Today, I jokingly told Willie Mitchell that, soon, he and Alexei Ponikarovsky will be able to star in some hockey-themed buddy movie. To the chagrin of both players, they’ve been able to spend plenty of time together this season because of similarly-timed injuries, and now both will return to the lineup in the same game tomorrow when the Kings host Columbus. After today’s practice, Terry Murray pronounced both players to be ready. That wasn’t a surprise in terms of Ponikarovsky (pictured, right), who has been practicing with the team in recent days, but was much more surprising in terms of Mitchell (pictured, left), who hadn’t made it through a full-team practice until today. Mitchell described himself as “feeling better and better every day,” and said he wouldn’t put himself in a position that would hurt the team, but also didn’t deny that the Kings’ recent slump might have impacted his return date…
MITCHELL: “I wouldn’t say it’s not in your mind at all. Of course it is, but I like to think I’ve played long enough, and unfortunately I’ve had a little too much experience with injuries in this past year, to where you have to put yourself back in a situation where you’re not a liability. There’s a fine between pushing it and putting your best foot forward for the team, and putting yourself at risk. We’ve had some good skates, and once I feel comfortable in my mind with things, I don’t need a week of practice. The only way to get back and get things going is to get in a game. That’s how you get in game shape and thinking and all those things. So I’m really excited. I want to play some hockey. I haven’t played nearly enough this year. Everything happens for a reason, but I’m just really hungry to get out there and help the guys. I haven’t played a ton yet this year. I felt like I was just coming into my game, after a long, long layoff. Sometimes the season can be long and grueling, and it’s a bit of a grind, but for me, it’s probably a little bit different from these guys. I’m hungry to get out there and get playing, so I’m looking forward to it.”
The Kings had a 5-6 record during Mitchell’s most recent injury and were 1-5 with both Mitchell and Ponikarovsky out of the lineup. Ponikarovsky will become the ninth player to take shifts on Kopitar’s left side this season. Murray expressed confidence that both players were ready to contribute.
MURRAY: “(Mitchell) went through a lot of competitive drills here today, and has done a lot of skating over the last couple weeks. He’s ready to get back in there, so both players will be back in the lineup tomorrow. Ponikarovsky, where you saw him today, on the line with Kopi, is probably where I’m going to leave him for tomorrow’s start. I’d like to see good things happen there. Hopefully it does, but that’s where he will fit in for the start of tomorrow’s game.”
Time for talk is over… Wins are the only thing that matters no matter who plays where. When we win it won’t be because of a certain change to line combination’s, it just takes everyone pulling in the same direction
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OCDUCKHUNTER Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
@VanKingsFan, AMEN BROTHER
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rumpa#19 Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
@VanKingsFan, It would be a nice change for sure!
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Ravens Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
@rumpa#19, How many teams have we seen recently with completly depleated line ups, that have come in Staples Center only to look like the 88 Oilers? it shouldn’t matter who is in and who is out with our supposed depth. it’s time to knock guys on their arses (like Simmer) if your going to take stupid penalties reguardless, why not take some that send a message to both bench’s?
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VanKingsFan Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
@Ravens, In that case I would not classify it as a “stupid” penalty
luc20rules Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
@Ravens, There is a lot of truth to what you and VanKingsFan are saying, but I think the Doughty – JJ defensive pairing has been a disaster. They are both Offensive Minded and need to be paired with D first guys. I am not saying that it will never work, it looks good on PPs, but not 5-5 at this stage of their careers. As for playing with a depleted lineup, I think the team has lost its identity as a shutdown team, thats how we won early and thats what the team was built. We won’t win many trying to run and gun like we tried to verse Chi & Philly.
so what happened to mitchell? upper body or lower?
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
@broncokings, it was lower injury but now he back so we can hope it change everything
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Srained knee I believe. “LOWER BODY ENJURY” HaHa.
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Is it me, but without looking at the text…it looks like Ponikarovsky and Mitchell are ready to square off in a UFC battle?
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K-Dog Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 5:02 pm
@deelo, Ha Ha, very true, looks like the “Tale of the Tape!”
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his desire to play needs to rub off on the other guys.
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TinaBeana Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
@TinaBeana, mitchell’s desire*
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Bill M. Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 3:39 pm
@TinaBeana, I think this has as much to do with our success when he’s in the lineup as his actual play.
Last year, we seemed to have an attitude in the locker room that is not there this year, and it could be that he brings that, as much as shutdown skill.
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osca Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
@Bill M., I have always wondered how some people here know what the attitude is like in the locker room????? They must have some type of special pass. Oh well….
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Mitchell is a stud. Kings are slumping and all he wants to do is play hockey. Let’s turn this bus around and get back to the winning road. Man all we really want is a team that competes and plays hard. We fans have been laying hard into the club, so hopefully they feel our pain and know that tough love is hard to take and that all we really want is to win hockey games.
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What does Crosby have in common with Kopitar?
