For those who want the whole story, here’s my final LAKings.com game story for the night, with stats and video included. Thanks for reading…
A very Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends. The Kings will not be on the ice tomorrow and are scheduled to practice Friday morning. I’ll have some notes to post tomorrow, and I hope each of you enjoys your day.
Thanks for everything Rich. Hope you have a good holiday!
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ty Rich, good rest
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Thanks Rich! have a good one
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welcome back to LA Rich, enjoy the holiday………
tell the boys to rest up and get ready to start the streak again….
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I know this is easier said than done, but I would really like for Lombardi to make a trade, any trade, at this point in the season. I’m a firm believer that a trade wakes up everybody in the locker room, and it usually has a positive effect on effort on the ice. Let’s wait until after Turkey Day, of course.
In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving to Rich, and all the Kings, and to everyone reading this blog. GO KINGS!
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Badger57 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 8:09 am
@Cowboy Bill,
Almost agree with this one if they don’t wakeup against the Hawks.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 8:22 am
@Cowboy Bill, I think you’re right.
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Dominick Reply:
November 26th, 2010 at 12:48 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
10 game increments guys. Things have a way of working themselves out. Last year we started out with a couple of 4 game losing streaks, this is no different. This is still the same team that gave us a really great start, minus a couple of veterans.
Building character and overcoming adversity IMHO is what we need to get us through this, and the guys will be stronger for it.
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My .02: It’s a long season. King hv 2 veterans out. Team will improve once they return from their freak injuries. No need to panic. This is the best King’s team I’ve seen in about 20 years. They’ll get their mojo back. Or not. And then its back to gallow’s humor.
Watching the Habs dog the Kings last night: Anyone else hv flashback/nightmares about the 92-93 Stanley Cup loss? At moments, I thought I was watching some darn hellish replay.
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Kevin from Sudbury Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 10:15 am
@vicarious, I remember beating up my younger brother (Habs Fan) after that Stanley Cup loss. The habs fans chanting brought back those awful memories last night. I hate habs fans.
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USHA#17 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
@vicarious,
No, the ’93 Cup Games were close.
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Rich, Happy thanksgiving to you, everyone who reads this great site and all the kings past and present.
Everyone enjoy your day.
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Brian Boyle scored his 10th goal of the season last pm. Purcell two
assists for Tampa Bay. If Bernier traded for has been player it will
come back to haunt the Kings.
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puck73 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 11:02 am
@rmartin1951, Maybe we should hold on to some of our younger players, yah.
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Jose Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 12:48 pm
@rmartin1951,
It seems every kings player that is traded away has done better elsewhere. Moulson, Steckel, Boyle, maybe Purcell. Its seems they give up on their players too soon and don’t give them a fair shot to develop inbig leagues. 5-6 minutes on the 4th line does, every other game, does not cut it.
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Dominick Reply:
November 26th, 2010 at 1:06 am
@Jose,
Our entire group of core players are homegrown. Thing I hated, was trading players that you new were good. Zhitnik, Sandstrom, even Robitaille, and the list goes on and on through out our history.
At least now we can say we tried, and it didn’t work out, at least in our time frame.
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puck73 Reply:
November 26th, 2010 at 9:56 am
@Dominick, Those 3 players you just mentioned..They were 1st benched, and then eventually traded by Melrose..That was one of the biggest reasons why I hated this pompous bafoon!
Well at least we didn’t lose a lead last night – that was to easy a dig – what a train wreck – from my seat that looked like an end of the trip I just want to get home game – no emotion or heart or willingness to do what it takes to win – habs guys were skating around all night with no one even interested in hitting them – I don’t have the solution – but then I’m not paid to come up with one – this ones on you TM – figure something out and quick or the hawks are going to eat our lunch on sat night – hopefully see everyone out at the game – we need the support – I don’t want to see more hawk fans than ours – which is sometimes the case -
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I fell TM would have pulled jB if it was not JB`s homecoming game,he gave up two very soft goals . just nerves i hope. quick is are number one, no questions asked.
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Here I am. I wanted to avoid the site last night because I was sure the comments would tick me off worse than the performance, which I saw as being about 65% on Bernier and 35% on the balance of the team, overall. They were lifeless, and he looked out of sorts.
