Jonathan Quick will start in goal tomorrow afternoon against Dallas, and the Kings will stay with the same lineup, meaning Kevin Westgarth is still in and Brad Richardson is still out. The Kings went through roughly an hour-long practice, the start of which was delayed slightly be the end of a youth game at the suburban rink. Many of the Kings stood rinkside and cheered on the young players, who were barely taller than the dasher boards. The grown-up players were particularly entertained when one player celebrated a goal by skating to center ice and taking bows toward the parents and supporters. More notes and quotes from practice to come…
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Shakes head, rolls eyes and I don’t even have to say what its regarding. Everyone knows.
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tuan jim Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
@KC23,
I’ll take a wild guess as to what you’re talking about.
Does it have anything to do with sacrificing speed and nimbleness for muscle?
If so, I’m sure TM has his reasons. But last Monday it sho’ nuff looked like we coulda used some faster guys against this particular team.
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Scot Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
@KC23,
TM likes to stick with a lineup that wins, hard to argue with that.
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cpmc29 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
@Scot, when you have a team that’s interchagable. Why not use it. Imo.
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KC23 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
@Scot, Except that we have a much higher winning percentage with Westgarth out of the line up, including Detroit just the night before Columbus.
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
@KC23,
…Could it be this?
“The grown-up players were particularly entertained when one player celebrated a goal by skating to center ice and taking bows toward the parents and supporters.”
–Naah. Tuan Jim must be right…
One thing though: Remember the dal-BOS all-out brawl, including 3 fights in the first four seconds? That game sent 3 Stars to the sidelines and wrecked the team for three weeks.
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neil Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, Stars dont have a enforcer???
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BobKnob Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy,
That was retribution for a game 2 seasons ago where Steve Ott was taking runs at a bunch of Bruins. Although, Steve Ott was the catalyst for those brawls, and he did spear Cliffy last game, so maybe it is a good idea to have Westy in there just in case that clown tries to start something.
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Lets go Kings lets beat these team
they have their Scorer back
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Anybody have a clue as to why TM is using Richardson as though he’s the worst player on the team? Is Westgarth that 2-way player TM is always preaching about? Just so frustrated at the lack of logic there.
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puck73 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
@HappyLappy, I disagree about your comment regarding Ritchie….Respectfully yours Peter Harrold (Benchwarmer)
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 13th, 2011 at 9:03 am
@puck73, I love Harrold, but sadly, he’s right where he belongs, right now. The future, however, is unclear.
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Scot Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
@HappyLappy,
Rich responded to that question directly in a previous post. Basically, Terry Murray sometimes wants to have a heavyweight in the lineup, period. Just having that presence in the lineup, he feels sometimes is necessary. Also, I think it’s well documented that TM likes to stick with a lineup if they won the previous game. Kings won yesterday with Westgarth in the lineup, so why change it? I’ve decided to stand behind any of his decisions, he’s a good coach.
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Scot Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
@HappyLappy,
He might feel like guys on the other team will be less inclined to take any liberties with Kings players. If I were in the Kings lineup, I don’t think I would mind having Westgarth on the bench, it would make me feel more comfortable on the ice.
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FiG17 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
@HappyLappy,
See, my problem isn’t Westy going in. I get it. Muscle is intimidating. Guys are comfortable having muscle. It makes sense. My problem is Richie going out. I mean, I guess it’s a good problem to have that the guy who’s taken out over the 12 other forwards in the lineup is so good, but I still would rather see Richie rewarded for all the hard work he puts in than being benched so often. But like I said, I understand the reasoning behind it.
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Token Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
@HappyLappy, Richie is the smallest guy. When the coach wants Big Beef makes no sense in pulling out guys that have size.
The one thing I wish TM would do; don’t play Cliffy and Westy on the same line. Put Cliffy on the third with Zeus and Simmonds and drop Poni to the fourth.
That way we get balanced hits and can serve knuckle sandwiches from both bottom lines.
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
@Token, Hahaha!,knuckle sandwiches,classic.
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KC23 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
@HappyLappy, My guess is that when TM was a player he got pushed around by the bullies in the league because the logic is absurd in todays game.
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Here we go again [hope not]
Can’t you see by now that it has been
Duly noted that the coach and TEAM like
when he is in the lineup.
That’s enough for me to wrap my head around..
Let the bashing begin!!
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Eberlin Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
@Slim, Burma Shave!
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Heavy G Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
@Eberlin, Very funny!
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Gotta say, I knew when we obtained Penner that he was an immovable object, and that he had soft hands. However, the 2 things that have surprised me the most is that he passes the puck like a skilled player, and his hockey sense is very good. I guess the word that I would use to describe him is..Subtle, as in he does things at a high level without a lot of flash.
