The Kings are expected to go with Scott Parse on the fourth line next to Jeff Halpern and Justin Williams tonight. Terry Murray said that he wants to start the game playing four lines but would shorten the bench or move guys around as needed, not a surprise given that the season is on the line. More to come from this morning…
LATEST NEWSRULES FOR BLOG COMMENTING
- No profanity, slurs or other offensive language. Replacing letters with symbols does not turn expletives into non-expletives.
- Personal attacks against other blog commenters, and/or blatant attempts to antagonize other commenters, are not tolerated. Respectful disagreement is encouraged. Posts that continually express the same singular opinion will be deleted.
- Comments that incite political, religious or similar debates will be deleted.
- Please do not discuss, or post links to, websites that illegally stream NHL games.
- Posting under multiple user names is not allowed. Do not type in all caps. All violations are subject to comment deletion and/or banning of commenters, per the discretion of the blog administrator.
SOCIAL MEDIA
LA Kings Insider LA Kings OfficialKings Links
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Bio
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He previously worked at the Los Angeles Daily News, was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar.
E-mail Rich at lakingsinsider@gmail.comSEARCH THE BLOG
NHL TEAM COVERAGE
ANAHEIM DUCKS
>O.C. Register
BOSTON BRUINS
>Boston Globe
>Globe blog
>Boston Herald
>Hearld blog
>ESPNBoston.com
BUFFALO SABRES
>Buffalo News
>Buffalo News blog
CALGARY FLAMES
>Calgary Herald
>Herald blog
>Calgary Sun
CAROLINA HURRICANES
>News & Observer
>News & Observer blog
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
>Chicago Tribune
>Tribune blog
>Chicago Sun-Times
>Sun-Times blog
>Daily Herald
>Daily Herald blog
>ESPNChicago.com
COLORADO AVALANCHE
>Denver Post
>Post blog
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
>Columbus Dispatch
>Dispatch blog
DALLAS STARS
>Dallas Morning News
>ESPNDallas.com
DETROIT RED WINGS
>Detroit Free Press
>Free Press blog
>Detroit News
>Detroit News blog
EDMONTON OILERS
>Edmonton Journal
>Journal blog I
>Journal blog II
>Edmonton Sun
FLORIDA PANTHERS
>Miami Herald
>Herald blog
>Sun-Sentinel
>Sun-Sentinel blog
MINNESOTA WILD
>Minn. Star Tribune
>Star Tribune blog
>Pioneer Press
>Pioneer Press blog
MONTREAL CANADIENS
>Montreal Gazette
>Gazette blog
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
>Tennessean
>Tennessean blog
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
>Star-Ledger
>Star-Ledger blog
>The Record
>Record blog
>New York Post
>ESPNNewYork.com
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
>Newsday
>Newsday blog
>New York Post
>N.Y. Daily News
>New York Times
>Islanders Point Blank
>ESPNNewYork.com
NEW YORK RANGERS
>New York Times
>Times blog
>N.Y. Daily News
>Daily News blog
>New York Post
>Newsday
>Newsday blog
>ESPNNewYork.com
OTTAWA SENATORS
>Ottawa Citizen
>Citizen blog
>Ottawa Sun
>Sun blog
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
>Philadelphia Inquirer
>Inquirer blog
>Daily News blog
PHOENIX COYOTES
>Arizona Republic
>Republic blog
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
>Post-Gazette
>Post-Gazette blog
SAN JOSE SHARKS
>Mercury News
>Mercury News blog
ST. LOUIS BLUES
>Post-Dispatch
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
>Tampa Tribune
>Tribune blog
>St. Pete Times
>Times blog
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
>Toronto Star
>Star blog
>Toronto Sun
>Globe and Mail
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
>Vancouver Province
>Province blog
>Vancouver Sun
>Sun blog I
>Sun blog II
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
>Washington Post
>Post blog
WINNIPEG JETS
>Winnipeg Free Press
>Winnipeg SunRSS FEED
Archives
POST CATEGORIES
Recent Comments
- Gail Weber on Sutter postgame quotes (Feb. 22)
- tomb on Quick postgame quotes (Feb. 22)
- King Charles of Salt Lake on Game 61: Avalanche 4, Kings 1 (FINAL)
- Scott on Sutter postgame quotes (Feb. 22)
- Kinger on Sutter postgame quotes (Feb. 22)
- TeamJMFJ on Game 61: Avalanche 4, Kings 1 (FINAL)
- EternalOptimist on Sutter postgame quotes (Feb. 22)
- Duncanz on Sutter postgame quotes (Feb. 22)
- JD on Richards postgame quotes (Feb. 22)
- Croz on Richards postgame quotes (Feb. 22)
So Jones is staying in. Wow. This is lunacy. Our coach is unintentionally sabotaging our chances.
