After the Kings failed to score on their five-minute power play, the Sharks ended the game less than a minute later. On a counter-attack, Devin Setoguchi took the puck behind the Kings’ net and tried to get it to the net. The puck got deflected in front, and Joe Thornton won the battle in front of Quick and tucked a backhand shot into the net to end the game 2:22 into overtime.
The Kings went to overtime three times in the series, and lost all three. More from the locker room to come…
So…is this a step forward?
[Reply]
jordan Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:02 pm
@McDonalds, yea they improved, they got to OT in game 6…haha
[Reply]
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:03 pm
@McDonalds, Are you kidding? Given the shock of the last two weeks of the season, they did well.
[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:03 pm
@McDonalds,
To get this far without Kopi…I would call that a step forward. I’m sure others will disagree, but that’s the way I’m going to look at it…
[Reply]
Blueliner Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@AZ King, Agree big time
[Reply]
NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
@AZ King, It may hurt right now, but tomorrow I think we can all agree that the Kings took a big step forward. They lost in 6 just like last year but they did without Kopitar against a better team than Vancouver was last year. I know its a big if, but if Kopitar didn’t get injuried, the Kings would have won one more game and would have finished 4th and probably would have won the first round against Nashville considering the success they had against them this year.
[Reply]
- ViC - Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
@AZ King, seriously how much better would of kings of done with kopi in the series? Hmm. If only we weren’t the worse team in the league at power plays, grrrr.
[Reply]
FiG17 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
@- ViC -,
I know, isn’t it ironic that the power play really is what ended our season? We had a chance to win this game, and we couldn’t put it away because of our power play. We all saw it coming. lol
Seriously, though, I’m surprisingly in a much better mood than I should be right now. We played so much better than anyone expected to. Next year, with Kopi back and hopefully Schenn and maybe Lokti, we’re gonna look GOOD.
IwantTheCup Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 9:06 am
@- ViC -, we actually did awesome on our PP – meanwhile SJ sucked! Our PK was good too. We have nothing to be ashamed of. Yes, it hurts to lose and be done for the season..but we will have the playoffs in our future for MANY years to come and I have no doubt that a CUP is in our future!
roadtripper Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
@AZ King, Absolutely! I’ll be the first to admit they did much better than I thought they would without Kopi.
It just goes to show that a LA blue-collar work-ethic is better than a white-collar SJ one, BUT you still need finishers, and that’s where we need to shop next if we’re going to take this to the next level…
Thanks for a fun year, Kings!!!
[Reply]
Jim S. Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
@AZ King,
I agree, it’s a step forward. They won more games & hung in there better than I would have thought. It’ll be an interesting off season. Better luck next year! Thanks for the effort! Go Kings Go!
[Reply]
HockeyOnly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
@AZ King, Agreed
[Reply]
KingsfanJ Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
@AZ King, As soon as Kopi went down people started saying “there goes the cup” and “the season is over now.” Keeping that in mind I think (while there was plenty of room for improvement) we did quite well and I can’t wait to see what we come back with next year.
[Reply]
tacomakingsfan Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
@McDonalds,
Nope…. not at all.. We choke at home… We have players who are undisciplined and make too much money for doing nothing… PP still terrible even though we did well today.
[Reply]
wupmasta2000 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
@tacomakingsfan,
Agreed, I’m so tired of the choking. The Kings ALWAYS choke. I just wish we had a Kings team that didn’t choke. Losing, okay. Choking, FREAKING SICK OF IT.
[Reply]
Jim S. Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:26 pm
@wupmasta2000,
I don’t have a gag reflex anymore cause of this team
The Kings always choke! However, I’m optimistic that they get out of the first round next year. No more “choking” to the relief of us long suffering fans! 
LBlocal Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
@McDonalds, http://youtu.be/_hZrXdJ-ibo
gKg!
[Reply]
Duckhunter Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@McDonalds, Tough question…As a team, I’d say no…individuals did…Clifford, Richardson, Williams (one tough dude), and Lewis did….love the future with Clifford what a stud!!!
[Reply]
frustrated Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
@Duckhunter,doughty was the best player san jose had.
[Reply]
McDonalds Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
@frustrated,
boy no kidding…Doughty had a BAD season
HockeyOnly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
@frustrated, Right on the nail, he really played like he didn’t want to even be there tonight.
Darko25o Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 9:21 am
@Duckhunter,
This team has all the makings of a great, young, team that will only improve with each year. The PO experience is only going to make them better, and the young guys really-really- stepped it up.
Next year:
Penner/Kopi/Williams
Smyth/Schenn/Brown
Clifford/Richradson/Simmonds
Parse/Stoll/Lewis
Doughty/Mitchell
Scuderi/JJ
MArtinez/Greene
Quick
That is a line-up that can compete for the cup
[Reply]
Space_Shot Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
@Darko25o,
No it’s not. If that’s the lineup next season then this offseason will have been more of a failure than last offseason (Mitchell being the saving grace.) And specifically, if those are the forwards we skate on opening day, it means that we weren’t able to upgrade a single position with a free agent or a trade. Yes, the lineup above is better than what we started with this season. Maybe good enough for a second round, or if totally healthy, a third round exit. But that lineup is far from being elite and competitive enough for a Cup.
KingInMontana Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
@McDonalds, Definitely a step forward. We got a 3rd line with Clifford, Richy, and Simmer. The young guys played well. Needed Kopi. Need another scorer (Penner aint cutting it). Great season. Cant wait till next year.
[Reply]
Ryan oliver Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
@McDonalds, So long Zues. We loved your heart and your hair but just no room for you next year. You will be missed
[Reply]
McDonalds Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
@Ryan oliver,
that’s another thing…idk why so many people are just assuming we’re not resigning him. He’s obviously not going to demand anything close to 4 million
[Reply]
cjms Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
@McDonalds, We have no cap margin whatsoever.
Eggplant Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
@McDonalds, Man, I’m gonna miss him if we don’t. Twice in this game he went diving to get the puck away from the Sharks in our end. Don’t see a lot of guys doing that…
PP Anybody? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:42 pm
@McDonalds, He’s the slowest player on the team, and he hurts any offensive attack, and overall can’t keep up with any play made these days. I’m afraid he’s outlived his useful contributions at this point in his career.
FiG17 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
@McDonalds,
Zues may be slow. But my God, he is our best penalty killer, no doubt. Fortunately, IF he goes (I’ll be really sad to see him go if he does) Kopi will be back, and Lewis is turning into a BEAST on the p.k.
garry Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:28 pm
@McDonalds, Because we have to make some room for the talented kid’s in the system plus we get bigtime bonus whe we trade Bernier during the draft.
dahack11 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:51 pm
@McDonalds, no
[Reply]
John Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 12:56 pm
@McDonalds, — Penner and Ponikarovsky are both huge failures, and Penner (if he’s even on the team next year) cost the Kings two first rounders. They play soft, perimeter games, and rarely hustle. If they can get a few rolls of tape in trading Penner, that might be a good deal.
[Reply]
Seeya next year
[Reply]
Go Kings Go Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
All three regulation goals for the Sharks were 20-25ft wrist shots that Quick saw all the way. The entire series, San Jose has been destroying Quick with 20-25 foot wrist shots. It’s like KYPTONITE to Quick. Sad to see it end in the first round, but if you can’t adjust to a repeating weakness, you get to stay home and watch the finals in the comfort of your living room. Go season Kings! They just need some consisted goal production and stable lines next year. GOOD NIGHT!!
[Reply]
JohnnyVirgil Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@Go Kings Go,
Are you kidding me??? You’re going to lay this on Quick??? After the last 2 games??? I’m sorry, but without 32….its Sharks in 4…….
[Reply]
Go Kings Go Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
@JohnnyVirgil, I’m not laying this on Quick, I’m just saying he’s had a miserable time with 20-25 wrist shots the defense kept giving away. Could his glove hand be faster, maybe? He just seemed to get beat a lot high glove side. Watch the replays, it’s like a broken record. He could of done better, I’m just say’in.
Duckhunter Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
@JohnnyVirgil, Come on any time you lose it’s the goalie’s fault because being a goalie is ultra easy(sarcasm)…Quick stole 1 game (game 5)…if we wouldn’t have went into meltdown mode in game 3 we could have seen if he could have stole game 7.
