Here’s what the good folks at the Orange County Register had to say about last night’s Kings-Ducks game, followed by some reaction from the Ducks’ dressing room…
Kings make it look easy against Ducks
Ryan’s December drought continues
Ducks’ Lupul still treading long road back
COACH RANDY CARLYLE
(on the game…) “We made too many critical mistakes with the puck. We didn’t execute anywhere near our abilities and it seemed like we couldn’t get anything going.
“It’s always deflating to see them get three goals in a row. We fumbled the puck and we should have had someone in position to recover it (on Williams’ goal). They made a shot that, nine times out of 10 our goalie would have stopped but he didn’t tonight.
“You expect after four days off that they will be rusty in some areas but there was one area we were rusty in and that was competing. … Overall we got to be better at protecting the crease.
“We had a hard time matching for a while and then the second was much more difficult to match due to the location of the benches.”
MATT BELESKEY
(on the game…) “To get a goal tonight was nice for me but it wasn’t the game we were looking for. … They played hard and played well. There were times when it could have gone either way. We came out hard in the first and a couple bounces here and there, it could have been a different game.
“Getting a goal this game was great but I still think there’s a lot for me to improve on in my game and hopefully the next one is better.
“You’ve got to bounce back after goals. A two-goal lead is what they say is the worst lead in hockey. We were never out of it tonight. A couple of tough bounces and the penalty I took hurt us. Next game is a new game and we got to start working on those little things.”
JONAS HILLER
(on the game…) “I think it was a tough game. The ice was bouncy, the pucks were bouncing. It was tough to control rebounds. The pucks were all over the place and it wasn’t easy to play tonight.
“We gave them way too many chances in our slot. I probably should have stopped some and no one would talk about it but it wasn’t good enough tonight.”
(on being pulled from the game…) “It’s never a happy feeling when you get pulled but it’s part of the job. You’ve got to get over it and focus on the next game. All you can do is play better the next game. I can tell myself that it was all my mistake but that won’t work. I just need to focus on the next game.”
wha, wha, wha keep complaining Hiller the ice was the same in both ends, we are not complaining??
and for Carlyle you make your breaks and finally have you heard the statement, “YOU CAN ONLY PLAY AS WELL AS THE OPPOSITION ALLOWS YOU”
no excuses you were beaten and beaten bad all over the ice……..puck races, shooting, scoring, physical play and fighting
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Kevin Y Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 9:27 am
@Harty,
AMEN to EVERYTHING you said!
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Harry Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 10:56 am
@Kevin Y, The Sucks Organization and their fans are full of Sucks!
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OK… Let’s see,
HILLER: The ice was bouncy, the pucks were bouncing.
COACH RANDY CARLYLE: “We had a hard time matching for a while and then the second was much more difficult to match due to the location of the benches.”
WHAAAAN……. ;(
GO KINGS GO!
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Kevin Y Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 9:29 am
@Jay GoLAKings,
Yeah, that extra 20 feet… Carlyle’s acting like it was a surprise the bench was on the other side! How long’s he been in this league?
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 10:31 am
@Kevin Y, its a new just been a new rule since yesterday LOL jk been there for along time what a loser
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GkingsG99 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
@Jay GoLAKings, Well in his defense it most likely was. There was a Clippers game right before the Kings haha.
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Hey Rich, it seemed that there were a larger number of media people in the locker room after last night’s game. Are the Kings getting more attention or was it just due to it being a Kings-Ducks game? As usual, NHL on the Fly covered it as just another game on the west coast with no importance to the rest of the world even thought the Maple Leafs beating the Devils was verrrryyyy important to them. Watching Kovalsuk fight was the exclamation point on his terrible season.
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Kevin Y Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 9:33 am
@DesertKing,
Do keep in mind, there were 11 games last night. In an hour long show with commercials, that’s about 4.5 minutes per game (most of it is highlights), and they have to talk about other league stuff… There’s only so much time they have, and with Detroit, Washington, Pittsburgh, and FIVE Canadian teams playing, it’s not surprising the Kings game got so little mention.
Also, the fact that the game ended at 11:30 ET, when they already have recorded “analysis” of earlier games, it’s easier to edit the program that way.
And I may not be in the majority, but hearing them talk about the LEAFS murdering the Devils? That’s music to my ears.
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Intersting. Both Hiller and Bernier complained about their rebound control. I guess the afternoon basketball game did have a big influence on this one. Bob and Jim mentioned it as well.
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DesertKing Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 9:12 am
@FKA PakiFro,
Easy solution. Move the Clippers to Anaheim.
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Brett W. Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 9:30 am
@DesertKing, Beautiful!! Two crappy teams together! Keep the Lakers and the Kings together!
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DesertKing Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 9:35 am
@Brett W.,
Purple and Gold (with a little silver and black)
Kevin Y Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 9:35 am
@Brett W.,
Not that the Lakers are playing good basketball now…
Keep it simple…Go to the NET!
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Was at the game and my take is:
First line looked pretty good. Sturm still reminds me of last years Williams after he came back. I’m not sold by a long shot. I still think Moller and Loktionov playd better, but hopefully Sturm will continue to improve. OTOH, Kopitar and Brown are kicking some arse and doing just find no matter who they put out there.
