Tuesday skate update

Raitis Ivanans and Brandon Segal will be back in the lineup tonight, with Peter Harrold and Teddy Purcell expected as the healthy scratches. Terry Murray said defenseman Davis Drewiske is ready to go, but that Murray is hesitant to put him back in the lineup, with the Kings on a winning streak, simply to make “a change for the sake of change.”

Lots of talk about how to carry the momentum of the road trip to home. Olli Jokinen is expected to play for the Rangers tonight, but that’s not official. The Rangers’ morning skate at Staples Center should be taking place right now…

93 Comments

  1. VanKingsFan says:

    Putting in the heavies eh. I guess its the Rangers style of play since they cant score anymore.
    Or maybe TM just wants to make a statement now that we’r back at home

    [Reply]

  2. Khanon says:

    Harrold over jones would be the better choice. How jones keeps getting ice time is shocking… JJ belongs in Manchester for a season or two

    [Reply]

  3. jc_9 says:

    Agree. I would rather see Harrold than Jones. I don’t understand how he keeps getting in there. He must have something on Murray or Lombardi.

    [Reply]

  4. B says:

    Please take out Jones!

    [Reply]

  5. wavesinair says:

    Speaking of defensemen. As I understand it, DL would like to add a veteran d-man to the lineup. Personally, I would love to have Lubo back where he belongs, as a King. So I’m throwing it out there to all of you… like it? Don’t like it? It can work if…? It’s not a good idea because…? Thoughts?

    [Reply]

  6. variable says:

    when olli got traded to calgary last season, i think he had a hat-trick and 5pts. in his first game with them…

    tonight, he’s expected to be skating with gabby if he plays…let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself…

    i like the bigger bodies of segal and raitis in there…i want to see segal bring that forecheck energy immediately…and if he doesn’t, oscar probably moves up again…

    if t.m. decides to put the zus line vs. the olli/gabby line instead of matching top lines, it becomes the key match up…

    so maybe this is t.m.’s way of making sure the kings come out physically ready to play…

    [Reply]

  7. bbb7 says:

    Jones seems to be behind game speed since he returned so he’s looked bad but he was okay earlier in the season so maybe he’s still got lingering injury effects. When he’s healthy he does add to the D transition speed. That said, I’d also rather see Harrold in there until RJ is 100%.

    [Reply]

  8. Die Hard #66 says:

    It is very disappointing to me to hear that Peter Harrold will be out tonight. He has played in most if not all of the games during this current streak, and I feel much more comfortable with him on the blue line than i ever have with Jones. Jones seems to have a problem making decisions on when to pinch. He has been beaten so many times in his short stint with the kings so far that I cant understand why he keeps getting the opportunity. I know he has a nice offensive upside when he is able to make the correct decision on when to pinch, but Quick has bailed this guy out so much that I would think Murray would bench him over Harrold.

    [Reply]

  9. Nickdoh says:

    harrold is a turnover machine and nearly killed kopitar. im fine with jones.

    [Reply]

  10. tantrum4 says:

    I’m pretty sure Ivanans is going back in because the Rangers have Orr, and they still have Brashear don’t they??

    [Reply]

  11. bbb7 says:

    waves,
    I like Lubo, but at a $5.6 million cap hit for 3 more years, no. If he was at maybe $4 million/year or if he had 1 + an option left, okay.

    [Reply]

  12. Forum67 says:

    I am surprised that Murray is allowing an injury to lose a player his spot in the lineup. Normally coaches will put you righ back in the lineup when you get the okay to play after being injured.

    Jones’ potential for scoring aside, he is a distinct defensive liability in his own zone. How you sit both Harrold and Drewiskie in order to play Jones is an enigma wrapped in a mystery to me.

    [Reply]

  13. Sebastian says:

    I agree with you guys. Im what little we have seen of Peter Harrold playing D, he has shown to be much more responsible than Jason Jones. I’m glad Segal will be back in the lineup, I think he has more of an impact in a 4th line role, than Teddy.

    [Reply]

  14. VanKingsFan says:

    Waves:
    I don’t like it.
    Lubo was pissed at the Kings for the way mgmt handled his trade, so who knows if he would want to come back. Plus I don’t like the idea that, he wasn’t in our plans two years ago… but all of a sudden he is??