HockeyOnly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
@JohnnyVirgil, what did you expect, someone had to blame Quick, that person must have heard onetime that it’s always the goalies fault no matter.
wupmasta2000 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@Go Kings Go,
No, the Kryptonite was that those wrist shots were all WIDE-OPEN shots in the slot from a San Jose team that is full of fire power. I don’t care who the goalie is, no way they stop those shots.
And, as Kings fans, we’ve got “NEXT YEAR” tattooed on our freaking foreheads.
[Reply]
YoBro Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
@wupmasta2000, The goalie can’t stop those shots when he’s down, and out of position. Even though he had a good look at all of ‘em. If you leave the top of the net open for the Sharts’ snipers, thats where it’s going.
mrbrett7 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
@Go Kings Go, Wow…3 goals that were pinpoint wrist shots coming at about 85mph, one of which he didn’t have his stick.
Yet another clueless Kings fan.
I’m probably going to get banned, or at least yelled at for this, but the worst part of all of this is…
Kings FANS learned NOTHING.
[Reply]
Go Kings Go Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
@mrbrett7, This is the NHL, the big time, saving 20-25 foot wrist shots on the clove side happens all the time. I didn’t say Quick was a poor goalie, I’m just say’in he struggled this series with not stopping the glove side wrist shots. The Sharks aren’t magic, they are just a descent hockey team that discovered Quick had a weakness and they exploited the heck out it. That’s just start hockey. When you play in the NHL, you’re expected to stop most of those glove side wrist shots. Sorry we lost!!
xeropoint Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
@mrbrett7, Were you expecting them too?
HockeyOnly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:12 pm
@mrbrett7, Right on, I’m with you.
FiG17 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
@mrbrett7,
Emotions. Give them a day or a few.
We played awesome, and I’m stoked for next year with Kopi back.
I’m sick of “next year” too, but I think for the first time in my ten or so years of being a fan, I actually, sincerely believe in “next year.”
Go Kings Go Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 6:28 am
@mrbrett7, Let me ask you if a 20-25 wrist shot is a “give-me”, a sure thing, then why doesn’t everyone use the wrist shot during a shoot-out? Maybe because in the NHL, a wrist shot on an NHL goalie is a poor scoring position. Maybe 1 of three shoot-out breakaways are successful, and almost none of then are taken from 20-25 feet away. My point is, if it was so easy to score from 20-25 feet, that would be the prefered method during a shoot-out right? Reality is “no”, NHL goalie typically are excellant on the glove side and manage to stop the mass majority of un-obstructed wrist shots from 25 feet out. I love Quick, but he strugle at the end of the season high glove side and San Jose picked up on it and ran with it meeting great success.
Stuart Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 8:05 am
@Go Kings Go, I think what you’re missing is that in a SO the goalie focuses on one person coming straight at them whereas in this series those wrister you speak of we’re getting smoked at him right off a cross-ice pass where JQ almost always had to slide post-to-post. And quite a few of those wristers were also 100% PERFECT shots (ie – Heatley tonight, Setaguchi the other night, Pavelski game 1). Those shots are beating ANY goalie in the league, so I don’t think your assessment is valid OR fair.
Go Kings Go Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 8:36 am
@Stuart,Yes, I agree on the lag pass where Quick has to go post to post, any save would be considered fabulous, but many Sharks goals this series were unobstructed shots with a couple of seconds to set up and for Quick to be in position. He wasn’t screened. All I’m saying is that Quick has stellar games, but he has showed a weakness or two now and again. Bottomline: He’s one of the best goalies in the NHL, glad as heck he’s a King, but he’s not quite attained “awesome” status yet. He’ll get better and better, but to not see the trend here is not being objective. He’s good and he’s ours, but his high glove game was lacking this series.
mrbrett7 Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 8:39 am
@mrbrett7, A pinpoint wrist shot will score EVERY SINGLE TIME. Quick is a butterfly goaltender. Butterfly goaltenders play the AVERAGES. This is why they go down TO THEIR KNEES.
How do you beat a butterfly goaltender? You MUST make a PERFECT shot, high, over their shoulder, either glove or blocker side, OR, 7 or 9 hole, under their arms…OTHERWISE, YOU CANNOT BEAT THEM WHEN THEY ARE ON THEIR GAME.
How people can watch even 10 games, and NOT learn this is beyond me.
Go Kings Go Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 9:10 am
@mrbrett7, Too bad the Sharks can’t “learn this”, cause they beat us with it like a club all series. The Sharks don’t care about butterfly-style, they’re too busy preparing for the next round of the playoffs. DAH!!! Your right, some of us learn from watching 10 games and capitalize on their opponents weaknesses, and some can’t adapt or refuse to address that weakness. They get to watch the rest of the payoffs in their living room. ENOUGH SAID!!
Duckbasher Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 9:18 am
@mrbrett7,
Quick is an incredible athlete. What I’d give to have ever had his flexibility and athletic ability. That said… he’s not as fundamentally sound as he should be at this point. He’s on his belly too much and frequently leaves too much net open high. Niemi blocked multiple point blank shots (and won the game) just by being correctly positioned. Same way Bernier plays. Niemi has a ring. Bernier will have a ring as soon as someone puts him in net.
Simmonds cost us that one. He played terrible all game long. Why did he take Setuguchi when Scuderi was already on him? terrible play Simmonds.
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
@CB14, Richardson was a -4, Simmonds and Clifford were both -3. So much for the great play from the Gunsmoke line
[Reply]
Eggplant Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:39 pm
@CB14, It seemed to me that the Sharks finally scouted that line properly and kept them in tight check. As a result the Smyth-Stoll/Lewis-Brown line got more open. Smyth could have won us the game 2 or 3 times in the 3rd period. Just didn’t go that way.
[Reply]
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
@CB14, They’re really young and inexperienced. They’ve done well for their level.
[Reply]
wannabeking Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:50 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, I agree. Lot of heart and energy. Not afraid to take one for the team.
[Reply]
HockeyOnly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, maybe 2-3 years ago that excuse would fly, but not now, last I checked Richardson came in 05-06, Simmonds 08-09, Red Dog is the one of the two youngsters. You know what I’m sayin. They all were in the playoffs last year except the 2 rooks.
[Reply]
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
@HockeyOnly, I know what you’re saying, and I think you’re wrong. They’re young guys. For crying out loud, they were amongst the best players out there most nights of this series!
Stuart Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 8:10 am
@HockeyOnly, priior to this year, one playoff round does not experienced make. Give me a break man if you’re going to sit there and say they’re not young!! Even SJ’s “rookie” had 3x more playoff experience than our guys that have been on the team for 3+ years…
mrbrett7 Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 8:40 am
@HockeyOnly, 12 playoff games compared to 75…they are VERY young and inexperienced.
of course Kings PP=go fetch it yuch man we could of at least win once at home oh well next season we be better Go Kings GO
[Reply]
San Jose got a couple of lucky bounces…that is all I am going to say
[Reply]
Newf Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@Arron, you got that right.
[Reply]
TioBudd Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
@Newf,
and sometimes its better to be lucky than good. then again, the better team ALWAYS wins.
looking forward to next year already.
[Reply]
linny Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@Arron, sorry but sj was the better team
[Reply]
HockeyOnly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
@linny, They had the speed and we only had one line with speed.
[Reply]
Kings in CO Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 6:00 am
@linny, Agree with that.. SJ was the better team. Faster, more skill and more puck control. We need those two or three players who make teams back off and respect their speed and skill.
GKG.
[Reply]
Kings left it on the ice tonight…cant complain about that. Get em next year.
[Reply]
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:04 pm
@SCV Kings Fan, Yup, they lost essentially playing their game. Can’t fault ‘em.
[Reply]
So much for this year. Good effort team.
[Reply]
TOTALLY AWFUL!
