As noted earlier, the Kings stayed with the same lines in practice this morning that they used in last night’s game, meaning that the new-look line of center Trevor Lewis with wingers Kyle Clifford and Wayne Simmonds will get a second game together. That line didn’t generate much offense — it combined for two shots on goal — but it gave the Kings some hard work and drew a couple penalties.
MURRAY: “They did what they’re supposed to do. That’s a line that has to work hard, be intense. They have some speed, they have some skill, they have grit. They’re to battle for pucks and recover pucks, under heavy stress along the boards, and take it hard to the net, get to the net on a consistent basis and shoot pucks. They can be a good puck-control unit, and with a net attitude. That’s exactly the kind of game that they have to give us, what they showed us last night. In fact, they can give us, in some areas, a little more dig-in with heavier play, and maybe something better would happen as a result of it.”
PLEASE sit Westgarth!
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John Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:00 pm
@kingsxstevenxkings,
Well, last night would’ve been a lot easier if he wasn’t! That turnover was beyond lame.
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 6:44 pm
@John,
Yessir
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KingsFanFTL Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:08 pm
@John, we alll agree with u on that West not anything doesnt fight doesnt score he just there to take up a spot
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simonsez Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 12:47 am
@John,
Yes! Murray doesn’t deserve a win until he sits Westgarth. It’s a no-brainer.
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Seems more like Simmers’ line than anybody else. Cliffy has made a case for ownership, but Lewis is just glad to be there. LOL
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USHA#17 Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:23 am
@Dominick, It’s traditionally the center, Louis had a very good game so let’s give him this one.
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They are three young, hard working players with grit. But they have about 15 goals between them, and are lacking in the offensive talent needed to up that total significantly. I appreciate their efforts, but when they are on the ice together we don’t have much chance of scoring a goal. Isn’t the third line supposed to chip in with some timely goals?
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rick Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:08 pm
@rick, I should have added that this particular group seems more like a very solid fourth line than what a third line needs to be in today’s NHL.
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brian spain Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:49 pm
@rick, It doesn’t matter what number you put on a line, those guys were working there asses off last night. If the whole team played that hard they wouldn’t be losing all these games.
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Love this line.
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Will Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 6:04 pm
@blueliner, yup. i love this NHL avearage 4th line .. true grinders with grit… wait? whos the sniper in this line
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Is Brown a legit 30 goal scorer if he can’t connect on a much needed one-timer at the goal crease? Is Simmonds a legitimate 20 goal scorer? Clifford? Richardson? Lewis? Certainly not Stoll, Handzus or anyone else. None of these guys are there and we can’t keep saying they’re young and growing…I’m sorta longing for a guy like Frolov right now?
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John Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:22 pm
@dcaps55,
They’re young and growing…
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KC23 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 11:14 pm
@dcaps55, Yeah, Froloaf … cause it worked out so well for the Rangers this year and the Kings last year. I agree with the first part of your argument though, but Frolov, really?
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USHA#17 Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:40 am
@dcaps55, The team has no real leader for the kids. Williams started to stand up but nullified himself by exhibiting frustration and going on never ending tear of needless penalties. It takes time and both the learning and build.
Sadly Frolic proved that he would never be the player many thought he could be…
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USHA#17 Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:42 am
@USHA#17, Damn these mobile things.
MTS build “still in process”
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You mean the Clifford, Simmonds line right?… lol…
Cant wait until we see the CLifford, Schenn, Simmonds line next year.. Gonna be an awesome line!!
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Ok, now that the hype of last night’s game has died down some, on to my comments. First of all I did not watch the game due to blackout restrictions here in Salt Lake. I woke this morning to see the “bad call” on the highlights. My reaction was a short laugh, knowing that the goal was a no goal. It’s what happens when you are not one of the top teams in the NHL. Who owns the Coyotes, right the NHL. They can’t sellout their home games, so the NHL has to make them look good. Bottom line is — The Kings are struggling bad and the NHL loves it. We as a team have to realize that nobody wants the club to be winners, so we have to do it on our own.It’s going to be hard, but I think we can still do it. I’m not looking for answers. I just want for us to continue to play hard and with pride. From most of the Million comments that I have read today, all of us agree on one thing— The Kings get all the raw deals and unless we start winning some games then this league will not give us the respect we want. The only way to shut up everybody is to win. Me I’m just going to keep on watching and rooting for this team to achieve their goals. I do know that both Kopi and Brown has changed the way the club approaches games. The last 3 years have been some of the most interesting years that we have had in awhile. Keep playing the game you love Kings. Things are going to turn around soon.
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RRL Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 6:29 pm
@kinginsaltlake, hear hear I couldn”t agree more or put it any better
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rick Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 7:27 pm
@kinginsaltlake, Why would the NHL possibly want the Kings to struggle? Nice conspiracy theory, but I am not one of the “millions” who think the Kings get all the raw deals. A crappy call last night was just that – ONE crappy call. Frankly, if the Kings are not respected around the league – which I am not sure is the case – it is a self inflicted wound resulting from a long history of ineptitude on the ice and in the front office.
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Gislaw Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 7:59 pm
@rick,
I agree with everything kinginsaltlake said, except for the problem that you introduced. Again, there is absolutely no way the NHL wants the second largest media market in the US to have a failure for a hockey club. It may seem like it at times, but we are more adept at recalling twists of bad fortune then the twists of good.
Go Kings!
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jason Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:14 am
@kinginsaltlake, ever think about coaching the kings? i think you would inspire them lol
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That would be a good 4th line……Now we need Moeller,Richardson and Sturm for the third line??? Right now our 3rd and 4th line wont give us any scoring….
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Dominick Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:28 pm
@neil, So far everybody has been on those lines except for Kopi. Is it really who’s on them, or how their being used?
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SLC line. Love it.
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Message to everyone who likes when Kevin Westgarth is in the lineup.
Kings record with Westgarth in lineup : 16-19-1
Kings record when Westgarth is not in lineup : 8-3
This speaks for itself, Nothing further your honor.
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KC23 Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 11:17 pm
@CB14, “Message to everyone who likes when Kevin Westgarth …” listens, hears crickets. Westgarth, that ship has sailed. He doesn’t hit, forecheck, backcheck and rarely fights and virtually never fights when it would give our team a lift.
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yup. i love this NHL avearage 4th line .. true grinders with grit… wait? whos the sniper in this line
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I like this 3rd line…
-Clifford, Lewis, Simmonds
Lotkionov didn’t impress myself however one game doesn’t make a season. Leave him there and see if he can get it going, he’s really small.
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My favourite line of the season! keep it goin! MUST win tomorrow
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i really like this line… lewis is nuts out there… hes all over the ice with speed
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Harty Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 7:37 am
@jason, his speed allows the two big guys to roam around and make the body contact
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