Kyle Clifford’s punishment, for his hit on Vancouver’s Christopher Tanev last night, was limited to the five-minute checking-from-behind major and game-misconduct penalties he received from the on-ice officials. The NHL did not issue any supplemental discipline today, and after practice today, Terry Murray said he was not concerned that Clifford would be suspended for the hit…
MURRAY: “No, I wasn’t. I was more concerned with (MIchal) Handzus, quite honestly, after the game because of the hit that he took, that something might be out of place today. With Clifford, no. I look at that — and even on the bench, that’s my conversation with the referee, after the penalty is called — and that puck is chipped in from the blue line and the defenseman [Tanev] going back to recover the puck had awareness of Clifford from above the top of the circle. They had eye contact. They looked at each other. Now you have a player who gets to the puck first who looks, to me, like he’s going to go to the back of the net, then he makes that move back to the strong side. As soon as you do that, you’re opening up an invitation for contact. In saying that, we all know there’s awareness now, that the responsibility lies on the forechecker now, and in today’s environment you have to be very careful.”
As Murray noted, one of the scary moments in last night’s game came when Michal Handzus got upended by Vancouver’s Aaron Rome and crashed hard into the end boards. Knowing how Handzus is built, the boards were fortunate to avoid damage… Handzus stayed down for a few moments, but then got up, skated off the ice and returned to the game after a short absence. After practice today, Handzus talked about the hit and his good fortune to avoid serious injury…
HANDZUS: “I was trying to get to the puck but I didn’t see the other guy (Rome) coming. I jumped around the one guy and I didn’t see the other guy coming. … At first, you know you’re going to hit the boards, and it was kind of like slow motion for me. I got a little bit of the wind knocked out of me, but I just tried to catch my breath and then I was OK.”
Knowing how Handzus is built, the boards were fortunate to avoid damage… Nice one Rich. LOL
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 10:04 pm
@CB14,
Good point..I was concerned he might knock the whole arena down..he is, after all, a god. Long live ZEUS!
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Kings Fan Vancouver,WA Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 10:29 pm
@CB14, I was at the game and went Zues went down my God it was LOUD!!! When he finally got up it looked like he had the wind knocked out of him.
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Kyle Clifford is the next Scott Hartnell
mark my words
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mcsorleyfan Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 6:26 pm
@Paul G, I hope he has class and doesn’t resort to biting ears.
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baldhedjer Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 6:39 pm
@Paul G, Gee, I hope so, only with more scoring upside. Scotty H. can be a bit dense with the penalties that he takes, I think that Clifford is smarter than that. I have no problem with the edge that he plays with.
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Ravens Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 8:12 pm
@baldhedjer, That’s exactly who I have aways thought of Cliffy would be most like, Scotty is one of my favorites
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cpmc29 Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@Ravens, Scary ugly vs scary looking.
HawKings Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 12:28 am
@Paul G, Hartnell is a good choice but I wouldn’t mind if he ends up being like Brendan Shanahan.
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Harty Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 6:32 am
@Paul G, I like Clifford to Terry O’Reilly, Clark Gillies, Scott Hartnell or Shanahan
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i dont care how u put it… that should have never happened. clifford would be the one to blame. I would be very upset if that happened to a king.
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KC23 Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 8:42 pm
@bfarm, I agree, but it did have a purpose being shortly after the Zues hit. It was a pay back hit.
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Harty Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 6:33 am
@bfarm, com’on be real at the speed they are skating and mili-second turn by the D nothing Kyle could do but “nail” him. Guess what in the 60′s, 70′s, 80′s and perhaps the 90′s we are not having this conversation as that would be a mild hit. Tough’en up pal
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USHA#17 Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:25 am
@Harty,
Just have to get used to it…like the rules used to open the game
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I agree with the call on Clifford, although I don’t think it should have been a major penalty. Especially when you consider the no-call on the hit to Handzus. At least an interference call. Game was pretty much over when the called the major.
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Player-X Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:26 am
@sstephen17, wrong about the game being over, it was 2-1 with 6:30 to go. Zus should have drawn a call, and Cliiford should have been given a minor. The game was there to be had, no way were we out of it.
