After taking last night to think about it, Terry Murray decided to start Jonathan Quick in goal tonight against Anaheim. It will be the first time this season that Quick has started games on back-to-back nights, but Terry Murray decided that the push for fourth or fifth place in the Western Conference is worth starting Quick. Plus, the Kings will have at least three days between games after tonight. The start will be Quick’s 60th of the season, essentially right where Murray wanted him to be at the start of the season. Quick started 72 games last season.
MURRAY: “We’ll stay with it. There is great significance to the game for us. We want to finish as high in the standings as we possibly can. With the way this has been finishing off, with the last week, the last two weeks in this conference and division, it’s just been incredible. It’s going to go right down to the final game of the year here, on Sunday, probably to determine what the standings officially are going to be. So we want to put ourselves in the most positive situation that we can, and finishing this regular season with a win is what we’re shooting for.”
Go Johnny Q!!!!
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Go Quick and hopefully u have ur forwards with u in this game today then yesterday game
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Good choice, like some people said , I don’t want VAN or SJ in the first round, DET seems to be slipping, with kopi being there tonight I have a good feeling kings coming out pumped for a W!!
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That’s a joke…
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linny Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
@Paul G, totally agree. Bernier has been great lately but it seems like Murray seems to think that starting Bernier is like throwing in the towell. I know Murray is thinking “shootout”, but this isn’t going to help JB’s confidence once he has to step up in the playoffs after Mr. “Softee” shows up.
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Dude Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
@linny, Right on bro
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Dude Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
@Paul G, Agree
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HockeyNerd Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
@Paul G, @Dude, @linny
Wow. Don’t know where to start.
Starting Bernier is not “throwing in the towel” and TM DOES know it. This game is very important and TM decided to go with the better of the 2. And news flash: that DOES happen to be Quick.
Also, if the game does go to the shootout that extra point could be huge.
Also Bernier is not going to have to step in. No, not even if we play Nashville.
Finally, you’d think from reading your posts that Quick has no value to this team! Suggest you look at his stats. Compare them with other Goalies around the league. Bernier too……
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the_guv Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
@HockeyNerd, Amen brother! Tired of this lack of appreciation for our MVP. Yes…our MVP.
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linny Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
@HockeyNerd, quick lost last night and jb has been spectacular lately. If quick loses again tonight I think it will deflate the whole team going into the playoffs, imo.
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The Batman Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
@linny, quick losing last night has nothing to do with how quick played last night, your argument makes no sense.
So I doubt anyone remembers this but back in the begining of the season I made a $50 bet with my friend as to who would have more points at te end of the season, kings or ducks. When the ducks were terrible and the kings really hot, I asked him if he wanted to get out of the bet for $40. He declined and now it comes down to the last damn game of the season. This is soooooo intense for the team, the playoffs, and my $50 bill in my wallet.
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Dominick Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
@Cortex949, I remember that bet. I thought at the time it was a suckers bet, but here we are.
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The Kings shut down Sucks’ top line yesterday. That’s gotta be a good thing. Build on it and shut down Selanne this time as well.
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jonsey Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
@goldielocks, I can’t believe Perry has 50 goals! I wouldn’t mind seeing a King getting that many, unfortunately, we don’t have a single person in the system to do that.
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Q is the only guy that got is in Playoffs the last 2 weeks! Because of that he’s my Kings MVP!
I think it’s the greatest thing in hockey to see all 3 Cali teams make the playoffs. This great for sport and all those anti Sharks & Ducks fans this is your moment…
Last, I said it first in the Hockey world!! This the first time that all teams in the pacfic time zone, all 5 teams made the playoffs! How cool is that, I love western hockey and rooting for all five with Kings my number 1 choice, always.
Van, Phx, SJ, Ducks, Kings.
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jonsey Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
@Sammuch, That is true! Quick really carried us a lot this year.
He deserves to be the undisputed #1 goalie. And he obviously is.
I agree that he is the Kings MVP this year.
Our best rookie is Martinez. Sorry Clifford, your +/- puts you out of contention. Martinez is technically a rookie right?
I say let Schenn season in the AHL next year. No need to call him up. Kopitar and Stoll are a good #1 and #2 and Lewis should take over for Handzus. Schenn is our “Plan B”
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the_guv Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
@Sammuch, Agree, the better goalie plays tonight! Definitely our MVP.
