By moving Trevor Lewis into the spot vacated by Jarret Stoll, and by moving Oscar Moller into what figures to be a limited fourth-line role, Terry Murray is changing his line combinations as little as possible for Game 2. That includes going back to the he started Game 1 with, with Michal Handzus centering Dustin Penner and Dustin Brown. During Game 1, Murray moved Alexei Ponikarovsky to that line and dropped Penner to the fourth line, a move that Murray said was motivated both by his satisfaction with Ponikarovsky and his dissatisfaction with Penner. Penner did not record a point in Game 1, meaning he has now gone 13 consecutive games without a point. Murray was asked what he might do in order to try to get Penner’s production going…
MURRAY: “It’s going to be the same message as in the past with him. It’s important that he just bring that hard work, that intensity and compete level to the game. There’s nothing more than that. He joined us late in the year. It’s now playoff time and it’s very difficult to make a whole lot of changes emotionally, mentally maybe. Again, I accept the fact that there are going to be some breakdowns in execution, just because of it being a new look for him, but I’ve got to see that compete. That’s the most important part of it. If you bring effort and compete, I think you’re going to see a pretty good game from him.”
Question: And you weren’t seeing that in Game 1?
MURRAY: “There were some shifts, after (the move). He came back and played pretty well, but it’s a 60-minute game. … It goes into the overtime. Those are the looks when you want your skilled players on the ice to be major contributors and maybe make a difference in the outcome of the game. It’s another day (in Game 2). Let’s put this one behind us and get himself ready to go.”
OK
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This Penner move is looking like one of the biggest busts in Kings history. The ghost of Grant Fuhr is lurking. Let’s hope DP can find a way to prove himself worthy of what we gave up to get him. The clock is ticking dude, tonight it the night!
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408KingsFan Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
@Krusher, I think some of these deals especially when your giving up a first pick should be contingent on the players performance. An example, if Penner scores x amount of goals he gets x amount of salary. That would light a fire under his 240 pound butt.
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Forum67 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
@408KingsFan,
That’s an interesting idea although I have no clue as to how you would ever get the NHLPA and agents to agree to it.
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Iceage35 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
@Krusher, Actually I think Penner is the reincarnation of Jason Allison. When the Kings picked up Penner, I thought “This is just what they need.” I truly hope he gets it in gear..other than first gear!
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hockeysureshot Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
@Iceage35, Allison was actually good. Penner is like Anston Carter thus far.
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Krusher Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:16 pm
@hockeysureshot, OMG yes! Anson Carter. Arghhhhhhh
DBB Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
@hockeysureshot,
Or Cliff Ronning.
Iceage35 Reply:
April 17th, 2011 at 8:55 am
@hockeysureshot, Ya, I guess you’re right. Anson Carter and Cliff Roning were probably the biggest busts. Oh wait, how about this name…Roman!
Forum67 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
@Iceage35,
Allison was really effective for the Kings until he got injured in a collision with Andy Sutton.
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SDGolfer Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
@Forum67, You mean a dirty knee on knee hit by sutton.
KC23 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
@Iceage35, Nah, Allison wasn’t bad at all.
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Kings x Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
@Iceage35, Well said. Except JA actually dis something when he wasn’t hurt
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Ravens Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
@Krusher, DP used to stand for something good..now not so much,,hopeing that changes tonight
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I think he’ll have a good year next year. As for right now, he won’t do jack squat in the playoffs. It kinda sucks that his inconsistency is being called out for the 8th or 9th time since he joined this team. I don’t wanna hear this crap every week next year. Step your game up, god dammit.
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hockeykingsguy Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
@Adam, I agree! I think next year with a full Kings training camp, the line of Penner-Kopi-Williams is going to be awesome!
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cpmc29 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
@hockeykingsguy, next year. We are in the now!
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the_guv Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
@cpmc29, Exactly, we picked this guy up for a playoff push.
Kings x Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
@hockeykingsguy, Yes
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penner in german means loser, homeless!
dude, get your ass in gear and show us some effort!!!
