The `air mail’ pass « LA Kings Insider

The `air mail’ pass

Posted by Rich Hammond on 28 December 2010, 11:15 am

For those who haven’t seen Dustin Brown’s second goal last night — Anze Kopitar’s pass was called “Air Mail” by NHL.com this morning — here’s a look at it…

Tagged Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown

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46 Comments

Ersberg says:

December 28, 2010 at 11:18 am

Legendary goal. Probably the best I’ve seen this year.

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wavesinair says:

December 28, 2010 at 11:23 am

Air mail? Kobe throws an alley-oop to Shaq…he dunks! Wait… oh, you mean ice hockey…

In all actuality, that was very much a soccer play. One of the very best at it was, I hate to say, Beckham. The guy could pass like no other.

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Niko says:

December 28, 2010 at 11:24 am

Love how Brown looks over his shoulder at Kopi like “let’s do this”, the proceeds to charge without looking back, waiting for the puck to fall on his stick.. Truly incredible pass!

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Kaiser Soze says:

December 28, 2010 at 11:26 am

This is totally off topic, but it’s a question I’ve had for a while and was hoping someone might know the answer. If a player plays with say, 2 different teams, but has a career such that his jersey should be retired, how is it decided which team gets to retire that jersey? Take Joe Thornton for example (not that I’m saying his jersey should or will be retired.) He spent half his career in Boston and half in San Jose (assuming he stays for a couple more years and then retires.) Which team “gets” to retire his jersey?

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wavesinair Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Answer: Both

The Kings and the Oilers both retired Gretzky’s jersey.

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DougS Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 11:54 am
@wavesinair,
Yes. Retiring jerseys is entirely up to individual teams. Boston would have no say over what SJ does, and vice-versa.

Perhaps Kaiser Soze is thinking of Hall of Fame induction? I don’t know if this is important in hockey, but I think in both MLB and NFL the player has to decide which team he will officially represent in the Hall of Fame.

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Kaiser Soze Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
@DougS,

Nope – I wasn’t thinking about HOF induction, but that is also some good information. Thanks to you and everyone that replied!

Scott From Temecula Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
@DougS,
Not sure about football, but in the baseball HOF the HOF committee decides what teams hat the player is representing.

Kingsfanone Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 11:59 am
@wavesinair,

Did not the entire league retire Gretz’ jersey/number?

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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Gretzky’s a unique case, because the NHL retired it, right?

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Kingsfanone Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:10 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,

Yes.

What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:43 pm
DOH! That keeps happening!

wavesinair Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, The guy’s question is about the jersey, not the number. Gretz’s jersey is in two places: Edmonton and LA, not the other 28 barns. Just sayin…

mrbrett7 Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 11:47 am
@Kaiser Soze, It’s up to the teams…

Bourque’s jersey is retired in Colorado, and he played ONE season there.

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Stuart Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
@mrbrett7, yeah but they would have retired his number if had he been a deadline aquisition that same year they won the cup. That was more out of respect for him than anything else.

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DesertKing says:

December 28, 2010 at 11:30 am

You can’t help but have a smile on your face when you watch that. i still think Niemi is having nightmares after that play. Championship years usually include some kind of signature play that represents the team during that season. This may be ours!! It definitely shows several things:

1. Great passing skills by Kopi
2. Brown’s improvement in his ability to finish
3. Great chemistry and communication on the first line

Our team has no “superstars” with reputations built up by the league media circus. We just have a great group of players who are working hard, sharing the responsibility and ultimately sharing the success. This is a good time to be in the Kingdom!

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DougS Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 11:55 am
@DesertKing,
That play had psychological domination written all over it. Coming at a point when the Kings were already frustrating the Sharks, it said, “We can do whatever we want, and you can’t stop us.” Loved it.

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CupRun2011 Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
@DougS, …for this ONE game. SJS took it to the Kings the last time they played…in that game, it appeared as though SJS had their way with the Kings. This sets up for a pretty good rematch on New Years Day!

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Kyle Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
@CupRun2011, yes it is just one game, but there is no denying the “just because we can” message in that play.

DougS Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
@CupRun2011,
The interesting thing about the first game in SJ was that McClellan felt he had to light a fire under his own team’s butt by bad-mouthing them to the press. And they responded… for one game.

