Terry Murray’s postgame thoughts…
(on his postgame message to the team…)
MURRAY: “That’s in-house.”
(on the loss…)
MURRAY: “It’s a 0-0 game. Nichol and Doughty get involved. They score two (goals) on a 4-on-4. Up until that point, the game is a pretty good game. We kill off a 5-on-3, we kill off a double-minor. It’s a pretty good game. I don’t think it was out of control. I don’t think they had a grasp on the game. So everything was good. There’s a 4-on-4. They score two goals. That’s a terrible… You can’t lose Doughty to Nichol. But Nichol, give him credit. He’s the reason why they won tonight. Because they scored two goals on it, and then they end up scoring a goal on the double-minor, Greene in the box. So it’s three goals directly responsible from Nichol’s play. A 3-2 game, we battled back. I really liked our compete, coming back to get back and make it 3-2. It’s a good game. Then, whatever happened in the third period, with giveaways, turnovers, lost faceoffs, that’s sometimes a hard one to explain.”
(on Doughty needing to stay poised…)
MURRAY: “It’s hard not to get involved. The guy took a run at him from the blue line. They’re chirping at each other coming up the ice. They both go at each other. It’s hard. I don’t know if he could have skated away. I think they’re engaged. I don’t think he could have got away from it. Maybe the referee or linesman, maybe one of our players could have stepped in between, to separate them. Anyway, it didn’t happen. You just don’t want to lose your top defenseman to a player of that stature. If you’re going to lose him to a Thornton or a Marleau, then you’ll take that exchange. That was a very costly move.”
(Re emotions of the game): “I thought our emotions were under control. I think the Sharks lost their composure at the end. With Heatley’s penalty, the slew-foot on Martinez, that’s a dangerous play. He’s going back for pucks. That’s a very dangerous play. That’s where you break your leg. That’s where you blow your knee out. I hate that play. That’s a gutless move, in my mind. A gutless move. You just don’t do that in hockey. You never did 30 years ago, and you can’t get away with it. That should have been more than a two-minute minor. That’s a major. That’s a game misconduct.”
(on thoughts of pulling Quick…)
MURRAY: “There was none. Sometimes a goalie has to play through it. It’s his game and he’s got to work his way through it. You look at the goals. We’re going back for a puck. It’s just our defensemen and one of their forwards. We turn the puck over. They have a tap-in in front of the net. That’s not the goaltender’s fault. We lose a faceoff, they shoot the puck from the right point, we left our coverage, center-on-center, Pavelski redirects the puck and it’s in the net. So that’s not goaltending. Changing the goaltender at that time, I think, sends the wrong message to the team. Everybody is in this thing together.”
No emotion. Just the same ol’ post-game thoughts.
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mestrada Reply:
April 21st, 2011 at 11:50 pm
@Kingsation8, sometimes i think TM might be a robot
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 21st, 2011 at 11:51 pm
@mestrada, no a robot is too cool
he just a board that breathes and talks that it
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Pesus Reply:
April 21st, 2011 at 11:58 pm
@mestrada,
Robots are usaully smart
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Skooma Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:11 am
@mestrada, Considering the accent he has you may well be more right than you think.
I still maintain Terry Murray = Colonel Tigh.
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robocop Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 10:05 am
@Skooma,
oh, so hes a drunk!
THE HOCKEY DON Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 7:46 am
@mestrada,
The stepford coach
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I agree that we’re all in this together Terry but at the same time this has to hurt Quick’s confidence. In both games 3 & 4 he’s getting very suspect help and I think the only way to send a message to the team is to put Bernier in because after all….you can’t bench the entire team. Quick’s a strong kid and always comes back hard so I don’t question his work ethic or skill. It’s the other guys that I question. At the end of the day you know your team isn’t going anywhere fast when your best line is Richardson, Simmonds, and a 20yr old Clifford (who is playing his tail off).
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nykingfan Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 5:34 am
@David,
I disagree that pulling Quick would have been the right move, but you’re spot on about our best line being Clifford/Ritchie/Simmer They’re playing amazing, but they can’t be your best line in the playoffs.
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Anjin Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 5:41 am
@David, agree about Quick. Even if most of the goals weren’t his fault you pull him to send a message to the rest of the team.
I think he should have let Bernier get some time halfway through the 3rd at least just so he can get a taste of playing in the playoffs.
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luc20rules Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 7:54 am
@David, The guy that needs to be demoted or benched is Dustin Penner. I have never seen a TM 1st line player coast back on D, so often and need to rest after 15 to 20 seconds of ice time. He is still under contract next year, so its time to send the strong message that its unexeptable now(would have been better 2 games ago). Just watching him play for 20 games now I think he probably stopped doing the right things as Edm season was tanked 20 or so games into the season and wasn’t in physically good shape when we got him. On that note it can’t be helping that we are asking the rest of the team to play extra minutes to have Westie do his 5 mins a game. I think we need to put Moller & Harold/Drewiske as forwards just to add some energy, and express with great urgency that it is Defence that got us here and its the only thing that will turn us around. As for pulling Quick, its probably not the worst idea as long as its stated to the whole team that its the D as a whole that is making it necessary and that it is short term. I wouldn’t do it though unless it was to buy time as momentum was too much against the team.
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yea i wish this team goes to round 2 :’(
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Kingsation8 Reply:
April 21st, 2011 at 11:55 pm
@KingsFanFTW, They will….. McCsorely was in attendance today. That is why they lost.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:04 am
@Kingsation8, LMAO!!