[Reply]
KingsfanJ Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:38 pm
@C leb, you’re kind of a downer I’ve noticed…
[Reply]
C leb Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
@KingsfanJ, Thanks love! 5 minute major at the end of a game… and you can’t bury it to force a G7.. that’s the downer. this thread isn’t just for positive stroking. it is a place where fans can give an opinion, positive or negative. Are you one of those fans who couldn’t understand why the whole building booed the team of the ice in the st. louis game? Then i totally get why you don’t get it. my opinions are based on what i see happen on the ice. yours are based on what real fans say about the team… If I’m a downer then what are you? other than AEG’s dream fan. I’ve been supporting this franchise since 1978.. where were you in 1978? on earth yet? I was at the Miracle on Manchester.. and stayed!!! 10,000 of the 16,005 cannot claim this. I’m a downer? A season ticket holder before and during the the Gretzky era. I went to every home game of the 1993 cup run.. I was at the opening night of Staples Center… I am a much bigger fan of this team than you will ever understand. that’s a fact. so don’t come at me with the “downer” chirp. there are hundreds of other folks on here more upset with this outcome than me.. are you chirping on their threads too?? well?? are you? I call it the way i see it. with my eyes which have witnessed more LA Kings moments than you will ever witness.. FACT!! I’ve seen the Great One play withe naked eye nearly 500 times. it is because of all these facts I laid before that i can be a little ticked off with our teams performance or lack there of. I’ve earned it, J!! . thanks for your time. and thanks for noticing.
[Reply]
KingsfanJ Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 8:32 pm
@C leb, I never said there was something wrong with you, I never said you didn’t earn the right to be a downer, I just noticed a lot of your posts specifically were bummers. Perhaps that is just a result of the tumultuous time the Kings have had in the past several months (which is also the same time I discovered the blog). Maybe had I discovered this gem in the beginning of the season I’d have seen different side.
The hard part about blogging is you can’t tell the difference between a disappointed lifelong fan (as you clearly are) and a “fan” who has something negative to say every time the bandwagon they jumped on gets bumpy. I never said you couldn’t share your opinion or emotions, in fact the raw emotion of everyone is what draws me to this blog. You’re right, you have been a fan longer than I’ve been alive. Heck, as far as fans go, I’m a toddler to the Kingdom (although I’m sure you already knew that).
So now I’ll take the new one ya just ripped me and the new knowledge that your responses aren’t those of a bandwagoner jumping off but those of a disappointed lifetime supporter and hope not to step on your toes again next season. Hopefully instead of thinking “there’s that idiot again” next time I post, you can understand a little bit more of where I’m coming from just like I’ve taken the time to understand you. And maybe, just maybe, we’ll live in a world where Kings fans young and old, new and lifelong, disgustingly optimistic and weathered/realistic, can co-exist
Even thought I probably won’t know it, see ya around the Staples Center!
No big surprise. The 5 min PP was horrible!
[Reply]
Hey, chins up, guys. Good game. I felt it when they didn’t score on the major in regulation, and even more when they didn’t score before the major ended.
They can be proud of how well they played, even though it was disappointing to lose at home.
[Reply]
Thanks for a great season Rich. Looking forward to a (hopefully) interesting offseason.
[Reply]
Airwaves Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@Dwreck, Won’t happen. Nothing hardly happens in the off season
[Reply]
tacomakingsfan Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@Airwaves,
I agree.. Probably nothing big. Maybe another HAS BEEN veteran?
[Reply]
frustrated Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
@Airwaves, maybe we can package doughty in a trade for a real defenseman.
[Reply]
HockeyOnly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:21 pm
@Airwaves, Bet they go after Brad Richards real hard.
[Reply]
CB14 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
@Dwreck, Not much cap room this offseason, even less now that we’ve got Penner and his contract.
[Reply]
Poor power play kills us just like everyone said. It was a good season though. It was my first full season as a hockey fan.
[Reply]
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@Skooma, It was a poor execution of the major, but for the game, you can’t knock it.
[Reply]
AZ King Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@Skooma,
Cool, welcome to the greatest sport on earth.
[Reply]
Eberlin Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
@AZ King, The ONLY sport on earth. Looking forward to having everyone healthy…and a working power play next year.
[Reply]
tacomakingsfan Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
@Skooma,
You just lost one year of your life span watching Kings hockey lol.
[Reply]
Jim S. Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
@tacomakingsfan,
No doubt about that! But things are trending upwards
[Reply]
HockeyOnly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
@Skooma, A coaching change there could only be an improvement
[Reply]
Devastated – the sharts won’t last
[Reply]
Duckhunter Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
@murf, That depends on who wins the Van-Chi series…I think that they have enough fire power to get by Nas and I know Nas is on a hot streak right now…but the Sharks are extremely offensively talented….if they have to play Det…that ends in 4.
[Reply]
BringBackKingston Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
@Duckhunter,
Sharks either get Chi or Det.
[Reply]
Duckhunter Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
@BringBackKingston, Your right…wasn’t thinking on that…Chi is the lower seed.
5. minute. power play.
[Reply]
handsomepolack Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
@imSoNull, 4 minute and 5 minute major, cant score you deserve the outcome. simmonds in the ice for 2 or 3 goals, i dont think simmonds is a player, his play has regressed look at his ponts 30 not good for a 3 rd yr.
[Reply]
And the tears fall…..
[Reply]
DAMN YOU KOPITAR!!!
[Reply]
KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
@Jimbo, y u blame him with him in the PP they cant even score not his fault he got injured it wa sJJ and DD that takes two year to shot the puck each time they get the puck
[Reply]
Arron Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@Jimbo,
Yes lets blame Kopitar…please
[Reply]
Jimbo Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
@Arron, its a joke, if we had our man we would have dumped those guys
[Reply]
at 10:00pm-10:01pm danny heatly said we kept coming on them! hahahaha gross
[Reply]
Newf Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@king_stoner, i hope he drives the team bus home.
[Reply]
Hockeyfan B4 Gretzky Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@Newf, Thats rad.
[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
@Hockeyfan B4 Gretzky, Concur!
CB14 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:23 pm
@Newf, LOL!
[Reply]
Blake Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
@king_stoner, only a guy with stoner in his name would post this haha
[Reply]
Can we start the calls for Kompons removal again.
[Reply]
tacomakingsfan Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@Central Coast King,
yes please
[Reply]
Newf Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
@tacomakingsfan, call for kompons head all you want. if the players don’t execute it’s not all his fault.
[Reply]
linny Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
@Newf, no…we didn’t have the players
tacomakingsfan Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
@Newf,
And I am.. There’s no creativity but shots from the point and hopeful tip ins in and deflections.. LOL have you seen them practice in the Toyota Sports Center? If you do, then talk to me.
Fernando Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
You can’t fire all the players!
Airwaves Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:05 pm
@Central Coast King, Fire his butt!
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
@Central Coast King, Bring back Hardy!
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wupmasta2000 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
@Central Coast King,
Can we start the call for the Kings to sign a top sniper and save all the b.s. excuses like “they cost too much?”
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Brian D. Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
@wupmasta2000, It’s not that they cost too much, it’s that they HAVE to be the right fit, except that so many top scoring snipers ARE prima donnas,(and don’t fit our system).
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mrbrett7 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
@Central Coast King, 2 PP goals tonight. Without them, they aren’t even in the game.
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CB14 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
@mrbrett7, Very true, but we got absolutely NOTHING on the 5 minute Power Play at the end of the 3rd and into overtime. We never even got it set-up. That’s not going to cut it.
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frustrated Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:59 pm
@CB14, if murrays back, we will only get players for defense.
mrbrett7 Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 8:42 am
@CB14, Without those 2 PP goals, the 5 minute PP doesn’t even matter. It’s all relative.
PP Anybody? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
@Central Coast King, Got my vote.
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HockeyOnly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:25 pm
@Central Coast King, I’ll drink to that
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Great Game! Great Series!
Can’t wait for training camp.
Go get some well deserved rest and recharge for the cup run next season.
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Newf Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@Token, sorry but i disagree.
Game 1 should have been ours.
Game 2 – ours
Game 3 – should have been ours
Game 4 – we had no chance
Game 5 – we should have won the series.
it all boiled down to not executing when/where we should have, and playing properly in our own zone.
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wupmasta2000 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
@Newf,
Agreed.
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Token Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
@Newf, Oh please. Show me a team that took 6 rookies to the playoffs. Would have been 7 if Lokti didn’t get injured in Manchester.
Great effort, great result with all that fresh blood.
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CB14 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
@Token, I agree that it was a great result and great effort, but Newf is right that we didn’t play properly in our own zone. Games 3 and 4 were not the way the Kings played defensively all year long. I’m not saying we should’ve won, but had we played Kings hockey in games 3 and 4, there could very well have been a different result to the series. Also Simmonds completly blew the coverage on the GW goal. Why he went and covered Setoguchi when Scuderi already had him covered is beyond me. That’s not playing defensively sound Kings Hockey.
