The near-daily Dustin Penner watch took a positive turn in Game 5 last night, as Penner scored a goal and played 11 minutes, 41 seconds in a left-wing role with Jarret Stoll and Kevin Westgarth. That’s a reduction in ice time for Penner, and Terry Murray explained today that the cutback isn’t a punishment. Murray said it’s a way to manage Penner’s minutes better and an attempt to put him in situations for success…
MURRAY: “His game was good. He worked, he was focused, he used his size. Right now, with Pens, I think the matchup right now is important. I’m giving him an opportunity here to back away on having to shut down a Thornton line on that part of the game. He’s capable, but the game is just not there right now. So with a different look, it’s an opportunity to kind of get your game together and have some success, with maybe certainly not the same threat coming at him, as a Thornton line.”
Penner on the first line with Westy!!!!!
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Harty Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 7:35 am
@neil, try the bench for Penny
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musta put down the blunts finally
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On a off topic side note, Ducks season is over. For some reason I want Selanne back for another year. Only ducks player I have respect for.
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nking11 Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 6:11 pm
@OC Hip Check,
He’s a freakin hockey robot, He might have 2 or 3 more years left in him
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bulldog13lak Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
@OC Hip Check, totally agree, he showed a lot of class when he said it was good both LA teams got into the playoffs.
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Bluecoconuts Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
@OC Hip Check, I don’t, just because I don’t want to play against him anymore.
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KC23 Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
@OC Hip Check, At his age he looks way too good if you know what I mean. Kinda like Clements, Bonds etc looked way too good later in their careers.
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jonsey Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 6:30 pm
@KC23, He is very Bonds. He might need some “random” testing to see if he really is that good.
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Goring 19 Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
@KC23, don’t mince words KC23. Are you saying he eats his wheaties? LOL
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KC23 Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
@Goring 19, Dam, you’re on to me.
Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 7:52 am
@Goring 19, haha wheaties lol dudes crazy tho
Lexigirl Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 6:34 pm
@OC Hip Check, I’m no fan of the Ducks, but Ray Emery deserves a shot again somewhere big, preferrably not in our conference.
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sebastian Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 8:54 pm
@OC Hip Check, nothing but respect for Selanne. dude can still play another year or 2 at a very high level.
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Jack Aubrey Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 10:03 pm
@OC Hip Check, Oh, poor ducks. No love for Selanne, and perry is nothing but a pimp. Only two (maybe three) ducks worth talking about… Ryan, Lubo and maybe (but only maybe) getzlaf. Ryan showed me a lot in the Olympics, Lubo is… well, Lubo. Getzlaf comes and goes, but he showed great class in the handshakes at the end of the Preds game today. Maybe changed my mind about him. The rest of those dudes are hose-heads.
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sciencejock Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
@OC Hip Check, I completely agree with you. 100%
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I’m not hatin on Penner..
Want more of course..
As a matter of fact I’m not
hatin on anyone but
the Sharts!!!!
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Penner has always been a streaky scorer so hopefully this is the beginning of something here. Sharks post game comments basically said they are comfortable at Staples. Let’s change that!
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KC23 Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
@Hockeysureshot, He just needs to be against lesser players to be effective is what TM is saying. Obviously he is right.
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Well played. I don’t want to be some bandwagoner I was hating on him just like everyone else, and I don’t fell like he’s made some big turn round. He’s just starting to play like he should have always been playing, so good for him. I still expect more offensive production out of him, though. I mean Westy set up his goal, it’s not like he made some awesome play or anything.
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bulldog13lak Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
@nking11, imho I think trying to expect Pens to play TM’s defensive system right off the bat was a bit much. I’d like to see him just go out and be the big lug he is and get into the scoring positions he’s known for. TM can try and mould him in training camp next year.
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number 6 Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
@bulldog13lak,
To me, it wasn’t even the offensive production as the feeling that he was coasting and not working hard except on occasion. I can absolutely understand that he’d want to be conservative and careful to not make a mistake, but you I would think can still do that while moving your legs and hitting someone solidly w/o having to knock their block off or something.
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S.J. will be tired tomorrow from taking all those shots yesterday……
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sciencejock Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
@neil, That’s actually a really good point. I didn’t even think of that! Let’s hope that’s the case.
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Off topic but I gotta give the Preds some credit, way to finally win a series, and of course, end the Hayward express for the rest of the year.
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Jack Aubrey Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@nking11, fully agree. I was reflecting on the end of the game and Hayward’s commentary on the Koivu penalty.