[Reply]
wouldve liked to see ivanans in but ill still be making noisse in the 300s tonight.
lets go kings!
[Reply]
Of course Jones is staying in. We have currently no other options. Harrold-injured?. DD2 not up to speed, too little playing time.
We need a bonafid sniper and a top 4 D man. Plus someone with grit that can play and occasionally contribute.
Thats my X mas wish and DL as long as TMs so, deal with the current line up gents.
Lets bust some arse tonight.
ps – this lineup has at least some speed.
[Reply]
Hanzus and Brown hasn t worked all year, just like Kopi and Brown! Why , oh , why , can t TM see that?? Handzus , Richie and Modin had just started clicking too … One game to develop chemistry … BRAIN FARTISM…..
[Reply]
I hope TM gets fired after because hes not putting Ivinans in. Didnt he see what happened to Clune and Simmonds last game we need someone who can change the momentum of a game with a big hit or a fight. I also want to see Ivinans crush Obrien after what he did in Vancouver. GO KINGS GO!!!
[Reply]
I like seeing Parse in the lineup although i doubt the fourth line will get that much ice time.
Anyone who is going at Staples I encourage you to absolutely go crazy. This series is not over!
[Reply]
Maybe he should dress Ivanans as a backup goaltender, just in case. Couldn’t do any worse than Ersberg did in his reliever role the other night. Then when they crash the net, he can just beat the crap out of them.
[Reply]
As much as I love a good fight this is not the time. Now is the time to WIN!
If you honestly think TM is sabotaging this win go watch and post for another team.
I will be there and I will be LOUD!!!!
[Reply]
I wish I could see a Parse-Richardson-Simmonds line
[Reply]
My prayer is that Jones do not have a defensive lapse tonight. He’s on the prayer list.
[Reply]
ARE YOU KIDDING…PUT IN RAITIS…FORGET PARSE…SORRY SCOOTER BUT WE NEED SOMEONE THAT CAN STIR THE POT AND STAND UP…ALL WE NEED IS 3 SHIFTS FROM RAITIS..ONE FOR O’BRIEN, ONE FOR RYPIEN AND ONE FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS A WHOOPING FROM THE BEAST! GO KINGS GO!
[Reply]
Yes, ivanans should be a no brainer… He’s not going to play the fourth line much anyway, might as well insert the guy and have him run around showing all the fake tough guys on Vanloser what’s up!
[Reply]
Jones back in? Why don’t we just put Cloutier back in net?
[Reply]
Play raitis.
[Reply]
Just looking at the Vancouver blogs. Still think there is a officiating conspiracy against Vancouver and Canadian teams…to the Kings benefit. Still thinK Vancouver is the best thing since white snow. Still think it should have been a sweep.
Can’t admit the teams finished only two points apart. That the Kings played in a tougher division. That both clubs had the same record on their eastern swings. Perhaps Vancouver is a bigger team that matches up well against the Kings but LA can do it.
Come on boys, let see that team that get stronger as the game wears on. Lets see a game 7. Its the mud season up there, let see them wearing a little mud on their jerseys and blogs.
[Reply]
Alllllll righty then!
Alot of people have called alot of diferent games”the biggest game of the season”.It doesn’t get any bigger than this.Win or go home.I’m calling it now,THIS is the biggest game by far,this season.This is the biggest opportunity we’ve had all year.Are we a playoff caliber team,or do we need to start shopping early?
Good luck tonight boys.Win or loose,I’m proud of you.
[Reply]
where are the comments?
[Reply]
Gotta love this smooth functioning blog.
[Reply]
Raitis Raitis Raitis….when has he done anything this season? We lost the last 2 not because we lost fights. We lost because the Vanucks are skating circles around us and our goalie hasn’t made the big saves. Ivanans has no offensive skills or defensive skills, and gets too many penalties in the offensive zone. Think of the big checks thrown this season…you think of Brown, Simmonds, Green, JJ, and DD. Ivanans doesn’t add anything to this team. 62 games=0 points…at least Clune has 2 points in 14 games. Raitis is -8 with the limited ice time he has and no special teams play. Ivanans would not have changed a thing. Those who want Ivanans to play are more concerned about gooning it up than winning a playoff series.
[Reply]
@Thrustable
So i guess raitis’ new role is to score goals?
Hes played solid for about his last 7 games.
[Reply]
The Kings played great for 2 periods in game 4…..The Kings had won 2 games in a row(2 and 3)The Kings scored 4 goals in game 4…….YOU DONT CHANGE THE LINES…..