HockeyOnly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:26 pm
@Token, I think I missed something there, 6 rookies???? I thought only 2 played in the playoffs?
mrbrett7 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
@Newf, Average age of the LA Kings is roughly 25. Average age of the Sharks is roughly 29.
Average number of playoff games played for the Kings is around 7 games played. Average number of playoff games played by the Sharks, around 35.
Game.Set.Match.
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imSoNull Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
@Newf, +1
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rich Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
@Newf, yep..well put
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Mick Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:52 pm
@Newf, Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda….hahaha
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This team sure knows how to rip your heart out.
Alright boys, let’s get them next year.
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They didn’t deserve to win. Couldn’t score on the 5 min PP. Ironic that the thing that killed them all year killed their season
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:06 pm
@Hdjfms, Can’t disagree, but I wouldn’t let it stain the overall performance.
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furrylats Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@Hdjfms, That’s not irony. That’s consistent, predictable, and the reason I’m on painkillers this very moment.
“Kompon…step into my office”
“Why DL?”
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Kings0431 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
@Hdjfms, You are correct. When they failed on the five minute power play, that was the end of the game and the season.
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TioBudd Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
@Hdjfms,
how is it ironic? makes perfect sense to me
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Sad. Can’t score on a 5 minute PP to save your life. Way to let the crowd down.
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They never gave up… bad power play at crucial times killed them. There’s always next year, hopefully with a healthy Kopitar.
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Great game Kings and thank you for a great season!
Thanks to everyone who comments here – it’s always fun!
And a BIG thank you to Rich for making LA Kings Insider happen!!!
See you all during the summer and let’s get ‘em next year!
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handsomepolack Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
@KDinUT, great site thanks hammond
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i hope doughty will take this as a learning experience and work his ass off during the off season. he has to get better. he has all the skills but sometimes rely too much on his skills
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imSoNull Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
@gcheng, which skill does unprovoked cross-checking fall in to?
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Kings x Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@gcheng, Can we say gary roberts?
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Slim Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:49 pm
@Kings x, I posted that exact thing a month ago..
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THE HOCKEY DON Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
@gcheng,
I lost count…how many times did he pull that dumb spin move?
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handsomepolack Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:26 pm
@gcheng, donuts, will eat more, not a winner, never will
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bbb7 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
@gcheng, I bave to say of all the Kings in the playoffs I’m mostly disappointed in Doughty. Other than game 2 he didnt contribute anything and made some rookie mistakes every game that he shouldnt be making anymore.
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HockeyOnly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
@gcheng, He took a giant step backwards this season. I heard a comment made on “On the Fly” that he was being compared to Bobby Orr last year and in the Olympics and someone on the panel said he must have beemn reading what they were saying in the papers and started believing he was.
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SaveByCechmanek Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 12:15 am
@gcheng, as the great Herb Brooks said: “You don’t have enough talent to win on talent alone”
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Power Play
Power Play
Power Play
New assistant coach?
I think so
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@Fernando, if we still have the same coach next season our PP will continue to be horrible
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dmitriy Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
@KingsFanFTW, first we need skilled forwards
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:17 pm
@dmitriy, true to that
Awfull power play ended the season. Well deserved. They never listened to us internet couch coaches, See ya next year!
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Woulda, coulda, shouda, well, good season boys, we’ll get em next season.
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Well, uh, I just… I got nothing, but I’m pressing enter anyway. Anyway, Mike Gillis was quoted today saying “But, but (sob, sob) the league hates us! And (sob, sob) we don’t deserve to have lost games 4 and 5 by 5 goals! Stupid refs are poopyheads…. I WANT MY MOMMY!! WAAAAAAAHHHHHHH….” GO HAWKS!!
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handsomepolack Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
@OttoKing, hawks will beat the nucks! heard LOUU is sleepless in vancouver
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Thanks for all the good times Rich!
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OttoKing Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
@Mikey J., Second! Rich, you rule!!
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the_guv Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@OttoKing, Third! Best in the biz Rich!
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Valiant effort boys. I’m as proud as I’ve ever been of this team. Surpassed all expectations and made statement. Not an ill word from me. Well done, looking forward to next season very much.
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Ughhhhh.. go kings go!! Damn im sad.. great effort
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Ironic the season ends on the heels of a 5 min PP, our biggest weakness. It was clear we were tentative on the last PP. Good effort to battle back. Good season. I’m out.
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Mcsorley!!!
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Great game Kings. Yea, there were mistakes. No use yapping about it, the Kings played with all heart. Great season. Next year, we will be back, but with Kopitar healthy.
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Thank you Rich for a great season on the blog. Looking forward to some good stuff in the off season.
I’ll always love my Kings. See you all another time.
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They need to let Penner go… did almost nothing in down the stretch or in the 6 games.
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not mad at all.. kings put up an awesome fight and were kopi-less… great effort guys we’ll see you next season!
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well we got what we deserved by being atrocious on that major. also it really sucks when nearly every freakin bounce went the sharks way, but they also sort of made their own luck. the sharks simply had too much skill for us. i hope that dl does something to help put our boys on an even playing field because it is painfully obvious we need more skill/scoring. well once again “maybe next year” *sigh*
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Can we get Dave Tippet to run our power play again, Damn we were good when he was here!
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HockeyOnly Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:34 pm
@Fernando, Not unless the Yotes go back to the Peg. But I doubt he would take it even if he could. Once they have tasted Head Coach, it’s tuff I would presume to be anything but.
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so much for the system. It needs to change as well as the assistant coach. two years in a row where we give back a series we had in hand
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the_guv Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:28 pm
@shutyofivehole, When was this ever in hand?
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can we talk about next season, some offensive fire power
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linny Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
@bleedblueking, I second that…big time!
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RobSD Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:25 pm
@bleedblueking,
We scored plenty of goals to win. Scoring was not our problem. Playing smart defensively was our problem. This team should win almost every game if they score 3 goals or more. We did that in every game but 1 I think. With a more disciplined team, this series is won by LA in 5 or 6 easy. Now I just want Vancouver to go down in flames. Hot hot flames.
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</3333333333333333333
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OttoKing Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
@Subby, Yup, I know, right?
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Kingsfanone Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 12:24 am
@Subby,
Good to see you made it out of the Shark Tank. Many of us here were concerned, especially puck73. Puck asked about you in the suite tonite. Glad you got out okay. Sounded tense for a bit!
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Do not hang your heads in shame. Nobody gave us a chance to even win a game. We played hard and with a few bounces we could have been moving on. Considering we didnt have Kopitar, we did pretty damn good. I am proud to be a Kings fan right now, and so should everyone else. Thanks for giving me an exciting playoff run. Till next season!
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Timbo from Canada Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
@Alton, Very nicely said…..my thoughts exactly
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Alton Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
@Timbo from Canada, Thanks Timbo from Cambridge, Waterdown here.
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Arron Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
@Timbo from Canada,
I third that…Now bring hockey back to Winnipeg!
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you could see it coming, once we didn’t score on the major.
Thanks for another good year Kings. Can’t wait til October.
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Ahhh, I m devastated, Congrats to San Jose…they were the better team. Good effort boys, a few changes will be coming in the off season….
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
@Timbo from Canada, I have to say, the three overtime games are what makes me accept San Jose was the better team. You can’t just keep getting lucky–they made their luck, and in two of those games, the Kings essentially played their game. Still, I’m happy with the performances we saw from some of them, and I don’t think most of them have anything to be ashamed of.
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Brian D. Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
@Timbo from Canada, Don’t hold your breath…
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They gave us some exciting hockey… Liked what Clifford, Simmonds and Richardson brought. Hopefully all that heart will roll over into next season and they can get out of the first round. They made some good stides this season, and hopefully they’ll have a better run next year!
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Can not beleive we lost all three home games.Makes we want to vomit.Lets start the Brad Richards campaighn!
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good job kings u guys did good without ur leading assist Anze Kopitar. I give it to u guys did good. See u guys next year. fans for life WIN THE STANLEY CUP NEXT YEAR.
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can we talk about next season, some offensive fire power?