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Michael_DD8 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
@puck73,
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Michael_DD8 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
@Michael_DD8,
Couldnt agree more. His passing was a huge suprise to me of his game. I guess good hands, means good passing!
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
@puck73, yea penner can make good plays that what i like about him and the First line it spark Kopi to score more goals
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Al Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
@KingsFanFTW, huh
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tuan jim Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
@puck73,
Penner was the best of all the possibles. And the deal was square all the way around. We got real bang for our buck.
Oiler fans reacted a lot like us — their feelings wandered all over the map. Some of them saw this trade as a steal for them, others saw it as value-for-value, and quite a few still want Tambellini castrated in the public square. I posted a link to an open letter to Edmonton’s GM. It’s profane abuse make me envious that Rich isn’t more forgiving in what he allows on this site.
But DL is a treasure. It’s not so much that he’s put a winning team on L.A.’s ice. It’s the KIND of winning team — size, grit, hard-working players, character guys who are young and gaining more character the more they play. And I like DL’s willingness to give second chances to mature guys who’ve been hurt and wanna come back — Handzus and Williams, for example, and a concussed D-man whose pick-up was one of the star moves by ANY team in the off-season, Willie Mitchell.
[Reply]
puck73 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
@tuan jim, I agree about Mitchell, I think Vancouver made a mistake not trying to resign him. Nobody in the NHL can emulate the tecnique of Willie Mitchell when it comes to playing ” Man on Man” Defense, and very few know how to use a long stick like he does. I also think you can throw Tony Lydman from Anaheim in there when it come to underrated free agent signings..he is alot better then most people knew,
[Reply]
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 13th, 2011 at 9:06 am
@tuan jim, I think the big difference is that he has something to play for here, so he’s of more value here. If that’s not the case, he usually doesn’t look like he’s playing very hard without the puck, so that could be really annoying when he’s not “producing.”
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
@puck73, and by any chance u know how long we have Mitchell for?
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puck73 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
@KingsFanFTW, He is under contract for 1 more season.
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RoyalPain Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 5:42 pm
@KingsFanFTW, Until he donates his brain. Hopefully he waits til after the season is over.
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BobKnob Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
@RoyalPain,
ha
KC23 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
@puck73, My thought exactly regarding his passing ability. He is 2nd to only Williams on the team imho.
BTW, kudos to Williams for finishing that play with Penner. That was a very hard pass he handeled.
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i dont get it either we already have muscle on the team clifford will drop the gloves and simmer will to on occasion. westgarth only gets like 3 shifts a game. at least put richardson in the game for westgarth cause he would have fresh legs. i dont know
[Reply]
gene Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
@matt343, Why do bloggers keep saying we dont need KW in the line up. We have Cliff and simmons. The reason is clifford and simmons are not; I repeat not heavey weights. Also do you want clifford and simmons always in the penalty box and not playing. Let westy take care of the rough stuff and let clifford and simmons play . PERIOD.
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matt343 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
@gene, i agree their not heavyweights but we need 2 points not enforcing. we are a big and physical team already the boys can take care of themselves. we just need points PERIOD
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maybe Westy shoulda went out and played with the kids for a bit, and learn something.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
@Newf, LOL
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Kingsfanone Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
@Newf,
What, & let the kids skate around him like he was standing still? Besides, Westy would have to play more than 3 minutes & he wouldn’t know what to do.
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Rich, Can you tell me if the Kings had their practice in Frisco? I’d be good knowledge for next year to be able to see them.
Going to the game tomorrow. It’s my first chance to see them since my job requires a lot of travel. Here’s to a Kings rout! Love to see an 8-0 Kings victory.
[Reply]
Token Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
@Big Rob in Dallas, Bring a hat.
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Big Rob in Dallas Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
@Token, Way ahead of you… I’m 8 rows behind the Stars goalie. However, I think the net will interfere with tossing my hat in response to Kopi’s second hat trick in as many games.
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Here’s my FINAL thought on the Westy issue (not beating this dead horse anymore). If the players feel more secure with him in the line up, I am going to go with it (nothing else I can do about it anyway). If we keep winning and make it deep in the playoffs I don’t care if they put Herman Munster out there! GKG!!
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Slim Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
@HappyLappy, Herman Munster
Plays on Boston already..
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Token Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
@Slim, No, that would be Lurch.
Munster’s with the Flyers.
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HappyLappy Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:29 pm
@Slim, yes, and plays pretty damn good with those 8″ platform skates.
