It’s time to look ahead to the Murray Bowl. Tomorrow’s Kings-Ottawa game could lead to bragging rights for either Kings coach Terry Murray or his older brother, Bryan, who is the Senators’ general manager. This head-to-head stuff is old hat for the siblings. Bryan hired Terry as an assistant coach in 1983, when Bryan was head coach in Washington. The brothers also worked together, in a GM-coach partnership, in Florida in the late 1990s, and they opposed each other, as head coahces, on and off for 20 years.
So, Terry Murray said the novelty of facing his brother’s team is “long gone.” Terry Murray was asked how much he communicates with his brother during the season.
“We don’t talk a lot during the season,” Terry Murray said. “We stay in touch, but when we do it’s more about, `How’s the family doing?’ We don’t get into the hockey too much. We had the family reunion this summer, and everybody was at the lake, 100-plus people. So that was pretty nice, but we don’t get into the hockey too much.”
How about some work on that anemic powerplay?
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Why did BM get so mad at Foxie a few years ago? I think it was after that big brawl night against Ottawa!
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PakiFan Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 7:41 pm
@tornado12,
it was because Chara went after Gleason who obviously isn’t a fighter. Gleason ended up with a black eye and more. On the telecast, Jim Fox made a comment about how B. Murray is that type of coach, to send out a fighter to send a message, etc.
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On last night’s win…
Some tidbits from an article written by Stephen Harris
of the Boston Herald:
“…slick LA center Michal Handzus, was the only one to score – to the amazement of B’s goalie Tim Thomas [stats].
“I really had myself convinced that we were going to win and I was unbeatable,” said Thomas. “(Handzus) did a very good job in changing up the speed from what some of their guys had been coming in with, and also with not telegraphing where he was going to shoot the puck”
Interesting in that Zues’ shot reminded me of another game winning shootout goal he had earlier this season; He throws off the goalies because his weaker shot proves quite deceptive it seems…
Also, what’s up with Thomas’ quote about being “unbeatable”? He gave up three goals prior to the shootout. For the guy with the best goaltender stats this year, three goals is hardly unbeatable. I’d chalk it up to his competitiviness though because he doesnt seem like the arrogant type. Just interesting though…
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puck73 Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 2:16 pm
@kiosku2, In reference to the shootout, The Kings have owned the Bruins the last 2 seasons in those. Have you noticed also over the last 2 seasons that when the Kings get to the shootout that a lot of us fans, and I am sure a lot of the players like our chances with Quick between the pipes ? The Kings are getting a reputation around the league as one the toughest teams to defeat in the shootout.
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KC23 Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 4:04 pm
@puck73, Yeah. Quick is definately one of the better 1 on 1 goalies in the league. In fact he is one of the best period. Quick’s only weakness (and its horrid) is his stick work behind the net. If I’m playing the King’s I do the dump and run to get Quick handeling the puck as much as possible.
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kiosku2 Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 7:02 pm
@puck73, Yep, Quick has just been a huge relief shootout or regulation. It’s nice to not have to wonder what you’re going to get golatending-wise from game to game as it used to be with the teams from the past.
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Listening to the Monarchs game. Moller scored on the PP, he is the point-man. Schenn sounds like if he’s playing with Clune and Kozun, but it sounds like it may have been a line change, but I heard there names together a few times.
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Marc Nathan Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 1:41 pm
@Who Knows?, Moller plays with Loktionov. He was interviewed between the first and second periods and talked about his great chemistry with Andrei.
Meanwhile, three Providence goals in the second chased Zatkoff. Not all his fault, but…
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Good stuff Rich.
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So lemme get this straight, TM doesn’t look at the standings or talk to his own brother during the season. Bizarre. I wonder if the Kings video coaches literally spend some of their time helping TM learn how to use his VCR so it doesn’t keep blinking 12:00. So many questions. So many….
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Marc Nathan Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 1:42 pm
@Shakes, let’s pray he, like 99% of the real world, gave up the VCR in the 20th Century
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Galen Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 1:53 pm
@Shakes, I watch for UFO’S
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Didn’t Brian Murry rip Jim Fox a new one a few years back in the tunnel after a few comments (that I remember as being true!) Jim made during the broadcast? I always thought he was a jerk after that…
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RYC Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 3:31 pm
@Rookie, Search their two names on youtube and you’ll find it.
