To no surprise, the Kings’ forwards will play tomorrow the same way they practiced today. Jonathan Bernier will start in goal, with Jonathan Quick scheduled to start Thursday in Vancouver. Anze Kopitar is scheduled to undergo an MRI today, but Terry Murray said he doesn’t expect it to reveal anything different than the original diagnosis of a broken ankle and a six-week recovery time. I’ll post more notes and quotes as soon as possible, but the plane is heading off to Edmonton shortly…
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Thanks, Rich.
Rich FTW!
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 11:49 am
@FKA PakiFro,
And until Rich arrives in Alberta…read this…
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Five-reasons-to-still-believe-in-the-Kopitar-les?urn=nhl-wp1255
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Anjin Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 11:55 am
@FKA PakiFro, Just looked at the TSN power rankings and they dropped the Kings down to 15th.
I sure hope these guys get pissed enough to wreck the rest of the schedule and face a team in the 1st round of the playoffs that underestimates us!
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Capt Jam Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 11:57 am
@Anjin,
Oh no, not 15th! Why are they even getting on the plane if TSN thinks so poorly of them?!
Laura Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
@Anjin, ESPN ranked them 6th, they moved up from 11th…
DesertKing Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
@Anjin,
Since hardly any of them really talked about Kopi’s injury, it doesn’t surprise me. I think our team is going to surprise alot of poeple with their effort.
Fabkings Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:51 pm
@FKA PakiFro, Thanks for that link, it makes me feel better. The guy has a way with words for sure. Go KINGS Go!
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Thanks for the info. To no surprise? I’d think that Swapping Stoll and Handzus would make more sense.
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FdoFmFull Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 11:55 am
@MartinRW, The rationale behind Zeus over Stoll as 1st line centerman is because of the “defense first” philosophy. Stoll is exposed against opponent’s top line, plain and simple. Only major concern with Zeus and Penner together is the need for Moeller to counter the other two’s “glacial” speed! Particularly vulnerable on counters. Let’s see what happens. Both the Oil and the Canucks have the type of high-end quickness that will test the Kings “new” lines…
Cheers!
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MartinRW Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
@FdoFmFull,
I don’t think Stoll is that bad defensively. I believe that he played on the top line at some points in Edmonton. We already know that he is excellent on face offs and has more potential to score than Handzus.
And we know that Handzus has already played well with Pon and Simmmonds in a “checking line”.
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NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:30 pm
@FdoFmFull, There is no rule that you have to match up top lines. Before Kopitar became to good defensively the Kings always played the Hanzues line against the other team’s top line.
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KC23 Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
@FdoFmFull, I agree 100%. Last place I want to see Stoll is on the first line.
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Token Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
@MartinRW, First and second line need skill above all else at center. Right now, Zeus and Lewis are the top two centers skill wise.
Stoll is a fine player, playing outstanding this year, but his game is energy, hustle, back-check, smash and grab. Great game for the third line, OK for the second but not what’s needed on the first.
TM got it right this time.
Hope Westy brings his A game.
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Hate to say it, but I predict we will not see Kopitar until next season.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 11:51 am
@G$, yea i know but think about next season we will have young legs up and fast we will be
and good we will be too
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jordan Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 11:58 am
@G$, What purpose does this serve other than being able to claim you told us so in the event that it happens?
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G$ Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
@jordan, Take it easy now! I’m not reading a crystal ball. The purpose is because they are saying 6 weeks. I’ve broken my ankle and 6 weeks is a minimum.
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KC23 Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
@G$, After seeing Kopitar in that first game of the season take a wicked slash to the face. Look like the Joker coming back to play in the same game and then win the game in a shoot out … I’m thinking we might see him back.
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Im really excited to see what this team is really made of!
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illegalstick33 Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
@BrokeKingsFan, Don’t get too excited. I think the kings will answer the bell and make the playoffs. Simply because there will be a spike in activity due to the injuries. But they will be badley exposed in the playoffs without Williams @ 100% and no Kopitar. The truth hurts but if they get past the first round (without willie and kopi) I would be surprised to say the least. I will still cheer them on and pray for the best but reality has just kicked us in the stones!! Die bravely my good men! Die bravely!!
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FemaleFan#1 Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
@illegalstick33, Finally it’s said. I’m super optimistic about the remainder of this season, but the facts are the facts. Without our top 2 guys, and Quick being so tired from all the “relying” we’ll have done on him….it spells trouble. I love these guys but trusting these lines to carry us thru…..it’s hard to imagine. Remind me what line Zues played on most of the season? Now he’s on top with a disappointing trade and a kid with little NHL experience. I won’t talk next season because we’re still very much a part of this one. Let’s just hope the fire that we know these boys have, will be evident on the ice every game…..for the entire 60 minutes
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KC23 Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
@illegalstick33, Except we’re not the only playoff team that is exposed with serious injuries. The Yotes, Wings and Canucks are all hurting big with important injuries.