They both played with Ponikarovsky, once….
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“There’s a fine between pushing it and putting your best foot forward for the team, and putting yourself at risk.”
All signs point to him coming back too early. Hope I’m wrong.
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If we are hoping Poni solves are problems we are in big trouble, at best he plays a 3rd or 4th line role in this league, period.
Mitchell is going to help more then anyone knows, watch and realize his worth
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Oh where oh where are my L.A. Kings?
Oh where oh where can they be?
They blow cheese at home, in game after game…
Oh where oh where can they be?
Are they making whoopie with too many starlets?
Oh where oh where can they be?
Did they drain away with the rains that just passed?
Oh where oh where can they be?
Did they leave the state with the Governator?
Oh where oh where can they be?
Or testify for MJ’s Doctor?
Oh where oh where can they be?
Don’t they know that soon no playoffs for them?
Oh where oh where can they be?
Won’t some guy step up and win us a game?
Oh where oh where can they be?
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wavesinair Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
LOL. Thanks for the chuckle.
But isn’t it obvious where there are? I know you know.
They are still in SAN JOSE!!!
This team is just an impostor.
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Niko Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Great, now I’ll be singing that first line over and over in my head all evening haha
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Irishlak Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, in anaheim, sleeping with their wives thats were they have gone at least they are scoring somwere. Its a sex attack angainst the mighty clucks
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“Lower body injury” “Upper body injury”….OMG STOP! this isn’t the playoffs where ur hiding what’s wrong with ur player just tell us what the he’ll happened to him it’s the reg season!
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wavesinair Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@Paul G, OK, Willie – knee. Poni – ankle.
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LA needs to stand for Los Angles again and not Losers Again
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I’m glad to see Willie & Poni will be back.But I’ll tell you what, if our Defensemen continue to play as SOFT as they have lately, we’ll be in for more of the same. It’s dreadful watching the other teams skate into our zone unchecked with the D just backing off, then park it right in front of our goalie and stay there as long as they like. Even the crappy Kings teams of yesteryear would’nt allow that! C’mon D , grow a pair and MOVE them!
Go Kings
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I propose that if the “Kings” lose on the road, they should have to Fly coach on
Southwest back to LA and or their next destination. Someone should think of
a penalty for losing at home…lol
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brian spain Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 5:17 pm
@K-Dog, make the guys go back on the ice after the fans have left and skate there butts off. The coaches are soft on these guys. I cant believe they have nobody on this team raising there voice in the locker room. My friend is a sports writer and covers the Ducks, he said Teemu was cussin all the way to the post game interview about how the team played vs. Nashville.” saying we got beat by a team without there top 4 guys. We were pathetic. Are team is young and needs somebody with some experience to get these guys going..The past two weeks have been terrible. Lets go fans. I am going to be screaming at the team when they come to the ice for warmups pre game Sat. night. LETS GO!!!
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K-Dog Reply:
January 7th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
@brian spain, You hit the nail on the head!! TM said he doesnt believe in Bag Skates
because it only makes him feel better, but maybe it needs to be done to send a message.
Doesn’t matter whether its hockey or real life, we all need a kick in the arse some
times!! Yell your lungs out at the Game!
GKG
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It’s time to put all excuses aside and start winning some games and climbing the standings. Excluding Parse the team is healthy (beside doughtys doughnut habbit)
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it’s going to be tough to win with this system, dump and chase is easy to defend against if you know it’s coming all the time. Also TM stop with the line juggleing every game, knowing where your linemate is without looking only comes from playing together for more than ONE game. What happened to Smyth- Kopitar – Williams line? Sure seemed like a productive line to me?????????
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Here are some interesting statics I worked up regarding the Kings record with Mitchell & Ponikarovsky in and out of the lineup (W-L-OTL / Points-Winning %):
Mitchell Played: 11-4-0 (22 Pts – .880%) – 15 Games
Mitchell Out: 11-13-1 (23 Pts – .460%) – 25 Games
Ponikarovsky Played: 16-5-1 (33 Pts – .750%) – 22 Games
Ponikarovsky Out: 6-12-0 (12 Pts – .333%) – 18 Games
Both Mitchell & Ponikarovsky Played: 11-4-0 (22 Pts – .733%) – 15 Games
Both Mitchell & Ponikarovsky Out: 6-12-0 (12 Pts – .333%) – 18 Games
So I guess it’s safe to say that the Kings are a much better team with these players in the lineup…
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puck73 Reply:
January 8th, 2011 at 7:52 am
@Mark C., For a lot of people, these stats must be hard to believe since the names Quick, Kopitar, and Doughty arent there. But those stats are so overwheming and obvious that even bandwaggon Kings fan cannot refute them.
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Mark C. Reply:
January 8th, 2011 at 8:59 am
@Mark C., One correction:
Mitchell Played: 11-4-0 (22 Pts – .733%) – 15 Games
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