Neither the Kings nor the Chicago Blackhawks had a morning skate this morning, with the Kings — per usual with back-to-back road games — having a team meal and meeting at the hotel this morning. Here’s what Terry Murray said today about some of the storylines entering tonight’s game, starting with Brad Richardson, who will return tonight after missing four games with an upper-body injury…
MURRAY: “I’m going to play him. I talked to him, just a few minutes ago, before our meeting. He’s been skating for about four days and he feels good. He feels very comfortable getting into the lineup and contributing tonight, so I will play him.”
As previously posted, Richardson is likely to replace Oscar Moller in the lineup. Moller had two assists last night against Nashville.
MURRAY: “I know he had a couple points there last night, but I’m going to make that change and get Richie going again. I’m not real sure what it’s going to end up looking like here, as far as the line combinations. Obviously the only area of concern would be on the right side with Stoll and Smytty, so I’m just going to kind of mess around with that a little here this afternoon.”
Question: Were you able to talk to Marco Sturm about the possibility of playing on Tuesday?
MURRAY: “It’s uncertain. When you got through a couple of injuries like that, it’s now a matter of you making a decision, yourself, that, `OK, I feel good. I’m ready, I’m confident that I can get out and get playing,’ and he still has to cross that threshold.”
Question: Safe to say that Thursday’s game is looking more realistic for him?
MURRAY: “We’ll get through practice tomorrow, and just kind of take it a day at a time with it. I think, definitely, he wants to get into the lineup at home against Edmonton, but we’ll see how it is after practice tomorrow.”
Question: Will you go with the same defensive pairs tonight?
MURRAY: “As far as pairs, whenever you get going in the game, that changes, obviously. I was a little concerned about Marty [Alec Martinez], because he blocked that shot, from Weber, who teed it up pretty good. It caught him, thank goodness, on the outside of the glove. He didn’t turn his hand to try to catch it or knock it down. It was on the outside padding. But he did get an X-ray after the game. We wanted to be certain on that one, and he’s fine. He’s got a bruise, but everything came out OK.”
Looking forward to Richie coming back, however, in a way it’s too bad for OM because he’s played so well. As for Marco, looking forward to seeing you play dude but take your time. No need to rush it. BTW Rich is it true the Kings haven’t won in Chicago in nearly 3 years? uggg
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USHA#17 Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
@Goring 19,
Very true. Since December 2007
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cjms Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
@Goring 19, With Mitchell and Green going down, and Martinez apparently borderline too, it’s probably best to get as many TWFs in there as possible.
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I know Terry doesn’t allow a guy to lose his spot from an injury, but that’s a heck of a way to reward Moller who has worked real hard and kept a great attitude. Terry couldn’t take out Westgarth? Really?
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LA KING BOB chi Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 11:04 am
@Mr. Nuff, Need the big guy to kep piece tonight..
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K-Dog Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 12:40 pm
@LA KING BOB chi, I love the way your wrote piece, like he is going to be
packing heat tonight…lol
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Casper Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 11:07 am
@Mr. Nuff, Games like these are the ones we need Westgarth for. Plus, the 4th line looked really great last night. Keep it goin.
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LA KING BOB chi Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 11:09 am
@Casper, I am with you. Chicago will try and bully the Kings tonight and remember what happened at Staples with the GOON SCOTT!!!
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wavesinair Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 11:38 am
@Mr. Nuff, Or just not play Richardson. Why mess with a good thing? Makes no sense to me when TM does this kind of thing. Ride the wave until it peters out. Moller is on a roll so let him keep playing and contributing until he doesn’t. These are odd decisions.
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USHA#17 Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
@wavesinair,
I also second guessed a lot last season but he got us to the playoffs so its good enough for me.
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GIORDANO’S PIZZA…….nom nom nom…somebody should force oscar moller to put a few pizzas down before the end of the roadie. that should help fill out his little viking boy frame.
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Oscar Moller shouldn’t be out of the lineup, he has been contributing and willing to go in the corners… now about his small frame; please people, pick something else to pick on him with because I think it is all overblown.
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dailymehow Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 11:31 am
@Seattle757,
But Pavel Datsyuk was too small, too!
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USHA#17 Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
@dailymehow,
So was Fleury, but I think Theo was packing a little extra fuel and felt no pain.