    I like the idea of adding another defensemen, I just don’t think it should be the guy we just ditched. I have said it before but I will say Hamhuis again. Or Pitkanen if we could get him

    [Reply]

  15. VanKingsFan says:

    nickdoh: I didnt realize it was Harrold who sent the Suicide pass to Kopy. For that reason alone maybe he is benched?

    [Reply]

  16. JWR says:

    It still seems to me that Jokinen never recovered his game after he accidentally cut Zednik’s throat.

    I expect that if he can’t recover his edge playing in NY he may soon be out of the NHL and in Europe.

    [Reply]

  17. R.E.M. Murray says:

    I wouldn’t be surprised if Jones is in just for tonight as he has more experience against NYR than Harrold.

    TM seems to always be thinking along these lines.

    I still think Harrold had the play of the game in the Toronto game breaking up a sure goal by Kessel.

    [Reply]

  18. wavesinair says:

    I’m not sure I’d put that hit on Harry. If you recall, Kopitar looked up ice for a good bit of time before he turned back to receive the pass. I was surprised he didn’t know the hit was coming for this very reason and just chip the puck it, while side-stepping the hit. It all happens so fast, but I don’t fault Harry there.

    [Reply]

  19. R.E.M. Murray says:

    Hopefully Zipay and the rest of the NY media wear out Jokinen before tonights game

    [Reply]

  20. Marc Nathan says:

    tantrum4 says:
    February 2, 2010 at 12:12 PM
    I’m pretty sure Ivanans is going back in because the Rangers have Orr, and they still have Brashear don’t they??

    No on Orr… he’s been in Toronto all season long. As for Brashear, he’s played in just 36 of the Rangers 56 games played, averaging just 6 minutes of ice time. He has played just one game since January 15th, so… don’t expect to see him in the lineup either.

    [Reply]

  21. R.E.M. Murray says:

    Simmonds should be benched for fighting Stuart immediately after that hit. Kopi is not Gretzky and the hit wasn’t dirty.

    Simmonds needs to nail Savard or Bergeron the first chance he gets instead of starting fights every time contact is made.

    [Reply]

  22. KC23 says:

    Don’t like lubo, never did. I’d sit both Jones and JJ and put Whiskey and Harold in. Purcell just needs to go away, the guy never does anything ever.

    JJ must be on the trading block, I can think of no other reason to see why TM puts up with his horrid play.

    Jone’s looks very slow since coming back from his injury.

    [Reply]

  23. variable says:

    tsn’s bob mckenzie had an interesting take on the simmer/kopi/stuart situation that happened on the last road trip…

    http://tsn.ca/blogs/bob_mckenzie/?id=308652

    [Reply]

  24. EASportsMgt says:

    Off Topic
    Does anyone else feel that we may have the Ducks situation on our hands in the coming year or years?
    Here’s what I see:
    Quick is signed to 2013 at a 1.8 Cap hit, so it makes him attractive long term.
    Bernier becomes an RFA in 2012.
    So I can see Quick, leading the team into the playoffs this year, next year he is still the number 1, with Bernier backing him up. With Quick’s heavy work load, he goes down with an injury, Bernier comes in and gets two shut outs, all of sudden the future netminder is showing us he is the real deal. Quick comes back and they start splitting time. Eventually they have to re-sign Bernier, so the only option is to trade Quick.
    Not exactly but similar to Hiller and J.S. Giguire.
    Anyone else see this possibility?

    [Reply]

  25. R.E.M. Murray says:

    What infuriates me is Stuart is out for a month for standing up for himself after a clean hit.

    [Reply]

  26. Mark 1 says:

    All things being equal, Randy Jones is a way better NHL defenceman than PH. Whisky is not bad. I have the feeling that RJ is still recovering from his concussion.

    It reminds me a bit of Jason Allison, who also had a “whiplash” injury and then never recovered even though he kept comming in and out of the lineup. I hope RJ does not go the same way.

    Lubo is not happy with the Kings because he was told by DL he would not be traded and then was at the last minute (I believe just a day or two) before his no trade clause kicked in.

    He makes way too much!! To put in perspective, he made only .5 less than Kovi this year and .5 more than Ryan Smith. He would be the highest paid player on the Kings.