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NoDoughty Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
@king for life, in Swiss german it means being asleep
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jess Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
@NoDoughty, no way! how ironic I mean really…
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Guss Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 1:48 pm
@king for life, haha, i temember some comments the day the trade was made jokingly of course people saying ” give him a week and well be bashing him soon” haha it came true.
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Dustin Penner had a rough first year in Edmonton – and then the same player (Penner) scored 30 goals. Not sure why it takes some players time to get used to new setting. (Maybe I am just hoping that he will be the next Charlie Simmer 56 goals next year)
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So far… he’s the second coming of Anson Carter…
lets hope next season he blows us all away…
but whats most sad is that the ‘style of play’ that Penner is supposed to bring us is what Brian Boyle is EXCELLING at now after we never gave him a chance to display it… THAT to me is one of the MOST FRUSTRATING things in recent kings history
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Spanky Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:14 pm
@Nick in 318,
I’d rather he blew his knee out so we could dump him.
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Slim Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
@Spanky, C’mon dude..You really want an injury to happen on any player
especially a King..Not cool..
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i think there is a limit to everyone’s patience with penner this season…and if we aren’t already past that, we are certainly there now…
it’s now or never, pens…get it together…(!)
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I apologize for the repost, but seems more relevant to this thread
I am taking this opportunity to call out Dustin Penner! I know alot of you have been harsh with him and his apparent lack of effort. I was holding out because I felt he had legit reasons to not be living up to the expectations (new team/linemates/system/off ice stuff, etc). But, he has to show he wants to be here and play for this team. With other key guys out, NOW is the time he needs to step up and prove he is one of our most talented player offensively (respect to DB and JW). We need him. Im not asking for points per se, but he needs to show all the critics that he at least CARES. I REALLY THINK HE NEEDS TO DROP THE GLOVES. Show some emotion somehow. Get mean and use that size and strength. Yell, get mad, run around throwing the body…something to just show the fanbase he CARES. Come on DP, I really wanted you to be on this team, because I thought you would fit nicely and obviously DL thought so too, because he paid alot for you. No more excuses! Show us SOMETHING!
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KungFu King Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
@tornado12, Totally agree with what you’ve said here. Here’s to hoping that we’ll see what we’ve been hoping for from Penner, since he became a King…starting tonight!
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friarking Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
@tornado12, I agree, he does need to show some fire. Even Sturm, who never fights, dropped the gloves to defend Stoll against the Leafs.
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A point for Penner tonight…you heard it here first.
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the_guv Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 3:38 pm
@KungFu King, He could get lucky. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
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watching penner play in gm 1 gives me hope.
oh, not that he’ll help the KINGS win… but if thats all it takes, i know i can actually play in an nhl playoff game.
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number 6 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:51 pm
@notquiteapennerfan,
ha ha ha
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KC23 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
@notquiteapennerfan, Now that is funny.
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Maybe it’s nothing more than a slump, and all players go through that. I haven’t given up on Penner just yet. He started out fine, he’ll get it back.
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Plain and simple. Play like a PRO not my lazy ass little brother! Skate you big ofe!
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i tut this guy would change his ways but i guess i was wrong… show up to play dude we have up too much to get a big wuss in return. i know dp can do much better if he wants to.
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Quite possibly the worst playoff centers in the history of the NHL.
Lewis
Handzus
Richardson
Moller
Let’s see if these guys can all out perform expectations and make me look like a fool.
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jonsey Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
@jonsey, Not to be harsh. But fielding them is worse than the PIT situation. At least they have Staal. Too bad we lost Stoll for this game. We otherwise wouldn’t be that bad off.
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Too bad Zeiler couldn’t make it. If I was the coach I’d bench Penner and tell him to watch how Zieler plays. Can you imagine if a player with Penner’s skills were to play as hard as Zeiler?
This whole thing is disgusting.
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Andrew Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:18 pm
@In the Net, yes i can, his name is anze kopitar
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jonsey Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
@Andrew, Kopitar has been known to immitate Penner.
