Terry Murray’s postgame thoughts…
(on Dustin Brown’s game…)
MURRAY: “Brownie had a big night tonight. Very strong, powerful, that power-forward attitude that we like to see. Especially the play with Jack’s goal. My goodness. It takes a very special player to be able to show that kind of composure under pressure and a stressful situation and still, at the same time, find the open player. He had a big night.”
(on Brown’s leadership ability…)
MURRAY: “His leadership is, for the most part, what he brings on the ice, in practice and in the games. Hard player, heavy guy, gets some hits, can really rally the team when maybe it’s off-game. He gets some emotion into the game and, at the same time, can put the puck in the net or make a big play, like we saw here tonight. He’s well-deserving of the `A’ for Team USA.”
(on the Leafs’ play…)
MURRAY: “I can’t answer that, because that’s the first time I’ve seen the Leafs play this year. I don’t have any comparables. They had some good looks. They had an unbelievable chance there. Finger, he slipped in from the back with about 10 minutes left to go in the third period. It could have been a one-goal game with 10 minutes left, and Quick comes up real big for us. They had their looks. They play. I know they’re the leading team, as far as shots on goal, on average, per game. Whenever you keep putting pucks to the net, you’re going to get your opportunities to score. I thought they played pretty well here tonight.”
(on whether Toronto’s first goal was deflected…)
MURRAY: “I took a quick look at it here between periods, at the end of the first period, and it looked like it went off Peter Harrold’s stick. But I only saw one quick replay.”
(on ending the power-play drought…)
MURRAY: “You know, we didn’t change anything. The attitude was, get pucks to the net, shoot the puck as often as possible. I wish he had kept going to Kopi there. The one time around, over the top, he shoots the one-timer and the opportunity was there again. Stay with it, guys. Don’t get away from what’s working for you right now. But anyways, we end up with Doughty getting the same look and scoring the goal. That’s a good thing, and hopefully we can keep it moving now.”
(on the tight playoff race…)
MURRAY: “It’s not going to change. It’s going to stay close. Unless we get a big push on, and unless you’re able to go 10 or 12 games in a row here, as a team, you’re not going to pull away. It’s going to be interesting and exciting and fun to be a part of it, right down to the end.”
“Finger, he slipped in from the back…”
quote of the night…!
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Nice game, coach. Good rotations.
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I was gonna leave that one alone, variable… lol
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variable: Eww, and last night I was with a couple of buddies who each had medical exam stories to tell.
Good news on the playoff front, though, ’cause there’s a little separation with 9th place now that Calgary is still tanking. Kings have finally passed Nashville, too, and there’s no games in hand either way.
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Glad I’m not the only one to have spotted that Variable! Shudder to think what he may have said if Brown and Quick we’re in the sentence too…;)
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V-
I knew you where waiting for that one all night.
Kopi with a huge game against Det. Brownie with a huge game tonight. Good stuff to build on. I’m actually not missing Willie right now, which I think is a good thing. Keep going boys, time to take care of the Blue Jackets.
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it was a gimmie…i just happened to be the first to post…
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Quicker saved the day and Brownie had a big game. These are MUST wins against the dregs of the NHL. If we can get a couple more points from the road trip, things will be looking very good.
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Seemed to me Quick had an off night, but he did play his best in the third. Let’s hope the whole defense is better Thursday. If they keep the same offensive intensity and keep the defensive discipline we saw in the third, they’ll do well.
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Great game by the Kings – they made it look easy – though Quick seemed a little off his game. Brown was a beats. Doughty brings an intangible to the game and just never quits. The kid plays with such composure, confidence and smarts at such a young age – incredible. He has heart and is showing determination and a desire to win that is impressive.
Leafs fans at various sites are not happy campers. Can’t blame them though. As much as some here complain about Terry Murray, Ron Wilson has always been a horrible coach and the cries for his ousting are getting louder. Leafs are a mess.