    [Reply]

  27. wavesinair says:

    Van, hmmm, I don’t recall Lubo “not” being in our plans per se. If I recall correctly, DL had just signed him to a huge new contract, which says just the opposite. Then he had a crappy year, probably trying too hard. I think Edmonton wanted Lubo much more that we wanted to let him go. I think he was totally in our plans. His being upset by the move is even more of a reason why his return would work, imo. It indicates an emotional tie, one which can be reestablished with a simple, “We never wanted to move you” convo with DL. Those wounds can be healed pretty easily imo. I just feel like Lubo is a King and I hope he somehow makes his way back here. As for the contract, yeah, maybe that just makes it totally unrealistic…

    [Reply]

  28. R.E.M. Murray says:

    Bob McKenzie is damn right too

    [Reply]

  29. Forum67 says:

    R.E.M. Murray

    Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I am pretty sure Murray does not share your about Simmonds and his response to the clean hit Kopi absorbed.

    [Reply]

  30. What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

    Change for the sake of change…like pulling Harry out?

    [Reply]

  31. R.E.M. Murray says:

    EASportsMgt

    That is an interesting theory

    Burn Quick now while it’s on the table.

    And use Bernier in a Varlomov type role later this year.

    [Reply]

  32. wavesinair says:

    EASportsMgt, if by similar you mean Quick helps bring the Stanley Cup to Los Angeles, then I sure as %&$@ hope so! I’ll take whatever goalie problems develop after that any year, every year.

    [Reply]

  33. variable says:

    REM…

    yeah… i just posted bobby mac’s take on it…

    i can’t say i disagree with him…but i do think it’s part of the ebb and flow of physicality…

    i think simmer did what he needed to do…and since this practice is considered to be the standard in such instances for nearly four decades (protecting yr top player(s))…as duly noted by both mac & coach julien…it’s a bit of a sour grapes argument…someone could have stepped in for stuart, too…stuart didn’t have to drop the gloves…

    “call and response” is a part of the sport…i think it’s an interesting aspect…and although i don’t ever promote tom goonery, but something had to be done…

    the fact that simmer got called for several penalties and was taken out of the game for 19mins indicates, imho, he served his time for his actions…

    [Reply]

  34. wavesinair says:

    @Forum67: I brought this up after the hit/fight. Murray is on record, if I remember correctly, as basically agreeing with McKenzie. That’s why I was surprised Murray was supportive of Simmonds response. I asked then and I’ll ask now, perhaps we can get clarification from Murray about this apparent contradiction of his philosophy?

    [Reply]

  35. AZ King says:

    R.E.M. Murray-

    If Stuart didn’t think someone was going to go after him after his hit on Kopi than he’s an idiot. Yes it was a clean hit and a good hockey play, but there’s no way he could have thought he would skate away free and clear from that. If roles were reversed and Brown laid out Savard I would expect the exact same response from the Bruins. I understand you may not like that part of the game, but it is part of the game none-the-less.

    [Reply]

  36. What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

    The suicide pass was definitely on Harry, and Kopi really had no options. Still, Harry’s a better choice, by far. “Turnover machine?” That’s unreasonably harsh.

    Regarding Lubo–I love the guy, but he’s just not the value we remember. Add to that the likelihood of him being pissed…forget it.

    [Reply]

  37. R.E.M. Murray says:

    Murray needs to get his ass kicked by his older brother in Ottawa some more

    [Reply]

  38. PRMan says:

    @R.E.M. Murray

    Kopi IS Gretzky, at least this season.

    I agree that players that throw a clean check should not have to fight. Brown just skates away quickly. But I wouldn’t hate to see a rule penalizing an instigator after a clean hit even more.

    [Reply]

  39. D B COOPER says:

    prost is a THUG. with Avery and their other hugh goon, TM is expecting trouble.

    Rich, why doesn’t Bob Miller get the oportunity to do Versus or Center Ice, etc.? he was at the East Coast sunday, and there was the Penguin game in Pittsburgh last night, monday: seems like it could be done, and the rest of the country could experience Bob’s excellent play by play.

    [Reply]

  40. R.E.M. Murray says:

    AZ King

    An eye for an eye and old time hockey is not dropping the gloves after a clean hit. I got a lot of respect for Stuart for what he did. He didn’t have to drop his gloves. Let Thornton and Ivanans go from there if Simmonds isn’t gonna target one of the other guys.

    [Reply]

  41. What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

    Regarding the whining about Stuart–McKenzie doth protest too much. I don’t think Stuart had to fight. Since he threw down, he risked injury. Actually, making that hit risked injury too. I’m good with both, though I’m not a fan of the fighting.