[Reply]
Anyone know if the McSorley autographs are free or pay like at tip a king??
Also Ratis sucks he is a ufa and will be gone next year can’t help the team at all he has proven that all season unless we are playing the ducks. Parros and him have good fights, but doesn’t really help a playoff team fighting to stay alive. I can say all this because Ratis is far away that guy is a scary fighter maybe next year he should try mma he has no hockey skills or hockey sense. I’m sorry Ivananas you have won so many fights fun to watch, great fight, but you suck at the game of hockey.
[Reply]
I have 4 tickets for tonights game if anyone is interested. Section 217, behind the Kings goal. $68 per ticket (face value). You can email me at cdunn@ksandco.com.
[Reply]
can’t see any comments…
[Reply]
@Mark
He’s played solid? I don’t know what games your watching. He is a forward for heavens sake…zero points…and when was the last time he fought? He has 6 this calendar year. Simmonds gets into more fights than Raitis, and he contributes. I know we all disagree with certain aspects of the lineup TM is putting out there, but if Raitis was worth anything, TM wouldn’t have scratched him as often as he did the last week or two of the season and the playoffs…he is a liability.
[Reply]
Watching detroit and phoenix.
I hope quick can come out and play like bryz, he is looking sharp
[Reply]
This is the best fourth line we could have had all season! Should have been this way from the start of the playoffs
[Reply]
DOMINICK…
in the playoffs, every game should have the intensity that it is the last one to be played…
and because it could actually be that game for us tonight, many questions get answered win or lose for the kings…and then a series of questions will begin all over again…
i, like you and everyone else here, hopes that one of the questions will be answering is what time does game 7 start…?
[Reply]
all you frolov fans better hope he scores tonight because if the kings lose this game then you got to get a new jersey for next season.
[Reply]
@Gayle
My Prayer is that Quick can stop one glove high shot tonight.
[Reply]
@Thrustable
his last fight was 3 games ago when he plays
His last 9 games he hasnt let a goal in when he was on the ice. Look who he plays with and you points? Who wants to fight raits?
You think players are going to take shots at our guys with him on the bench?
[Reply]
bobby scribe:
my guess is part of shortening the bench is taking jones off the ice pretty quick if anything goes wrong.
[Reply]
emotions are going to be running high on this site tonight…
it might take the power of the xserve to maintain traffic around here…
[Reply]
@ducksuck
who said he has to fight to be a force in the game?
And 2 years without a goal. That isnt true.
He scored two game winners last year.
[Reply]
@thrustable
Must be hard to read here but.. “his last fight was 3 games ago WHEN HE PLAYS(ed)”
[Reply]
As for those who want TM fired….we have done nothing but improve year over year and make the playoffs. He deserves at least another year, core players got playoff experience and our minor league players got another year of play to have a more accurate assessment of what we got.
[Reply]
If TM is giving up then me too. There is no way JW and RJ play this game if I’m coach. I don’t see the point in going with something that didn’t work at all. Go back to the game 2 and 3 line up and take our chances. The chemistry is all screwed up this way…oh well….still going to the game though…just have to pray harder I guess. Go Kings Go.
[Reply]
As with the Quick/fatigue issue…this is another major factor IMO. I have never…NEVER seen a coach make so many line changes toward the end of the year heading into the playoffs and then in the playoffs as well, and succeed.
There’s just no way to get any continuity. And benching Williams was not the answer IMO…at least he should have let him play on the 4th line just to have someone with playoff experience in there. Playing Clune or Parse instead of Williams was ridiculous IMO.
[Reply]
@mark
excuse me mark i am so wrong your right he did score 2 goals last year… 2 goals out of 82 games plus no goals all this season and none in game 1, I’m glad were clear on that one. Also not sure what his ice time was in game 1, but wasn’t a lot and don’t think that anyone that has watched his game would want him in a do or die game. just my look on it and also TM and pretty sure anyone that wants the kings to win.
[Reply]
Also agree with Bobby above. If TM’s going to make all these lineup changes, why isn’t he making the one that he should obviously make by sitting JONES? That’s absolutely ridiculous, bordering on moronic or senility. Did TM have too many concussions as a player? That could explain it!
[Reply]
@ducksuck
You shouldnt make a comment when its not true.
And it doesnt matter the ice time. Its that hes there. Who wants to take a run when they know he will be out there right after anything happens. I guess to be a force you have to score goals
[Reply]
@Mark
Fine, lets put Ivanans in. Two game winners last year (season)? Oh, now I’m convinced.Never mind that the last 3x’s you are referring to we lost. At least Parros has 4 goals and was a +4.