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cjms Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
@USHA#17, LOL
old man Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 11:35 am
@Seattle757, I agree with you 100%.Nobody on this team is going to compete with Scott.We need all the speed and talent we can put on the ice. Sit Westy.Again just my opinion.
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crashin' da net Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
@Seattle757, agree. molars has been good and should be rewarded. We need offense and at least he brings it.
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kylecliffordfan Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
@Seattle757, Here look at this link http://www.nhl.com/ice/boxscore.htm?id=2010020481 click on Steve Sullivan’s goal video. You see some defensive break downs by Moller. He reversed the puck instead of getting it out to avoid a hit. That turned the puck over.. Then he has a weak play where he could have cleared again infront of his own net and didn’t. There were several of these plays in the first period by Moller. I am sure he got talked to by TM inbetween the period, because he came out like a different player. There is just a defensive risk by Moller if he is not on his game. The clip shows it.
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anybody else want to see our boy kyle clifford beat john scott’s face in?
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LA KING BOB chi Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 11:32 am
@Original Crown/Silver & Black & Purple., good point, Although Scott is a pretty big boy,Clifford is a better fighter
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c-nut Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
@LA KING BOB chi, and Clifford Wouldn’t hesitate dropping the gloves against anyone!
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crashin' da net Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
@LA KING BOB chi, Clifford a better fighter??!!LOL. What channel were you watching?
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mcsorleyfan Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
@Original Crown/Silver & Black & Purple., He’d get rag dolled. Here’s hoping Westy has learned to get inside that reach of Scott’s… I’d love to see that sasquatch handed a loss.
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KC23 Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
@Original Crown/Silver & Black & Purple., Clifford would wake up sometime next month if he had a go with Scott. Don’t even think it.
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TM says Moller has to produce, which he has, and this is his reward? Mixed signals. He’s playimg well. Leave him in at least until Sturm is ready.
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KC23 Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
@kinger, Not mixed signals. TM has always said you don’t lose your job to injury.
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I work at Chicago O’hare airport last night and saw Richardson in the store I work in. I thought it was weird that he was already here when the team was still playing nashville and he looked healthy and happy, although I suppose that is subjective. I told him I hope he feels better and he just kind of laughed. Glad to see he is getting back in the game. Really nice guy.
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crashin' da net Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 1:16 pm
@SmokieMcPizzle, extremely well grounded. They don’t come much more gregarious.
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MK Ultra Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
@SmokieMcPizzle,
They have Taco Bells in Chicago?
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SmokieMcPizzle Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
@MK Ultra, they do yes. no del taco tho. and no pedro’s taco.
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Why not a fourth line of Poni-Richie-Lewis…Who’s Chicago’s so-called enforcer anyways??? I’m sure Clifford can handle whoever it is.
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Marc Nathan Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
@bmova, you have a short memory… You don’t recall Westie’s face getting rearranged by Scott at Staples earlier in the month?
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KC23 Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
@bmova, Scott is the one that kicked Westy rear, but good. Clifford would have no chance.
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We’ve scored 15 goals in the last 3 games moller has played in and they bench him. TM needs to quit evalutating this team by looking at them in the locker room mirrors (TM is in love with guys that have size) and start evaluatiing the team on the ice. Moller has a nose for the net no doubt about it and his speed is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. I know TM probably sees Moller and Richardson being the same type of player so trading one for the other is a wash in his mind but this is no way to reward production.
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USHA#17 Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
@justlu,
There are major choices coming up. With DD2, Richardson, Moller, Harrold and now Strum. Now factor in waivers and we’re looking at a real log jam. Why not play around? Did that a lot last season and it resulted in a playoff round.
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bbb7 Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
@justlu, I really dont see all the love for Moller. He has some skills, sure, but he’s too easily dismissed by the D on the other team and for all his speed he really doesn’t do much. Yes he got some points but not so much thru his skill as thru being in the right place at the right time. And Richardson brings much better size and he uses his speed better because the opposition hesitates a bit cause cant assume that they can bump him and he’s stopped, like they can with Moller.
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Didn’t get to see last nights game, but hoping that TM can get the boys playing consistently as he made a note of saying he felt last night we were good in that dept.
