Ryan Smyth’s postgame thoughts…
(on the game…)
SMYTH: “Well, it’s done, so we put it behind us. We have 11 games left, and we are in control of our destiny. … There are no easy games; we can’t take any nights off. It’s very frustrating, and if you’re not frustrated in this room then you shouldn’t be in it. It’s, for sure, a disappointing loss, especially the way we played. But it doesn’t matter if you lose 2-1 or 4-0, it’s a loss and it’s behind us now.”
(on St. Louis’ game…)
SMYTH: “We give them a lot of credit, they played well. They played well defensively and it’s a matter of getting everybody going and limiting the turnovers. They’re a good team on the transition.”
(on the game…)
SMYTH: “That wasn’t our game. There were sporadic moments, but we were off tonight.”
Again…crap game move on take it out on the Ducks!
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GOKINGS Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 7:01 am
@Tim from the OC, Totally agree, terrible offense, terrible defense, terrible goaltending…. Whatever dont get bonus points for score differential… move on we will come out on fire against the ducks
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The Batman Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
@GOKINGS, well the goaltending wasnt terrible the whole game… just the last 21 minutes or so
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Smitty, I love you but you weren’t off tonight you guys were still on the plane!!!!
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Smyth so needs a rest; he’s been less than zero for a month and a half now. Bring someone up and let him recuperate cause he’s an albatross on his linemates now.
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xeropoint Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
@bbb7, Sad, but true. Hard to pointone finger at a pile of fail tonight, but Smyth has been missing in action for a couple of months now.
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C leb Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 11:42 pm
@bbb7, I totally concur. he was on the ice in the last minute of the dallas game @staples… his lack of speed led to the tying goal. why was he out there? no defense in his game whatsoever.
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puck73 Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 12:13 am
@bbb7, Smyth reminds me of Quick last season in March and April…completely out of gas.
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USHA#17 Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 5:55 am
@puck73, No gives up more pucks, puts passes on the opponents, falls down more often, makes bind passes to….no one, coasts rather them skates then Smyth.
Don’t know what happened to this guy but his open ice and board game retired in December.
Last night Smyth teamed with JJ to kill the Kings power play and set the tone for the game.
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jonsey Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 8:32 am
@USHA#17, 100% agree. Smyth was -2 tonight. He’s been – every night lately. Aside from Doughty, who has been tentitive to take the body, Smyth has been horrible. Why not try Holloway or somebody for a few games?
kevin Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 10:40 am
@USHA#17, I have been saying this for a long time smyth is overrated only good for screens not event that now a days
USHA#17 Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
@kevin,
Except on power plays he is too slow to the net to screen or he has already coughed up the puck. Can even have him on PP. He can’t seem to handle pucks anymore for some reason. Maybe an hidden injury? In any event he has not just faded, he has become a detriment
Hope I end up eating my words on Saturday.
I’m really not surprised by this result cause it has happened numerous times this season – just when you think the Kings have turned the corner on consistency they start to believe their press and they lay a big stinking egg. I dont know what it is but at home lately they have problems completing even a 15-foot pass and end up backpeddling all night. JW flubbed three plays in the first 10 minutes of the game and I was thinking “this might be bad”.
Maybe these kind of reminders wont be so necessary as they go forward, but the 5-9-1 home record of late is worrisome going forward. A win tonight would have given them some breathing room,; now it’s back to every game being a must win. Some teams cant stand prosperity.
Still, it’s one game, so delete and move on. Just hope other teams dont watch the Blues performance against the Kings and get any ideas…
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 11:43 pm
@bbb7, I think this one was more like the Islanders game…it was one of timing, not a trend…but we’ll see. I’m with you on the game tape, though…I hope it gets lost so the other teams don’t see it.
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USHA#17 Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 6:01 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
Could be. Could also be mental fatigue. But with Smyth giving up pucks and botching passes two or three times a shift now (and not just in this game) the kings are back to a one line team and puck control is becoming a bigger issue
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Dave's a Killer Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 9:20 am
@bbb7, Wow 5-9-1 at home? Yeah, and 7 of the last 11 are home games
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I lost count of the number of times you just threw the puck away, Smitty. Try looking down the ice before you blindly throw it to an opponents stick. I’m sad to say this, but you’ve become a liability rather than an asset. Take a little time to think about your play because you really need to get back to what you do best…
You’re right, it doesn’t matter what the score is as long as the team is trying their best….. but that’s not what we saw tonight, and we can no longer afford to give away any games.
