For the first time in their four meetings this season, the Kings and Minnesota Wild played a game that didn’t go to overtime. The Kings concluded the season series with a 2-0-2 record against the Wild after last night’s win. Here’s how the game was presented by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press, followed by some additional postgame quotes from the Wild locker room…
Numbers just don’t add up in L.A.
Wild drops into 6th with 4-2 loss at LA
Kings 4, Wild 2: Not enough bodies, not enough goals
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COACH TODD RICHARDS
(on the game…) “The guys played hard all the way to the end. It was a pretty intense, pretty physical game. I’m proud of the way the guys battled. It wasn’t an easy game and we stuck with it all the way to the end. We just came up a little short.”
(on the power play…) “We struggled, especially early in the game. I think we talked about it a little bit afterwards and I felt we were better there. But you have to give them [the Kings] credit; they played hard. They’re big and they’re doing a good job skating, pursuing and creating those battles. Again, I’m real proud of the way we played and competed, Just came up a little short.”
MATT CULLEN
(on the game…) “We didn’t play our game often enough, I guess. We had moments where we cycled and played the way we can and got in on them on the forecheck, but we didn’t do it often enough. We didn’t maintain that consistent level of pressure throughout the game.”
(on facing the Kings…) “They have good, mobile defense. You have to give them credit; they played pretty well. They came out hard and they forechecked hard and they have some D that can break a puck out and make some plays. That was a big part of them winning tonight.”
(on Burns’ game-tying goal…) “You give yourself a chance to head into the third period tied. That’s a good spot to be in on the road, generally speaking. We didn’t have it tonight. We weren’t able to get what we needed.”
JOHN MADDEN
(on the game…) “They [the Kings] made a nice play on their game-winner to win the game. We had our chances to put it away, but we didn’t have any luck around the net. There were a lot of loose pucks we just couldn’t get our sticks on. You just have to keep going and keep playing hockey.”
(on Doughty’s goal…) “I had a late jump coming out of the zone. One of their D-men bumped me and knocked me off-balance, so my first couple of steps were a little behind Doughty and I knew he was there. I just couldn’t catch up to him in time. I thought I had my stick in the right spot. He just got by somehow and he quickly snapped it in. it was a good play on their part and a missed assignment by me.”
Have to love Madden’s honesty. Solid veteran.
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Stagger Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 10:59 am
@Stuart,
Well said. I would love to see him in a King uni.
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jayhay Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 11:05 am
@Stagger, not touting my wisdom (yes i am), but it was the Madden move last year was when i told myself that that was the piece CHI needed to get over the hump. the Malhotra signing has a similar feel with VAN this year, but he hasn’t won anything yet, unlike Madden when he went over to CHI.
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Stuart Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
@jayhay, I was calling for a Madden signing just as I had been calling for a Peca signing when he was on his last contract (or two, he played another 2-3 years I think after that). Solid PK and was always a danger to score shorthanded. Good hockey brains.
Sparman Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 11:06 am
@Stuart,
Yeah, he’s got great acting skills as well. Wow, could he sell “phantom” penalties last night, and were the Refs ever the motivated buyers.
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Scaught Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 11:51 am
@Stuart, yeah, classy comments all around. Nice for a change.
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USHA#17 Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
@Stuart,
He missed deflecting that pass by inches. Also,I see Madden’s point, seemed like a lot of noncall interference by both clubs
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Scuderi is on NHL Home Ice, right now…
Stunner:
We let everything go to our heads, leading to the early season losing streaks…
–Never thought I’d hear a player be that frank.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 9:58 am
Now about Sturm being waived…
–One of those hard things about building a championship team…
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Matt George Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 10:00 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
I like that line .. makes you draw the conclusion that if you come to LA, you better bring it every night or …
… of course, by that logic, the entire TEAM would be placed on waivers after the Islander game …
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Matt George Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 9:58 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
Turning it on now .. fortunately have it recorded every am so I won’t miss a second!
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 10:01 am
–Getting my scholarship and getting to play while living on the Island was the cherry on top…
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jayhay Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 10:23 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, i’ve said it before, i dont think DD and JJ can learn enough about being a pro from this guy. truely, truely, truely is a pro and class guy.
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NoDoughty Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, that’s Scuds for ya! He says it how it is. He was/is a great addition to the team – love him!
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Classy group, considering how chippy it was last night.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 10:07 am
@Cynic,
Everything I’ve seen so far of the Minnesota Wild organization is classy so far, sitting in ECHL AA hockey land here in Bakersfield.
Hope they make the playoffs too, and take out SJ or PHX for us…
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Luuuuuuuuuuc! Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 10:13 am
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
Not to mention a deserving fan base. If only they could score a little more… (Where have I heard that before?)
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USHA#17 Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
@Cynic,
Very typical for the area. Plain spoken, considerate and honest.
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Was Marco Sturm really waived?
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KC23 Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 10:18 am
@MtlKingsFan, Yep, confirmed.
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Where is that post game video from last nights game?
Saturday matinee game:
1)We need to drop the Avalanche like a bad habit
2)Beat them like they stole something
3)Light them up like a pinball machine.
Anyone have any other nice cliches for what we should do to Colorado on Saturday?
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Empty Netter Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 10:42 am
@BigMikeonD,
“Remember Long Island”
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tuan jim Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
@Empty Netter,
I can’t match that one.
But I hope we 1) beat the Avalanche like red-haired step-children so that 2) we beat the Red Wings so bad they doubt their masculinity.
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It was very creative game last night. Like JJ making killer pass from behind the goal, Simmer cutting in to the slot and shooting, DD making himself available for the pass from Brown, some guys showed their skills to make a good play all around. They weren’t just throwing the puck to the net and hoping for the rebound. I hope it was an eye opener for TM that he could use those talented players more effectively.
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I think Todd Richards has done a good job with the Wild. All 4 games have been really competetive this season…I am impressed.
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jayhay Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 10:48 am
@puck73, the Wild have turned into my wife 3rd fav team, because they just work hard. kings (obvious) and NYR (the biggest Torts fan on the west coast) have the Wild beat.
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goldielocks Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 10:58 am
@puck73, Yea …. If only they don’t look like X’mas present.
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I think that’s the most times I’ve heard anyone refer to the Kings as “Big” and “Fast”. You read some of the comments and you would think the entire team is slower than molasses in January.
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NoDoughty Reply:
February 25th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
@Gizmo, that’s exactly what stuck out to me too! Big? Aggressive? Who? the Kings????? But I guess the view is different from where we sit.
I don’t mind one bit tough that other teams feel that way about our boys
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