Randy Jones will be back in the Kings’ lineup tonight, after missing the previous two games. Jones’ last appearance came in overtime of Game 1, when his turnover led to the Canucks’ overtime goal. After that, Peter Harrold replaced Jones in the lineup, but Jones will go back in tonight. Today, Jones and Terry Murray talked about Jones’ game, and what needs to be different going forward…
Question: What would you say are the things in your game, going forward, that you need to emphasize in order to be effective in the playoffs?
JONES: “I’ve got to be moving my feet at all times. Sometimes when you get the puck, rather than looking up and waiting to make a play, it’s a lot more beneficial, and easier on your teammates and yourself, if you start skating with it and start moving your feet, and then start looking to make plays. It just opens up a lot more for you, and that’s what I’ve got to get back to doing.”
Question: You missed some time with what they called an upper-body injury. Is there any thought that the recovery process from that has taken a while?
JONES: “I want to say no. I never want to use injuries as excuses or anything like that. I was injured at the time, and the trainers made sure I didn’t come back until I was 100-percent healthy, so I never want to use injuries as an excuse.”
And here’s what Murray said today about Jones’ inclusion in the lineup…
MURRAY: “We have an experienced player going in, in Randy Jones. He’s been in this situation many times. He was taken out for reasons that I did speak to him about, and I think he got the message. We’ll get him in and get him going.”
Question: Randy has said that, in terms of not moving his feet and things such as that, it’s something that he might not even be aware of until he sees it on video. For you, and as a former player, does that seem like a reasonable thing?
MURRAY: “It is very reasonable. That’s exactly what happens with Jonesy, and it goes back through my time with him in Philadelphia, when he was coming into the league from the (AHL) Phantoms. They had a great year down there, won the Calder Cup, and he comes in and shows flashes of being a top-four defenseman in the National Hockey League, and then he gets into this lull in his game, standing and watching and waiting for things to happen. He gets the puck on his stick and, instead of being assertive with it, he throws the puck around the boards and it gets to be a turnover situation. So that’s the areas that I address with him on a fairly regular basis. Most important is, get your feet moving, get skating. He’s a good skater. He can carry the puck out of danger and he can make good plays.”
Be afraid, be very afraid.
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harolds the one that scares me
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If he messes up again tonight, he better not play even one more game in these playoffs!!!
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Im cautiously optimistic.
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You got THAT right TM, “STANDING, WATCHING, WAITING”!! My how things don’t change year after year, after year, after year……..
UGH!!!!!
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This confuses me more now!!! Jones but not Williams…. Murray must have it in good for Justin…. Dumb!
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Just getting the word out… If you’re heading to the game early tonight, head over to the ESPN Zone bar! I’ll be there by 4:30 giving out 20 free Canucklehead signs for anyone who wants one.
Go Kings Go!
-waves
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Rich, The last quote was by Murray not Jones if I’m not mistaken.
I’m surprised Jones forgot that you have to move your feet to play hockey. Isn’t that real basic?
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Last paragraph was TM talking, not Jones.
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Article with similar comments:
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/news/story?id=5122806
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Please Jonesy….don’t hurt us. I am fairly optimistic the message was recieved and he’ll play ok tonight.
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Tookie – you in 316 again tonight?
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318
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My first playoff game…..EVER.
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Thought you were there on Monday too. Oh well. I will be in 321. I hope you are ready. It is going to be fun! Monday was incredible and I am ready for the same tonight!
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No – last paragraph was Jones talking. He speaks in the third person and calls himself Jonesy.
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I’m one of the few(?) who actually thought Jones looked pretty good out there in game 1 – RIGHT up until… But even then, it seemed it was another 30-40 seconds or so of cycle work by VAN before they scored the OT winner. The blame should be shared.
Bottomline: I don’t care who Murray puts in … it could be Larry from Three’s Company for that matter – just as long as Larry helps us get the WIN.
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I belive he will do much better tonight. No player likes being benched and they hate it in the playoffs. Hopefully this will also affect Williams when he gets anouther chance, and he will.
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Murray: About Jonesy “shows flashes of being a top-four defenseman in the National Hockey League”.
Tonights the night!!!
