In a phone interview, Terry Murray said Justin Williams got the “green light” from doctors last night and will be able to participate in practice tomorrow. Assuming all goes well in the next couple days of practice, the decision would be in Williams’ hands as to whether he wants to play with his still-recovering shoulder, which won’t be 100 percent until the offseason. More on this, and Murray’s thoughts on the first-round series, to come…
[Also, Murray said Kyle Clifford is OK after last night's fight.]
well this is very good news.
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sid the kid Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
@Newf, why? why is forcing a guy who scores 25 goals a season at 75% or less health to play in the playoffs good news? i say we stick to what we got and don’t force him to play until he can actually be useful, rather than to come in before he’s ready
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MindGeyser Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
@sid the kid, Agreed. Usually players that come back early pay for it with their long-term health.
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RRL Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
@sid the kid, Forcing him to play? The choice is his, and I seriously doubt he’s going to sit out if he feels he’s ready, and given the green light.
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Newf Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
@RRL, exactly. the point is that he’s back perhaps quicker than expected. he’ll practice and determine himself if he’s ok.
maybe he’ll sit out the first 2 games to see how he feels. if things aren’t going well, then maybe he’ll just sit out and make sure he’s ok for next season.
the last thing i want is JW to come back early. but if he’s ready and willing, then that’s great.
He’s a major part of this team right now and we’re lacking in scoring (obviously). I really don’t think we stand a chance against SJ unless we start popping in some goals. if he’s able to come back and help that, then that’s great.
i just think it’s great news that he’s ahead of schedule.
Spanky Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
@RRL,
Is JW, at 75%, better than the worst current roster player (KW)? YES. Let’em play
Play him anyway he will need surgery at the end of the season!
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FANtastic!
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Woooo
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Was that Dr. Lombardi that gave him the green light? Williams had better think long and hard about coming back too soon and risking further injury to his shoulder.
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Garrett Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
@Rainman, Agreed.
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puckbob Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
@Garrett, I am torn between thinking we need all the help we can get and justin’s future health.
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KH Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
@Rainman, I’m pretty sure the doctor that cleared him is far more capable of giving a diagnosis than you are. With that being said his shoulder is gonna require surgery regardless. If he goes out game 1 and reinjures it, he gets surgery. If he goes and plays his heart out and gives the kings a better chance of winning, he gets surgery. So I’m sure he’ll take his chances
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sid the kid Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
@KH, why would he? he doesn’t get a monetary bonus for playing in the playoffs. he’s already won the cup. he keeps his contract regardless. and the team pays for his surgery in the off-season. if i were him, i’d say screw it, i don’t feel good, i’m not playing with a bad shoulder.
we don’t need a 75% willy when we have 100% ‘other players’.
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Central Coast King Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 9:36 pm
@sid the kid, Yeah a regular player might feel that way but JW is a big game “TEAM” player and you can;t keep those types down. If your up to it JW take it to them. GKG
Pesus Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 1:40 pm
@Rainman,
Dont risk further injury, we dont need another back checking forward. Get ready for next year at 100% hopefully without TM’s offence
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slovenian fan Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
@Rainman,
Dr.Lombardi gave him 4 year contract recently and this club needs him now. I am sure there are some other guys playing under small injury, but we fans do not know about it. I think that we a need play of JW in the series against Sharks. If he can score 2 goals in series and bring Penner back to life, then we are on good way. We need Williams on the PP, we need him with Penner and good centre and I think it is better Williams on 90% then Westgarth on 110%.
With fit JW in front, traditional or even better defence, excellent goaltending and energy peformance we can look for second round.
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
@slovenian fan,
Williams – stoll – penner?
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bmova Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
@FKA PakiFro, I had been thinking Smyth/Stoll/JW, and Penner/Zeus/Brown. I don’t think Stoll and Penner have ever played on the same line.
MindGeyser Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 6:49 pm
@slovenian fan, The four-year contract is exactly why you don’t play him now. We want Justin Williams all four years, not the Artist Formerly Known As Justin Williams in years 2,3, and 4 because he devastated his shoulder trying to be a hero.
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It’s been a very good day so far after yesterday’s debachle.
C’mon Willie! We’re ready and waiting for ya!
Help from the Red Wings…who would have thought. Luc must have made some phone calls.