Hayward: “Oh, those rarely get called at this point in the game…”
Jim Fox (in similar circumstances, seeing the replay): “Oh… yeah… clearly that’s hooking, that’s a penalty, he shouldn’t have done that…”
What is it about Hayward and Ahlers that they feel they have to be such homers and obvious slant-machines? They really do suck.
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John Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
As far as Hayward is concerned, the Ducks didn’c commit a penalty all season. He single-handedly makes you hate the team.
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On another topic, this “Back in Black” thing isn’t going too well (0-2) maybe the Kings should go in another direction. Let’s go with the royal blues on Monday night.
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Brownkingsfan Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
@king Doughnuts, Anyone know our record in the 4 games wearing the retro jerseys? Off topic, this nucks hawks game is awesome!!
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Brownkingsfan Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
@Brownkingsfan, And by the way, going back to last year the back in black jerseys our record is 1-4 in the playoffs. Pretty sure the blue jerseys we’re 3-1
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Flipsonic Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 8:56 pm
Yeah the black and blue looks better. The back in black is too plain. They should wear the black and blue for the rest of the playoffs.
Penner’s goal was what we needed last game. A huge goal from the 4th line.
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Glad the Ducks lost. Now for the Sharks to lose.
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jonsey Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
@jonsey, P.S. if VAN loses then we would get to play NAS.
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the_guv Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
@jonsey, If VAN loses and we pull through, we have a chance.
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Derek Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
@jonsey, really? i was under the assumption (at least from the bracketing) that the winner of our series would play the winner for the VAN/CHI series. is that not how it works?
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the_guv Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
@Derek, No, we would have played VAN if they won because they would be the highest ranked team, and we’d be the lowest. If Van loses, then DET is the highest ranked team left, and CHI would be the lowest. Leaving us to play NSH.
bill donnelly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 12:44 am
@Derek, Teams are re-seeded in the nhl playoffs. No bracketing.
jonsey Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 6:43 am
@Derek, http://fans.nhl.com/topic/1780
TM finally coaching Penner and Penner getting TM! Lets take to game 6 guys, GO KINGS!!
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Hawks nucks game is insane. Schneider gets injured letting in the penalty shot. Wow
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Kings x Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 6:43 pm
@Kings x, One word….Penner!
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jonsey Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 7:19 pm
@Kings x, I hope VAN loses and we somehow pull off a couple of wins.
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Timbo from Canada Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 9:21 pm
@jonsey, How great would LA vs Nashville and Chicago vs Detroit be?
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sciencejock Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@Timbo from Canada, I would seriously be so excited if that happened. Pray to the hockey gods? Haha
Jonesy Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 10:39 pm
@Timbo from Canada, Kings would win and DET would win = Kings v. DET
Rich, putting you on the spot a bit, how come you never interview Penner? His he off limits or just plain not a talking kinda guy? No one really knows or ever hears from him? It would be nice to see you talk to him and would be great to hear some comments from him? Keep up the awesome work Rich
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Rich Hammond Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 9:23 pm
http://lakingsinsider.com/2011/04/23/penner-gets-break-and-stays-in-lineup/
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Timbo from Canada Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 5:08 am
@Rich Hammond, I apologize, I didn’t see that post. Thanks!!
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paige Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
@Rich Hammond, Hi Rich. I know you are pretty busy with playoff coverage and all, but I have been wondering about a particular Kings Fan. In that San Jose column about Kenny G Staples Center, one of the Sharks players mentioned a Kings fan who sits behind the bench being particularly obnoxious. Penner mentioned him too in an interview when he came here from Edmenton. What’s this guy’s story?
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I still think he was a huge mistake.
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Let’s hope he can bring it in tomorrow’s game. I would absolutely love to see him succeed. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Jack Aubrey Reply:
April 24th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
@sciencejock, Man, you’ve got that right. I was STOKED when he was brought in, because of his size and his hands. I thought he’d work real magic. Obviously, that didn’t go so well. Time to flip the sitch and make it so, Penns. Come on man, get in there and put the biscuit in the basket!
GKG!
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Johnson with a hat trick. You heard it here first.
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Kyle Clifford keeps it going with two goals and Kings win game 6 (4-2)…..
Kyle Clifford continues his run and scores and gets an assist in a game 7 thriller and win for Kings (3-2)
Can you see the headlines…….
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DUcks Suuck hah-ha
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Got to give Murray props on this one. Excellent coaching move. I’m sure he’s frustrated w/ Penner’s gaffes and lack of offense but he can’t hang the guy out. For one the Kings gave up a lot to get him and he’s going to be around a couple years. Plus he did come late in the season. So moving him to the 4th line where he can get a better matchup is great coaching.
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