[Reply]
@ thrustable
Classic comment about Cloutier! Absolutely agree and also about Ivanans…he is simply useless!
[Reply]
@ thrust
And once again.
All a player can do to be useful is score , correct?
And you are wrong again.
COL who won that game?
We did.
[Reply]
the only answer that raitis ivanans provides to any question about the kings tonight is which player has the most vowels in his full name…
unreal…
[Reply]
@ducksuck
Nice name by the way. Mark’s opinion is his opinion, but I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who sees Ivanans as useless.
[Reply]
Sorry I thought that not scoring for how many games?? I don’t want to offend you and put a not true number there so you find out how many games he hasn’t scored, you keep on defending him, you keep on commenting on anyone that thinks Ivananas is a terrible idea, and you keep on thinking your right even though the coach(not me)decided that Ivananas was not the answer. So keep it up I gotta get on the road live in SD kinda long drive, but I will comment on your response tomorrow when I get back home and we will see after tonight’s game results whether Ratis would have been the key to success and if your right you can fire TM for benching the Kings no.1 star Ratis Ivananas.
[Reply]
@mark
You talking about the last game of the season? No goal against COL, no assist against COL, no penalty mins against COL in 6 mins of ice time. What are you looking at?
Its not about only scorers are useful, every player has his role. But Raitis doesn’t score, doesn’t pass, doesn’t check, doesn’t fore-check, doesn’t play good defense, hardly fights (as much as you think he does), doesn’t intimidate, so what is the point?
[Reply]
@ducksuck
Not once did i say TM should be fired.
If i did find it. Cant?
I said Raitis should be played instead of parse.
You can say whatever you want to say. Raitis brings toughness. And once again. all a player can do is score to be useful right?
[Reply]
I hope Quick is watching the PHO-DET game….Bryzgalov is playing huuuuge in an elimination game. PHO is up 4-1….easily could be 4-4.
[Reply]
Jones in again? – I would rather go with inexperienced Drewiske than Randy “I havent been part of a game we won yet” Jones so basically – Jones and Dreiske are even – neither have been in a game in which the Kings have won – So I say go with Drewiske….
[Reply]
@mark
His 6 mins of contribution was huuuuuge in winning that game. He is so valuable that our coaching staff limits his minutes. His checking is such a momentum changer that he is religated to sitting on the bench. We have many players sacrificing and playing more shifts to give Ivanans a spell, just in case he has to fight.
[Reply]
@ducksuck
The coach is deciding to go with Randy Jones again. Ivinans plays a big role in scraps. When he fights the crowd gets into the game and so do all of the players on the Kings bench it gets them fired up. Thats why I think they should go with Ivinans over Parse. GO KINGS GO!!!
[Reply]
@thrust
You can have your opinion. It really doesnt matter.
Didnt see any dirty hits when he was playing
He was a force in the game playing or not.
[Reply]
I support tm on this. The canucks don’t have anyone in their lineup that would fight raitis anyway, so might as well suit up scoter.
[Reply]
@ Mark
Do you really think that RI sitting on the bench puts fear into other teams and limits how they play their game? I don’t…like you said, everyone has a right to their opinion but if all he’s good for is to sit on the bench and put fear into the opposition, then the Kings should sign Mike Tyson!
They could teach Tyson to skate a little, and if someone puts a dirty hit on one of our guys, send him out there to take off an ear! C’mon!!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
@mark
Good grief man, he is a force playing or not? I hardly think that this Vancouver team (or any playoff team) is gonna flinch if Ivanans is in. But then why would they want to start something? If the Vanucks behave themselves then Ivanans won’t have a reason to fight, thus stay out of the penalty box, thus have more ice time. Perfect…he’s a weakness they can expose.
[Reply]
I expect a very short bench tonight
[Reply]
Thrustable,
If they arent taking cheap shots then our players can get to their game instead of taking hits and coughing up the puck. Without raitis in, Kings get manhandled.
[Reply]
So …..Randy Jones is still in the line up?—-Though in all honesty he is not the only one making ridiculous plays.