I like our chances to advance much more now….We need to channel that game from Dec 27th (The 4-0 beauty against SJ in the tank this season)
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
@Cynic, You mean the game in which Kopitar had three assists?
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Cynic Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Yep. And no goals. Quick and Brown were stars 1 & 2 and we still have them. Trevor lewis scored that night and Brown had 2. We still have them. (Marco Sturm had the 4th and Penner is better than him, or at least COULD be).
http://sharks.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2010020535
That was a COMPLETE TEAM GAME. Kopi was just a piece that night.
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Bluecoconuts Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 1:36 pm
@Cynic, even though I don’t really want Schenn to burn a contract year, his team is down 0-2 in their series, and if they get swept, his final game would be on Wednesday, meaning he would most likely join the Kings for game 2 against San Jose.
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ziggy Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 1:45 pm
@Bluecoconuts, I don’t think he’ll join the team in the playoffs, but for the sake of discussion, it is worth noting that both losses came at home for Saskatoon, with the next two games to be played on the road at Kootenay.
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Moondoggie Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
@ziggy, If the Blades are eliminated, you’ve got to bring up Schenn, particularly in the playoffs and particularly with the Kings scoring difficulties. There’s no question in my mind; Schenn comes up and plays a top six immediately.
Cynic Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 3:18 pm
@Bluecoconuts, I actually think we’re just fine at center: Lewis, Richardson, Handzus and Stoll. No real standouts here, but all do something well. Lewis should get a shot at centering Penner and Williams though. He did VERY well with Brown a few games back and has the potential skill to at least replace SOME of what Kopitar brought, especially as a 2-way forward with skill.
Schenn will be here next year. He should goplay with Manchester and help them win a championship. That would be solid as well.
If one of our centers goes down though…Schenn has to be the first call-up.
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Moondoggie Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
@Cynic, Good observation. I like this match-up much more although the romantic side of me wouldn’t mind knocking out the President’s Cup winner in the 1st round. Still tho, we stay in California; it’s the Bay Area vs So Cal. It isn’t a Freeway Series which I would have loved (and so would the NHL) but it’s the next best thing. This is going to be a great series. In spite of LA’s injuries, they’re going to give SJ hell. I also want those last two games back against the Sharks.
I think there will be a certain amount of motivation against SJ. This is the Stanley Cup, the Kings are a very good team. Anything can happen.
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Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
@Cynic, You’ll be happy to know if offically a fan of urs, yesterdays posts we awesome
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Cynic Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
@Kings Fan In Temecula, Thanks man! Just a Kings fan like the rest of us who just happens to be a little long-winded and a fast typer (Dangerous combo). I was in Temecula the other day (Live in Corona). Beautiful area out there. I think we need some Inland Empire Blog Events….
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I think this is pretty good news. I’ll take SJ over vanc right now. No damn green idiots
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DesertKing Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
@Cortex949,
Amen!
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Good news in what was a completely lost weekend. The Kings controlled their own destiny and could have wrapped up home ice against the Preds. Instead they open on the road against a very good SJ team. While I like this series much more than having to face the Nucks (hopefully they get bruised up a little against the Hawks/Stars) obviously we’d have all preferred to open at home against the Preds.
Getting Willy back will certainly help but he’s still banged up. Once again, everyone will need to step up and take their game to the next level to have a chance against the Sharks. If we could only muster two goals in two games against the Ducks porous defense, how will we manage against SJ?
Ultimately we’ll have to score some goals to give our D & Quickie a chance to win this series.
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Let’s Go Kings!!!
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With William’s past injury history and him returning
it’s pretty certain if left to him he will play this series..
Whether he is effective will be determined soon…
We have a better chance with him playing…imho…
GKG………
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Kings x Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
@Slim, Even a 50% Williams is better than a 150% Penner
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just like the greatest fisherman that has ever lived says at staples “its just a little sj shark” GKG!! GKG!! GKG!!
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What about Parse Rich? Any news on him? He is a snipe and can help too?
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Kings looked terrible. Clifford looked terrible (learn how to protect your face from those fists coming at you). Coaching staff is terrible. Way to charge into the playoffs Kings! What the heck is JW going to bring to make anyone think this will be anything but a 4-0 or 4-1 quick exit for the Mighty KINGS?