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Whatever coach.. There’s a better coach (project manager) on the other bench. You should go back into the boardroom by yourself and take your medicine. We’re tired of your style… And btw, have you ever won anything, anywhere? Just wondering…
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Guss Reply:
April 21st, 2011 at 11:57 pm
@C leb, he took philly to the finals but rumors swirled he told them they were “choking” and got in theur heads, he was fired after the finals . ( i think)
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Pesus Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:01 am
@Guss,
He pulled hexstall after game one, then got swept, maybe thats why he wont pull quick
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C leb Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:10 am
@Pesus, telling.. very telling.
C leb Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:09 am
@Guss, hardware, Guss, hardware?? Barry Melrose went to the finals, too… and he had a Chateau bow bow.. TM never wants to shake a players confidence, and now we know why. The biggest laugh I’ve had in a long time was tonight before the game… Anybody catch Patty O’Neal ask Marty McSorley if he’d ever been involved in a playoff game with a letdown quite like Game 3? LOL, he asked Marty McSorley that question..!!! It was too funny. And Marty looked at him like, “Dude, did you just ask me that on TV?” Epic!
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HeShootsNScores Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:05 am
@C leb, No. He doesn’t have a cup ring, but either way. He’s coached 14 years and gotten to the playoffs 10 times. I don’t think he’s a bad coach. You cant make chicken soup out of well…. you get the idea. He doesn’t have the personnel to match up.
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tacomakingsfan Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:19 am
@HeShootsNScores,
I don’t think he’s a bad coach either.. just the WRONG coach in this type of ERA.
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HeShootsNScores Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:25 am
@tacomakingsfan, we had a disciplinarian coach before in Crawford. Yeller, emotion, fired up…. where did that get us? How is that working out for Dallas? I’ll take TM over Crawford anyday.
Pesus Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:26 am
@tacomakingsfan,
He would be a good defensive cordinator
tacomakingsfan Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:32 am
@tacomakingsfan,
Wasn’t saying anything about Crawford. I know what he has done. It’s just TM does not coach offense and is strictly defense. That’s not going to cut it anymore.
S Jaime Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 1:25 am
@tacomakingsfan, He is a winning coach, and is not to out of date to take this team all the way. He needs better assistants though. He needs assistants that are respected, ones the kids on the team will look up to and want to learn from. He needs more depth, more leadership out there on the ice. DB doesn’t have the sack to call out veterans and tell them to step up their game. He should have called Penner out in front of the team a long time ago, and straight up laid it down. Something to the effect of look.. You are living many kids dream, and getting paid well to do it. This organization gave up a big chunk of it’s future, while giving you a chance to be in the playoffs. We saved you from the NHL cellar. You at least better give it all out there. We don’t expect results we expect effort. With effort the results will come. We needs leaders who will speak up, and not be scared to light a fire under the Arse of their teamates when needed. Murry needs to be stronger in the messages he sends to…… and stick to it. If he wants to send Penner a message give his ice time to Poni… great I love it. Make Penner earn it back though…. take his job back. Not just for one game and then hand it back to Penner. This team needs to get tougher in all aspects. It is Hockey… it isn’t personal, and there is no room for thin skin.
red49er Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 11:40 am
@HeShootsNScores, maybe he is the marty shottenheimer of hockey.
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Godzilla Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 11:04 am
@C leb,
Don’t over react. Remember, Kopi is out and Williams is dinged up. That’s no excuse for the rest of the team. TM preaches defensively responsibility – which the team has lacked in the last couple of games. Is that his fault???
I don’t think you can pin it all on the coach. I’m a huge kings fan but I had sharks winning in 5…sharks in 6 would have been a moral victory for the kings.
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Rich, did anyone ask why he didn’t pull Quick when we had the 5 on 3 with 3 minutes left in the game? In 333 we were all screaming for it. Where was his head?
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TiredOfIt Reply:
April 21st, 2011 at 11:57 pm
@Krusher, In 302 we just started crying and left
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baby23 Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 6:37 am
@Krusher, We we all screaming it in section 101! Why just tell us why????
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Jkking Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 7:50 am
@baby23, Ya in 101, I was yelling at the players tof’ing shoot the puck!!!
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baby23 Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 9:04 am
@Jkking, I heard ya
so did that lovely Sharks fan sitting in the row in front of us!
Seems A Good Fellow Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 8:04 am
@baby23, i’ll tell you why he didn’t pull the goalie…same reason Penner still saw first line minutes until there was 4 minutes to go in the game….same reason our PP is so inefficient…TM has no balls! We’re down 3 goals coach with 3 minutes to go and a 2 man advantage. We need a goal right away on that PP not 30 seconds or a minute in! Give our team a better opportunity to score. Goal differential means nothing in the playoffs…there are no tiebreakers…just wins and losses! No balls! It took a goal by Poni before Coach decided hey, “maybe #27 gives us a better look on the top line?” 4 minutes left before that change was made. It seemed TM couldn’t wait to bench Richardson any time there was a problem in his game during the regular season and I’ll bet most of us we’re wondering what exactly Richardson did to get benched? TM’s reasoning, “There’s little parts of Richie’s game we don’t like.” Well coach you shouldn’t like any part of Penner’s game! No Balls! (Sidebar: Props to Richie’s for being out best player this series so far!) Our PP is 3 for 19…sure the movement has been better in the playoffs then it was in the regular season but the results are the same. Why are you using the same personnel that agent achieving the needed results? I understand we have 2 units but we had 3 players last night that worked harder and created more offense then any line on the ice including Thornton’s line! I’m sorry but what happened to rewarding players with PP time? Richardson, Simmons and Clifford should have received an opportunity to play with an extra man! Sure, TM likes to roll that line after an unsuccessful PP but any line could’ve filled that roll. No Balls!