    [Reply]

  42. king dodger says:

    I would love to get lubo back but two problems. they would want some key players or a draft pick and lubo still has a hefty salary that needs to be paid. I’d rather save it for drew and simmer and go fishing this off season. players with tallent will now want to come to LA because they see that we are now a winning team that is on the rise. if this would of happen last year I wouldn’t be suprised if Marian Hossa would have signed with us instead of the blackhawks. but they had the success last year. and it’s our turn this year

    [Reply]

  43. wavesinair says:

    @AZ King: Did you read the McKenzie piece? I don’t think anyone is suggesting Stuart “get away” with one. As McKenzie points out (and I think correctly so) there are a number of options:

    McKenzie:

    a) Kopitar gets up and exacts revenge by scoring a goal against Boston

    b) If Kopitar was really incensed by the hit, he drops the gloves himself with Stuart (don’t laugh, the point is the game had more honor when players fought their own battles)

    c) the Kings take Stuart’s number and the first time he’s in a position to get hit, he gets creamed

    d) the Kings begin laying more hits and physical abuse on Boston’s best offensive players Marc Savard and Patrice Bergeron, and believe me Wayne Simmonds would be excellent at this

    e) all of the above.

    Correct answer: E :)

    [Reply]

  44. deadcatbounce says:

    I do think that Anze is a big boy and can defend himself, if not immediately then perhaps on a future shift. If you can’t stand up for yourself you have no business playing in the NHL.

    [Reply]

  45. R.E.M. Murray says:

    deadcatbounce

    Anze is a big boy and can defend himself but he doesn’t. He turned into a wimp after the Phaneuf challenged him earlier in the year at Calgary. Phaneuf got himself a five minute major with that one but Kopi was a wuss the last 2/3 of that game.

    If this is too much for Kopi, I’m sure he and DL can work out a transfer agreement with the KHL.

    [Reply]

  46. The Jumping Shrimp says:

    Players going after other players for a perfectly clean hit is weak. Never understood it. Like you said, Kopitar is a big kid. Have some pride and fight your own battles if you feel the need.

    McKenzie is 100% right on this one.

    [Reply]

  47. Sebastian says:

    BTW, if the Kings win tonight, keep your eye on Randy Jones. He is by far, THE best high fiver on the team and possibly even the entire league.

    GO KINGS!!

    [Reply]

  48. R.E.M. Murray says:

    PRMan

    If that is the case, why is Simmonds on the line with Kopi instead of Ivanans?

    And do you think Stuart would have dropped his gloves if that was the case?

    [Reply]

  49. What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

    LOL at Kopi going to the KHL. Yeah, that will happen!

    [Reply]

  50. Paul From Oxnard says:

    It should be fun to see the reception Avery gets back in LA because it’s been a while since he played here last. What would have been really fun would have been Calgary trading Phaneuf to the Rangers so he and Avery had to play on the same team. :D

    Rangers are really struggling to score goals the last few weeks. I predict an easy Kings victory, 4-1.

    [Reply]

  51. rightkinger says:

    Get Jones out of there and put in Drewiske..at least DD brings some physical play…Jones looks so lost out there.

    [Reply]

  52. What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

    Going after a player for a perfectly clean hit is part of the game. They get penalized when they do it because it’s not in the rules. It all balances out as it’s supposed to. In the case of this particular game, the Kings had to endure a double-minor. Several years back when Geoff Courtnall ran the Kings goaltender, whoever it was that went for him got something like 9 minutes because Courtnall turtled. That’s always the hitter’s option.

    [Reply]

  53. lilGaryShuchuk says:

    I can’t believe everybody is in love Lubo! He wasn’t that great and obviously did not fit into DL’s plans. We are way better off without him. I was happy the Oilers were willing to take him with that salary and his knack for losing the puck on the point during the PP

    [Reply]

  54. What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

    Lubo was great…but he’s not the player he was.

    [Reply]

  55. R.E.M. Murray says:

    Paul From Oxnard

    Yeah, I wonder who would be getting ‘sloppy seconds’ then?

    [Reply]

  56. TheArcticFox says:

    Yeah im kinda over Jonesy too…I miss Whiskey

    Im glad Segal is back though hes LEGIT!

