Alexei Ponikarovsky returned to practice today, wearing a green jersey along with fourth-line forwards Brad Richardson, Trevor Lewis and Kevin Westgarth. That means Ponikarovsky, who has missed the past five games, is nearing a return, but Terry Murray said Ponikarovsky will not play Thursday against Nashville.
MURRAY: “Not quite, but very close now. He had a great workout yesterday, off and on the ice, as Willie Mitchell did. He participated in the early part of the practice, so I think he’s starting to get the itch that he’s going to get back in here real soon. I think he’s feeling much more comfortable with the ankle. It’s almost day to day with him now.”
As for Willie Mitchell, who has missed the past 10 games, Mitchell is not yet participating in full-team practices but has been skating and doing drills, post-practice, with teammates.
“Still a little bit away,” Murray said of Mitchell’s status. “Closer every day, but still probably days away.”
The ANKLE is a lower body part. First I’ve heard this. Slip of the tongue? I’ll be glad to have Fro..um..I mean Poni back in the lineup. It’s needed.
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I’m sorry but Poni is hurt more then he plays?? What’s up with him. this started in Toronto and that is why TO traded him
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VanKingsFan Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
@Harty, Your way off on that Harty. He played 77+ games the last two years. and 81, 2 years previous to that. Your very statement is false since he has played more games this year than he has been hurt. Just a bit of bad luck at the start of the year.
They did not trade him because of injury concerns.
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tornado12 Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
@VanKingsFan, do you ever do any work, you are always on this site! (tongue in cheek)
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VanKingsFan Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
@tornado12, haha you have noticed that 98% of my posts occur between 9:00 and 5:00 … I work in sports so I consider this a side project to my actual work.
mcsorleyfan Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
@tornado12, I don’t… not currently, thanks to the economy… had to get DirectTV!
Erik4Kings Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
@Harty,
As a Leafs and Kings fan. I can tell you, he was traded because he is notorious for Frolov-like streaks except he doesn’t really score…
So when Poni is on, he is flying around, taking up space, hitting people and playing good PK.
When he is off, he is worthless, he doesn’t score, isn’t a playmaker, doesn’t fight…
I wasn’t happy when we traded for Poni, a disgruntled Frolov was healthier and more productive than a happy Poni. Compare their career stats, it was a stupid play, especially since they are same pay.
Its because TM doesn’t know how to get the most of his talent, hence always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Instead of finding out how to get through to Frolov he went with the whole “Beatings will continue until morale improves” mentality…yeah good luck with that all the time.
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Erik4Kings Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
@Erik4Kings,
I forgot, Poni is known for stupid penalties as well. Probably his biggest knock outside of scoring…
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USHA#17 Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
@Erik4Kings,
Hold it there. Frolov is on track for a 14 goal season (40 games, 7G, 9A) vs Poni (22G 3G 4A) Not too muck to write home about when the names Poni and Fro appear in the same sentence. But from what I’ve seen Poni has the edge in several areas; Size, stupid penalty minutes, defensive play and penalty killing.
The funny thing is that now two coaches have opted for the stick when dealing with Frolov. He is certainly not “Hockey Whisperer” material.
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I like the thought that Mitchell’s injury is an ankle rather than a knee. Maybe one of the medical experts could do a more thorough comparison, but whenever I had an injury to one of those areas, the ankle always healed faster and better than my knees with less problems down the road. The sooner we get both players back, the better.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
@DesertKing,
One of the worst injuries for a hockey player is the dreaded high-ankle sprain…
Knees are bad, especially the ones that lead to instability, but the ankle is needed on both sides to drive and stop suddenly.
Not a good injury/can linger for an entire season…
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DLB Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
@DesertKing, I thought he was referring to Poni, not Mitchell, when he said that.
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DesertKing Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
@DLB,
My mistake, you are correct. Thanks! Would it be better to say it is better than the groin injury that Poni was thought to have?
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Hey guys. Let me know when we can officially call these two guys “busts” for the season. Don’t know about you guys, but I’m getting to that point.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 3:48 pm
@Darren,
Hard to call them ‘busts’ when the team does so well with them in the lineup, and so poorly without them…
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EternalOptimist Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
Totally agree… these guys give an honest effort(for the entire game) when healthy which is something this team needs right now. I don’t think it’s a coincidence our PK has not been good with them out of the lineup.
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RabidZiggy Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
@Darren, The playoffs is really where we’re gonna see what these guys can do, especially Mitchell. See how they do then and then we can make a judgment.
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ok Poni is a good player Mitchell i think he a Good Defense when he not hurt was he hurt all last season too so how do u know when he comes back to play he will stay heathly
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Look to next year as this team isn’t doing anything this year
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Bill M. Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
@Kings x, Look to next year as the year you actually pay attention to ALL the games, instead of just looking at a few bad ones.
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Poni I can take or leave, but Mitchell is absolutely critical to our success.
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puck73 Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
@KC23, Ahhh, the Voice of reason!
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kinginsaltlake Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
@puck73, hey puck I spoke very highly of you on earlier post
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USHA#17 Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
@KC23,
Both seem fragile, along with Williams. Life on the edge.
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mcsorleyfan Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 11:35 pm
@KC23, Agreed; Poni’s playing a role that Clifford has fallen into very well. Mitchell, however… compare our win/loss record with him vs without him and its apparent; we need the guy to go to the 2nd round.
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Rich, Im confused. Was TM talking about Poni or Willie with the ankle issue? I thought Poni had a groin issue and Willie had a knee issue!
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does anyone see we are loseing games latly due to drew and jack ‘s defensive mistakes? they are not bad mistakes butcostly.
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kingeyes Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
@msrjim, Agree they should be split up like earlier in season one offensive and one stay at home
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Need to trade JJ. Wast of money.
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