No idea what has happened to both Stoll and Smyth. They look nothing like they did the first quarter of the season. Both suddenedly have gotten weaker on the boards and Smyth looks like he is skating in mud. Willams is good, but I doubt he’ll be able to hold that line up for long the way Stoll and Smyth are playing.
Simmonds/Zues/Clifford line continue to impress. They may be considered our 3rd line checking line, but they are far more effective than our so-called 2nd line. They bring the whole package. They can shut the other teams big line. They can bring grit to stand up to the other teams goons and they can score. What more could you ask of any line. Clifford boggles the mind when you consider he is a 19 year old rookie out of juniors.
Lewis line does well checking and occasionally looks like they could put the puck in the net from time to time. They look much better without the slow Westgarth, but I think it is way too much to ask of Clifford to deal with other teams goons night in and night out. Clifford is too good a player to let get hurt like that not to mention spend large amounts of time off the ice in the box.
Bernier is finally starting to look like the player he was a year ago. Excellent game all around. He made three plays with his stick handling that Quick just hasn’t shown he is capable of. I saw the game live so I doubt it looked as impressive on TV, but he made two passes to players 1/2 to 3/4 of the ice away and once cleared the zone on a power play over the heads of everyone right down the middle of the ice. Brilliant to say the least.
Defense was nearly perfect the entire game. I’m gonna give it up for DD2 who had to sit and will have to sit soon. He has done extremely well and gets very little credit. We are so deep at defense its almost embarrassing.
Greene looked MUCH MUCH better, but most do when they are pared with Scuds. Still, I thought Greene played his best game all year.
I think JJ and DD together is really starting to build some chemistry. Not just offensively, but defensively as well. That is a scarey defensive paring to face when the Kings are on the attack. Martinez has struggled a bit, but the experience he is getting is so valuable. He’ll be a force soon enough.
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Harty Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 9:52 am
@KC23, I like the way you have framed it KC, the only hicup I have with your statement is both Moller and Loktionov, both are very tiny and the long haul of the NHL would certainly take the toll on both these guys…….
I hope both can bulk up somewhat, just 5-10lbs each would make a big difference, Oscar has a big heart however his body doesn’t fit the fight he has right now….
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KC23 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 11:22 am
@Harty, Good points about Moller and Loktionov. I was mainly trying to make the point that Sturm will likley take a long time to get to his previous level of play or perhaps its just a way for me not to get my hopes up too high for him.
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brian spain Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 11:32 am
@KC23, Sturm is skating very well. He is already better the Moller and Loki. Loki is soft. Sturm just got back and is crashing the net. Three games at 12 minutes a game. just wait a few weeks when he gets in game shape…and FILL UP YOU RGLASS…ITS STILL HALF FULL
KingsFanFTW Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 10:38 am
@KC23, Bernier did great yesterday game i like ti when he clear the puck on the PK himself Quick doesnt do that at all he just pass it to some one and JB try to pass to the kings when the Ducks on a line change love that so he doing good hope he keeps this game play up then Quick will have a race for number one for next year if we have Quick still i believe we will but nothing set in stone
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KC23 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 11:24 am
@KingsFanFTW, Bernier caught the Ducks twice in line changes with long passes that Quick could only dream of. Don’t get me wrong, I still like Quick as number one, but Bernier is clearly the superior puck handler.
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kq949 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
@KC23, Agree. Bernier’s stick handling is very impressive! It looks like they have been working with him on positioning with traffic. He was timid a few games ago, but appeared to be more aggressive in using his body to push his way through the traffic. He will only get better there. We need him to steal those games. And he has the last 2 he played. I hope that helps with his confidence and he continues to be more aggressive in his crease.
Quick is still #1. I was hoping the game didn’t go to a shoot-out last night. As Quick is amazing and fun to watch during shoot outs!
Rookie Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 11:32 am
@KC23,
Agree about Smith. He does look slow out there sometimes and seems to get the puck stripped from him often when behind the net. I think his strength is standing in front of the net, blocking the goalie and deflecting pucks. The wrap around shot just doesn’t seem to work for him anymore….i think the opposing players are wise to that move.
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KC23 Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
@Rookie, My take on his recent wrap around attempts is that he is doing them perfectly. It’s just his other line mates are not reading the play and getting into position. Stoll is very carefully about playing the F3 position high, perhaps a little too careful. Whoever the other forward is, they have to crash the net when Smyth is making the move.
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Rookie Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
@KC23,
Good point…there is usually a fat rebound or a puck hanging around the net after the wrap around attempt…
I was very impressed with Bernier’s stick handling as well. He was great last night and the win was well deserved. Also, I really love defensive paring of Jack and Drew. As someone mentioned earlier, they are not only a real threat offensively but getting to be very responsible defensively. Love it!
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BrokeKingsFan Reply:
December 27th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
@ziggyfan, i was gonna mention this in the conversation you refered to above but IMO they are getting better with the D-fence side of it being paired together because both know the other is a offensive D-man. They cant say to themselves ok, I got Scuds or Willie or Greener(stay at home,shut down d-man) backing me up so i can take chances more often on the O part of it. They have to make sure they are covering the D side first and foremost and then use there O skill when the opportunity presents itself. I think previously they were to comfortable having a stay at home shut down kind of partner.
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Thank you Rich..it is always fun to have any extra insight into the Boys..just to feel a part of it all.
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