Still can’t figure out why some hate TM so much. I think he’s exactly what this team needed. He has put a system in place that allows for these kids to be competitive, and more importantly to learn and grow. He shows patience, provides guidance, created a winning culture and works in a way that shows steady measurable progress. He has created a very balanced team with the players he was given. Kudos to him and Lombardi for getting the right support personnel to make it possible.
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Brown was a beast! excuse the typo.
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Just my opinion on the game: Just had a chance to view for the second time…
First period: Mostly dominated by the Leafs! They had a few skirmishes in front of Quick who do look solid early. The Kings took some wind out of their sails with the PP goal, but the stat that sticks out there is that the Leafs have only killed 70% of their last 50 shorthanded situations…nothing to gloat about scoring against them, though the goal was a great one timer by Doughty with Brownie screening! And the goal against Quick looked a little weak.
2nd period obeservations to follow!
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Seemed like the Leafs really came out of the gates fast and put us on our heels. whatever the boys talked about in the first intermission worked cause it seemed like we really controlled the 2nd period.
These were two big points we had to have.
CBJ game is going to be huge. A usually tough matchup for us.
Go Kings!
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MURRAY: “Unless we get a big push on, and unless you’re able to go 10 or 12 games in a row here, as a team, you’re not going to pull away.”
What’s stopping us from winning 10 or 12 straight?
This is the sixth time this year the Kings have won at least three consecutive games, yet they’ve never won more than four straight. Time to set a new high-water mark, I think.
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Not sure if I’m allowed to post this Rich, but it’s a link to an article from The Hockey News about Atlanta and LA actually talking about a Kovalchuk trade. I thought since it’s a credible website it would be ok to share. If not, I apologize and you can just delete it..
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/31066-THNcom-Blog-Kings-Thrashers-talking-Kovalchuk-trade.html
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This was Brown’s best game ever. He finally used all of his skills. He skated, hit, drove with the puck, and was responsible for a couple of King goals. Somehow I think that Ryan Smyth is rubbing off on him. If he can play this way from now on, he will be one of the best power forwards in the game.
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Too bad i got called into work tonight since it sounds like the Kings played pretty solid. glad to see them getting a little more recognition in Canada, they deserve it.
As far as kovi goes DL wont be willing to give up what atlanta wants, just not guna happen with the kigns playing well and in a playoff spot. God its good to be able to say that this time of year.
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Anybody notice how close the east is? 2 pts can move from 12 to 6th. Wow
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From the aforementioned article:
“It’s not known exactly what the Thrashers asked for from the Kings, but it’s believed to be a list that includes significant roster players and prospects. There is speculation that the group of roster players includes the likes of defenseman Jack Johnson and/or Oscar Moller or Wayne Simmonds and the prospects include 2009 first-rounder Brayden Schenn, along with defenseman Colton Teubert, Brandon Kozun and Andrei Loktionov. Kozun is currently second in the Western League in scoring and Schenn is 13th.”
ROTFLMFAO!
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WTFK -
Ya I laughed at that too but if you read the article again, I think they are just mentioning possible names they MAY have asked for. But it does read like they are asking for ALL of those guys together, doesn’t it? lol
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It seems Atlanta is asking for everyone on our current roster and minor league team as well. That may be a bit pricey for even me to accept. My problem is they are not asking for Drago in exchange straight up.
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Good game we looked good….I would love to put a link but I cant. So I will just say there is a new artical that is not a real big rumor site.
(THN.com Blog: Kings, Thrashers talking Kovalchuk trade) just out today. I hope this is ok Rich.
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Chris look at tantrums post above
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Crud, I didnt see the post above…Please take down my last. Hockey News is not a rumor site. So I guess there is a fair chance that this could go down.
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Recap on my second viewing of game:
2nd period: Kings played much better and althought they scored 3, the Kings outplayed them just slightly IMO. Quick, however was solid! Toronto has a couple of very good chances and just missed.
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moeller,Johnson and 2 picks and i would do it but would Atl???