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baby23 Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 9:06 am
@Seems A Good Fellow, Well said, WOW! and thank you!
this guy is soft as a grape.
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Mr. Murray, your postseason record with the Kings is unacceptable. We’re going to need to see improvement next year or we will have to make a change, because this year is shot. I know I know. Be positive. Does anyone really think we can beat the fish 3 straight? After these last 2 farses? When I tried to leave Staples tonight the escalator was going backwards, up instead of down. They cant even get that right
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Jeff Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 2:32 am
@TiredOfIt, They did only allow 3 total goals in the 2 games in San Jose, no reason to not believe they can’t do that again. Obviously the defense stayed in San Jose, while the players went on Vacation in Los Angeles. We can win 3 in a row. Our record over the last several years is much better at HP Pavillion against the Sharks, then at Staples against the Sharks. 3 total games left, with 2 in San Jose. We know they can win there. So all they need to do is do that twice and find somehow someway to win 1 here. As long as the defense shows up in L.A., we can do it. This team is very resilient and play their best when there backs are to the wall. I expect a very good showing come Saturday, Just look what Chicago is doing to Vancouver. All it takes is 1 period at a time, 1 game at a time. This comes down to 3 Game 7′s.
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azyanfly69 Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 9:29 am
@Jeff, Sorry… but you cannot compare the current Stanley Cup Champs to the LA Kings at this point. Not on paper and not on the ice. The Sharks haven’t lost two games in a row in regulation nor OT (with the exception of shootouts which don’t apply in the playoffs) since December. So, thinking they’re going to lose 3 in a row is just setting yourself up for a heartbreak much like game 3 was.
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Jeff Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:01 pm
@azyanfly69, First off I wasn’t comparing the Kings with Chicago, I was just showing what it takes to win, being down 3 games to 1 or 0. Now as to San Jose not losing 3 in a row, it can happen. Just because they haven’t done it lately, doesn’t mean it can’t happen. The Kings haven’t played so bad defensively all year, yet they did 2 games in a row. This is the playoffs, you never know what will happen game to game, period to period. I will be disappointed if they lose but that won’t last long, as I will then be off to next season knowing this team is getting better every year.
The worst thing about the kopi injury is that DL has an excuse to keep TM around next year. If it takes another blow out in game 5 to get rid of this guy then so be it. I got a few more vicodin left.
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Jeff Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 2:44 am
@Pesus, Who out there can do a better job with this group then TM? Can you name someone? Most peope come up with Dave Tippett, but what exactly has he done more then TM has done? He has been the coach with the 2 best seasons in team history, coming up 2 points short of back to back 100pt seasons. Why does everybody want this guy gone, when all he has done is make this team better. This is the best this team has ever played defensively, notwithstanding the last 2 games. Offensively yes has been a challenge, but we knew it be that way coming in. DL built this team from the backend out. He built the defense and goaltending first, then comes the offense. Unfortunately when you build through the draft it takes a while for the offensive players to come around. Until that happens DL has brought in competitive placeholders, until those he drafted are ready to come in. TM designs his system to be best suited for the talent and skill he is given. Given the Kings right now there isn’t a lot of that, so that is why we play a defense first system, with offense working on a cycle puck possession. I know it isn’t the most exciting, but it works. Yes it would look a lot better if we had more skill and talented players, just look at Detroit. Until that happens, which it will starting next season, the team will be getting better and not be so offensively challenged.
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Paul G Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 6:36 am
@Jeff, Dave Cameron
20x times better than Murray
Google him
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Paul G Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 6:37 am
@Paul G, he was the coach of Team Canada at the WJC, he is the coach of the Mississauga Majors and there is talk about him coming into the NHL next season
Jeff Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:39 pm
@Paul G, I admit he is a good coach, but he has no NHL experience. Wouldn’t he be a better coach for a team that is rebuilding, like Florida? The fact is would DL hire someone like Cameron? Before he hired TM, he had a chance to hire Peter Deboer who has won a memorial cup, but DL opted for the more experienced TM. What makes you think that would change now, especially after 2 successful seasons. I think TM will get at least 1 more year.
snbrdsummit Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 9:12 am
@Jeff,
No. Dean Lombardi has made this team better. We have the best talent on average over 4 lines in the NHL. We have the best pair of goalies in the NHL. Only EVERY pundit in the league said so of both topics entering the season. We were slated to be contenders this year. So Kopi got hurt. Big deal. Pittsburg played without Malkin and Crosby (two $7M players) for at least a 1/3 of the year and still finished top 4. This is a team sport. Good coaches can compensate for the loss of one player.
TM is a terrible coach. The majority of people who defend him on this site can only talk about his demeanor as a coaching trait to be happy or sad about. He’s not a cheerleader, he’s a coach. His job is to be a tactician, improve our shortcomings, and analyze the shortcomings of others to exploit weaknesses. His post-game analysis of Game 3 was that it was a “track meet”. No, you got outcoached by a team that was demoralized at the end of the 1st period. How hard is it to call a timeout and regroup?
-Our PP has been bad every year he’s been here. He can’t improve it. Fire him!
-We’re constantly playing players like Ivanans, Westgarth, Penner and Lewis when the game is on the line and we need to score. Why? These guys have a combined 10 goals for the year for us. Why waste our precious final minutes with them in the game? Fire him!
-Our offensive strategy is and has always been dump and chase since he got here. These are professional hockey players with more skill than Pee-Wee players. How about giving an actual strategy? Fire him!
-Win 8 and lose 1 game.. Change the lines. Lose a 4-0 lead with an obviously uninterested player on the ice. Nah… Let’s keep everything the same. Fire him!