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Drink Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 9:29 am
@Player-X, the way the two teams were playing I bet the game ends with the same score except their third goal is an empty netter. That being said, It was not out of reach before the major call but because of the way the calls fell, the chance to.tie it was taken out of the king’s hands. I only saw the few replays on tv at the time but I’m not convinced the guy hadn’t lost some edge trying to turn and may have gone hard into the boards with no contact. There was contact so give the 2minutes but the major was excessive. Player safety is great and all but when all responsibility is taken away from the hittee, and games are hugely effected, you get the nba which is almost unwatchable because of it
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Choralone Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 10:24 am
@Player-X, I was fine with tanking the game to send a message – no shame losing to Vancouver, everyone else has….
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Mike Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 10:30 am
@sstephen17, I agree wholeheartedly! In the Clifford play, the Canuck had awareness, yet Clifford get penalized and thrown out of the game. In the Handzus play, no awareness on the part of Handzus that the Canuck was there and, by my seeing the play, Handzus did not have the puck. And yet, no call.
I know, hockey and life are not supposed to be fair, but really, what were the referees looking at on the Handzus play?
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Exactly Clifford already had him lined up and when he changes directions at the very last second and falls that’s not Cliffords fault. It looked bad but if a player does something like that expect to get drilled unless you know you can avoid the check.
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408KingsFan Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 6:42 pm
@Hat trick, The player Clifford hit knew what he was doing. Vancouver plays dirty like that
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uknojata Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 7:42 pm
@Hat trick, agreed. They are going to ruin this game if all a player has to do is turn his back on the defender, go head first in to the boards and draw a major penalty. I’m all about making the game safer, but some of the responsibility has to rest with the player taking the hit.
Last night was just another example of a game being decided by questionable officiating. Since the beginning of time people have been complaining about bad calls, but I really feel like it’s reached a new level this year. My theory is a combination between the two referee system drawing in more bodies and the fact that a lot of the old-timmer experienced refs have recently retired. Now we are just scraping the bottom of the barrel looking to fill the void. I hope the league looks to better train their officials for 2011-2012.
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number 6 Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 7:55 pm
@uknojata,
I could be wrong as I haven’t seen them play enough, but seems like Vancouver has it down to a fine art this thing of gambling right on the edge (see goal scored by Sedin after pushing DD into Quick) and last night whoever it was turning into Clifford, even though as TM said, when you’re in on the check you have to be careful.
Nonetheless there is something I find very unappealing about Vanc as good as they might be.
Detroit is good too, but to me they play the game fair and don’t take dirty shots (usually) at people.
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KC23 Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 8:46 pm
@number 6, Vancouver is skilled at all aspects of the game. They do whatever is necessary to win. I can’t blaim them for that kind of play. If you are skilled enough to get away with it, why not? The Gretzky led Oilers were very much the same. Whinning and getting the refs to allow their game, but not the other teams game.
That is one tough dude.
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Love Kyle Clifford! The Kings will end up with 101 pts and 4th place in the conference. They will face Anaheim in the 1st round. You heard it here 1st!!!
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Kings win, Ducks lose Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 7:41 pm
@Shotongoal, Would love that!
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Timbo from Canada Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:49 am
@Shotongoal, Love your positive thinking. I m thinking 7th or 8th and of Dallas beats us today, there is a good chance we end up 9th. I really hope I m wrong but since last Saturday I m not feeling very positive these days
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Shotongoal Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 10:16 am
@Timbo from Canada, I understand but you have to look at the Kings remaining schedule and the other teams in the division, plus how many games everyone has left. It does look easy sailing for Dallas after today, but if the Kings are going to be successful the remainder of the season, then this is a team they should beat at home. FYI not bragging, but I’ve predicted there point totals here in each of the past 3 months (Jan, Feb, Mar).
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Timbo from Canada Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 12:19 pm
@Shotongoal, I d buy you a case of beet if your right….I hope you are
One more point, I know DL and crew are building from goal on out and the D is superb usually, but although I’m more than certain they know it, the injuries to Kopi and JW illustrate just how thin this team is up front. Not thin on heart and grit, but certainly on speed and skill.