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rcinsc Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
@Sammuch, Isn’t Phoenix in the Mountain time zone? They just don’t go to Daylight Savings Time, so it’s the same time, but different time zone. Sorry, only 4 Pacific Time Zone teams, but all in the playoffs.
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yay quick
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Quick against Anaheim this year: 1-2-1.
Bernier against Anaheim this year: 1-0-0.
C’mon Quick, this is the only stat in which you are worse than your backup. Handle it.
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Here is who i think will be in the Finals, WASH VS SHARKS!
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jonsey Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 2:17 pm
@Sammuch, I am going to take VAN vs. PIT
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Dominick Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
@Sammuch,
KINGS VS MONTREAL!
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jonsey Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
@Dominick, THAT WOULD BE EPIC!
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the_guv Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
@Dominick, Wow, could you imagine how great that would be!!
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Not a good decision. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m afraid the Kings will lose again tonight. I would have given Bernier a shot to see if the team chemistry would improve with a different goalie. Also, how does he perform under pressure? If they do lose, then what? No Bernier? Keep insisting Quick is #1 even riding a losing streak into the playoffs with Quick in goal? If I am wrong, I’ll post after the game and you Quick fans can let me have it.
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Michael Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
@Poorman, I hope I’m wrong that you’re hoping you’re wrong.
Quick 2012
Go kings
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FemaleFan #1 Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
@Poorman, I am a huge fan of Quick. But what just said…. I’ve been saying for the last couple of months on here and it has been WIDELY discredited. He’s our go-to guy for butt saving and unfortunately…..its too much for one players shoulders. In the beginning of the season TM said equal play time between Quick and Bernier. And that’s turned out.to mean…..a loss for Bernier and he bench rides for 2 weeks, a loss for Quick means we assume it was an off night and play him the next 3-4 games. I think Quick is amazing. He’s a huge asset to this team and he has saved us numerous times. But that’s not always going to be enough. We need him to be refreshed for the playoffs…..which he’s not. And we need Bernier playing with the confidence that his team believes in him….which he doesn’t. I love this team. I’ll be at every home game here on out. But I hope for BIG changes in the off season.
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Poorman Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
@FemaleFan #1, What kind of changes would you like?
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FemaleFan #1 Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@Poorman, A new head and special teams coach for starters…
ResedaKingsFan Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
@Poorman, I’m a huge Quick fan, but I’m with you on this one. Bernie has been outstanding since the all-star break, and I have a lot of confidence in him. It’s great to have a backup goalie with Bernie’s talents, and he’s been successful against the clucks.
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the_guv Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
@Poorman, Disagree completely (respectfully of course). Quick has gotten us to where we are. He’s our #1 and plays the important games (which this is). Also, as our MVP (IMHO), he deserves the last reg. game at home for the fans. After the game tonight, Staples center will applaud this season tremendously, and much of it will be for Quicker. He’s earned the call.
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Quick is the reason this team will be playing after today. Any other notion is horribly misinformed.
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jonsey Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 2:34 pm
@Reed, Well, the Kings defense might have a hand in it? We’ve seen how Quick plays when they don’ t:/
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the_guv Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
@jonsey, Quick may be our best defense man.
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Action Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
@Reed,
Truth. I don’t even get how there is any debate about this. You go home with who brought you to the dance.
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Jadedtool Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
@Action, Or not…
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Jadedtool Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
@Action, Whadya do if Quick AND Bernier brought you to the dance? You go home with both of em!!
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Action Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
@Jadedtool,
Bernier did his share, but Quick is who we’ve leaned on. Sure he’s had a bad game here and there, but
(literally) every goalie does. His Numbers should be proof enough.
HockeyNerd Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
@Action, Yeah, I’m puzzled by all this debate on the blogs over something that should be obvious too. Quick’s numbers are better in EVERY category. And that 10-0 in shootouts alone should settle the matter right there. That extra point could be huge….
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the_guv Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 4:48 pm
@Action, At least in hockey you do. LOL
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the_guv Reply:
April 9th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
@Reed, Church!
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Beat the G.D. Ducks or face Vancouver and never win another game the rest of the year.
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Must have a total commitment to team defense tonight going forward. They’ve proven that they can go into lockdown mode before. Time to get it going again.
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Either one would be fine if the Kings can score more than 1 goal.
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