-”TV timeouts are good enough”. Fire him!
We almost missed the playoffs last year and almost missed the playoffs this year because we couldn’t finish. He has a hell of a group of young men to work with and we still can’t finish top 4.
Tippett would be better, Cameron would be better. But we passed on Dan Bylsma (an EX-KING). Listen to this guys post-game interviews. That is a coach!
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Paul G Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 10:00 am
@snbrdsummit, Thank you
I hope when the young offensive guns are finally ready (like Toffoli) that DL goes out and gets a better coach and let’s this team play with an offensive mindset and Murray past D teachings will help slighty (at best)
Truth is, we need our prospects to play and develop and stop signing guys like Ponikarovksy who do nothing and take ice time away (mainly in the regular season) from guys like Clifford
This off-season won’t include many changes but if you look at the contracts that r coming up next offseason, one can expect major changes to happen with Penner, Smyth, Parse, Stoll, Mitchell, Westgarth all UFAs! BRING UP OUR FUTURE CUP WINNERS!!
Jeff Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:31 pm
@snbrdsummit, To answer your first part, yes Dean has made this team better, but it still is lacking in offensive firepower. I don’t know what the pundits were saying at the beginning of the year, but everybody who follows the Kings knows they wouldn’t win the Stanley Cup this season, that our best bet to do so is next season. As far as Kopi getting hurt, he went out when there were 7 games left. Pittsburgh had 3 months to play without Malkin and Crosby. They lost a bunch of games in the beginning when they first went out, but regrouped and went on a tear because they started playing defense first and got great goaltending.
TM is not a terrible coach. A terrible coach wouldn’t get his team back to back seasons of 46 wins and 100 points (missed by 2 this season.) He built the system based on the players he has to work with, the one he feels best the team will succeed in. It obviously works as this team has been successful the last 2 seasons.
The Power Play was in the top ten last season, only this year it was bad. Our Penalty Kill wasn’t great last season, but this year it is top 5. These things go in cycles. Look at San Jose there PK is horrible, but they make it up by there PP being very good. A good team is good in one or the other, a great team is good at both. As for players he plays Ivanans was here last year and hardly played, Westgarth hardly plays and as for Penner, what do you expect him to do? He didn’t bring him in, DL did. You put your best skilled forwards at the end of games and he is one of them. Lewis has played great all year, in a 4th line role. He isn’t expected to score a lot of goals yet, as he is a rookie. He has shown flashes of scoring prowess with the injuries, as he has been elevated to 1st or 2nd line duty. So the fact that he is in the end of games, is not a problem. Every coach changes lines, he has even put Penner on the 4th line and elevated Poni a couple of games. Poni has done well when that has happened. He is not going to bench him, as who is he going to play instead?
The fact is we made the playoffs, we didn’t almost, we did. The players seem to really like TM. I don’t see them losing because of that. They battle hard to the end. They don’t give up when things go bad. That is the sign of a good coach. Whether or not he can get us to the next level remains to be seen. I can’t see DL firing TM now, maybe next season if we don’t finsih higher, with better skilled forwards coming in.
Most of this sounds like a Bob Miller synopsis just after the game ends. Murray’s big mistake is his lack of SHOWING emotion at the right time. Being even keel in many situations is usually the right call, and many times TM has done that correctly.
Now is not the right time to withhold emotion. After 12 goals are allowed in 2 home games, he MUST put some pressure on his players to perform publicly. He’s been the father figure to this team, very protective publicly, for the longest time now. I liken it to a father afraid to let his kids go out into the real world themselves, sheltering them from character building moments by not putting them under some expectative pressure and forcing them to perform, even fail, so they can learn through experience instead of just coaching.
This reads like a coach who is uncomfortable with pressuring his team to perform. It’s the crux of the complaints by many fans on why TM will have trouble taking this team any further. He’s a great mentor and a great system’s coach, but he’s not a very good motivator.
He is the reason his team says ‘Try’ a lot.
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TiredOfIt Reply:
April 21st, 2011 at 11:59 pm
@Cynic, Im going to “try” to renew my season tickets for next year
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Cynic Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:16 am
@TiredOfIt, LOL! THAT was GOLD!
If Kings fans had that mentality as this team right now, Season ticket prices would be 1/2 price next year due to abundant availability and the Kings would end up in Winnipeg!
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jess Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:01 am
@Cynic,
I agree with the analysis but the roles are backwards.
TM coddles everyone like Mother Goose when he should be Papa Wolf…
He acts like an enabler on welfare, with so many children, he knows not what to do..
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SouthBayPhil Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:03 am
@Cynic, You’re right. TM has been done a creditable job taking a young team this far. But now they need a more hardass coach, particularly if that coach brings a more imaginative offensive coordinator.
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Stuart Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 7:49 am
@Cynic, (on his postgame message to the team…)
MURRAY: “That’s in-house.”
That’s where the emotion was, I’m almost certain! We don’t need a ranting lunatic answering/yelling at reporters. I’m sure he had more than a few choice words in that meeting.
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the attendance told him to have a TIMEOUT!
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He’s right singling out Nichols. I was at the game and it was clear that Nichols was agitating everyone he could in hopes of taking someone out of the game with him. When he succeeded with Doughty he not only put the Sharks in a big skating advantage with all the ice available 4 on 4, but also got perhaps our best skater/offensive threat in 4 on 4 situations off the ice. The refs should have seen what Nichols was doing and not rewarded him for his borderline dirty play. Up til that point in the game, it was either team’s to win. After that call, it was practically all San Jose’s game.