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neil Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:49 pm
@HappyLappy, Foxy mentioned that the coach would ask his players if they feel more comfotable with Westy in or not…May Rich can ask Murray if that is true or not.Foxy mentioned it on last nights game…
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jason Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 4:38 pm
@HappyLappy, heres the thing with westy.. if he plays he covers his guy really well and if he doesnt play, brown or kopi takes his place… If richardson plays hes another – plus minus guy out there… i like him but defensively westgarth has been sticking with his guy well
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I don’t have a problem at all with westgarth in the lineup.. I question Richie out instead of Poni.. There has to be more to this than what we see. Is Richie having some problems in the locker room? Before the season started, Richie had the 4th line center position as his own. Then Lewis comes in and starts playing well. Is Richie now Expendable? I.E. No contract offer at the end of this year?
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puck73 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
@dropkickfan, Very good possibility that Richardson and Handzus may not be back next season.
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jason Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
@dropkickfan, i think lewis is more defensively sound than richardson.. he blows a lot of coverages.. but when hes hot hes a game changer.. i think lewis will improve but they are bother centers so…
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I can almost smell the playoffs!
http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Western/Pacific/Kings.html
Getting to the ‘control your destiny’ point. Every win now makes it less about getting in and more about the seed. A good place to be in mid-march.
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Huge game tomorrow…. Let’s make the jump to fourth! 3 games in hand vs Calgary. Good.
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LA_1968 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
@LA_1968, Oh yeah… GO Rangers! btw
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I’m done complaining about Westgarth, TM play him, play his whole family for all I care……………
Tm your going to be fired and you have no one to blame but yourself, you should play your best players at this level everytime and never not…….
I care not what any bloggers say, let TM play him (Westagrth) its his livelyhood he is ruining………
Play Westgarth play, score, hit, win battles, play Westgarth play……
[Reply]
dropkickfan Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
@Harty, I don’t think westgarth has been that bad on the 4th line at all lately.. The 4th line seems to be doing what it has been doing real well lately and that’s cycle the puck. They had some great shifts last game.
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Harty Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
@dropkickfan, not debating I don’t care play the entire Westgarth family for all I care. Murray has confirmed in my mind, HE’S AN IDIOT……
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Bkrs-Bud Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 11:48 pm
@Harty, One case of tissue on the way,lol
jason Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
@Harty, he plays better D than richardson… there you go richardson fans lol
[Reply]
Mikey Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@Harty, I highly doubt this is TMs last season as head coach considering our success. My money is on Kompon getting 86′d
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Are the folk bashing Westgarth the same people who last year were bashing Ivanans (for basically the same reasons folk are hating on the big W) and wanted Westgarth called up from Manchester? I’m too lazy to check but it would not surprise me….
And you lot who are bashing on Westgarth, it would IMO behoove you to check your comments against what posters wrote last year about Ivanans–IMO, I think you’ll see they are similer players, same tales, same issue (to dress an enforcer or not) just in a different year. A lot of people last year seemed to believe sitting ivanans and calling up Westgarth would somehow solve many team woes. Food for thought anyway.
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Harty Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
@vicarious, they are both goons and don’t deserve to be in this league, play a real hockey player not some sideshow freak show
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It’s one thing to beat CLB with three lines when they’ve lost 6 in a row, but it’s literally handicapping the Kings to try to utilize the same strategy to beat a DAL that has won 6 of their last 8. Just crazy.
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the same people who bash westgarth are probably the same people who whine about checking… Its always been key to have an enforcer… We have a big guy in westy and a few others… Westy is actually really good for the tough guy.. hes way better than iavanans and he covers his guy well and creates some decent screens.. while I think cliffy does most of the tough man stuff.. some teams have guys that we need westy for.. Its not really bad if he benched during the game anyways because guys like brown, williams or kopi get to double shift… I think i got next years lines
penner-kopi-williams
poni-schenn-brown
smyth-stoll-simmons
cliff-lewis-westy/rich/harold
[Reply]
Hip-Check Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
@jason, Lokti will be in next year……as well..and I bet we pick up a big scorer this summer….And I doubt we resign PONI.Harrold Probably will be gone as will Richie….
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Practice was fun today, The guys were all having fun and in a good mood! GO KINGS TOMORROW IN DALLAS Look for me in my crown 22 of us going !!! wooo hoooo!!!
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Kingsation8 Reply:
March 12th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
@Chris Bond, I see you there every time! And PS Rich, can you post where they practice on here from now on? Would be awesome to see the Kings practice!
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Westy in, Westy out blah blah blah. Love the story about the kings cheering on the youth game before practice. What a rush that must have been for those young players.
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