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Well, maybe by 2014 the Kings will have a real shot.
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Five solid minutes of PP. Once again, I could just sense the Kings would find a way to lose. Can this team ever get beyond their history of futility. Heartbreaking. Great effort. I guess there won’t be a party at my house. Did anyone else sense they would lose like this?
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
@Poorman, yup i pretty knew we going to get the boot when it comes to a OT if they dont score on a 5 mins PP and what happen they didnt score on the PP and the Sharks Scored like always
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goldielocks Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
@Poorman,
Yea, absolutely. I got a feeling that if the Kings failed 5 min PP, SJ’s gonna score with their first shot on the rush. Wasn’t that familiar picture?
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Please fire Kompon. I do not want to hear any “Well we didn’t have Kopitar” excuses about the power play, because the power play SUCKED all year long!!!!! Killed us in the standings and killed us in the end. What in the heck is it with the Kings NEVER winning in OT in the playoffs? Reminds me of the 93 finals where they would give it up almost off the face off in each overtime loss.
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It is time for King fans to stand up and say “We have had enough”. We have never won a Stanley Cup in our entire existence since 1967, I believe we are 2nd to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the longest drought. It is time to say that this is not good enough rather than saying “it has been a good run”. We must demand a championship to send a strong message to Dean Lombardi.
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Airwaves Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@Tomb, Every year is the same. I’m tired of waiting also. When will we be a firepower and be respected in the NHL?
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7holesniper Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
@Airwaves, ive noticed, even when they play well the kings are never respected on NHL Network. On the fly has basically only talked about what the Sharks have to do to beat LA, even when we shut them out they talked about how the Sharks need to come back and barely gave any praise at all to the kings. I wish they would have won this series and shut them up.
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frustrated Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
@7holesniper, you have to win something first.
Get rid of the powerplay coach, please!
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What a drag….
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Are the Kings your only team?
Who you going for now?
Next year looks promising..
We were injured and couldn’t play our best team..
GKG…Next year!!!!!
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bleedblueking Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@Slim, go sabres
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hockeykingsguy Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
@Slim, Preds for me..
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bleedblueking Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
@hockeykingsguy, preds vs. sabres stanley cup that would be great to piss off the NHL
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Go Kings Go Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
@hockeykingsguy, Go Predators Go. Time to root for No.2 Team!!!
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bobcraneselbow Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 7:48 am
@hockeykingsguy, Love the Preds…great team defense. They are like the Kings with a little more offensive execution. Sharks will be one and done..NoCal sucks.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:15 pm
@Slim, Go Caps.
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A5MINMJR Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
@Slim, Being in TN, I got to go for the Preds
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Fernando Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
@Slim, Some one from the East Coast, I say Ovechkin wins it, Just cause I hate Crosby!
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rich Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:35 pm
@Fernando, philly
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Interestingly enough, Roenick was the only guy on Versus to give them any credit.
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mrbrett7 Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 8:44 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Keith Jones works here in Denver…I want to kick him in the head right about now.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
@mrbrett7, He gloated through the whole game, like he had a lot of money on it or something.
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Too much pressure for this young poorly coached team.
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frustrated Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
@diehardkings22, exactly.
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mrbrett7 Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 8:44 am
@diehardkings22, I’ll give you young.
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no negative comments tonight!!!!! We were the underdogs and it took 3 OT loses to eliminate us. The growth of Lewis,Cliffy and Richardson will help us next year ….Great effort!!!!!
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KDinUT Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
@neil, Agree!
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hockeykingsguy Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
@neil, Agreed..
I would Westgarth in that mix as well. For an enforcer, he really stepped it up when we needed a player in the post season to fill a spot.
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Hockeyfan B4 Gretzky Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
@neil, Could not agree any more. The only thing that should change is Condoms for everybody on the team Brown disappeared after the baby.
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anonandonanon Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 4:52 am
@neil, We gave them all they could handle. Good series when you look at it 2 solid Kings wins, 1 solid Kings loss and 3 OT squeekers means we came real right along, especially considering we were without Kopi!
Thanks Kings. Rich, guys.
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We should put our power play on craig’s list.
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Slim Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@jess,
ON America’s Most Wanted..
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OttoKing Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
@jess, Ha! Wonderful.
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I’m damn proud of this team, and I’ll be back in my seats next season! Good luck to you all! I’ll miss the back and forth banter! Good luck until then!
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So Zeus out, Schenn in. Loktionov in? Any D-men UFAs this year? I don’t think so, but Voyonov will be interesting. Sigh…
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bleedblueking Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
@OttoKing, we need wingers not Dmen
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Just a observation…Will the Coach mention us missing Kopi tonight????
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:30 pm
@neil, I don’t think he believes in that. I think he sees that as making excuses…along the lines of “you’ve got to win with who you have.” I’m sorta in the middle.
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I just vomited in my own mouth.
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Thanks for the great season Rich. I look forward to your updates through the off-season. Have a good summer.
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I did not think the series would end like this, glad to see the kings put up a good fight! maybe next year!
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Well, i have to give it to the Kings. They played a lot better than I thought they would without Kopi and an injured Williams. I am glad they gave the effort. Here is to a healthy next year!
Now for me, i rooting for the preds, anyone who knocked off the Ducks, has me behind them
Thanks Kings for the run and the effort.
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Crazy game at times isn’t it……….I know this was a step closer to where we want to be, Stanley cup finals. Yes some players will leave over the summer however we have the making of a good solid contender to come.
My final grading of the season for game activity……..
-Quick (A+)
-Smyth (A+)
-Lewis (A+)
-Brown (A)
-Williams (A)
-Martinez (A)
-Stoll (B)
-Richardson (B)
-Scuderi (B)
-Mitchell (B)
-Handzus (B)
-Clifford (C)
-Simmonds (C)
-Westgarth (C)
-Johnson (C)
-Parse (D)
-Doughty (D)
-Greene (D)
Coaching staff (B+)
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iket Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
@Harty,
i think you forgot penner… or maybe it was intentional.
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imSoNull Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:31 pm
I think he’s reviewing kings players, not guys that wear kings jerseys.
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Brian D. Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
@Harty, Brown A, Clifford C ????
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Harty Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
@Brian D., Just this game, remeber Clifford is a friend also, although his line was -3 tonight you cannot diguise anthing in this game.
If its on the season I give Kyle Clifford (A) ranking and great upside for years to come
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diehardkings22 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
@Harty, Simmonds (D-) or (F)
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imSoNull Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
@diehardkings22, remember back when every gm in the league wanted a piece of simmonds and we told them to suck it? cuz I do.
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Eric K Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:54 pm
@imSoNull, If this is saying that we should’ve traded Simmonds, you’re wrong. Plain and simple.
Mikey J. Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:26 pm
@Harty, That’s pretty much right on. Good finish.
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Tomb Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
@Harty, I am not watching the same game as you. Drew Doughty is our best player and deserves an A+. It would seem that Terry Murray agrees since no other King logged more ice time tonight…26:18. His plus/minus was 0 compared to Kyle Clifford, Wayne Simmonds who was a -3, and Brad Richardson who was a -4.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
@Tomb, come on DD sucked all this year he not our Best Player of this Year it was the Goaltenders JQ and JB they were both outstanding the team had errors
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Tomb Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:49 pm
@KingsFanFTW, if he is so bad then trade him…there would be 20+ teams knocking on the door.
KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
@Tomb, i didnt say he was a crappy player i just said he sucked this year thats about it
I wont say trade and make a ridiculous comment
its the truth DD wasnt the best player Plain and simple
I think he be better next season hopefully
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Mike Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
@Harty, Clifford A+!!!
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Harty Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 5:00 am
@Mike, I have no issue with Kyle and a A+ for the season and series, tonight though even if he is totally accountable for the minuses, he gets them unfortunately.
Cliffie is the best and he is warrior and all other teams going deep into the playoffs would love to have this kid. LA lock him up big time, he is going to be the heart and soul of the team in years to come.
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Thanx Rich and all you guys for making this a great season…do remember this is a very young team and will only be better…could have won this but…looked bad when we couldn’t set up on the OT PP…sad but proud…next year Good bye everybody and GKG!!!!!!!
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we have only ourselves to blame, we had the opportunity and didn’t take advantage
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EPIC FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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What is it with the Kings and Staples Center? Horrible….