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azyanfly69 Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 9:43 am
@SouthBayPhil, Watch the replay right before the Nichols – Doughty incident. Doughty purposely tripped Nichols NO WHERE NEAR THE PUCK and right in front of Niemi as every player had already started to head back towards the Kings zone. That is what caused Nichols to begin chirping at Doughty and Doughty knew it, thus engaging rather than skating away. So, if you want to blame someone for the two 4 on 4 goals, blame Doughty. He isntigated the whole thing. Murray needs to acknowledge his team’s wreckless play and make them take responsibility for their individual actions rather than pointing fingers and talking crap about the other team’s players. Those kind of comments are far beneath the standards of how an NHL coach should react.
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I’m really fed up with the way he sees things..
I mean he isn’t wrong about DD penalty.
But thats what you say about entire game..
He got us to the play-offs kinda,
but doesn’t seem to be able to rally the troops when
it counts.. Maybe it’s misplayed anger, but
he is starting to bug me..
Also it’s late and I’m depressed..
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I”M SHAVING.
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Kingsation8 Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:00 am
@jkking, Boooooooooooooooooooo. Might as well be a duck fan too!
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Jkking Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 7:53 am
@Kingsation8, This isn’t working. We need change
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TiredOfIt Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:02 am
@jkking, Me too, what a stupid tradition with this team.
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Blah….Blah…..Blah compete level….blah blah blah…….puck management. And why is Murray so focused on the missed calls. I am no NHL coach but I would know it’s not the blown calls that killed us. Sharks were completing cross ice passes at will, blown coverages on the trailers and poor play all around. We did the same to the sharkies in game 2 and McClellan realized what was going on and made adjustments. Here we have Murray cryin about what should be called…..
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S Jaime Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 1:32 am
@joe dirt, Absolutely…. Amen…. couldn’t agree more. Forget the missed calls. Worry about the things you can fix and can control. Like the breakdowns made by the Kings. He has no control over what calls are made, so let it go.
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number 6 Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 4:58 am
@joe dirt,
That is a really astute post. As for the slew footing, heck almost every team in this year’s playoffs has had to deal with nasty plays that have absolutely no place in hockey. The Hawks were down and left for dead after LOSING one of their key players on a horrible hit from that creep Torres. So, did they complain,…… no Joel Quenville said he accepts the nhl’s abysmal ruling (my words – not his) of no suspension.
So what did they do? They came out and outscored Vancouver (best team in the league) by 12-2 in the next two games. Simple.
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-I would strongly consider starting Bernier for game 5, not because of Quick’s performance, it’s because there’s a chance the defense might have a different approach/mindset. Sometimes a goalie change can do that to a team.
-For god sake, get rid of Dustin Penner. Alex Ponikarovsky came here to play hockey. Has Poni produced like we hoped? not really. I will take a good solid work ethic over the slow, neanderthal-like Dustin Penner. More ice time for Poni, please and thanks-you.
-More Clifford-Richy-Simmonds too
-Zeus has been awful. Does this mean an opportunity for Trevor Lewis?
-Oscar Moller in for Dustin Penner or Kevin Westgarth?
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:05 am
@Chris P. Bacon, moller for Penner at least Westy trys
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SouthBayPhil Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:10 am
@Chris P. Bacon, I was at game and on several shifts watched Penner the entire time. It really is shocking how much he just stands around and does nothing and then when he chooses to get involved does so half-heartedly. I thought he was our worst player out there tonite. Even Westgarth, who has limited talent, played harder and got involved more. How are we going to get this guy motivated or dump his salary? DL got hoodwinked by the Oilers on this deal.
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number 6 Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 5:00 am
@SouthBayPhil,
It’s the worst trade he’s made since he’s been Kings GM.
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I watched the interview after the game, and for the first time this season, I wasn’t accepting of his answers and body language.
Kept telling friends that when he was hired, this was a great move for 3 – 4 years. I think time is running out. TM needs to be more receptive to change, or DL will have to pull the plug. Would love to be proved wrong. Lets start by winning Saturday. GKG
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“Then, whatever happened in the third period, with giveaways, turnovers, lost faceoffs, that’s sometimes a hard one to explain.”
Well if the head coach can’t explain it he sure can’t fix it. I will explain it this way, TM plays not to lose, hope to get one goal, then protect that lead. Other teams have figured the Kings system out and make adjustments during the game. TM is a good teacher, would make a good coach for the defensemen, but has taken this team as far as he can. Another first round elimination (unless a minor miracle occurs) is not acceptable.
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LAK1ngs Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:45 am
@bill donnelly, Well if the head coach can’t explain it he sure can’t fix it.
Agree whole-heartedly. If the coach doesn’t know, WTF? He has tried nothing and he is all out of ideas?
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number 6 Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 5:02 am
@bill donnelly,
Bill, I disagree only to the extent that I don’t even have a problem with a first round loss. It’s THE WAY they are losing. THAT is what I have a problem with.
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As a Kings fan win or lose since 1967, this team is still exciting and has a bright future ahead. Overall, tonight was another total collapse by the entire team with exceptions for Brown, Simmonds, RIchardson, Clifford and of course Quickie. Dustin Penner is a bust. He doest put forth any effort. He cant give a hit let alone take one. I have never seen a professional player that stand 6-4, 220 pounds get knocked on his arse so many times in a game. He wont go to the front of the net and wont go into the corners and fight for the puck. I would rather have Oscar Moeller with his 5-10, 150 pounds on the ice trying and getting dumped than to continue watching Dustin Penner continuously getting his ass handed to him by any player he comes into contact with. In my mind, there really isnt any excuse for that many Sharks to be that wide open and no one near them. Its obvious that too many Kings players are NOT watching the flow of the game or tracking the other teams players that are on the ice. Just a total lack of effort and total lack of vision by the team and the coaches. I hope next season changes are made. And also for the record, Doughty and John son were better defensemen under the guidance of Mark Hardy than they are of John Stevens.