    [Reply]

  57. lilGaryShuchuk says:

    PH should get a chance over RJ, but I think someone already said it, he used to play in the East and may have some insight into the NYR. Maybe he’ll put one in and we’ll all forget about this tonight

    [Reply]

  58. R.E.M. Murray says:

    There are two differences between Anze Kopitar and Sean Avery:

    1)Kopitar has a greater scoring prowess than Avery does

    2)Avery have more guts than Kopitar

    If Kopitar and Avery had the same amount of guts, Kopitar would beat Avery’s ass in a fight.

    [Reply]

  59. Alen says:

    Interesting, even if harrold almost killed kopi even if I think he doesn’t belong on a nhl roster as a dman, he is still better than jones on d. We’ll see what happens I guess. Both those guys don’t deserve to play d in the nhl but I have no problem with harrold playing on the 4th line, I guess TM wants to match the dirty Rangers goon and avery, here we go.

    [Reply]

  60. bob says:

    REM, how long have you been watching hockey?

    I get the argument, and I get BM’s take on it…but I would much rather see a response like that from our team than the latter.

    [Reply]

  61. R.E.M. Murray says:

    bob

    I want to see the response of Anze Kopitar beating the crap out of Sean Avery tonight for no apparent reason.

    Then the hell with Bob McKenzie.

    [Reply]

  62. John says:

    What A Joke. If that’s the case, get Jones outta there and Put Harrold in.

    [Reply]

  63. R.E.M. Murray says:

    And bob

    To answer your question about how long I have been watching hockey?

    I have been watching hockey since ‘old time’ hockey.

    You know, back in the days where if Jacques Lemaire or Frank Mahovlich get lit up ala Kopi/Stuart, then you could expect Larry Robinson to line some SOB up a good one.

    Like this one

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKd4HJNSbQg

    [Reply]

  64. bob says:

    REM, again, how long have you been watching hockey? You mess with a teams star players, clean hits or not, most of the time there will be a response. These guys don’t take 5-minutes to analyze the situation, look at video replay to decide whether it’s a clean hit….no, they respond quickly…had it been another player besides Kopitar or say Doughty, maybe that doesn’t happen. Its part of the game, deal with it.

    [Reply]

  65. R.E.M. Murray says:

    This is what Simmonds should have done the other night

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKd4HJNSbQg

    Great training video for TM

    [Reply]

  66. R.E.M. Murray says:

    bob

    If this happens late in the 3rd period, I can understand Simmonds reacting immediately.

    But this was in the 2nd.

    [Reply]

  67. AZ King says:

    Waves-

    Yes I read the article and found it very insightful. I think the type of responses that McKenzie suggests would lead to more of the “players caring for each other” environment. My question to you is, if the Kings opted for options “C” and/or “D” and crushed Stuart later in the game or pounded on Savard or Bergeron, do you not think the Bruins would have responded in a similar way to Simmonds?

    I feel it’s all a matter of perspective. Claude Julian is upset about what happened, but if roles were reversed I don’t see him being okay with one of his guys not stepping up if one of his stars got leveled. Everyone around the Kings was furious last year when Doughty got creamed and no one stepped up to defend him. When Pheanuf laid out Kopi most people on here were glad to see the team respond and let Pheanuf know that we’re not going to stand for that.

    So what is different about this? Stuart got hurt, and that sucks because this is his how he makes his living, but it’s not like Simmonds fought dirty, or did something intentionally to endanger Stuart. Stuart could have stood there, not drop the gloves, and let Simmonds get all the penalties. He could also have just skated away.

    I like the points McKenzie makes, and would like to see the league move in that direction, but in order for that to happen every GM, coach, and player needs to be on the same page.

    [Reply]

  68. Kevin Y says:

    Orr, Brashear…. AVERY!

    Ivanans is definitely going in because of Sean Avery, more than anything. I’d love to see that at the game tonight. But there will DEFINITELY be a fight.

    [Reply]

  69. BringBackTheShieldJersey says:

    So TM changes the line-up, but won’t put DaviS back in cause he doesn’t want to change the line-up?

    [Reply]

  70. deadcatbounce says:

    There may well be a fight tonight, but it won’t involve Avery because he’ll turtle.

