This is the Kings’ first visit to Toronto since Dec. 2005, and it’s good timing for Wayne Simmonds, whose hometown of Scarborough is only about 20 minutes northeast of Toronto (or about 23 kilometers, since we’re in Canada). It will be Simmonds’ first game close to home since he joined the NHL.
SIMMONDS: “It’s real exciting. All my family is going to be here, friends and family, so it will be really nice, that’s for sure.”
It comes with a warning from Terry Murray though, not to Simmonds in particular but to all of the Kings’ Canadian players. Murray has often talked about games in Canada, and how they cause him a bit of concern because the Canadian players might feel some self-imposed pressure to play well.
Does Murray have a point? The Kings are 2-4 in Canada this season, with the only two wins coming against lowly Edmonton. Here’s what Murray said today, when asked by a local reporter if games in Toronto held any extra importance…
MURRAY: “We’re just going to approach it as another game. We played a game, last night, that was a significant game for us. I can’t imagine that the game against Toronto will take on anything more than the one in Detroit. But in saying that, this is home for a lot of the players. We understand that there is going to be a lot of family and friends around. On a young team, sometimes players have a tendency to try to get away from structure and system, to try to show a little bit more in their game. So that’s an area that I address when we come into Canada. `Stay with it, guys. You don’t have to do anything extraodinary here. Just play the game and good things end up being a result of that.”’
I’m still baffled about why this game (like all other Kings’ games in Canada) isn’t televised. The atmosphere in the crowd is always so good and you can really see the difference on TV between a game in the US and Canada.
Sorry for beating a dead horse…
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Since I live in Northern California I had to get CENTER ICE. I will be able to pick up the Canadian broadcast…
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the combined score on our losses in Canada so far:
11-4
4 goals in 4 games! the opposing goaltenders were olympians…this time its gustavsson i dont think we should have as much trouble
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thank god for the CENTER ICE PACKAGE!!!
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I’m actually in Toronto right now, going to the game Tuesday! All you have to have is money, vacation time, and the discipline to look for tickets as soon as the schedule is released!
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Meg,
My husband and I are fortunate enough to be going as well on Tuesday. Maybe we’ll see you there!
Anyone else from the blog going?
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I’d rather get the games in Canada then the games in HD.I also don’t get Prime ticket either.That forced me to buy Center Ice,but even Center Ice is blacked out on local Kings vs Ducks games.Even NHL channel has them blacked out when the game is on Prime Ticket.
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I know this is a lost cause, (Let’s see if I can get Rich too bite) You dont have to say what you hear/heard but there are more the the average number of rumors going around right now, from all the standard spots about trades. On your end is there more buzz going on right now? Because there are a ton of rumors floating around. Just a yes or no would do the trick, because I know you are hearing them too! There I tried guys…..
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Here Rich, Rich, Rich,………Come on buddy. I got a nice In N Out burger with your name on it bud.
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Chris: I guess I don’t read enough blogs – other than this one…. What are the rumors? By keeping the thread going on rumors, maybe Rich actually will bite…
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naturally they are kovalchuk rumors…i like mathew barry…but he too is a king FAN…and that’s why he blogs these rumors more…cuz he wants them to come true…only trust people like rich who aren’t kings fans because there is no personal confliction with the job and they report fact instead of a hybrid of fact and fantasy
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I don’t get Prime ticket in HD here in Vegas and not everyone has HDTV. Getting the games is more important to me than HD (as I’m sure it is for most fans). Fortunately I have Center Ice. Even if the games are listed as blackout I can sometimes get them. What I don’t understand is, why the blackout? If the game isn’t on any other channel in the area then there is no conflict. The games should be shown.
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kris,
I think someone wants to be paid for those games and someone says NO!I don’t care if you have to buy XM radio to get the games.
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Jim Fox doing NHL On The Fly right now (and all night I believe). NHL Network
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Who is Rich’s team?
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It should be online on the NHL’s Game Center …. interesting to note that the Quacks are out of town and all of their games will be shown locally, including one on the NHL Network vs Caps ….
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I will be there too on Tuesday. GO KINGS
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Wow!Tim Thomas looked like he was swimming the Atlantic Ocean on some of those goals tonight.5 losses in a row.I hope we take it to them Saturday.