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SouthBayPhil Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:20 am
@Matt, I understand how disappointed and angry our fans are about the past two games–so am I. But let’s keep some perspective. Before this series, I and many others felt it would be 4-1 Sharks simply by virtue of their overwhelming talent advantage. Yes, it could have been closer, particularly if we had won game 3, but in a 7 game series the superior team usually prevails and we know we really aren’t ready yet to make a serious challenge for the Cup. With Kopi back, Schenn and some other more talented offensive players on the roster next year, maybe DL and TM can prove their methods are right. Unfortunately, the Kings signed on DL for a few more years. If DL and TM can’t make a serious run next year, someone will have to go, which means TM, so a lot of you bloggers will finally have your wish granted then.
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Oh go on and start Bernier. We’re pretty much done and even if by some miracle we make it to the second round there is no way they’ll let us slide with the anemic play going on.
I think it’ll be good for him to get some playoff experience. Not like Quick will do much better at this point.
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bill donnelly Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:17 am
@Skooma, Quick will start and play the whole game unless he gets injured. Three weeks later TM will say I should have played Bernier.
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Jeff Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 2:57 am
@Skooma, You really think Bernier iis going to play better, if we keep playing defensively like we did the last 2 games? Do you really think Bernier would of made those saves in the first period on the 5 on 3? I am not sure he would have. Quick is the #1 goalie this season and you live and die with your #1, unless they get injured or play real bad. That is one thing Quick hasn’t done is play bad. You can’t fault him on most all of the goals scored the last 2 games. If the players get there heads out of there behinds and allow Quick to play like he did in games 1 and 2, there is a chance we can win 3 in a row. If we do that I like our chances against Detroit, as we all know how Quick rises to the occasion against the hated Red Wings. So no Bernier should not start. Next season will become a battle royal, as the Kings start to find out just who they want as the #1, Quick or Bernier. After next season, 1 or the other will be gone as neither will want to be the backup.
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Rod Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 3:49 am
@Jeff, I don’t think we’ve seen Bernier’s play enough to trade Quick away, I predict Bernier will be traded to a team with goal tending needs for a first liner, probably sometime next season.
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poe Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 8:34 am
@Skooma, I guess you are optimisic that Murray will change something that would be effective. It is hard to watch Penner on the PP…..he is less than dynamic. Yes, Westy is improving, but not at playoff level.Perhaps if Murray would bench these two and put Moller snd Parse in their places, we might see some changes. Also Bernier in for Quick. Although Quick has not been at fault for most of the goals, the team may be more protective of Bernier and play better D.
P.S. Penner is second only to Cloutier as a bad trade.
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I have refrained from being critical of TM all season… But down 3 under 3 to go and on a 2-man adv. and he doesnt pull quick for a 6 on 3!?!?!?!? Did he not believe in his team? Yes they stunk it up there, but I FIRMLY believe you go for broke there…. how much worse could the last 3 min gone?
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Cynic Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:24 am
@ArmChairKingsFan, Yep. It’s like he’s always a step behind. Game 3 he doesn’t call the timeout and gets grief. Game 4 he DOES call the timeout (Correctly in my opinion) and then totally blows pulling Quick for the 6 on 3. Of COURSE you go for it there! You’re absolutely correct! Down 3 with a chance to get 2 back quickly gives you a chance to tie. If they empty net, it’s over anyway.
I just don’t know where his head is at. I wonder what DL thought abou that moment?
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ArmChairKingsFan Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:34 am
@Cynic,
EXACTLY!!! I was having flashbacks of Ziggy, Deader, Luc, Stumpy, and,the frenzy EXACTLY TEN YEARS AGO. My nostalgia meter was sky high….. But the more I yelled at my tv, the longer Quick stayed in, and the faster I came back to reality.
And yes, he was very correct with the timeout…. Directly resulted in 2 goals.
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Brent Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 7:13 am
@ArmChairKingsFan, I totally agree that we should have pulled the goalie and thrown another player down low.
However, the problem with that 5-3 power play is that we were only trying to shoot from the point. We have two extra players and our formation doesn’t give us an advantage down low. If the Kings had another skater out there, I don’t think it would have helped with us shooting from the point like we are only down 1 man.
Why not bring the puck down low and engage the 3 defensive players and then pinch in the points and shoot from closer on a one timer?
I just don’t understand how unimaginative our power play is. You don’t have to have THAT much skill if your systems are built to succeed. Ours is based on getting a tip or a bounce with a screen. Some of our players don’t even go to the front of the net, so how are we supposed to accomplish this?
If you keep saying that we don’t have the talent, then our players will start to believe it and never develop their skills. You have to allow them to try and fail (during the regular season, mind you) and then help them get there with coaching before the playoffs.
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Stuart Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 7:54 am
@Brent, exactly!! why NOT bring the puck down low????? I was screaming for them to MOVE IT DOWN LOW repeatedly!!! And it was like the more I screamed the more they petr’d with it up high!!! That was disgusting!
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ArmChairKingsFan Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 6:57 pm
@Brent, I don’t disagree with your point, but that frustrating mentality has been there all season. Down low is exactly where the 6th man should have gone had TM pulled Quick. But for some reason the creativity and movement that made the Kings 7th overall on the PP las year disappeared. Was Harpo the PP coach? If so then this season speaks to Kompon’s inability as the PP coach. If it was Kompon, then the onus lies more on the ice than on the PP system.