Sure, he could try that again. But it’s not something you can do over and over again without it losing its effect.

From the team psychology aspect, I also find it interesting that last night’s game was just as important to SJ as it was to the Kings, and yet they couldn’t quite match the Kings’ enthusiasm and ultimately gave up without much of a fight.

KINGKRAZY Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
@DesertKing, Go on to sjsharks.com and watch McLellans interview, watch all the interviews for that matter. They didn’t know what hit them.

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DesertKing Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
@KINGKRAZY,

Maybe instead of “Air mail,” we should name THE PASS the “Stealth Bomb.”

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pr0cess says:

December 28, 2010 at 11:37 am

Oo OO i said that first!! gee no love rich!

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Jessie says:

December 28, 2010 at 11:41 am

Plainly and simply AWESOME.

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Sebastian says:

December 28, 2010 at 11:55 am

such an amazing play…i only wish it would have come a day before against the Ducks so I could have been there to see it live.

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IceGuy says:

December 28, 2010 at 11:57 am

Ok – showing my age here, but I was actually in Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis to witness the original “Hail Mary” pass Vikings v Cowboys. I watched last night’s “wow” moment on TV and yelled “uh-oh” when I saw Brown break up ice and Kopi left that pass (maybe he was watching Bernie last night?!).

“Air Mail” is OK, but I vote for “the FedEx” when (the pass) absolutely, positively has to be on time!

Maybe Tom Hanks can interview Kpoi about it.

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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 11:59 am
Wilson!

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Sebastian Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, i love the Family Guy parody where the ball says…”my name is Voit Dumb***”

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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
LOLz. I didn’t think anyone would get it.

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IceGuy Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
You seriously underestimate the trivia ability of this group!

PRMan Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 3:00 pm
@IceGuy, FedEx? Shouldn’t it be UPS? Because Brown delivered.

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KINGSfan Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
@PRMan, “Shouldn’t it be UPS? Because Brown delivered”

…good one!

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the_guv Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
@PRMan, thats great!! GO KINGS GO!!!!!

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What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

December 28, 2010 at 11:58 am

Kinda reminds me of some of Gretzky’s assists over the net from behind it.

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Kevin Y says:

December 28, 2010 at 12:31 pm

I just can’t get enough of watching this… greatest goal I’ve personally ever seen.

Wonder why they don’t do it more often?

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Jack says:

December 28, 2010 at 12:31 pm

This years team reminds me of the 02 Angels…No big name,big ego superstar.Great team cemistry.Always looking like they are having fun….We shal see.

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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
@Jack, If things go as we hope, they’ll all be big names (especially the top six forwards, Quick and top four defensemen) after this season.

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KINGKRAZY Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
@Jack, The big Fish, the X factor, Erstadt, Anderson, Glaus, Molina. Washburn and Lackey tearing it up and Percival shutting it down. Figgins was just a pich runner… That was a great team! This years Kings are one of the best Kings team I’ve ever seen.

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slovenian fan says:

December 28, 2010 at 12:38 pm

you can see this great pass and goal all over the net, Respect to Anze and Dustin.

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KINGKRAZY says:

December 28, 2010 at 12:54 pm

The big Fish, the X factor, Erstadt, Anderson, Glaus, Molina. Washburn and Lackey tearing it up and Percival shutting it down. Figgins was just a pich runner… That was a great team! This years Kings are one of the best Kings team I’ve ever seen.

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Cynic says:

December 28, 2010 at 12:59 pm

One Word…

‘SWAGGER’

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RabidZiggy says:

December 28, 2010 at 1:04 pm

I’ve seen this thing like 10 times and it’s still awesome.

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Agame says:

December 28, 2010 at 1:37 pm

i watched it few times and still brings smile to my face. Great play!

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KINGSfan says:

December 28, 2010 at 3:09 pm

Some games nothing goes right for the KINGS…. and some games everything does

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USHA#17 Reply:
December 28th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
@KINGSfan,

Sooo truu

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Moondoggie says:

December 28, 2010 at 11:05 pm

One of the greatest goals I’ve ever seen…..

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