GO KINGS GO!!!
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Rlane420
I guess we will have to wair for a right winger to go down bfore that happens…. I’ll be pulling out to voo doo dolls soon… lol
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It would be nice if Jones actually took the talking too by Murray to heart and had a break out game, and put up some points. At least we can hoe!
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ugh, why do I get the feeling this will be the last night I watch a game on my tv. I damn near threw the remote through it after game one.
C’mon Jonsey don’t screw it up.
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Okay, is Drewiske really THAT bad that TM would put Jones back in after costing the Kings game 1?
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Oka, I’ll be at the game watching Jones and see if he does move his feet and SKATE with the puck, not getting rid of it the nano second it touches his stick. Go Kings go
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Itll be fine as long as he gets Harrold minutes and not Johnson minutes
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In one of the last games of the year (vs Ducks I think) I saw Kopitar actually throw (push) Jones into the corner to challenge an opponent… He didn’t look too enthusiastic about getting stuck in! Hopefully he’s up for it tonight…
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Great comment on TSN’s Kings-Canucks preview for tonight’s game, and no, it wasn’t mine: “Keep passing the open windows Canuck’s fans; there’s no need to step out onto the ledge yet. At least not until LA goes up 3-1 in the series tonight. This is the most pathetic, hapless, useless, unmotivated, sorry sack of monkey crap team in the playoffs. And it’s not just Luongo, you could put a chimp in the net the way the rest of the team is playing in front of him. Report this comment!”
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Nothing like a little spanking to get him in line. Let’s hope this punishment has motivated Jones. Afterall his career is at stake. Good playoff showing equals a good contract from a team other than the KIngs next year. He does well we all benefit.
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Just put “this is LA” as my ringback on my cell…..ha ha I’m such a nerd.
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I LOVE L.A.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le5aIqn_MfE&feature=related
Here you go Tookie
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In TM I trust…Jones will do his job.GO KINGS GO.We can beat this team tonight and finish it in 5
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Jones is back in… Great… Like a previous poster said is Davis Drewiske that bad? Jones better have learned a leason and show that tonight. I am tired of being out hit in my own building!!!!! Will someone please drop the gloves just once and say enough is enough! Smyth and Brown got run, our Goalie been hit several times stop this bullsh*t… I don’t want OD to repeat the butt whipping of Geoff Courtnall’s hit on Jamie Storr years ago, that cost us (3) goals on a major penalty but it’s our rink and enough cheap shots is enough! Stop reacting to a hit…. initiate the hitput the challenge out there and settle it! Thats what you do!
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didn’t hear a word about your continued turn overs mr jones wtf…pay attention to that..
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Im going to call it and say that Jones will make a mistake again. Will see how you jonus fanboys react then. And if im wrong meh we will have won!! so
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Wonder why Whisky isn’t been given a chance?
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I don’t know how you talk someone into being a different person. If you make a lazy, stupid pass in a TIED OVERTIME PLAYOFF GAME that results in a turn over, you are not likely going to change. People are who they are.
Maybe TM will keep him off the ice in the critical moments.
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Tookie
That’s the nerdest thing Ive ever heard… I think I’ll do it too. THIS IS LA… GO KINGS GO
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I’m off to the game early to get a knuckle head sign at ESPN Zone if there are any left. I’ll be in 112 row 12 waving it!
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JOOOONES!
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Jones is shaky to say the least. He looks very nervous when he is on the ice. It seems he forces his passes hoping someone can get to it. Also it seems he goes out of his way to avoid a hit. Something just isn’t right with him. Is he injured or having side effects from his last injury or what? He is simply gun shy all away around. The playoffs are not the time for this as this could cause a bigger and more painful injury if your head is not totally in the game.
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Come on Jonesy, prove to those who taunt you that they are wrong! Game winning goal, Believe!!! Make it up to your team mates and fans.
Go Jonesy Go!
Go Kings Go!
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It’s Jonesy’s brain that needs to work better, not his feet.
K
I
S
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If he does that, he’ll be ok.
But, I still prefer Harry.
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You know if Jones did something like win the game we would still be nervous everytime he touched it but I think a good dose of Jones his first few games would be great.
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