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TM!!! No offense to Quick. But you should have pulled him the last game. Maybe we will have a different outcome. YOU have learned from the opposition team in the last game and pulled Quick at the first to provide a spark. We are soo slow against a run and gum team. And I’m really hating that they don’t have enough skill.. The team needs a skilled player!! And fastest teammates to win!! Its not the 80s… Uhhhh I’m frustrated. Give Bernie a chance I think JB defeated himself last game in the second period. See all of you next year! Well probably not
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Jeff Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 3:03 am
@pat, If the team had played better and gotten the puck deep and cycled the Sharks to death, it wouldn’t of gotten into a run and gun game. Yes we aren’t as fast as the Sharks, but we neutralized that in games 1 and 2. Unfortunately after getting the big league, they totally changed the way they were playing and allowed San Jose back into the game. If it takes game 5 and 6 to win 1-0 in each, like Potvin did to Colorado 10 years ago, to get to game 7 I am all for it. Just play defense boring hockey, none of this running around run and gun hockey. We can’t win that way at this time.
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Just like last year, could have, should have, would have, out coached again. Great system, wide open backdoor , over and over and over. dave tippett ???
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ArmChairKingsFan Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:39 am
@ziggy99, Your name and post takes me back 10 yrs to when ziggy and co stunned det, and tippet was the special teams coach. No disrespect to andy murray, but I feel tippet was the architect of that team, as evidenced by what happened to the kings when he left for dallas compared to his run since becoming a head coach.
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Bkrs-Bud Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:44 am
@ziggy99, Didn’t the Yotes get swept?
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Daniel Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:54 am
@Bkrs-Bud, Yeah but that was because of a lack of talent on the ice, not behind the bench. Babcock said Tippett was the best coach he’s gone up against.
Tippett adapted his system to the Wings and even with some close games the Wings are just too stacked.
Murray has 1 system that is useless post lock out and is predictable. Any team in a series can pick it a part. Bettmen made this league for goal scorers and our system has produced no 30 goal scorers even though we have the talent. I even blame the system for Penner’s short comings. His first 2 games he was decent then after adopting the system, he moved away from the front of the net.
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Jeff Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 3:13 am
@Daniel, How many 30 goal scorers did Phoenix have? Yet how many 20 goal scorers did they have? Detroit is stacked yes, which is why there system looks good. I bet if you switched all the red wings players with the Kings players, TM would become great coach. His system is not all that different from Detroit’s, they just have more talented and skilled players then we do, at this time. It isn’t surprising that Penner is having so much trouble adapting to the system, as he was brought in so late, trial by fire. I am sure once he goes through training camp with the system, that he will be much better next season. I mean it is a Contract year!!!!!!!!
We got out coached, plain and simple. Thanks for the good times thus far but next season, Murray needs to go.
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Jeff Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 3:15 am
@Daniel, There is still at least 1 more game to play, hopefully 3. I guess TM didn’t get out coached in San Jose. Which is great, since 2 out of 3 games are there.
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I will openly admit I am not a STH…. but if I was I would call their offices next Monday and demand TM be fired or no renewal. Nothing can seem to get this management to fix the fraking problems.
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Kyle Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 7:48 am
@LAK1ngs, And I will call and demand he stay or I drop my 20+ year tickets. Point is the threat is meaningless since there are hundreds of armchair coaches out here and we know (except for perhaps Quisp) almost nothing about how to run or coach a team. Has TM lost the room? Except for Penner have the boys stopped listening or trying? Answer to both is no. He’s molding a young team in a franchise with a minimal winning tradition. I’m willing to be patient–frustrating as that may be.
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Hockey Dad Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 8:47 am
@Kyle, Thanks for a post of reason. The reality is that TM has gotten the team into post season two years in a row… something that hasn’t happened for awhile. And last year was totally unexpected. We’re being outplayed by a team that is the second best in the Western Conference. If all coaches who have underdog teams were fired because they couldn’t beat a better opponent, then we’d lose almost half the coaches out there. It’s a lot easier to make hypothetical coaching decisions in front of a video game than from the stands. As a die-hard Kings fan since Dave Taylor’s rookie season, I am as hopeful about this team as I ever have been. DL has built a strong core, TM is instilling a culture of hard work (even if they lose it occasional), and the team plays with more pride than I’ve seen in a long while… even more than the Gretzky era because the whole team is buying into a system. They just need to execute it for 60 minutes… and sometimes that’s not the coach’s fault. Maturity and experience play a huge part in winning consistently.
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Stuart Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 9:08 am
@Hockey Dad, Amen!
Another night at the heartbreak hotel. I’d have to agree with the rest of the guys that a swap of goalie was in order. It’s no reflection on Quick, just a message to the team. Other than that, this is the first time that I can ever remember where the Kings can claim to have a defensive system and the failure was that they got away from their game. This team has made good progress towards the playoffs, but we’re still light up front. We’re definitely missing Kopie on both sides of the puck. Even with Kopie in the lineup, it was going to be a tall order. Lombardi got tripped up with the Kovalchuk antics at the beginning of the year and Penner hasn’t shown up yet. Kopie needs some help. In the meantime, we need to finish this thing out with some pride and show up the rest of the way.
Go Kings go!!!
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Is every single poster going to blame the coach for this loss? What about the players? And it’s the stupidest things, you don’t like his demeanor, you don’t like his answers in the press conference, he doesn’t change goalies for the sake of making a change. I guess we need someone to blame for theses losses but it seems like Murray is being scapegoated here.