So hopefully it will inspire them to make some adjustments. It’s a bit of a shame hearing all these comments about Penner. I haven’t watched him play as I’m back east, but at this point you wonder if that first round pick wouldn’t have come in handy to go after the above mentioned speed and skill in the first round of the draft.
Too soon to write him off, but if he’s showing the same qualities here that annoyed in Edm, hmmm, well not a great sign is it really? Maybe playing on a line with Getzlaf and Perry – or was it on Selanne’s line(?) made him look better than we was?
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KC23 Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 8:50 pm
@number 6, Penner requires skilled players around him to be effective. We just don’t have them atm. Penner is just not one of those players that makes people around him better. He skates like he is waiting for the game to come to him, instead of trying to make things happen. In short, he is a medicore play maker at best.
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number 6 Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 9:12 pm
@KC23,
Interesting feedback. Makes sense your reply wrt Canucks and Penner as well. Thanks.
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YooperSkip Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 9:33 pm
@KC23, Agree with your assessmant of Penner, especially the waiting for the game to come to him. With his size, I expected him to crash the net and also set up in front of the net ala Smytty. That was what he did in the first few games when he joined the Kings. He ws involved in all of the first five goals the Kings scored. Had a goal , 2 assists and on the other 2 screend the goalie. But, since then, I haven’t seen much of that kind of action from him. In fact, in the 1st period of the recent game at Edmonton, it was Moller who headed for the net and also tried screen the goalie He got bounced around quite a bit due to his size, but kept at it. That is where Penner belongs. Just haven’t seen him play that roll since his early games with the Kings. Seems to be MIA most of the time.
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USHA#17 Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:40 am
@KC23, Two things. The Edmonton blog site said exactly that…Penner makes those around him better and is quite valuable for doing so.
Even with the Penner add the Kings are thin. Smyth has all but disappeared for the past 25 games, coming out of hibernation against a soft Oiler team then back to the cave against the Canucks , a team that checks. And other players (Brown excepted) just haven’t jelled this season.
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KC23 Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 8:06 am
@USHA#17, “The Edmonton blog site said exactly that…Penner makes those around him better and is quite valuable for doing so.”
Could of fooled me and apparently TM as well.
Shotongoal Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 9:37 pm
@number 6, still was a trade the Kings needed to make and I don’t think it can be judged after a handful of games. I don’t think its any secret that the Kings are thin on scoring from their forwards, even more reason for the trade. The reason they pursued Kovalchuk in the off season, and hopefully they’ll take a long look at what’s available in FA this summer. I like the foundation of this team, and I like the prospects in the organIzation, but if there’s players available in FA and they fit, hopefully the team will make the right desicions in the off season.
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Dominick Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 11:21 pm
@number 6,
Any team that loses their top 2 scorers is going to be thin. That’s a direct hit to your depth core. Grant it, some teams are equipped to handle a hit like that, but 90% of the teams out there would feel the pinch, including us. Only drag is that it didn’t happen before the 3/4 mark of the season to allow us more time to prepare for it.
Penner has lost 1 of the main reasons he was brought here. I hope Brown can play with him, because he’s our hottest scorer right now, and we need to get Penner going if we hope to contend.
I’ve been stating all along that those 2 should have been paired together earlier, to at least see if there’s some chemistry before we hit a wall offensively. Waiting till now when we need offense was exactly what I was trying to avoid. If it doesn’t take hold soon, Brown could even cool off, and we’ll be in even deeper trouble offensively.
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DLB Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:53 am
@number 6, any speed and skill we could have drafted this summer would still be a couple of years away from helping us.
We needed a player who could go now. I think he’s adjusting to Murray’s system, and losing the few linemates he’d just gotten used to playing with.
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Check out the latest Kings Undisputed video! Awesome!!!!!!
http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/video-_all_rich_hammond/
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Harty Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 6:35 am
@Saskatchewan King, Rich Hammond this is hilariours, well done. I agree with all you have done a great job all season on keepig everyone posted on the blogs.