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The team played the way smyths been playing for a onth
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month
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I didnt realize Smyth played last night.
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puck73 Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 8:26 am
@Sebastian, Davis Payne said his players didnt notice Smyth either.
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Smyth -10, 5 points, last 16 games.
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Smythe is probably playing banged up–if so, that explains why he is a step slow lately. TM quietly cut his minutes awhile back. These NHL giys all play hurt. Wld be pretty surprising for a fellow like Smythe to complain publically or make excuses. Hurt, injured and/or tired, seems like a good chance to bring some AHL fellow up for a game or 3 and let the warrior rest a bit. With Clifford likely out a week the Kings need another forward\winger. Bud Holloway maybe? Clune to replace Clifford? Maybe they’ll stretch and bring up Kitsyn from jrs. as his build at least resembles Smythe. Too bad at the moment Voynov’s a defenseman.
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kevin Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 10:45 am
@vicarious, smyth a step slower than what he already is, might as well be waiting on the bus he has been this way all season people just didnt notice cause he would score a goal every now and then but blindly throwing pucks away turn overs horrible defense botching passes sent to him lack of board play falling all ove the ice being manh handled this is nothing new watch the games and you will see he is constanly out of position coasting around time to retire my friend.
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Everyone should stop throwing Ryan Smyth… and our coaching staff/goaltending/defense… under the bus for a single loss at home. Smyth is a legitimate, experienced NHL player with amazing net presence who’s shown he can post 50+ points a year while battling injuries year in, year out. Add into the mix the fact that he’s still putting it together at 35, most likely one of the key components of leadership in the locker room, and sharing ice time with the depth of the roster, you can see why Smyth might not be performing to fan’s impossible standards. However, it shouldn’t matter how Smyth performed in his individual effort if the fact of the matter is that the entire team wasn’t putting in the compete level to win a hockey game in today’s NHL. It’s one game, albeit an important one, but it’s the past now, nothing is gained by turning your back on your team and being a fair weather fan after our team’s success on one of the most crucial road trips of this season. Nobody is going to deny that the Blues brought a solid game to the ice. They blocked shots, delivered the body, won a key fight, and played an all around solid defensive game. The Blues offense was denied by Quick for the majority of the game but the lack of team play cost us not being able to rebound from a few bad goals. I still thought we brought a really solid physical game, Brown, Simmonds, Poni, Martinez and Mitchell really contributed some textbook physical play along the boards and in the back and fore check. But that obviously isn’t enough to win the game. Anyone who’s ever played a team sport can relate to the feeling of not being able to find the timing or becoming frustrated for non-chemistry among teammates, it’s a part of the game. It happens. I’ve never witnessed an NHL hockey team go 82-0-0. Let’s not be ridiculous Leafs fans who criticize everything management or the coaching staff does because they think they should be running/coaching the club. Let’s try to have a little more respect for the level of hockey that our team competes at night in and night out and let them have an off night. And one more thing, anyone who boos their own team at home isn’t really a fan of the team. It’s fine to give the team the raspberries every now and again if they are playing poorly, but blatantly booing your team off the ice when they needed the fans support the most is not cool. LA fans should be showing the world that the hockey culture in Los Angeles is a cut above everyone else.
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kevin Reply:
March 18th, 2011 at 10:48 am
@BenYoon, I am not talking about one game its the entire season look at old game footage he is all over the map I feel its a waste of money to have him I would trade him in the off season I have said this from the start of the season.
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I’m tired of everyone making excuses. As a fan who paid for a ticket you better believe I’m going to boo if the team sucks. If you go to dinner and the food tastes like crap, wouldn’t u let the waitress/cook know? Or do u just accept it because the last 4 times u went the food was ok? Bs, if something sucks u should voice your displeasure. After all these are pro athletes, not little kids…
Newsflash: every team is probably tired & playing injured. The best ones just deal with it and dont make excuses.
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