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Jeff Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 3:22 am
@Marc, I don’t see anybody blaming any of the players who are missing there assignments and leaving Quick out to dry. I notice when the Power Play was failing that everybody was asking for Kompon to be fired, what about John Stevens who handles the defense? What about him. Yes TM is a coach who stresses defense, but Stevens is the defensive coordinator.
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Vic Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 9:14 am
@Marc, Everyone welcome Marc Murray…
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oh, i get what you are saying by bringing up the Doughty penalty…its doughty’s fault….are you kidding me TM? Its your fault. I wish we could fire you before Saturday. You are an embarrasment. I looked over at you with about a minute left and you looked lost. I almost felt sorry for you except that i am a season ticket holder and i pay your salary. You should feel sorry for me….
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I’m still stuck on why TM didn’t call a timeout when it was 4-2 or 4-3 or even 5-4 during game 3. If he has simply calmed the team down, they may have settled into a trap and kept San Jose from scoring again. And tonight, you have a two man advantage, down 3, what do you have to lose? Might as well go all out and have it 6 on 3. TM is too cautious…Andy Murray would have done it.
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gmo Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 9:49 am
@Rod,
that game and him not calling the timeout was the turning point of the series in my eyes…..gave the sharks confidence and all the momentum
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Let’s hope we don’t have anymore “good games”, like the one we had last night.
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The only difference between the Kings losing Kopi/Williams and Pittsburgh losing Sid/Malkin was the timing. Bylsma has done a great job adjusting their style of play as the season progressed, and after a short time had the Pens back playing solidly, and beating a Tampa team that is pretty similar in style and talent level to San Jose, at least offensively. Unfortunately, with our two best players going down so late in the season, it’s been tough/impossible for TM to adjust on the fly. I don’t think the Pens (minus their big 2) are more talented then the Kings (minus Kopi). They just had more ime to adjust to the loss. Having won a cup before has to help too. Bylsma should be coach of the year, and the Kings should throw a boat load of money at him to get him here. As for this series, SJ can send out 5 or 6 world class players in critical situations, like overtime. When LA’s best overtime chances in game 2 came from Westie and Richardson, well you get the idea. Kings definitely need more skill, especially up front, and some better luck next year with injuries. Jury is still out on Penner.
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Stuart Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 7:57 am
@Blade17, Bylsma just signed an extension so forget about that.
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You all expected so much more from this team. Now everyone is disappointed. We’re still in a rebuild. It’s not the coach, We’re a few players shy of legitimacy. This is another experience. The series is done. San Jose will move to the second round. That’s okay. It’s what was predicted. This series has been a means to an end. Within the next 3 years we will win the west and advance to to the Finals.
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Another note. Whether or not TM is fired, this will be a good indication of DL’s mindset and his perception of where he thinks this team should be. TM is not going to get fired. Just a hunch.
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Just curious why the Kings let Boudreau go when he was at Manchester? Was it because of lack of success? If so, that was not his fault..the farm system was just ok back then..
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on the 4 on 4 the Coach had Zeus out there. He is SLOW. How come Westy doenst try and get under the skin of the Sharks players???
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Kyle Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 7:49 am
@neil, Because he is defensively responsible.
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Lombardi is too silent. TM’s twisting in the wind. The players he has shown great respect for are letting us all down. To hang this performance on Murray is just a desperate, biased, and ill-conceived grasp at another quick fix. Players play, coaches give them the benefit of their experience and leadership. But the puck is on the player’s sticks.
This is a really young team, playing their first 10 games together. This is a team that lost it’s best skater. This is a team that has been very inconsistent since the trade deadline acquisition. The Sharks are not an unworthy team.
Lombardi fires Murray Monday am.
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anonandonanon Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 7:49 am
@anonandonanon, those would be “first 10 playoff games”.
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Stuart Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 7:59 am
@anonandonanon, after all that you end with TM being fired on Mon? LOL didn’t see that one coming.
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anonandonanon Reply:
April 22nd, 2011 at 8:07 am
@Stuart, Lombardi will keep this at arm’s length.
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WHY CAN’T CLIFFORD, RICHARDSON AND SIMMONDS PLAY THE PP……I KNOW WHY IT WOULD GIVE THE GM A HECK OF SHOT FOR HIS POOR DECISIONS IN CONTRACTS
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I’ve tried all season not to be critical of TM for the reason that he has gotten us to the playoff’s twice after a long drought. But his low key, lack of emotion is not what this team needs. If you’re too low key all of the time, you can’t expect the players to be properly motivated with the required sense of urgency. If you scream all the time, like Crawford, you turn the guys off and get nowhere. He needs to show the type of emotion that lets the boys know that he cares and that he has a personal stake in the teams success. He needs to be a coach who knows when to show emotion at the proper time. And on occasion, he has to be the tough guy. Now, that being said, you have to work with what you’ve got, but you don’t have to continue to repeat your mistakes. We know Kopi is out of the equation, TM. That’s not what you’re being asked. We want to know when you’re going to cut our losses by benching Penner and giving Moller a shot. He’s got heart and speed, both of which Penner lacks. You need to sit down with DD and make him realize his little outburst that put him in the box was a rookie mistake and should not be repeated. And Green…. he talked about getting back and playing our game, but he lets his emotion get the best of him and gets us into serious trouble with an intentional high cross check. There’s plenty of blame to go around, but it starts with the coaching…. Step up to the plate, TM. You’ve got one more game to make it work……..
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next year might be better, with better players
we might go two rounds, Oh I forgot same coach
maybe not
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TM is not good enough. Way too arrogant! You are being out coached. Sharks are the better team, but you are not getting it done. I’m very sorry to be tough, but back to back games with coaching mistakes is not ok.
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