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hockeykingsguy Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
@Kings fan in S.D.,
The Ice is horrible. But that’s what you get when you have the Lakers and the Clippers, not including the rest of the events.
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Tomb Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
@hockeykingsguy, that is no excuse. The Sharks had to play on the same ice surface and they found a way to win all 3 games at the Staples Center.
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YoBro Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
@Tomb, It was clearly those LAME 3rd jerseys!
Saddening, just saddening…
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at least trevor lewis looks awesome on the PK…
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I feel sorry for veterans like Smyth, Mitchell, and Scuderi. They deserve more for what they have done for this team.
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number 6 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
@goldielocks,
yes I agree… and as they are getting older, I think that DL has to reassess seriously his plan….. now we’ll start to build the front end…. I mean like, get on with it because otherwise these guys will all be out of their contracts.
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Tomb Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:35 pm
@number 6, I would love if they could keep Mitchell around, I believe he is one of our best defenseman. Scuderi still has something to offer. I love Ryan Smyth, but I think he is starting to get tired and simply does not have the legs anymore. It is time to hang em up Ryan.
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goldielocks Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
@number 6,
Yup. DL has to convince those veteran guys to stay. They are looking for the chance to win the cup. If they think the Kings can’t do it in the near future and decide to play for other team, who can even blame them? They believed in this young team will get better but the team betrayed them. I wouldn’t say a whole team. The young guys who stepped up their game gave us (them) hope. But there are some so-called core guys who didn’t exceed our (or veteran players) expectation. That is a betrayal to us (or them).
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frustrated Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
@goldielocks, we need someone who can handle and pass the puck then smyth and penner can play in front of the net instead of behind it.
i know it’s getting old, but seriously, I’d take a 2nd round pick and a creedence tape for dustin penner in the off season.
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DY Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
@imSoNull, I might take just the Creedence tape…
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historyguy Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:35 pm
@imSoNull, No kidding. We don’t even need the second round pick! How about a seventh, a bag of used pucks, and the Creedence tape. At least the Creedence tape would play hard!
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imSoNull Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:45 pm
so for every shift that penner would take, we’ll just play the creedence tape and be down a man.
“green river” alone would have more hits, goals and assists than penner.
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Oscar Moller's Beard Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 10:26 am
@imSoNull, Or Freddy Modin!
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I don’t want to make too much of this, because our PP went 2 for 3 on the night, but it’s pretty ironic the way our season ends. How many games this season could our power play have won us? A dozen? It’s fitting, and depressing, that our season ends on the back of a 5 minute failed power play.
The sooner Murray, Kompon, and co. are shipped out of town, the closer we get to winning a round.
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Airwaves Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:14 pm
@Aegwilnotwinthecup, Agree
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frustrated Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
@Aegwilnotwinthecup, exactly.
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Well, if that doesn’t put the exclamation point on the power play issues this season then I don’t know what does.
I’m already looking forward to next season. The Kings are set in a very good place to make some changes & tweaks and learn from this season with hopefully improved results next season.
Thank you to everyone who has a hand in bring Kings hockey to the fans.
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that PP was a microcosm of the whole season.
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This team has heart, grit and character. They were completely out-talented and yet almost pulled it out. The sharks first five forwards are better than any of the Kings, yet the Kings outhustled and almost took it to a Game 7.
With Kopi back and Shenn and the elusive left winger that we desperately need, we could take another step forward.
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Played better than I thought we could, exceeded expectations. So much so that we thought we should have won the series. That says a lot.
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Their Master Plan
Put King’s on PP..
Change momentum..
Put in OT goal..
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imSoNull Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
@Slim, diabolical! that’s why doughty committed a seemingly inexplicable cross-check to the face away from the play in the final minutes of the game: to undermine their merciless plot! wise beyond his years indeed!
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It is so devastating I want to start placing blame everywhere and on everyone. BUT,,,,,I and we should be proud of the effort our boys put on the Sharks when nobody gave us a chance without Kopi. We earned some serious respect around the league and will only make us battle strong in the upcoming years.
Good job boys !
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Moondoggie Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
@StankBloat, Well said….
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The only difference between the fail last year and the fail this year is that this year, we GAVE AWAY this series.
Last year, we were beat.
AND we didn’t have Kopitar.
This season hurt much more than last season.
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LBlocal Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
@Cynic, But ever so predictable, knowing this franchise’s history… Will always bleed Forum blue & Gold.. But as a fellow FANATIC, this SCHTICK is getting old.
ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO DEVELOPMENTAL CAMP… (New coach(es), systems??)
gKg!
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Moondoggie Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
@Cynic, Hey dude…I thought I was the only one, guess not. I’m brokenhearted. I love these kids and what they put out on the ice, I really do. This is probably the 2nd toughest loss since 92-93, you can’t help like these guys.
We’ll be back with more youth. Quicker will be Quicker, our D is stronger and we can go nowhere but up with our offense. We signed JMFJ (I thought it would be impossible) long term. We’ve got more than a few kids in the minors who can score. We’ll be ok.
Tough, sure, very tough. I’ll probably pull for the Wings in the West & the B’s in the East, anyone really but the Habs. Too bad Manch is out of it too, kind of a surreal point in the season for all we had going for us.
Take care, we’ll all be back soon. Stay in touch, we have a very long summer ahead of us but a very promising fall to look forward to.
LGK!
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Good bye Kompon!
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Except for some dumb plays and some semi poor defense ..and of course a crappy powerless play I was very impressed with this series and the season. Just some tweaking another goal scorer and a new PP.coach and we’re set.Congrats. king’s and thanks Rich and fellow Insiders
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I guess I will add what I would like to see next year and leave voids empty……..
void, Kopitar, Williams
Clifford, Richardson, Simmonds
Parse, Lewis, void
Penner, Schenn, void
Doughty, Johnson
Mitchell, Martinez
Greene, void
Quick
*sorry Bernier, tarde him for top scorer for Kopi’s wing, it will be an interesting summer
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bleedblueking Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
@Harty, where’s brown
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reggie dunlop Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
@bleedblueking, good obs… and Scuderi on defense..
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Arron Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
@Harty,
Where is Scuderi? Is he not under contract for two more years?
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KDinUT Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
@Harty, No Scuderi?
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jordan Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
@Harty, yea wheres Brown and Scuderi…there kinda important
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jordan Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
@jordan, add Stoll too????
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Duckhunter Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
@Harty, Stoll and Scuds?
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7holesniper Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
@Harty, bernier is staying. penner is going to be kopi’s winger. defense pairings staying the same. DL is going to do anything he can to grab brad richards. williams will probably go down with stoll and smyth. schenn and brown will probably play together.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
@Harty, dont trade Bernier come on he going to be out next Number one Goaltender u know
He has talented trade Penner tho
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YoBro Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
@KingsFanFTW, You’re out of your tree if you believe they’ll trade Bernier before Quick. Quick has proven NOTHING. Two late season meltdowns, and 2 uninspired playoffs; Bye-bye JQ. Let him be someone elses Jekyll/Hyde.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
@YoBro, i know i said dont trade Bernier
and i believe Quick prove soemthing that he a great goaltender that most of fans dont believe
I said Trade Penner tho that we both can agree on it
kingsfan Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 12:03 am
@Harty, U leave Brownie, Scuds, Stoll & Bernier out but leave Penner in?? Wow…this team would b lost!!
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The season is officially a failure. No one should view this as successful season.
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As for Penner, I think he will work out next year, you could tell that he is learning the system, he did not look lost today, he might not be scoring, but then again, they were cycling pretty good, I say conference finals next year!
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Tomb Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
@Fernando, you look marvelous
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You do not deserve to win if you cant score on a 5 minutes power play.
AWFUL way to end a pretty good season.
Only one word can describe the way the season ended.
Pathedic
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Skooma Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
@Mike, There’s really no way to lose the playoffs well.
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GG Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
@Skooma, sharks didn,t score on any PP
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Mike C Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
@Mike,
Relax man — appreciate the effort. Yea, the major was ugly and their strategy on the power play needs to be addressed before next season. But a Kopitar-less Kings that made it this far against the Sharks.
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Mike Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
@Mike C,
My point is that we should have won this game and it is embarrassing that they could not score on the major powerplay. Clearly they were not the better team but they owe it to Quick to win this game for him and they could not do it. It is pathedic the way the final 5 minutes of the season finished not the rest of the series.