Bernier seemed to give away the one goal (which TM apparently also thought), but aside from that, he failed to make the kind of saves Price made on the other end.
The rest of the team–looked like they just got off the plane from LA without the two days rest they had.
Now, of course, they’re going to get off the trip from Montreal, and they’re gonna get all distracted by family matters, etc., and they’ll probably blow the Chicago game unless TM does something drastic to get their head in the game tomorrow and Saturday.
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same thing as last year. we can’t handle montreal’s speed.
don’t read into this the wrong way, BUT what was our record with doughty out and mitchell in, and what is our current record with doughty in and mitchell out? …just saying…
for some reason we’ve got completely away from simple disciplined defensive hockey. why?
the season’s still very young, and we’re still a very good team, but we better start collecting these points again, 2 at a time, soon.
have an amazing holiday everyone!
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puck73 Reply:
November 26th, 2010 at 9:59 am
@roadtripper, You mean..Willie Mitchell is the best shutdown defensemen in the game? Ya know…I think you might just be on to something………
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There continues to be a striking difference between Bernier’s comments after a loss and Quick’s. The perception seems to be the opposite of their performances. The difference probably wouldn’t be so striking if it weren’t for Quick’s effort to credit his team in a win and blame himself in a loss, whereas…well…I’ll leave it at that.
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Not trying to be smart, but why did the Kings trade Cammy again, was it because he was not drafted by Lombardi? Lombardi does not mind trading/losing guys like Frolov or Cammy but he would never do that to his own pics..just my theory…cammy would have looked in this lineup
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 8:38 am
@Vahe, The story as I recall is that Cammalleri was not happy in LA, turned into a cancer, and pretty much forced a trade.
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Jay Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 8:39 am
@Vahe, Basically HE didn’t want to play here. He wanted more money and he wanted out of LA. One of those you can offer…the other you can’t.
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Steve S. Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 8:42 am
@Vahe,
This is probably one of 10,000 comments made about Camilleri. A “trade” is not why he is not a King at this time. He was traded to Calgary and then was an UFA. Montreal pays him about 7 million a year, which is more than he is worth.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 8:52 am
@Steve S., Sounded to me like you just said he wasn’t traded then said he was traded.
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Slapshot Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 9:09 am
@Vahe, CAMMY SANDBAGGED the Kings to get the trade. I have zero respect for the guy, he is right up there with JR.
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Jose Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
@Slapshot,
I thught the kings just let him go and did not give him the money he wanted. I don’t remember him being traded, i could be wrong.
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Slapshot Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
@Jose, he was traded in a 3 way deal between the ducks, kings and flames, or something like that.
puck73 Reply:
November 26th, 2010 at 10:04 am
@Jose, He was traded to Calgary for a 1st round draft pick which the Kings used to select Colton Teubert…The jury is still out on this one as Colton is developing the way most young defensemen develop….slowly. He will probably come into his own somwhere between ages 24 and 27.
It’s very easy for us to criticize when watching from afar, but if it’s obvious to us, why can’t the coaches and players see the same when watching videos.
I love this team but there are a few glaring things happening right now that need correcting.
We seem to be hesitant in getting shots off, especially DD, sorry bro, but it’s true, we’re telegraphing shots, passes, etc. and I agree with some comments recently, that our PP is old and stale, and geez, how many more times r we going to turn the puck over in our DE. That’s disgusting!!! We need to get back to basics and stop our D from rushing down ice and getting caught out of position.
Stay solid at the back and give our forwards a chance to pick up something. Stop the dump and chase when nobody is chasing!
Hope all the kings and all you fans have a great thanksgiving.
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puck73 Reply:
November 26th, 2010 at 10:06 am
@bulldog13lak, Just goes to show you that in the NHL, if you hold onto the puck even 1 extra second, more then likely it will get blocked.
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It definately appears to be the Kings began to believe their own hype and stopped working hard at the same time that they lost Mitchell and Poni two hard working guys who get it done with as much effort as they do skill. Early in the season the team looked hungry now it looks like they are expecting wins to fall in their laps based on reputation. It takes more than 15 games to earn a rep fellas.
