The Kings tweaked their lineup a bit today, with center Michal Handzus and Jarret Stoll changing lines. Handzus played a strong game last night against Anaheim — including a brilliant centering pass to Dustin Brown for the third-period, game-tying goal — and after practice today, Terry Murray was single-minded in explaining why he made the center swap…
MURRAY: “I just want to change it up here. I talked to everybody on both lines and made them aware of the change before the practice. I’m looking to, obviously, get some offense going here. We need to score some goals. We’re putting a lot of pucks to the net. We had 73 shots at the net last night. We’re still getting quite a few that are missing the net, unfortunately, and that’s critical to generate offense. Just hit the goaltender and look for those opportunities off of that. So the change is with the two centermen, and I’m hoping that there are some good results from that. We’ll give it a try tomorrow and see how it looks.”
Question: What did you think of Handzus’ game last night?
MURRAY: “Really good. He has responded very well to the conversations that we had, going back a month ago probably. We ended up moving him down, to give him a little bit of a break in minutes played. He has put a lot of focus on his game on the ice, and he has come back to a nice level right now.”
Question: And he might have made the best pass of the season…
MURRAY: “You go back to his early days in the league, he was making those plays pretty regularly. I’m talking about St. Louis and Philadelphia. You saw these plays happening pretty regularly. So it’s still there. It was a great play. The good players know where the options are before they get to the puck. You’re looking, and you know what the options are so you’re moving immediately, and that’s what we saw. It was a great play. Brownie made a great read on it too. He got lost behind the net, then popped out the other side. He kind of loses himself on the defenseman. It was a very timely play.”
Offense will come when we bail TM’s “Quagmire System”.
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taz42 Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
@jess, Also,don’t forget that “Outstanding” Kompon pp!!
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DesertKing Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 2:48 pm
@taz42,
Doesn’t he coach the effense also? Hmmmmmmmmmm…….
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Dominick Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 6:08 pm
@jess,
Gigidi gigidi, Ohhhh!
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ponce Reply:
March 21st, 2011 at 11:35 am
@jess, Can you imagine tht we are two weeks away from the playoffs and we’re still juggling lines and “looking for offense”. Way to put together a team DL.
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I think this will probably help the 3rd line, but the 2nd line will be less that it has been, which has been zero. This will definitely help Simmonds cause he often tries to give and go with his center (and it worked a few times with Kopi) but Handzus just ignores his peel to the front and instead dumps it behind the net. Stoll has more imagination.
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Bkrs-Bud Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 4:34 pm
@bbb7, That is the main problem we can supply the whole league with 3rd and 4th line grinders,but the second line needs a complete overhaul with players that are not on the roster at this time.I trust D.L. to get this corrected during the off season,until then T.M. will make the best out of what he has to work with.
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Garrett Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
@Bkrs-Bud, There it is…. And with that being the case, you can only ask so much of these guys. We’re still a couple of pieces away.
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I am not sure how to improve our offense, but I can say that it is very obvious that the opposing defenses know how to force us to the outside and away from the front of the net. We had little or no presence last night in the crease, so even those poitn shots that got through had no one to knock in the rebounds. It also seemed that we are trying to make little “fancy” passes which ae being intercepted. It seems that when we damn the torpedoes and go full speed at the net then we increase our scoring.
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rontheking Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
@DesertKing,
I agree. Poni had the right idea and except for the ref that would have been a goal and a win. If there’s too many defenders in front of the net then drift out to the high slot and tip it from there until the defenders move or get nailed by the tip….
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i say the PP will be good if u put Doughty and Martinez together then having Doughty and JJ they always seem to hit the boards not the goalie
But if u put Doughty and Martinez i bet the PP will score some goals cause when u look at Martinez when he shoots the puck yea soemtimes he misses too but most of the time he hits a player that front of the net or it gets directed but he always seem to hit the net all the time
Put both young players together like Martinez and still young but knows NHL better than Martinez is Doughty maybe they both will hit the Net more often and start scoring but that just my opinion
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Paul G Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
@KingsFanFTW, Not to mention that JJ never sets up drew for a 1 timer
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rcinsc Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@Paul G, What games do you watch? Part of the predictability of our PP is JJ setting up DD.
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i like Quick but i think soemthing bugging him in his mind so i would sit him out tomorrow Game even tho he did great the last two games
Put Bernier in the net into Quick get that out cause that going to ruined the playoff race if he has it stuck in his mind loosing games for us then we be out in no time
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Slim Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
@KingsFanFTW, Best thing you have said in a while.. And I thought
you were a Quick guy no matter what..You surprise me sometimes..