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can lombardi pull off the moves needed?
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Just a sad way to end the season. Not one win at home! Get rid of those Black couch pillow looking jerseys!We had the chance and we couldn’t close the deal….. 5 mins and about 45 seconds was good. We didn’t want it bad enough. The better team did win. But I still hate the Sharks!
Can’t wait to see what players we can’t afford to add to get the offense we desperately need. The answers are not in Manchester! But I look forward to a better year next year.
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LaKingBob[chi] Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:20 pm
@Mark1967, I do agrree with the jersys!!! We needed the other ones
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number 6 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
@Mark1967,
There aren’t really that many UFA’s available who fit what we need. They are mainly centermen. We’ll be stacked at center.
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Moondoggie Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:06 pm
@number 6, They’ll take a run at Richards for sure….
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Chris Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 10:12 am
@Mark1967,
Those “Black Couch” jerseys will be the new everyday jersey next season for home games, and a White version for road games. I don’t believe anyone really likes those jerseys. Kings management did get info from fans they say, just haven’t met anyone who actually likes them.
Great season Kings… Looking forward to next season already. Go Kings Go
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can’t sleep its 1:18am here in Ontario, really cannot believe the season is over………
hey Rich great job all season, I’ll be emailing the head office indicating the great work you do keeping the fans involved, your very good at what you do…..
Harty
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Everyone, Lets just take the season in. We had a good season and got out played in round one. We need to make some changes but lets not blame anyone,,
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Our day will come. Maybe 2012 season who knows?
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After this loss, I feel optamistic. Of cource the world will end in Dec.2012, so if the Kings don’t win the cup next year, all is lost! Ha.
And I heard your interview on HNiC today Rich, thank you. It made me feel good about tonights game.
I think we all knew how this was gonna turn out, but the vote of confidence for the Kings was a nice differance from the rest of the hockey media.
And Jeff M. can suck it for picking the Sharts.
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So, who’s everyone’s backup team? I’m hoping the Preds go far, I enjoy watching good goaltending and I think Rinne can almost fill the void of not being able to watch Quick.
But for all the mistakes that went into that game I think we played fairly well. You can tell the team is there but still making rookie mistakes. We’re still young, give us a chance to grow a bit.
So yeah, basically waiting for next season since 1967.
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Mikey J. Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
@JonTheAnt, Without my heart and soul involved, there is a lot of great hockey to be watched. I think we all know who we don’t want win. Got to go with the biggest underdog.
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Slim Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:52 pm
@Mikey J., With you on that!!!!!
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Moondoggie Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
@JonTheAnt, Original six, the Wings & the B’s, anyone but the Habs, simple really!
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@mrbrett7,
I do understand the game of hockey. I’ve been watching Kings hockey for over 20 years. Exactly what part do I not understand. Please inform me.
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Thanks Rich, you rule the Kingdom!!
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Heartbroken. Thanks Rich for everything. Kompon needs to go.
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i will not have negative remarks. When the Kings make the playoffs they grow deeper into my soul and the fight, will to win win grows bigger inside of me, its a great feeling to be a Kings fan. I will always be there for you guys like you are me. I cannot wait for next year and what lies ahead in the summer. One thing I wish is that we put away the back in black theme and the black shield jerseys. We have lost 2 playoff series wearing them jerseys at home back to back years. Lets bring back the purple in jerseys. When you are a KING purple is royalty!
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Chris Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 10:14 am
@DaveinSD,
Those “Black Shield” jerseys will be the new everyday jersey next season for home games, and a White version for road games. I don’t believe anyone really likes those jerseys. Kings management did get info from fans they say, just haven’t met anyone who actually likes them.
Great season Kings… Looking forward to next season already. Go Kings Go
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thanks rich
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How do you not put our hottest line out the last 10 games a single time during the power play? Who cares if they aren’t our usual power play line, they are hot and you go with them. Our PP was like beating a dead horse of what doesn’t work. Colossal coaching failure.
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I will be all happy that we won game 2 and game 3 and get kick out but we didnt we won game 2 and game 5,not at home really ..Is home totally hard to do??
hey Kings Fans maybe next year,, Lets wear other Visiting team and when they score we cheer and when the Kings score we boo them to make sure they feel away..
i feel sad for the people that been each 3 games home just to see us lose way to go Kings disappoint ur fans they really needed that
With or without Kopi Kings did great and i believe they did great in game 6 but if u get a 5 mins PP and then didnt score and a couple of seconds later they score to finish the Series they well deserved it
Kings did okay in this series reason why just okay because they havent won once in home place when u have the advantage of it..5 mins PP didnt at least score once and then let a goal in wow
with Kopi back in this line up nd a healthy team i think we will do damage but i dont blame without kopi we lost we should of won this series but we didnt
Go Kings GO always going to be a fan
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Well, hopefully next year, the boys learn not just how to hunt, but how to kill. If you have an opponent down, stand on their throat until their last breath is taken. So for my 27th time, good season boys, we’ll get ‘em next year!
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they put up a good fight without the leading scorer, can’t argue with that. San Jose is just the better team at this time. the team will only keep getting better, and camp should be very interesting to watch.
the one thing i did notice, and you can argue one way or another if its a good thing or a bad thing, Murray leaned too much on Simmonds-Richardson-Clifford. we all know they have been the best line, but they were also playing a supporting role. Murray put them out there maybe more than he should have and it back fired. Richardson was -4, Simmonds was -3 and Clifford was -3. i think they’re mojo ran out at a very inopportune time for the Kings. we’ll get’em next year.
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One thing…the loss of Kopitar made everyone else better. Maybe in the long term, that’s good for this team.
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The 4 goal lead was the game that did us in….
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to the question of ‘Was this a step forward?’, it’s a qualified maybe. I agree with the previous poster who said that individual players advanced (i.e., Clifford, Lewis, Quick most especially), and some of the vets stepped up (i.e., Stoll, Smyth, Handzus, Mitchell, Williams, and Greene when he wasn’t taking bad penalties), but Doughty took a huge step back, as he has all year, and Johnson and Brown were pretty much non-existent for much of the series. The bigger issue, though, is one of consistency and team discipline (Doughty’s cross-check in the 3rd was was unbelievably stupid) coupled to a lack of offensive creativity within the system and on the power play. Maybe some of that can be attributed to missing Kopi, but it’s not like it was tearing things up in the regular season to begin with.
At the end of the day, though, we lost three straight playoff games on home ice, including one of the biggest debacles in team history, to a very skilled but soft team that all things considered was STILL lucky to get through to the next round. (insert string of expletives here
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bleedblueking Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
@ziggy, we need schenn and a sniper on the wing we need speed also
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number 6 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:33 pm
@bleedblueking,
DESPERATE need of speed.
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the kings rarely win the big game. I think Terry Murray has improved the culture.I would give him another year. I dont think Schenn will be as good as people think. Would go after Brad Richards or Trade Bernier to Philadelphia for a scorer.
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Newf Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:40 pm
@rmartin1951, no
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Moondoggie Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
@rmartin1951, They’re still learning how to win, go easy. This was a tough night.
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Sad to say its over….I still and always will love my KINGS! See ya all next year!
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We lose are best player, Kopi. Yet we still battled. Say what you will, they had a bit more experience and skill. Give the Sharks credit. This is hockey and sometimes the puck bounces funny. I love these Kings. I wanted nothing more then a Stanley Cup for this group of Kings. It was a tall order and we came up short. It hurts and I can’t believe that this season is over. Yet it’s been fun and full of up’s and down’s. Next year, hell we have got plenty of time to think about that. I made 2 live games this year and we won both. I got my monies worth and I would change any of it. This season was much like the game of life, sometimes no matter how hard we try we still come up short. It’s not that we are awful or that we suck. It’s just the way fate has it. There isn’t anyone to blame and our heads need not hang low. We lost and it’s as simple as that. As always I will continue to fully surport this club. Thanks to you the fans for beinging the best fans in the world. Good Night Now.
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rmartin1951 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:27 pm
@kinginsaltlake, The Kings have been coming up short since 1967.Get used to it.
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kinginsaltlake Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:35 pm
@rmartin1951, I am trust me. Still life goes on and so will the Kings. It will make it just that much more sweeter when we win one
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Heidi is using her sad voice during interviews..