[Reply]
Terry Murray didn’t need to change anything up for Game 5 but insisted on shuffling the deck again. While Stoll/Frolov/Brown did not score the previous two games they did create some chances and kept the puck deep in Vancouver territory for most of the game. The goals would have come. Richardson deserves more ice-time but it came at the expense of chemistry (also broke up the Handzus line at the same time) and I think it was a big reason the Kings took a beating in Game 5. Murray has to be smarter if he wants the team to respond with a big win tonight. I
n my opinion, put the Stoll/Frolov/Brown line back together, go with Handzus/Modin/Simmonds, Smyth/Kopitar/Richardson and Williams/Halpern/Parse. The Kings could have really used another Top 6 d-man at the deadline too and it’s really showing now…
[Reply]
@Mark
We are losing because we are taking cheap shots? What logic. Samuelson shoots! Scores! Another cheap shot, how dare he shoot the puck! Sedin passes to Sedin, score! Having twins on the ice is a cheap shot! The Kings don’t know who’s who. Frolov on a breakaway and….Luongo saves with a cheapshot! Kings on a 5 on 3 powerplay….killed by all the cheapshots they are taking. Will the refs please take control? Where is Ivanans? We wouldn’t have given up 11 goals the last 4 periods with his intimidation. And I forgot that the Kings are the saints of the league and don’t dish out some cheap shots of their own.
[Reply]
Obviously dont understand.
The smyth hit.
The brown hit.
The clune hit.
I guess they are all clean
Kings are intimidated by them
You wont look with an openmind, and thats fine. you can have your opinion, kings getting manhandled is the way to go i guess.
[Reply]
MARK and THRUST……if you guys are don’t careful Obama gonna make you have a beer together
[Reply]
@mark
This is the playoffs you knucklehead. Teams don’t care about enforcers in the playoffs….There have been multiple boarding/roughing/charging calls in these playoffs in all series, injuries have resulted.
Openmind? You are grasping for straws pal.
So then what your saying is that the Kings are a puss team and can’t handle the physical play? I hope your not expecting the Kings to go far in the playoffs. They are intimidated by the Canucks? How are they gonna handle the Sharks in the next round? Are you kidding me? Ivanans is the answer?
[Reply]
@Luckyluc13
I guess your right, this back ‘n forth is pointless. Sorry mark, we are all kings fans and just want to win…your still wrong though…ahahahaha….im outta this blog
[Reply]
I like the line-up tonight, but I’m not sure about switching Richardson and Brown on the 2nd and 3rd lines. We’ll see.
At least the 4th line has a possibility to contribute if they play more than a few minutes.
Smyth—Kopitar—Simmonds
Frolov—Stoll—Richardson
Modin—Handzus—Brown
Parse—Halpern—Williams
TM said he might switch it up during the game. I assume that means basically moving right wingers around if he needs to. The LW for each Center seems set.
[Reply]
Hsas anyone figured out Murray’s infatuation with Jones yet? Most of unknowing fans seem to agree otherwise. I guess once a flyer, always a flyer
[Reply]
I hope TM told Brown to make smart plays if he s playin against the Twins!!His famous , trying to deke everybody by himself then falling on his behind will give the Sedins those deadly odd man rushes …..SCARY STUFF!!
[Reply]
TBH…I have no idea any more about what TM thinks about the lines and how they might gel…I’m just a guy who thinks that some continuity would go a long way to getting some lines to work most of the time. It’s too late for this season, but next year I hope to see some lines stick together, regardless of who is on the team.
I think he should have kept a couple of lines intact the last few weeks of the season and into the playoffs and then play around with a couple of the others if they were not working. Of course with the addition of Halpern and Modin he had to change things up, but to change the lines every game just doesn’t seem to work.
I really liked what I heard right before the start of the Ottawa-Pittsburgh game yesterday…although the Sens lost the previous game, the anouncer said “The Senators will go with the same lines and players that played in the previous game”. They were up 3-0 before getting overpowered by Crosby and company but still almost pulled it off and they didn’t change everything around.
It’s ok to mix and match a bit…you have to, considering injuries, penalties, etc…but switching them up before EVERY GAME and then in THE MIDDLE OF THE GAMES as well just creates a lot of confusion for the players IMO…and I don’t mean the players on the opposing team.
Am I wrong in this analysis? Seriously, someone please help me out here. Don’t most coaches look to get their lines together and keep them together? Like Dionne, Taylor and Simmer way back when? Even one line with no changes would be great!
Maybe he’s doing this because we really don’t have any snipers and mixing and matching is no big deal to him. But usually, the best lines, all over the league seem to be one player at the net, one in the corners and one trying to get open in the slot. You can’t put 3 guys who muck it out in the corners together…there’s nobody around to shoot!
Now you will all be glad to hear that I’m done commenting on TM’s line changes…UNTIL NEXT YEAR!
[Reply]
Sad to see that we have no fighters in the squad tonight. I bet DD gets run all night! I love what TM has done for the kings this year but I wish he would play Ivanans more. i know we need goals not fights but our skill guys take way to many hard hits and that needs to change next year if we want to win the cup!
[Reply]