Always enjoy seeing your input..Keep it up FTW…
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
@Slim, well i like both goalies i just didnt like how people pretty much saying Quick was a horrible Goalie which he not
We have both good Goalies and they both want to get the job done and of course both of them want to be number one
i just didn’t want Bernier to steal it this year its better for a rookie Goalie to take notes when it comes down to the playoff when he gets it he know by it by seeing it in person all the time and might take part of the action if Quick slips up and i hate to say this most likely going to be off one of the Playoff games
But who knows there was a Rookie goalie won a Stanley Cup in the past history in the NHL so hey i could be wrong maybe am just too use to seeing Quick as the number one
Soon or later going to be Bernier
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The Batman Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 10:49 pm
@KingsFanFTW, there is exactly 4 rookie goalies to have won the stanley cup as a rookie ken dryden, patrick roy, cam ward, and antti niemi
it will help as much as changing the PP has helped!!!!!
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No, offense will come from getting Smyth off the 2nd line.
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Just occurred to me. Where has our Captain Dustin Brown been with after game interviews and comments. I understand he’s not a real vocal kind of leader, more by example, but we sure could’ve used him last few games as the leader of the team. Am I asking too much???? Maturity wise maybe he’s not there I guess.
At love hearing fromScuderi, Penner, Stoll. They seem to tell it like it is.
Oh well, Go KINGS Go!
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Dominick Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
@Fabkings,
He is the only King to score in the last 2 games. Not to mention he’s scored our last 2 goals, and assisted on 1 in the last 3 games. Go ahead and critisize him for not doing enough, but lack of interviews is not a good reason in my opinion.
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maybe they should have shooting practice,their shots are everywhere
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Slim Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
@ziggy, They should have a wrist shot practice..
Like it’s been mentioned, telegraphing their shots
isn’t working out that well..Like the Marty,Doughty idea..
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
@ziggy, they need Glasses
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DesertKing Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
@KingsFanFTW,
Refer to “Major League” and “Slapshot.”
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 4:33 pm
@DesertKing, Yea the Refes most wear Big old people Glasses they need ot see way better
Just read Quick’s starting Monday. I’ll be holding my breath. I hope the King win, and everyone can pile on me.
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Slim Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
@Poorman, I’m like-minded with you on this one..
Can’t see starting Bernier hurting them..
Heck he shuffles everything else..
Give it a shot TM.. While truth is Quick is playing very well
I just don’t think he’s a clutch {steal some games} goaltender yet..
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HockeyNerd Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
@Slim, “I just don’t think he’s a clutch {steal some games} goaltender yet.”
WOW.
Speechless on that one………
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HockeyNerd Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@Slim, So Quick hasn’t “stolen any games” for us? Read your own post.
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Slim Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
@HockeyNerd, I think you need to reread it..
I said some games NOT any games..
Big difference..Don’t get me wrong I like him and
think he’s good, but I’d like to see Bernier get a shot..
Not saying he’s the answer, but try it and see..
KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
@HockeyNerd, he stolen alot of game in the beginning of this season
HockeyNerd Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
@Poorman, Dude, is Bernier your Nephew or Neighbor or something? Quick is simply the better Goalie of the 2 and at this time in the season you gotta go with your best as often as you can…..
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Poorman Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
@HockeyNerd, I’m sorry, but I think Bernier is better in the clutch. He is always cool and calm. I think he is going to be 1 of the greats. I’ve always felt that since his first start winning start in London…and no, we’re not related, he’s not my neighbor, and we’ve never met, OK!
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mcsorleyfan Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 11:26 pm
@Poorman, until he can win a shoot-out or stop a breakaway, he’s still 3/4 of excellent. If a game goes to a shoot-out or someone gets a breakaway against Bernier, it’s panic time.
KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
@Poorman, I like Quick but i hate to say this but it hink there something wrong with him he seem to me to be off alittle
It wouldnt hurt to put Bernier and get that out of Quick mind to shake him and wake him up we going to need him 100%
Right now i see him at 70% not up to 100%….dont get me wrong he did great on the Blues and Ducks just he not there he seem to let softies in alot now and that what killing him in his mind u can tell he never gets that piss off at himself that fast
taking all the blame most of the time is bad and u have to agree on that cause look what happening to Quick when he took too much of the blame killing his mind of Focus
i just sit him out for one more game and then play him the rest of the game but that just me
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
@KingsFanFTW, i think*
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west coast ram Reply:
March 21st, 2011 at 10:08 am
Wow, I don’t see how anyone should be critizing either of the goalies, as both are fabulous. The entire problem with this team is they can’t score. I agree with the post that said we could supply the league with 3rd and 4th line grinders but the number of players that you could describe as creative with the puck we could count on one hand.
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Can’t wait til it’s Richards and Brayden Schenn switching out those center positions!!!
Zeus a little over the hill but still great defensive presence. Stoll never really had it going. He’s a 4th line center at best.
Out with the old in with the new!!
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
@Doc.B, i just cant went for Lokti and Schenn that going to awesome
We going to be finally fast not that slow
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@KingsFanFTW, cant wait*
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Guss Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
@KingsFanFTW, Yea im super excited for this upcoming season also! Wat a team well have, with adding 2 cteative players, i just hope lokti recovers well
I think that second line is gonna kill us. I can’t see them being less than terrible at retrieving pucks. That line is FAR too slow. Smyth has been losing every single battle in the corners lately.