THANK YOU RICH FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND DEDICATION. PLEASE FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO ALL KINGS OWNERS…..
RICH IS AWESOME….
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KFII Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 6:40 am
@Saskatchewan King, Hey thanks for posting that, what a hoot. Rich is the man! Go Rich Go!!
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video.kings.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=1152&id=106141
How did you do this with a straight face?
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COL did us a huuuuuuge solid tonight by holding PHX to 1 point tonight. Next week’s game with PHX could be to clinch 4th place and home ice in the first round.
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That was a pure dirty hit. I can’t believe some of the posts here justifying it and to say Vancouver plays on the edge, as in they purposefully put themselves in danger to get penalty calls is just ridiculous. Tanev is a first year NHL rookie.
Just ridiculous.
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Hat trick Reply:
April 1st, 2011 at 11:06 pm
@GMan, How in the world was Clifford supposed to know that he was going to change directions at the last second? I think Clifford was doing his job which was to take him into the boards and separate him from the puck. If you watch the slo mo it’s right there that the canuck player decided to change directions And completely dipping his head. And being a first year rookie he probably learned a valuable lesson.
JJ has got an awesome move when the puck is along the boards and he’s being chased. He uses that stick/head/body fake going on his backhand then he goes to his forehand to avoid the check.
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Harty Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:18 am
@Hat trick, I agree hat trick, you bang on, obviously some of our bloggers haven’t played much hockey throughout their sports careers. Things happen fast, like a baseball hitting a 3rd baseman in the head when he is cheating for a bunt. Things happen as a result of activity.
The rookie D guy for Canucks deked one way and went the other at the last moment, not withstanding he tried to duct our of the way. Consequences is Clifford hitting him and hard, good for Kyle Clifford.
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GMan Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 6:35 pm
@Harty,
Good for Kyle Clifford?
Just looking at the guilty expression on his face and resignation in his posture after the fact, I don’t even think he thinks it was a good hit.
You’re pulling out the “haven’t played much hockey throughout their sports careers” argument?
This is the internet so, I guess I can easily claim to have played more than you.
Ridiculous.
GMan Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 6:31 pm
@Hat trick,
Tanev has the puck at that point and tries to deke. He slips. He’s falling and in a vulnerable position. Clifford comes in and makes sure Tanev hits the boards. He hit him in the numbers, hence the call. It was straight out boarding, made worse by Tanev’s falling. Clifford certainly didn’t let up at all, despite the time he had to do so. If you watch the hit Clifford lets the boards and Tanev’s head do his stopping. You can’t hit like that, especially in today’s environment. If you want players to have career-ending injuries, that’s the way to do it. Tanev was lucky he got up and skated off on his own steam. If he hadn’t gotten up I’m pretty confident Clifford gets a 1-2 game suspension. Then this is the NHL so you never know. Players need to show more respect.
The Doughty hit on D. Sedin (after he scored) should have been penalized as well. Late hit.
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Hat trick Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:57 pm
@GMan, The time he had to do so? You’re kidding right?
Shotongoal Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 6:33 am
@GMan, are you serious? Pure dirty hit? No way!!! Minor penalty in this day-in-age NHL? Yes. Major penalty? Only against a team like VAN, who gets those types of calls from the refs. I don’t know what you’re seeing that play with, but you should look at it again with just your brain. And, the play on Handzus should have been a minor penalty. I suppose you would disagree with that too?
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KC23 Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:30 am
@GMan, Pure dirty … nah. Five minute major, yep. That’s a big leap of words on your part “playing on edge to get calls” to your version ” they purposefully put themselves in danger to get penalty calls”. Now take off that green suit and get to bed young man.
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Harty Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 9:01 am
@KC23, shotongoal must be one of the green men by the penalty box. Hit was fine, it happens in minor hockey everyday, move along.
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Shotongoal Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 1:59 pm
@Harty, I think you need to reread my post here. You’re a lttle confused!
GMan Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 6:39 pm
@KC23,
Not one of the Green Men, but I do dig their antics.
