In terms of intensity, the Kings and Minnesota Wild should come out of the All-Star break firing tonight. Each team has 55 points — Minnesota claims 10th place in the West by virtue of having played one fewer game — and both teams were getting good results before the break. The Kings won three consecutive games and the Wild won four of five. Minnesota outscored its opponents by a combined margin of 21-7 in those five games, leading Terry Murray to stress the importance of the Kings getting off to a strong start against the Wild…
MURRAY: “We’re going to have to make sure that we’re getting pucks in, to get a forecheck and cycle game. I think scoring the first goal of the game is very important, against any team but certainly against Minnesota. The last two games that they’ve played, I’ve watched them over the last few days. When they had a lead against Chicago, they really clamped down on the checking part of it. It was a 1-4 look. The two defensemen are at the top of the circle and they gave up absolutely nothing on the scoring part of it to Chicago. I think you’ve got to give that a big focus, making sure pucks are deep, recover and get as many opportunities as you possibly can.”
I think Quick should play tonight and Bernier tomorrow… but we’ll see.
Come on boys! We need 2 points (in regulation) tonight!
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puck73 Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 10:17 am
@Kevin from Toronto, TM already said that Bernier was starting tonite…are you holding out some inside info on us ! lol
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kevin from toronto Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 2:44 pm
@puck73, haha no not at all. I just think the stronger goalie should face the strong teams. Nothing against Bernier at all, but Quick has been good lately.
Oh well, it is what it is
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Quick named 2nd star of the week
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Hey rich, how is the impending storm going to effect the game tonight, and the flight out to Edmonton? Any news regarding that would be appreciated (fans don’t want u and our boys stuck up there).
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Do all journalists have a Coles Notes of headlines for each opponent.
“_______ Tame the Wild”
if we lose
“_________ can’t Tame the Wild”
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jess Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 9:59 am
@VanKingsFan,
Yes Van I agree. In light of that, how does this hit you?
“The Law of Scepter and Fang”
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I way Kopi gets the first goal!!!
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Just keep playing good defense and hopefully the PP will show up tonight. GKG!
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The plan is dump and chase out of the box. I hope more than Williams will get in on the puck tonight or it’ll be a long game with Minnesota having control of the puck.
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puck73 Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 10:20 am
@Dan H., Dump and chase sucks, I thought Tm had learned his lesson. The fact is, other teams caught on weeks ago and exploited us. If he goes back to that style and the Kings start losing again, I hope he gets canned!
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Dan H. Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 10:30 am
@puck73,
OK canning the coach for a boring playstyle is a little over the top but if you want to score you need to be creative and let the players carry it in with speed to back off the opponent. Only Kopi, Williams, and Lokti have the skillset for that.
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mrbrett7 Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 10:43 am
@puck73, Well then, I guess 27 or 28 coaches need to be fired then. That’s how the game is played in case you haven’t been watching, specifically going up against a defensive team that stacks 3, sometimes 4 across the blue line. Skating straight at them does absolutely nothing.
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txkingsfan Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 11:10 am
@puck73, you guys speak of “dump and chase” as if it is failed technique. What you neglect to understand is that it is an “option” – especially when defensemen stand you up at the blue line or the puck carrying player has no ability to skate into the offensive zone. A dump into the corner is sometimes very effective in these situations especially when you have speedy forwards who can get to the puck quickly. That is the problem for the Kings lately: the puck gets deep but the forwards are not quick on the puck. But it does open up the ice in the offensive zone as defencemen must drop down and allows our D to get shots from the point – that is if our forwards can get the puck first and get it back to them.
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Stuart Reply:
February 1st, 2011 at 12:43 pm
@txkingsfan, “that is if our forwards can get the puck first and get it back to them.”
This is ALL that they’ve been able to do and that’s what makes our O stale. Fetch it and pitch it back, shot – blocked or wide, second verse same as the first. They need to fake that pass and keep it down low and take it to the net with authority!!! Take the punishment, reap the reward.
looking to Trevor Lewis for some scoring tonight….he’s due.
top six keep it close and Lewis makes a difference….
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TM just stated the case for using his number 1 goalie tonight. Wish he would do it.
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