come to an agreement on that?
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Agreed
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Ditto agreed
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I get the impression that TM is using Purcell as a threat to other players. Play right or Purcell is in for you.
Parse is so much better than Purcell it isn’t even funny.
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Retardi is the big pile of hot steaming cow crap! How on earth can this guy be a GM and make comments like this? I watched this on the NHL Network this morning and I was about to blow a freaking gasket. You are a real chump Retardi and have no class to throw Michigan under the bus and a young defensemen who by the way is in his third year of the NHL and still learning. Yes, he has a lot to learn and has played so-so, (but your lack of thinking brought in Slow Blake and his bad habits to teach him). He is now trying to break those habits and learn the correct way from Scuds and O’Donnell. You are a outright chump Retardi and your lack of respect to both is appalling and pathetic you puke.
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TSN picks up the DL-JJ thingy…
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=307298
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this is not he biggest game….Calgary,Pho, Col,and Nashville is the teams to beat out.If you look at the Kings schedule for the last 6 weeks,they will be the favorite except for the 2 games against Chicago….We can do it even if we lose tonight..We are the underdogs tonight…
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So I wonder which Kings team will show up tonight…
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For me the biggest problem against Detroit is their forecheck system messing up our breakout; they pinch the blue line a lot (not “alot”, that’s not even a word, which I just learned recently) like Buffalo did. First Red Wing slows puck carrier, 2nd Wing forward angles to prevent pass into middle of ice and then joins scrum, 3rd Wing contains preventing pass into middle, and Red Wing d-men hold blue line by going man-on-man with their corresponding Kings winger. It is all designed to keep puck on boards (which team with puck is taught as safe anyway) but when the Red Wings get the puck on the boards and get it slowed down, they really overcommit men to one side of the ice and the d-men pinch as low as needed depending on where their opposite Kings forward is. Forget pressure at the center line, Red Wings don’t yield possession and back off at all in the first place. They disrupt the breakout by putting a man next to our stationary forward on half-boards for the ring-around, too, and they send a man swooping through the slot timed to shadow our center who is circling to gather speed for the short pass from our same guy on the half boards where that Red Wing is already covering him as well. We need to be very tight on breakout, with little or no gap between defense and forwards, and two guys circling for outlet pass in unison instead of the usual one guy.
This now concludes your in-depth video session. Please return your 3-d glasses to the receptacles outside the room.
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all i can say is…
get it done
if we play like we can, then there will be noproblem
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Were I in Terry Murray’s place, my message to the Kings before tonight’s game is simple: Take it personally. The Kings need to realize that though they are ahead in the standings, teams like Detroit still take them lightly. There’s always been a bit of “don’t you know who I am?” in the Wings’ attitude, and they seem to expect those kids from LA to just lay down and take their beating.
To beat a team like this, you have to come in with that mentality, and you have to believe that you are a part of the better team on the ice.
I think the Kings beating Detroit in their own building tonight would send a message to them (and their fans – easily among the most arrogant and annoying in the NHL) that the Kings will not simply give them their seat at the playoff table just because they’re the Red Wings.
It was a cheesy movie, but I keep thinking of the mantra of Michael Ironside’s character in “Starship Troopers:” “Everyone fights, no one quits.” I want Brown to knock Niklas Lidstrom on his ass, look him in the eye, and say, “Yeah, I meant to do that. Deal with it.” I want shots on net, not over it (lookin’ at you, Kopitar). I want smart decisions in the defensive zone, and no penalties in the offensive zone. I want Quick to be as focused as he’s ever been, and dammit, I want a power play goal out of this team tonight.
There’s no reason not to do everything possible to win this game and put some distance between the Kings and the playoff line. Time to seize the moment, boys. Get it done.
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i hope they come out fired up and possesd and win 10 to 1
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Blake,KingMe- You have exactly stated what I couldn’t find words for… Play like Demons, boys.
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What does everyone think will be a successful road-trip for these next five…the usual is to break even on the road…and I think that with who they’re playing, 5 points will be ok…I’m assuming losses in 2 of the 3 against Wings, Boston and Jersey, with one point against at least one of these…then they need to beat Toronto and Columbus for sure. I think 5 points is realistic.
Thoughts?
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kopi needs to have a great game like he was doing at the beginning of the season! our top line needs to get the job done and quick needs to have a stellar game in goal. we need to send a message today!!
GO KINGS GO!!!
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I wish Zeiler was dressed for this game just so I could watch Lidstrom get punished… Somebody on the kings, please punish lidstrom, hit him hard, give him a facewash, slash him, do something to the guy… I can’t stand him!
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King_Stoner,
Its obvious Kopi can’t handle the pressure… Trade him while his stock is high!
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Luc20
i am in Sabres country, so i get to see/hear about Myers all the time. if the Kings had Myers, they wouldnt be fighting for the last playoff spot thats for sure. at the end of tne season, it will be 2 years, and they have nothing to show for a 30+ goal scorer, inexcusable. the Sens were in a no win situation with Heatley, and they were able to get a player to help them today and tomorrow(michalek has 17 goals). like i said a few times, DL is 50/50 in my book, and thats just not good enough.
win or lose tonight, all i expect is for them to show up and bring the effort from the Buf game, all i ask.
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