The Canucks don’t play on edge to get calls. At least not any more than anyone else.
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Hey Rich can we get an update as to where Toffolli will be going now that Ottawa is out of the OHL playoffs. My guess is Manchester, if so will this help out the Kings by making an extra player available from Machester. Thanks
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Here’s the situation:
If Kings win in regulation, the have 96 points. Dallas would then have a max possible point total of 97. Calgary has 3 games left, and a max total possible of 95. Win today, and we’re all but locked in. Win today, and the only way the Kings miss the playoffs is if Dallas wins out and Kings don’t get two points out of 4 games. Look for this exact point to be made in the pregame by Fox…
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wavesinair Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 9:46 am
@Player-X,
Which, as it turns out, 95 points is looking more and more like the target number (as it was all along), despite all the predictions that it take be 96-100 points to make the playoffs.
In other words Kings fans, 1 point today and you have yourself a playoff team.
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So I ran in to a Sharks fan last night, coming home from the bar. I have only ever met (face to face) a Ducks and Stars fan from the Pacific in my life. I was humble, I was calm. He was with all his buddies and I had just left all mine. I was respectful and said the Sharks had a great team.
But he crossed the line when he said 2 things…
1) the Kings don’t have a legitimate #1 goalie. His dweeb of a friend joined the conversation and said Bernier was their #1
2) Poni was their biggest offensive threat…
With respect tp Bernier (and i love him) you boys know Quicker is the #1 and in my un-biased opinion should be in considered for the Vezina.
I won’t even comment on the second thing he said.
It was strange running in to a Sharks fan. You don’t see too many of those around this neck of the woods… then again, I never meet any Kings fans either.
I stood my ground last night though. When this guy’s drunk friend came in and was defending his friend, he said Doughty was there only good defenseman and he wasn’t even that good… that just about started a fight.
Anyways, I’m from Toronto and I’m a proud Kings fan.
Let’s go boys!
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kevin from toronto Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:45 am
@kevin from toronto,
*their only good defenseman…
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KC23 Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 7:57 am
@kevin from toronto, Couple of easy come backs for Sharks fans:
1)Oh, and just how many times have you been to the finals?
2)And which round do you expect them to choke to an inferior team this year?
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Dave's a Killer Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 9:39 am
@kevin from toronto, I live in an area that is infested with Shark fans and I can understand your dilemma. You just want break something. Congratulations on your self-restraint and just take comfort in knowing that these guys will disappear as soon as the Sharks do in the playoffs. I have always drreamed of a Kings/Sharks match up with the Kings eliminating the Sharks. It wouls just be so sweet! Of course, I would have to watch my back on the ice but, who cares?
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wavesinair Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 9:51 am
@Dave’s a Killer,
“infested with Shark fans”
I imagine them walking around like zombies, aimlessly through your city, with one hand above their forehead imitating a shark fin… “Uh oh Margret! There’s another one of those shark fans in the yard again. Call the exterminator.”
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Hat trick Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 11:05 am
@kevin from toronto, Shark fans are about as sharp as a roll of toilet paper.
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Harty Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 5:52 pm
@Hat trick, ha, ha……..
give me a call in Ayr if you need backup Kevin,
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Good thing Zues has all that hair under his bucket
or we would’ve been looking at another
“Upper Body Injury” errrrrr… concussion
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KC23 Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 9:14 am
@Jay GoLAKings, I was more worried about his shoulder. Look like that left shoulder took it hard into the boards.
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Clifford reminds me a litte of Bob Probert. Look at his eyes. He looks evil. My favorite active member of the team. Does anyone know if Penner goes by the name Anson Carter or Mark Parrish?
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Harty Reply:
April 2nd, 2011 at 5:54 pm
@5 4 Fighting, or……margarine because he’s as soft as it, microwaved
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Clifford knew what he was doing. He was going to hammer someone for the Handzus hit. Why as a defenseman going into the boards at top speed and you see Clifford barreling down on you turn into boards and don’t lock up with him or make a differentel evasive play is dumb he set himself up for it.
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