The other major issue I have is with TM saddling Kopi and Brown with King. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again what gives King the right to leapfrog Moller and Lokti and head straight to the NHL #1 line when he hasn’t even proven himself in the AHL ? The only thing he has is body size and TM loves his big heavy guys. Moller in his short stint before breaking his collarbone had proven he has a nose for the net and isn’t afraid to shoot the puck exactly what we need on a #1 line. Lokti looks like a hell of a playmaker who can also put up points. Yet TM rolls out Westgarth Jr. for #1 minutes. What is he thinking. Kopi and Brown can’t carry this guy any longer bring up a guy who deserves it and is a better fit skill wise not body wise.
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Doc. Mark 1968 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 8:48 am
@justlu,
There were a couple of people saying things like “now King will get his complimentary points playing with Kopi and Brown.”
I guess that was a swipe at Scott Parse. We miss Poni and Willie M but I think we miss Parse as well. I feel really bad for him. If your out there Scotty, know that we are wishing you well.
I did not want to talk Kings today though…just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
I got an early start this morning; I hope I do not pass out before the Cowboy’s game!
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puck73 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
@Doc. Mark 1968, Scott Parse was and would have helped Kopi a lot this season.
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justlu Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
@Doc. Mark 1968,
No I didn’t mean to knock Parse I just didn’t want to catch flack from the Parse detractors. I’m a big fan of what he did last year in the chances he was given. He was up there in rookie scoring eventhough he played mainly 4th line and some 3rd and 2nd line duties last year On top of the fact it seemed like he was TM’s whipping boy being a healthy scratch on a few nights. He didn’t get a chance to get up to full speed this year but he has good hands and I was looking forward to the #1 line clicking once he got up to speed. He seems like a hard working guy who maximizes his talent and those are the kind of players I like to root for.
You are absolutely correct in saying Parse is missed just as much as Mitchell and Poni.
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Great story, Hammer. Great insights, as usual, and no flaws I could find.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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Oh, one more thing about the lack of performance. The least-obvious factor in all this is probably that they’re getting most teams’ ‘A’ game this season, and their starting goaltender. Over the years, teams undoubtedly looked past the Kings, but (at least if they get through this) teams aren’t going to look past them any more.
This is (hopefully) the new normal, as far as other teams’ efforts against the Kings. It means they’re gonna NEED Poni and Willie, and they’re probably going to need a bit more talent in the lineup as well.
For now, however, they need to play like they’re not going to win by default, because they’re not.
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rick Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 9:26 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Good points. Laet night while watching Price (who was very good) I remember thinking that I cannot remember the last time we drew the other team’s backup goaltender. It’s a sign of respect, but also a challenge. Let’s see if we can meet it.
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What I find more pathetic than this slump the Kings are in, are the so called fans of this team. Oh wait I forgot, the only true fans here are the ones who come on this site only when the Kings lose and piss and moan how everybody should be traded, fired, etc. I’m not happy with the play of late, but unlike the majority of you “so called fans”, there isn’t a doubt in my mind, or heart that this team is still going to great, and do great things… Oh and by the way have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
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A new day… Happy thanks Giving to all and to the kings.
My almost “life long frustration and obsession.”
We can be thankful we won at least 13 games this year.
Do we get to play the Islanders and Oilers anymore ?lol
Maybe for christmas DL will find us a shocking surprise and all will be well.
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i don’t have any solutions…i’m just sitting here like the turkey, waiting and wondering. about what the future might bring….
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One thought..
Dont trade Bernier he has makings a terrific NHL goalie. As soon as we trade him he will come back and bite us.
We trade young players away too quickly. Good examples are Moulson, Zhitnik, even Teddy Percell. and a whole number of others. I see Bernier Schenn Lokti being fantastic. Even Giron as a goalie did well after he left us.
Im fine with trading King ,Hickey, and some others.
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USHA#17 Reply:
November 25th, 2010 at 2:23 pm
@Smiling this am,
Trade? Who is talking trade?
Good examples but dumping Purcell was a good move and Moulson just didn’t fit the system at the time.
Sometimes all the pegs are goods, it the holes that don’t fit.
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happy thanksgiving rich.kings and fans
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The losing streak is over! I have been working nights and couldn’t watch the games. I only got to watch the Boston game. But I’m back on days so we’re back on track! Sorry guys!
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