I believe Fox accused Murray of letting his team goon it up in the 2001 game when Mair left the penalty box to go after Chris Neil who was putting a beating Mikko Eloranta.
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Brandan Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 4:19 pm
@Rookie,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCNrBKJ02k8
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Dazed N Confused Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 7:23 pm
@Brandan, That is fricking funny. Fox should of smacked cracked his hip for all of the bad language.
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does Richardson remind anybody of Boulanger a bit??
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puck73 Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 2:20 pm
@KingsFan insano, Did you notice that Buffalo Sabre T.V Annoncer Rick Jeannerette looks like Rodney Dangerfield ?
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#1faninVegas Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 9:55 pm
@puck73,
You are on a roll, my friend!! Good job keeping us laughing and drinks coming out of our noses!!
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I’d like to know what the thinking is in alternating Harrold with Muzzin depending on whether Quick or JB is in net. Can someone enlighten me on the wisdom of that?
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KC23 Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 4:08 pm
@LA HOCKEY Girl, I’ve never heard that correlation before. Not saying it’s not true because I literally never thought about it. I doubt one has anything to do with the other, but hey your guess is as good as mine.
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No. Belanger had way better hands. I Like Richy buy he is no EB.
Hurts blowing a 3-0 lead but great to watch them persevere and pick up the 2 points.
I understand resting Quick and all the stats about why to do it but man is he great right now.
It really seems that the D has fallin apart significantly since losing Willy and Poni. DD is still great but doesn’t seem like the same guy from last season. And I’m not talking about his point production but just that magic he seemed to have last year as a play maker and game changer. Anyone agree?
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Belexes Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 4:01 pm
@RobSD,
“No. Belanger had way better hands. I Like Richy buy he is no EB.”
Why, because EB was able to score a career high 17 goals in his 5th full season?
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KC23 Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 4:12 pm
@RobSD, Look no further than DD’s plus minus and compare it to say, JJ. He’s doing just fine.
In JJ’s defense (pardon the pun), Greene has been the one struggling. JJ’s plus minus was okay until Greene became his line mate.
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Not trying to jump on TM here, but I have to look back at last night and say he needs to be smarter in his situational coaching.
What am I pointing out?
-In Buffalo we were again victimized on the first goal against by allowing the 5 weakest players to contribute to a goal against after the top lines had gotten us a lead. The 4th line and 3rd defensive pairing should never be on the ice at the same time.
-In Boston, holding on to a 3-1 lead, TM allowed the powerplay 2nd unit to go on at the end of the PP with Stoll and Harrold on the points as well as Zus (arguably the slowest center) on. Result – we got caught out with weak defenders and tired/slow players and took a delayed penalty goal-against that swung all the momentum in Boston’s favor.
Over all TM has done a good job, but I feel there are some huge errors occurring.
I know I’m no NHL coach, but am I wrong about this?
Finally, maybe it’s the players and not the system, but we have looked dreadful at times covering players in our defensive end. Is this a zonal marking problem, or just the players with their heads not in the game?
We’ve got strong goaltenders, why are the defensemen constantly guarding nobody in front of the net and screening their own netminders?
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KC23 Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 4:14 pm
@Cristobal, I’m not one to get on TM’s coaching because of he is obviously very successfull, but I have to admit the same thought came to me as well. Sending out Westgarth after we score and get the momentum going our way? Yeah, hit me as very odd as well.
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I was trying to find whatever that guy was talking about and I came across this. Is this it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8tA1RGGjz0
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Belexes Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 4:12 pm
@Subby,
Yup, that’s it. Looks loke Foxy was waiting for Jay Wells to step in…
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rontheking Reply:
November 21st, 2010 at 4:21 pm
@Subby,
fox looked more like a deer…in the headlights.
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Who’s in goal?
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andy murray must have been the black sheep of the family….
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puck73 Reply:
November 22nd, 2010 at 7:43 am
@rontheking, I think Andy was a much better strategist then Terry. That being said, Andy needs to learn to give players the day off..the human body needs rest, no matter how much they are being paid.
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