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hatrick9 Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
@Bob Smith, its all about the what if factor. I know let me guess you are one of those fans that only like a team when they are winning of better yet when or if the pull out of the first round on pure heart, YOU will be the fist one to cheer and said you believed the whole stretch. It is easy to analyze as a so called FAN and point out all the areas for improvement but if you have all the answers then you should be behind the bench or try lacing up a pair of skates and see if you do any better. It is not as easy as you think and every team has issues and every team will loose or win so next time you open your mouth do me a favor and think about what you are saying before you say it.
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Harty Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
@Bob Smith, your negative, the Kings did excatly what we wanted…to make the playoffs. Start cheering more its easy and fun.
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Kyle Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
@Bob Smith, Please let us know when you run a franchise or are once again behind the bench. We’ll look forward to your performance as a professional.
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puck73 Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 4:56 pm
@Kyle, LMAO !
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boxtime17 Reply:
April 11th, 2011 at 8:03 am
@Bob Smith,
In defense of Bob, all those things happened. HOWEVER, it’s obvious either Bob is NOT a Kings fan or he is a fair-weather fan…the kind we don’t need around when we’re looking for some optimism heading into the playoffs. Dear Bob..WE ALL shold know that the actual playoff games bring out a whole new breed of hockey. This is the time when the $$ players come to play. I ecpect Penner, Poni, Smyth and Zeus will step and join Brownie and the other players who are young but have character. This series may fool a lot of people. I know you hate to hear this but I guess time will tell. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Getting swept by the Schmucks made me puke, but as as soon as I flushed, my thoughts went to game one vs.the Sharks. We can do this.
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I don’t think this is a very good idea. They better not be rushing his recovery at the risk of further injury.
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Nice to see Willams back, but I think this is SJ year to go all way!
All the Kings look out of it yesterday and Browns interview was not an upbeat interview to inspire a team into the playoffs.
I saw how the faces of Kings after loosing both games and it looks like they lost all confidance in winning.
Come on guys, you are in and anything can happen, keep the faith even though its a long shot to the cup.
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Guess who currently has the only goal for Manchester?
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Guss Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 2:20 pm
@Who knows?, who knows? Haha who is it? Tyler??
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Who knows? Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
@Guss, Yup, Toffoli.
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Power Play is stagnant. Playoffs are won by special team and KINGS PP is not! Ok Maybe they play like the special olympics but suer look like amateur players. No movement in the power play. The look like the old stuyle board hockey where the player move in slots and twirl.
Rookie Brandon McMillan has hickey sense. Took the buck to the net! Lucky Bounce Goal!
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Toffoli scores in his first game with the monarchs. This kid could be the real deal in a couple years
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This is GREAT news! Getting JW back for the 1st game is HUGE! JW brings speed, skill, great hands, and a HUGE HEART!
All season long every line he played on was the best line up the team had, and after he switched lines the other line production dropped. He also has playoff experience and has won the cup before.
I was at the last practice and JW looked very good. lot’s of speed and his shot looked great, in fact better than any other King. I will take JW @ 80% than any other forward we have since Kopi is out.
Speaking of Kopi it really shows how bad this team misses him. Look at our record since he went down!!!!
Not only is he our best scoring forward and the forward with the most skill, he has turned into a GREAT defensive forward and one of the better 2-way centermen in the league. Maybe behind Kessler.
With JW coming back and if we can get great goaltending, we’ll have a shot. Also ANYTHING from our pathetic PP would help!
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It was five years ago Getzlaf, Penner and Corey Perry were terrorizing the American Hockey League to the point where the Ducks brought all three up during the season and watched them inject youth and skill into a team on the rise.
Do the Kings have anyone like that? What is their coaching system down there? Shutdown Hockey does not look good to me.
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fsd1 Reply:
April 11th, 2011 at 8:37 am
@KingsOfComedy, coaching system “down there” is the same as it is up here. And sorry, but shutdown hockey is the playoffs.
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A dislocated shoulder injury is no joke so don’t get your hopes up. Even if he returns, a soft hit can ruin everybody’s day in a nano second. And secondly, don’t forget who is coaching this team. TM does not have what it takes to be a playoff coach.
Negative post? No, just realistic. DL is a good GM but what will make him a stellar GM is when he finds a head coach with talent and the undaunting will to win against all odds.