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Look at hockeyleaks.com they have a positive look on the kings as well as the trade stuff
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Despie what Deano says–I wouldnt give Johnson away unless he is so pissed off at the GM’s comments that he goes regardless.
No way on Simmonds—
unless they can sign Kovalchuk to a long term deal at same time I wouldnt do anything—we will have our shot at some free agents next year
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I would rather make the playoffs and make a early exit and keep all of top prospects than trade for Kolvacheck. He is no 99 from Edmonton. Playoffs this year and deep playoff push in 2011.
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@sasKing
You took the words right out of my mouth.
I loved the Canadian announcers. Maybe because they are all so smitten with Doughty, but they just seemed so intelligent about their observations and comments all night. Too bad we can’t see these games all of the time without a free night on NHL gamecenter. But it was fortuitous timing for a free night.
Detroit = 1st line dominated
Toronto = 2nd line dominated
Blue Jackets…let’s hope that Fro and Zeus break out
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Yet another thread high jacked by Kovalchuk conjecture.
oi!
Please DL, stay the course. Year four in ‘complete rebuild’ mode. The Kings are doing it right. Why throw young talent & picks at ATL for either an incredibly expensive rental? Or, a player deserving 20 percent of your payroll for the next 7-10 years?
I say, go with a compliment like Ray Whitney for the playoff run, and try for Ilya, Patrick, or Evgeny this summer.
From Wikipedia (the ultimate authority of internet information (sarcasm))
Ray Whitney – Playing career
“Before Whitney played his first game on the ice, he was one of the Oilers stick boys during Wayne Gretzky’s late career in Edmonton; the others were Ryan Smyth and Ray’s brother Dean. He was drafted in the second round (23rd overall) in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks.”
Hmmmm?
GO KINGS GO!
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Good game Kings. Keep it rollin’ in Columbus.
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…Kovalchuk is good ,but maybe to expensive,but the most
important thing about him,this guy got very sharp tong,
and in some cases he would remind us Avery.I do not
have any problem with that and what Dallas did with him
was stuped.The ? is how it will reflect on locker
atmospher.I understand,there are some insiders on this board who knows more about this subject ( they call
Cammi cancer (??!!).I know healthy atmospher is important,but to play hockey in june ,we need a pure sniper and more concentration fron quick.
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Just amusing and want clarification. Is Kovalchuk’s name said like “Ko-val-chuck”, or “Ko-vul-chook, like the Canadian guys were saying all night? And while we are at it is it “E-von-nons” or “E-van-ins”?
I was looking at nhlnumbers.com today to see salaries (thanks to a poster here), and I noticed that the disparity between players on teams with superstars is huge, whereas the salaries on the Kings are pretty fairly balanced. We have quite a few players that aren’t rookies in the 2-4 million dollar range, whereas, really good players on teams with either superstar offensive guys or defensive guys are making less than 2M because those teams are paying their superstars 6M+. I have to think that that bodes well for the Kings in the long run, not only because we have room to keep our rookies, but also because it reflects the “team” winning attitude. Disparity in general, seems like it could be a kick in teeth to really hard working players. I’m quite confident that DL is ahead of me on the curve with this, and that is why it is the way that it is.
For that reason, and many others, bringing Kovalchuk in seems like it would be a bad move. I’m sure that DL is enticed, and he would be a fool not to explore it, but I don’t see him going for a Kovi deal.
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Well said flex!
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dMan, I have often wondered the same thing, why the hate for TM by so many. All he has done is take a very young team and developed them into a winning team that we all know has the ability to not only compete, but beat any team in the league. Are there going to be peaks and valleys? Yes, but he seems to have a calming affect on the players and they seem to respond to him.
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i thought segal had a good game. worked the puck well down low and also created a few chances.
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more kovalchuk bullshit. figures. attention span, please, people. kings win. murray quotes. reminds me of the movie trailer for some pixat movie where the dog is talking and then suddenly looks to the side and freezes, says “Squirrel!” and then comes back to reality…
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