    [Reply]

  71. wavesinair says:

    @AZ King, yeah I hear you. It’s really a matter of what kind of NHL you want to see. Trying to look at it objectively, I agree with McKenzie. When I see Brown make a clean, devastating hit, I can’t help but think a “fight” response is chicken$%@^. I’m thinking, “too bad baby, tell your buddy to keep his head up.” Then later, when Brown gets clocked (which he has countless times) I’m thinking, “oh, nice hit in return. good hockey.” So all my blathering kinda leads me to think Simmonds response was lame and that some other response would be more respectable. Again, I’d love to get more from TM on this subject and/or players.

    [Reply]

  72. lilGaryShuchuk says:

    guys – you have to take the good with the bad. If you clean someone out like Stuart did to Kopi, you better be ready to throw down. Right after or the next shift whatever it is.

    [Reply]

  73. deadcatbounce says:

    If you get leveled by a clean check it’s your own fault for not keeping your head up, so fight your own fight.

    [Reply]

  74. deadcatbounce says:

    I remember Gordie Howe once saying that he’d warn people to keep their heads up the first time, and if they didn’t take his advice he’d clean their clock the next time the opportunity arose.

    [Reply]

  75. variable says:

    great discussion, boys…re: hit-gate…

    to me, the big picture aspect of this is going back to what i said in previous threads…: what is this team’s “team identity”…(?)

    we can all say we want our teams to be “tough to play against”…and for us to rise to the occasion and fight our our battles…

    but it’s a much different story when you have to do it…

    sure…simmer didn’t HAVE to do what he did…
    …but he HAD to do it…
    (get it…?!?!)

    this is how teams grow from pretenders to contenders,,,: the “don’t mess with us” belief…

    all simmer did was emphasize the bigger picture in a smaller window of opportunity…

    and, again…he did the crime…he paid the time…

    and i’m glad he did…:)

    [Reply]

  76. LVKINGS88 says:

    The player that went to the defense of our goaltender was either OD or SYD, I’m almost sure it was OD.I still cannot stand St Louis for that play, and those stinking bells they play after each goal is score for them,and how everybody counts in the audience.I think the goaltender was Storr and what a pussy Courtnall was for turtleing

    [Reply]

  77. lilGaryShuchuk says:

    Well said “v”….I subscribe to the eye-for-an-eye belief. Hockey is a contact sport and hits are a huge part of the game. If you have never played before, I can tell you once you take a hit like that you remember and “think” next time you have the puck on your stick.

    It’s an incredibly effective tactic to knock someone into next week. You’ll pass before you have to or make a bad decision.

    The Kings have to be feared if we want to bring the Cup to LA. If one of your teammates takes it on the chops, then whoever is closest better take exception.

    [Reply]

  78. Dan H. says:

    Simmonds showed that game three things:

    1. He’s a bigger deterrent than Ivanans will ever be because he actually drops gloves and beats on a guy.

    2. He’s a consumate team guy and steps in for his teammates.

    3. He’s a tough bastard.

    I’m not on the “Simmonds is god” bandwagon that a lot are but he brings a lot of intangibles and he did the right thing.

    In the “who’s untouchable” poll Rich put up Kopi and Doughty were the ones most selected. If you take a big hit (even clean) on those two, you better be exepecting retalliation. If someone did that to Crosby or the beloved Kovalchuk you’re damned right someone would step in and let it be known that it’s unacceptable.

    As for tonights dilemma…is Randy Jones the new Craig Johnson? He plays, he sucks, but he keeps getting in there at the expense of other better players and nobody can figure out why?

    I didn’t see the game because it wasn’t televised here but I did watch the NHL.com highlights and on both goals against in NJ Randy Jones basically let it be a 2-1 and he was chasing the play.

    [Reply]

  79. khanon says:

    Lubo is the type of D-man the kings certainly do not need. If anything, the Kings need more size and toughness back there, not a finesse D-man. The only physical D-men the kings have are Greene and O’D. Doughty is occassionally phyical, but more of a finesse player. JJ was physical for a short span but has now regressed back to his old style of not throwing a single hit. Jones is soft. Harrold is soft. Drewiski is soft. Scuderi is sort of physical but not really. We need a monster back there, someone who will take care of his zone, the net, his man, and the goalie… Not little Lubo and his extremely exagerated salary

    [Reply]

  80. JPUCK says:

    i completely agree with what simmonds did. the hit was clean and everything BUT bottom line, Stuart is gonna think twice about hitting kopi next time. This is gonna give him more open ice.

    [Reply]

  81. mrbrett7 says:

    R.E.M…I think your missing the point of Simmonds dropping the gloves and going after Stuart.