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puck73 Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
@jess,Not Winning against all odds? The Kings have very little skill up front and you dont think they have beaten the odds? The Kings got in the playoffs because of things like..Grit, Heart, Determination, penalty killing, and clutch goaltending. They dont have the flash currently of Anaaheim, Detroit, Chicago, Vancouver, or San Jose. Trust me on this…The Kings have gotten no help from other teams down the stretch, and they have never gotten any help from the war room in Toronto. The Kings have earned everything they have gotten with what they have available at the moment, so dont tell me this team hasnt beaten the odds !
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jess Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
@puck73, A chess player can take it further with limited resources. TM is not that guy and you know it. Hey if you are happy puck with losing 2 to the ducks and giving up home ice then you are a die hard fan and I give props to ya. But it takes more than that in the playoffs, everyone knows it. The mark of depth of our team is tolled by the great bell. If you want to give great hommage to the lame calls of TM then god bless ya. He should’ve stayed with the goaltender rotation up to the last minute which was one of our few strengths. But he did not and gave up his hand to everyone. Great coaches do not do that. Sun Su would have not done that. That is a secret, a goaltending tandem which is the envy of the entire NHL and generates confidence potentially outside of the teams abilities.
Has nothing to do with individual ability of any one goaltender. It has to do with creating competition between them, which creates a competitive spirit which then translates to the entirety of the team. The team plays better in this atmosphere with moe confidence and it is a proven fact. When TM stuck with this we put up numbers.
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fsd1 Reply:
April 11th, 2011 at 8:41 am
@jess, which team do you coach again? I seem to have forgotten which one it was. TM has only gotten uu inno the playoffs 2 yearsinaarow, we have the 3rd r 4th best defense in all of hockey and have lost our 2 top scorres in thelast 2 weeks of the season. If you were GM or TM himself what would you have to offer? This team fully staffed is better than last years team. And dont thow Vhicago at e again, ty lost their top 2 players months before the season ended. TM keep coaching, Dl keep building!
jess Reply:
April 11th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
@jess,
Care to comment on the content of my post rather then asking what team I coach and then listing common knowledge as though it is elite information?
By the way I always give DL credit.
I would start the line up against the Sharks like this:
Clifford – Richardson – Simmonds
Smith – Stoll – Brown
Penner – Zeus – Williams
Poni – Lewis – Moller
I would be affraid to put JW straight to the 1st or 2nd line because of the D. The “legs” line is doing just fine and they could only be better. Keep Browny with Smith and Stoll. At the same time I would reduce the 5 on 5 playing time for the 3rd line and keep Williams fresh for some PP shifts, same is valid for Zeus to leed the PK. Penner was not a big factor until now and I don’t expect any big change until Kopi comes back. His +/- worries me a lot, so it’s needed for him to play with Zeus (insteed of Kopi) on the same line because of D.
KW is not needed against the Sharks. The 4th line could be also very productive (speed and skils).
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ta Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 2:40 pm
@outsider, I disagree the those.
Zues is our best defensive forward and we need him the shut down the sharks top line. I wouldn’t pair him with Penner and JW to shut down the sharks 1st line.
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If available I would bring Schenn up, I wouldn’t expect him to make or break our season though, I don’t think he’s ready for that much of an impact, and it wouldn’t be good for his head to expect much either,,,BUT having said that, one round of NHL playoff experience is probably worth 3/4 of aseasons of learning,,,so why not burn a year to put him ahead of the curve for next year?
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jess Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
@Ravens,
this subject continues to be brought up again and again -but is almost completely out of the realm of possibility.
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ta Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 2:57 pm
@Ravens, Schenn can’t be called up at least until his team is out of the playoffs! Only then could DL call him up.
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Kings x Reply:
April 10th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
@Ravens, I would take a green schenn over and invisible Penner any day. Effort and failure is better than no effort because breaks will eventually go your way
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wow… we make it in, against a team we have proven we can beat, with an offensive threat poised to return… and there are some real whiners on today! Some of these sods would cry if they were hung with a brand new rope.
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fsd1 Reply:
April 11th, 2011 at 8:42 am
@mcsorleyfan, for sure~!
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Ok, negativity is my creedo but I am a die-hard Kings fan. Lately it’s been a love-hate relationship and these last 2 games were horrible. BUT, you never know what might happen. If JW
comes back and stays away from the boards we could give SJ a real scare. I know I know.
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What time are the Kings practices this week? I would like to take the kids to one of them.
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