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Andrew Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
@jonsey, i miss him
Forum67 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
@jonsey,
We are sending the four worst centers in the history of the NHL on the ice tonight. Kopi sometimes imitates Penner. Challenge yourself. Post something positive about a Kings player that will be on the ice tonight.
Kings x Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
@jonsey, Anyone can the hero tonight. Too bad they will be from SJ
number 6 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
@Andrew,
Sorry, but at least all the disappointment makes for some funny posts. Of course if I had my choice I’d prefer everyone to be writing ….. omg, what sort of a turnaround is that?!! Our MVP tonight!! Who would’ve thought it. So there is hope.
Well, I guess there always is hope.
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Come on people, Penner is the MOST CONSISTENT player out there, game in, game out.
Too bad he’s consistently crappy.
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jonsey Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
@Spanky, Hahahahaha. Maybe he needs to break out of that and pretend he’s streaky like Frolov.
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number 6 Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 2:55 pm
@jonsey,
Jonsey, you win. That was great!! Some guys on this blog compete with British humour which for me is simply the best. Very ironic.
Ohh, that was a good one.
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I happen to be a bit of an Angels fan. You may know that they had this big trade for Vernon Wells (which some of the espn stations called a big mistake as he has an enormous contract). Well if batting averages are anything to go by, he isn’t exactly been blowing people away either.
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deadcatbounce Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
@number 6, Edge to Kings. At least Penner’s contract is up after next season.
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Kings x Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
@deadcatbounce, Worst move since cloutier?
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Kingsfanone Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
@number 6,
I’m with you 100%, went to 2 games in 2002, one a World Series game. Have my Angels cap with 2002 World Series patch. Vernon Wells is heading down Big Bust Road.
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The big thing is that he doesn’t move his feet…he skates in loops, and so forth…no starting and stopping.
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jess Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
sounds like that disease that those salmon had in idaho
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the_guv Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@jess, LMAO!!! That’s awesome.
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jess Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 3:40 pm
@the_guv, haha (yeah sucks for us;) -but maybe he can create a diversion or something…
jess Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
@the_guv,
–otherwise potentially his next calling might be NASCAR??
Kings x Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 6:17 pm
@jess, How about just coast to the front of the net and park it there?
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He hasn’t earned a 1st line look. I don’t get it.
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Sure looks like Lumbo should have gone in on Mike Fisher rather than Penner.
It never really made much sense to acquire Penner. He’s got a history, after all.
But, TM probably wouldn’t have liked Hemsky because of his size.
DL fumbled the ball again.
All his theories are biting him in the behind. We’re now in that dreaded stage where we make the playoffs and go out in round 1, and get poor 1st round positioning (and we still draft raw, untested defensemen).
Without Kopi this team is an also-ran — little talent and fairly rated as an underdog.
They play with heart, however, which makes the move for Penner even more questionable. At least Smyth has the excuse of being past it at this point. He still works like a devil in the corners but he’s just behind the pace once the puck starts moving.
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Kings x Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
@Cristobal, Nashville-wife. Kind of why Penner-wife worked so well with socal
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Oblivosly you people don’y realize the effort it takes to
move back and forth on the bench..It’s wearing him down..Duh!!
I am one that has faith that he can turn this around..
i also feel the same way of the Dodgers..
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I love the fact that y’all are ripping him etc. He is what he is. This is Dustin Penner. Did you not read anything on him? Did you not read what was said in Edmonton about him? It’s like this is some sort of surprise to y’all. I don’t see why people get worked up about him, just ignore him and anything said about him by Murray etc. The fact of the matter that Murray is actually saying something about him is a lot better than the reaction to Oscar Moller, which is none which says everything to me that the organization has basically given up on him being an NHL player. The fact that the only reason Moller isn’t in the lineup is because Zeiler couldn’t make it, says everything you need to know about Moller, and John Zeiler isn’t an NHL player either! Then again, what about Peter Harrold?
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I would be ashamed if my legacy included the words LAZY & GUTLESS !
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Message sent… will he listen?
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Simarosa Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
@G$,
Maybe for a couple of shifts…….
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