Nash was a tired team, I’m sure (was it the 5th game in 8 nights?), but at any level a
good team must take advantage and go for the kill in those situations. Kudos to TM for keeping the foot on the gas and getting that consistent effort for 60 minutes.
Let’s hope tonight we see that same consistency because we should take no excuses.
Must win game in this tight race.
Well, maybe not must win, but the effort and consistency must no doubt be a must.
To Dare Is To Do.
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Oscar has played great for us. There is no doubt about that. He is a great young talent and has great up side. He is a small viking with a big heart, but no player should lose his job due to injury. I’m with couch on this one. Richardson has worked his butt off for our club. He is always willing to do whatever the team needs. For him to lose his job would be flat out wrong. It happened to me once and it didn’t feel good. It’s what a good team has to deal with. We have a lot of good players and not enough room for them all. I know for a fact that there’s some D-Men in Manchester that would love to be called up right now, Hickey, Muzzin, etc…..Mitchell and Greene will have their jobs waiting and so should Richardson. Still, Oscar is one bad ass viking!!!!!!
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I mean coach
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oscar is playing too well to sit out, sit westgarth and smoke em on the scoresheet
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crashin' da net Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 1:18 pm
@msrjim, ditto.
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I know Poni can be a force, so, put him LW on the first line and move Williams back to second.
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This team is full of fourth line players and 5th&6th d-men so why not add one more. I’m sure they will have lots of energy tonight.
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I am a big fan of Moller kid. He is offensively contributing and I was the one who said his defensive play has been much improved when he joined the team last Saturday. But his defensive coverage is still not as good as Richie. He overskates alot. He has to hit the brake and make sure take the open lane out when the opposing palyer tries to shoot from the point especially against the team like Preds who score many goals from the blue line.
This kind of thing …. like relying on his talent too much can be found on many young players. When it’s effective it’s gonna be WOW for sure but if it’s not the five men unit won’t be effective as it should be. Safety first. That’s what all the young players need to learn.
I really hope TM gives Moller a chance cause I just want to watch his play more. But that’s just me so whatever the coach decides I’ll go with it. Go Kings.
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kylecliffordfan Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
@goldielocks, Good post here.. You see Moller’s whole game, not just what you want to see. Very good Post.. Moller needs to be willing to take the body along the boards to get the puck out.. He didn’t do that in the first period last night. Watch Kopi or even the Kid Clifford, how they play in their own zone. Hanz is another great example, these guys get in the right position and make little to no effort in getting the puck out. You hardly ever see them running around.
Moller needs to tighten up his defensive play, because it doesn’t matter if he scores two gaols if he allows 2 while he is out on the ice. Hopefully he will learn that and sharpen up while down in Manchester (he will be going back when Sturm is ready).
Richie on the other hand is not a risk in his own end, that is always > than scoring unless your a 40 goal scorer and Moller isn’t.
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KC23 Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 2:12 pm
@goldielocks, OM offense is better than Richardson so its trade off. Doesn’t matter though. Nobody should lose his job to injury unless they were playing poorly. Tough deal for OM, but they’ll be more chances for OM.
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I hope benching OM is just for this game – he deserves to be in the mix … The boy got some skills
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@mcsorleyfan,
So we have him in the lineup again even though he got totally destroyed in the one area of why he’s supposed to be in the lineup, hmmm. Maybe TM is hoping that Scott hits him from the opposite side to straighten out that nearly detached nose. And before everyone flips out about my comments, how are the Red Wings able to handle the Blackhawks (er, Scott) with no designated goon in their lineup? Oh that’s right they have a powerplay that actually has a purpose and functions.
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kylecliffordfan Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
@Since ’67, The red wings are not a forechecking team like the Kings. You really think Scott will let brown play like he does if Westie wasn’t in the lineup?
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Since '67 Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
@kylecliffordfan,
Greene may tell you differently. I hear all this talk about how light in the pants the Red Wings are, and believe me I’m not trying to get in a pissing match here, I’m just making a point that other teams survive quite well without a total goon in the lineup… and check quite well, the Red Wings aren’t just all about skating. …and by the way I don’t know what Happy Lappy is referring to, what line?
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happylappy Reply:
December 19th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
@Since ’67, just pick a line and stick with it!!!!
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