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A lot of talk about Quick here. Quick is amazing. We saw that at the beginning of the season when he sat comfortably ranked in the top 3 in save %. The problem?….. He’s exhausted. Think back to this time last season. By the end of the season and when we played Vancouver…he had nothing left. Bernier started rocky this season and Quick has always the fall back as the “sure thing.” He hasn’t been that for us lately. And to me, it’s seems a lot of touch and go. Quick has a bad game….play Bernier next game and vice versa. But where does some of the responsibility fall back on our defense? Our defense hasn’t always been stellar and I have found myself yelling at the tv numerous times because there are times when we rely on our goalies WAY too
much. The D is sloppy and inconsistant at times and our goalies have to try and mop up the mess. Quick and Bernier both have the capabilities to be very successful and memorable goalies. Quick makes saves that seem impossible and Bernier usually just seems to be at the right place at the right time. Shape up the D and help em out!!!
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Bkrs-Bud Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@FemaleFan#1, You are right the team defense is usually the reason we lose or win games.
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FemaleFan#1 Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
@Bkrs-Bud, Not saying it’s the sole reason, by any means. But it’s one of the reasons Quick is so spent and not preforming the way we’d like. Combination of lack of seizing opportunities and of allowing our opponents to seize too many
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The Batman Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
@FemaleFan#1, i think you got it correct in your statements there, they have to work so hard all the time, i mean just with the ducks game in recent memory, as a defensive mind set team we gave up a crap ton of breakaways and out numbered attacks.
Hey Rich..You deleted one of my posts, I guess cause you
think I took a jab at the poster.. But in all fairness
wasn’t his comment a jab as well?
I respect your decision.. Just curious to the ruling..
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I think Smyth forgot how to play hockey…
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Zus moving up to Brown’s line. Great, he and Brownie were moving the puck pretty good last night. Maybe this will get Smyth a couple doorstep goals to get him going again.
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Yes.. if we swap Stoll for Schenn.
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Did anyone mention how many shots the Ducks blocked last night?
It’s the most I’ve seen this season.
Getting real nervous looking at those standings. Nashville stole two points today.
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Dominick Reply:
March 20th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
@Hockeysureshot,
Yeah, I think the corsi ratings for the Kings will be interesting. The fact that so many shots were blocked or deflected, and yet we still out shot them says alot about who carried the play, but it didn’t get us the win. It is starting to be nervous time with the standings too.
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i’ve been saying for months Marty should be on PP one. He gets the puck through the traffic to the front of the net where it either goes in, is redirected by a teammate, or creates a big rebound opportunity.
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Here’s my top three lines:
1st Line: Penner, Kopi, Brown
2nd Line: Poni, Handzus, Williams
3rd Line: Smyth, Stoll, Simmonds
Gives you size and speed on each line. Brown doesn’t have to do “too much” on the 1st line cause of the talent in Kopi and Penner.
Poni has been one of our best players, reward him and put him with the speed of williams. This would help offset the slowness of Zues.
Then you have a decent line with some speed in the the third line I offered up.
Finally, drop Westgarth and play with a high energy line of Lewis, Richards and Clifford (once he’s better).
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My first time saying anything to the fans of our kings. What I have seen lately has been very poor puck movement.not enough bodies in front of the net and to many passing the puck when you should shoot at the net minder.I agree that you should stick with ONE goaltender and move on. TELL JACK AN DREW get it together it not hard to hit and shoot, I’ve seen them lately of being affraid of getting hit and that WHY the other team SCORE. The Kings players should WATCH some EAST COAST GAMES the hitting and checking is there. The Los Angeles Kings I would love to see is the team that started off this year winning with INTENSITY AND THAT WE BELONG IN THIS LEAGUE.
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Long time Reader 1st time blogger. I really have to agree with Female fan #1. You can’t just bail on your guy when the Big D has been less than big. Goalies are a unique breed and there ego’s can bruise, although both have been playing well as of late Quicker has held this team up for more than 2/3rds of this season and continues to do so. Against St.Luis he He faced 30 shots before the 3rd period started only allowing 2 and shut the Ducks down for the final 2 1/2 periods and faced faced a lackluster attempt @ defense coverage on the game winner by playing to far forward. Point being if you take a G out because of the poor play of the offense or defense can do more damage psychologically. I say play him until the team has a solid game and he loses it on his own before switching. Bernier’s time is not now maybe next year, you need to stick with what got you here to start.” Go Kings “
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Quick won his two games in net this season against Calgary. Bernier lost his one game in net. Go with Quick.
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Rather than switching the centers, swap Brown and Williams and we’ll be hitting on all cylinders!
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Interesting that a single play got the line change. I love ‘Zues, but one play shouldn’t make for changing up the lines. But then again, TM’s done some changes on less.
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Penner just needs to go to net
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Mike & Genene Reply:
March 22nd, 2011 at 11:38 pm
@jake, YES I AGREE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. Bodies in front G can’t SEE.
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