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Anyone have the background (link) on why no Kings games from Canada are being televised local?
To me, this hurts both local NHL teams. Good, constant exposure will bring in fans. Even with next weekend’s “Hockey across America” promotion, the Kings/Devils game in the black (yes I do know it’s geared to getting kids in rinks- I’m just saying). I’m sore about the Kings, but NBC/NHL could sure get more games out there too.
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OMG!!! It pisses me off how we cant even watch our own team on t.v, that’s ridiculous. Grr
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No Canada games because it cost too much money for FSW
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It has nothing to do with cost. The phoenix coyotes games in Canada are shown back in AZ. It is all about viewership. I have a feeling that will change next season, though.
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I hate the fact that these games aren’t televised as well, but i disagree. I’d much rather have the rest of the games in HD. I’ve become too spoiled
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HD games are way more important than a couple out of market games I can catch on center ice! Those of you saying it doesn’t matter are definitely in the minority, I hate to break it to ya!
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I’m in Vancouver and going to the ‘Nucks/Sabres tomorrow evening.. Go Sabres!
Also hoping that I can pick-up a feed to watch the Kings and Leafs. Any ideas VanKingsFan?
The excitement is building for the Olympics here.
Go Kings!
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Hey Meg or other going to the Leafs game — I am curious how much the tix cost. I have a buddy who occasionally goes to Leafs games and he told me he pays $100 US for standing room only for better games. Seems high for this season anyway.
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Brent,
I too am in Vancouver. The game will be on Sportsnet Ontario in HD.
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I am in the far west San Fernando Valley (Calabasas) and would love to find a bar or some fellow fans to watch the game with. Does anyone know of a bar in this corner of our metropolis with the Center Ice package?
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Maybe Simmer could get his mom to make some food for the guys, whatever she fed Wayne seems to have been ideal…
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Game is also shown late at 1am PST on NHL Network Tuesday night.
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I’m using the NHL.com service to watch games. It is excellent and you can even get them in HD. It’s $20 a month, but I think it is worth it. You can watch all but games that are already being shown in the area you live in.
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Jet: Ticket prices in Toronto are crazy. Way too much money for a regular person to afford. And a beer is about $ 12.00 a glass. I’m going to game but only because I won the tickets at work.
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Hello Kings Fans, I was born in Canada and live in Toronto. I have been a Kings fan since I was a youngster in the ’93 playoffs against Toronto/Montreal.
Ticket prices in Canada (especially in Toronto) are insanely high. Average seats for the Kings game is like $125-200… and that’s against the Kings. Not exactly a team in high demand here. When Montreal or Ottawa come to town, you’re looking at $400… It sucks, and the reality is, the Kings haven’t been here since 2005 and probably not again for a while.
I clearly won’t be able to afford to go, but will be on the edge of my seat at a bar cheering every goal! They haven’t been in the playoff hunt this late in the season in years!
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Rich,
Could you find out why they don’t televise games in Canada? I have always wondered. I’d ask myself if I knew who to ask. Maybe I’ll try to cacth up with Bob & Jim when the Kings are here on 3/29 and ask them why if that’s not something you have time for.
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OK, i meant “FROM Canada” on FSW
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Minnesota,
I think the official explanation was so they could show more games in HD.That’s the only reason I mentioned it earlier.
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Minnesota…tried last month, didn’t get far…
http://lakingsinsider.com/?p=2390
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Hey DK….
Timmy Nolans is a pub in Toluca lake. A couple of hockey fans paid to get center ice at the bar last season. They have 5 or so tv’s downstairs and they will definitely play the game somewhere. I would call just to make sure they still have center ice this season. I have seen a bunch of blackhawks games on there so it would be odd if they didn’t.
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I am going to see the Kings when they are playing in Nashville. I bought tickets for the March 4th game against the Preds. 200 bucks a piece but I’ll only get to watch them live once this year so it’ll be worth it.
On the Center Ice: When the Kings play the Preds the game is blacked out on Center Ice, both feeds. Forcing me to stream the radio feed out of L.A. online instead of finding my local Fox Sports Channel… If you ever listened to the Preds play by play and color guy you would understand.
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Rich,
Nice response from Fox. Suppose that was on the customer service “flow chart?”
No respect for Hammond = blasphemy!
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