    It doesn’t matter that the hit was clean. In this league, if your best player gets hit, you have no choice, you MUST stand up for them. That’s the way it works.

    You mentioned Kopitar being a pussy, and not answering a challenge from Phanuef earlier this season. I see that is an epic fail on his teammates part. It’s not Kopitar’s role nor job to fight an idiot like Phanuef. He is paid to score goals and create offense, not fight. Simmonds, Ivanans, and to an lesser extent O’Donnel, they are paid to stand up for their teammates. Every team has players like this, and that is what their job is.

    Like it, don’t like it, it really doesn’t matter. That is the way the game is played.

    It really does suck that Stuart broke his finger in the fight. He did his job, and Simmonds did his job. Guess what, so did the officials. Simmonds got all the extra PIM’s, and Stuart’s teammates didn’t do THEIR JOB by scoring on all that PP time.

    Hockey is a team game, not an individual sport.

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  82. fsd1 says:

    God what a bunch of crap in here, REM? bench simmonds cause he fought someone? Why are you whining so much about Stuart? You 2 do the nasty together or something ad now his finger wont work?

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  83. Choralone says:

    If I want to see men proving their honor and toughness one-on-one, I’ll go watch a jousting reenactment at the Renaissance Fair. I want to see the best hockey players play, not the toughest. Gordie Howe was an exceptional hockey player in for a reason – if everyone else was able to play like him, they would.

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  84. R.E.M. Murray says:

    mrbrett7

    If I was NY tonight, I would do whatever it takes to throw off Kopitar.

    Chances are the Kings will overeact and take a bunch of penalties again. And they might not get so lucky with the outcome this time.

    However, I would not mess with Kopitar if I knew this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKd4HJNSbQg was going to be a response.

    And fsd1, are you the guy that took Dean Lombardi’s Jack Johnson comments out of context? Just like you are doing with the ‘bench’ comments now.

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  85. gokings says:

    Hate the idea of the team having to lose for Drewiske to get back in. If he’s healthy, there’s no reason he’s not in over Jones…

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  86. fsd1 says:

    REM, Totally apologize, please forgive me, I was in a real bad moment, sorry

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  87. Steve McQueen says:

    R.E.M. wrote:
    “Simmonds should be benched for fighting Stuart immediately after that hit. Kopi is not Gretzky and the hit wasn’t dirty.”

    You can’t be serious…benching a guy who stands up for the star player when he got hit (clean or not clean)? What the hell kind of message would that send to the team? Murray would lose the respect of the entire team before the game was over.

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  88. mrbrett7 says:

    Once again REM, missing the point.

    Players do NOT fear body checks. Never have, never will. Players DO fear getting pounded, that’s the way the game is played today.

    It’s very simple. Crosby gets hit, whoever hit him, you bet someone will go after them. Staal, Ovechkin, any of the big names. Like it or not, he may not put their points, but Kopitar IS the top offensive player on this roster, and when he gets hit, clean or not (and the hit was very clean), if nobody came in, that sends a message to the rest of the league, “hey, you can hit Kopitar, and get away with it.”

    So, Brown, or Simmonds, or anyone else hitting Stuart back the next period with a hard check does the same thing? No, not even close.

    Overreact? Maybe…if it happens again, and he doesn’t do it (Simmonds), he should be benched…every player on the ice should be benched.

    When Atryukin kneed Doughty last year, and nobody did anything…was the proper response to go out and body check someone?

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  89. jesse says:

    spot-on mrbrett7.

    Never fails that when something like this happens, all the whiners pipe up about it. This is hockey, the last sport with a few good men. If whiners had their way, there would be a whistle everytime there was contact with different colored citations being cast on the ice by twelve refs, and then we would see some version of the free through after every foul which would occur every 5 seconds. Simmy did precisely the right thing.

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  90. jesse says:

    *free-throw

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  91. DetroitSons1952 says:

    PRMan, what do you call 19 minutes in penalty time, Simmonds got 5 for fighting, a double minor for instigator and a 10 min. misconduct, what do you want a change from jerseys and pants to multicolored TuTus???

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  92. DetroitSons1952 says:

    R.E.M. did you happen to see the first period of the Toronto-New Jersey game tonight??????? Guess what???? Phaneuf just caught a piece of Parese and had to fight Colin White….. Go talk your stuff on another board.

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  93. jesse says:

    lol detroit:)

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