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Ok Kopi going to be gone for awhile and Jw might be too thats bad news but we can do it
If we win on Thursday game against Canucks then am pretty sure we can do it if we make it a close game and lose am still sure we can do it
But if we get destory am going to be really nervous and migth say we cant do it
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 11:54 am
@KingsFanFTW, might*
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Stuart Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
@KingsFanFTW, lol, you felt compelled to correct *might* LOL
FTW
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
@Stuart, LOL yea
Might should be easy to spell but hey typing too fast LOL
dam puzzles
chongo Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
@Stuart, lmao
Oh, look at that: we are the Canucks’ trap game on Thursday.
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Slim Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
@Capt Jam, Better to Trap than be Trapped!!
But, this is quite an interesting statement…
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KC23 Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
@Capt Jam, Canucks injuries are nearly as bad as ours. Should be interesting.
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Paul M. Hedberg Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
@Capt Jam, 2 games we have in hand on PHX is DAL & @SJ.Points in the next 4 are just enormous…not sayin anything we don’t already know of course.
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Thanks Rich! Have Fun in Edmonton! Lets keep this win streak going! Also Good Luck to Penner for his comeback to Edmonton!
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I am pretty sure that LA can still bring up the WHL Point leader Linden Vey
give the kid a shot since the worst that can happen is that he plays so bad for 1 game and u send him back down…better than Westgarth regardless of how he plays
btw the lines need changing
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Paul G Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 11:58 am
@Paul G, http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/linden_vey
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Token Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
@Paul G, This pretty much nails it:
quote:
“Not dissimilar to fellow Kings prospect Bud Holloway, Vey can play in any situation and contribute to a roster. He will spend the 2010-11 season back in the WHL and will need to work his way up the organizational ladder one rung at a time.”
/quote
So why not just bring up Bud since he has years of pro experience?
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Paul G Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
@Token, I agree that will be a good idea….I just mentioned Vey over Holloway since no one is talking about Vey
stoll has been playing on the 3rd line for a while playing against other 3rd liners and hes -7 in the recent games with 1 even strength point. Handzus has 2 even strength points and lewis 3 even strength points with a +2 rating… Stoll is not playing well right now..Give lewis the chance to shine, he will.. Handzus is more reliable defensively than stoll, especially lately so its smarter to have him out there more
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Stoll needs to incorporate his awesome shoot out hands into his regulation game. Smyth needs to keep grinding down low and Moller doesn’t need to shoot from every possible angle, but rather choose them based on effectiveness.
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spidey35 Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
@Puckn-A,
I kinda like how much Moeller has been shooting the puck.I can’t count on both hands how much I hear the fans at the game yell, “shoot the puck”. I understand what you are saying and I’m not bashing you, so please don’t take it that way. I’m not sure if it was Gretzky or Phil Esposito that said something to the effect that you have zero percent chance to score if you don’t shoot the puck, you never know what may happen. I do agree about stoll, love his shot and wish I would see it more in a game.
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Paul M. Hedberg Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
@spidey35, heard it attributed to Gretzky,”100% of the shots you don’t take never go in”.
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Spidey35 Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
@Paul M. Hedberg,
Yes, that’s it. Thanks Paul
KC23 Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
@Puckn-A, Yeah, he needs to stop trying that crap one timer he has and use that beautiful hard and extremely accurate wrist shot.
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I’m not convinced that promoting a player is out of the question. I think management has opted to “wait and see” over the next game or two. Not only will they get a chance to see how competitive the team is against the Oilers and Canucks, but they buy a few days to weigh their options in terms of who’d be the best fit depending on exactly what hole they want to fill. It’s obvious that they can’t fill the “Kopitar hole”, so it’s a case of what role needs to be backfilled as adjustments are made. That will leave 4-5 games for Holloway or someone else and the team to get adjusted.
gKg!
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Shotongoal Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
@FdoFmFull, yeah I was thinking the same thing…..good point!! Makes the most sense. Shame they can’t get Schenn earlier, if for no other reason than to just give him some real game experience. Maybe I’m an idiot, but I just don’t think the early contract thing is that big a deal at this point in time. Especially if DL thinks he’s that huge to the future, they certainly will do anything to keep him, as they have done with Kopi, Johnson, and certainly will with Doughty.
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Sweet kopi will be back just in time for the third round of the playoffs. And williams for the second. Now its time for our grit to take over for the missing skill.
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Yeah, 6 weeks puts Kopi back around the 8th of May. Last season had round one go from about April 14 to April 27. Round two from April 30 to May 11. So after round one we could get Williams back and after round two we could get Kopi back. That leaves two rounds to play as you need to win four rounds to lift that cup. I guess it’s possible.
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KC23 Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
@Randy, Each round last two weeks.
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Rich,
Being at the game on Saturday, I never had the chance to say thank you for all your hard work and the fastest update on the Kopitar injury.
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KIngs are a WOUNDED ANIMAL watch out teams in the Conference!
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Hi guys!
Just to let you know – the press release from the Slovenian hockey association regarding the results of Kopitar’s MRI: his fibula is broken right above the ankle, and on top of that he has a torn side ligament of the ankle. They expect him to start with rehabilitation 6 to 8 weeks from now. Hope all goes well!
P.s.: Let’s not lose faith in the Kings
GKG!
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KC23 Reply:
March 28th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
@Matt, If that is true, then he’s season is definately over.
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