She’s a fan too…
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The Kings need a power play coach.
Michael G.
Flagstaff, Arizona
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Curiosity kills the cat. Arrogance kills a young player. Guess who I’m refering to.
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Need big improvements this offseason…can’t just make the playoffs anymore!
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They think it’s all over. It is now! It’s four :/
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hello?
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When I first heard that Kopi was out I really thought we had no shot…but they played really well without him, considering…if they had Kopi in the line up they would have won this series. I think great strides were made this year, next year will be much better! Love the youngins!
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Newf Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
@Lash, i was in the same boat. i thought we were done. wasn’t sure we could win the series. but after game 2 i really thought we could fight. then game 3 happened and wanted to off myself.
then after game 5 i thought we could really battle back…and it looked like we were going to until the PP failed.
i don’t blame kompon, a PP coach can plan things out but he can’t control what happens on the ice, that’s up to the players. what they do is what matters.
here’s to a good offseason.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:48 pm
@Lash, Yup…they really shouldn’t have had a shot, but there were key games they played which gave us faith. I don’t think we could realistically expect more. Sure, they could have gotten a couple bounces and gotten to, even won game 7, but overall, they played with more heart than I think anyone would claim they expected.
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well… great season, what else can i say. now i can stop skipping my statistics class to watch playoff hockey.
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Power play and team speed, PLEASE!! or we will be right here talking about the same kind of crap a year from now. 33 years of heartbreak 101. thanks guys.
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Kopitar is the kings best player, good 2 way and top scorer. Sharks should have won this series, they did, but the kings didnt roll over. They lost this series with the game 3 meltdown. I didnt think Brown or Simmonds played good tonight. The sharks seemed to get all the bounces in this game, but for an elimanation game, the kings 1st period was flat. All and all there are alot of positives to take away from the year. Quick built on last year, Kopitar is emerging as one of the best 2 way players. The kings 3rd line was great for most of the playoffs. Add in Schenn next year and it will be better.
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Tomb Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
@kingfletch, Schenn was a -5 in the Monarchs final game. I still think he needs some time in the AHL to learn the defensive part of the game before playing full time in the NHL.
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7holesniper Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
@Tomb, dont forget he has two gold medals with team canada and was a captain, i think he knows how to play defense. maybe its because he just got to the team.
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Tomb Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:26 pm
@7holesniper, most junior stars have all the offensive skills necessary to make the NHL but they have never had to learn the defensive part of the game. That is why Terry Murray did not want to keep him around this year.
YoBro Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
@kingfletch, Idon’t understand how Quick built anything from last year, Same old,same old.
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Why is it that SJ used the same back door plays a hundred times this series, and there was never a defensive adjustment made? If anything, Murray’s bread and butter is supposed to be defense, yet I saw no evidence of any change in our coverage to recognize that play all series long. It was almost silly how you could see it developing everytime and worked for them like a charm. There was no secret about it. It was telegraphed just like our point shots on the PP. I just can’t see how this was never dealt with. I have lost whatever inkling of respect I have for this coaching staff at this point. Something has to change. This was a completely winnable series, and SJ is not that good. Sure they have more skill up front, but that was hardly the difference. With some simple adjustments in our approach on D and on offense, this series totally could’ve been ours. I’m very disappointed in that this whole outcome was completely telegraphed by the plain stubbornness and inability to correct any mistakes.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
@PP Anybody?, They adjusted, just not well enough. I watched Mitchell, every time he was on the ice, point at the third man, every time down. Some of the forwards (Parse, who it’s kinda hard to blame much) did not adjust, though.
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PP Anybody? Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:58 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Well, that’s one player, who just happens to be the best defensive defenseman on our team, and probably made the adjustment himself cause he was tired of seeing it done game after game. This is endemic of an inability to recognize as a coach, that your whole team needs to change focus. If I can see it, TM surely should’ve, and yet it continued every game. I think TM preached the same plan every game this whole year, regardless of the score, or the opponent. In my eyes, that just doesn’t cut it, Especially in a series where you get to recognize a team’s tendencies.
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Lewis is a one man PK!!!!!
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:36 pm
@neil, i’ll agree on that
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Let’s put it a nicer way: no pure offensive threat means no power play goal when it matters most.
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Hell of an effort.
San Jose is the better team…we played out butts off to battle back.
I like our future, truth is there are several teams : Vancouver, San Jose, Detroit, Chicago, to name a few that are at a different level than us….we need scoring, i like our D i love our Goaltending…we are just not an Elite team at the moment.
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A lack of offensively creative players (never seen so many “forced” pucks to the point) resulted in the King’s downfall
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DD was never the same player after the media over glorified him in the 4-0 win. No we,or team ever mentioned in his interviews, only I and my.I think DD is and will be a great player for years to come but he definitely made some costly mistakes since his big day. Definitely not putting blame on any one person at all just something i noticed as I’m sure a lot of you did .Like I tell my kids don’t don’t talk with your mouth show it with your game. Oh well start all over next year. Well get one sooner or later.
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Tomb Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:40 pm
@Framer, if Doughty is so bad then why did he log the most ice time tonight?
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Framer Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
@Tomb, Read the post. Didn’t say he was bad at all
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it was the best we could expect from kings this playoffs. not enough skill forwards.
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Firstly, I think the 5 minute major at the end was kind of a gift, in the Richardson ducked down quite low and the guy really didnt hit him hard at all, it was just an awkward position that lead him being injured. If the teams had been reversed I think everyone here would be questioning there even being a penalty… And I agree, the ensuing PP was just typical of the Kings all season and a fitting way to lose.
I must give props to Ryan Smyth cause I ragged on him the entire last half of the season but he brought it big time in the playoffs. Well done, Captain Canada!
Doughty still makes way too many stupid mistakes, which I could accept if he was a offensive force but he hasnt been that either. Let’s hope this was just an off year for him.
Trevor Lewis was a revelation this season and he’s a gem. Clifford as well. We still have a top defensive corps (especially if Doughty rebounds) and with a healthy Kopi and Williams (JW was hurting so much he wouldnt even take high fives with his right hand after scoring; youre a warrior, JW!) AND some added skill, next year will be amazing!
Was a fun game to watch! (Have to thank Niemi for that, he kept us in it!)
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Just for the record. Dustin Brown played big at the end of the game and gave us a chance to win.
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In the end overtime killed us. We had very little practice winning in sudden death, but we’re great at the SO. PP did not kill us except for this one game: 5 minute major with nothing. All the pressure was on the Sharks not to lose after we got the entire end of the game on the PP. 5-5 scoring would have solved OT. No Kopitar = No primary scoring but pleanty of secondary. Great job Smyth at the end (could have lost even earlier).
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Doughty needs to learn how to catch a pass. Only time they got the powerplay set up in OT and Doughty missed a pass right on his stick with nobody on him. Story of the game- Kings could not score on a 5 minutes power play.
Congrats to Quick for playing outstanding again and in my opinion no doubt the teams best player the whole season but especially the playoffs.
[Reply]
jason Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
@Mike, you mean the shot johnson took at him? lol
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The typical prediction was out in five, and they took three games into overtime and won to others. Only one other matchup was left in the west when they lost it. Given the situation, I’m not too disappointed by that.
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I think it’s time to retire the Black Jerseys from the playoffs. I like the jerseys but they were 0 and 3 this year.
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Kings played their hearts out all I could ask for, I’m looking forward to next season, it always hurts but I love this team and proud of them
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Thnank you to all in the Kings Orgization,from all the players and coaches and the great effort this year.. Of course to Mr. Miller and Mr. Fox,the games wouldn’t be the same without you two… I’ver been a King’s since the beginning when i was 6, i’m almost 51 now.The one thing that has made me happy and that i believe besides my family has been the Kings.. I like to thank all my fellow King’s fans,especially the fans that went to the games… Everyone take care,see ya next season and GO KINGS GO!!!!
[Reply]
Moondoggie Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:49 pm
@kfan, I’m a 67-68 fan…wow, that goes back a ways. 43 years of misery, I’ll be 55 in September. I love the guy at Staples who wears the jersey “CupB4IDie”, couldn’t agree more! I love this team. But tomorrow and next season will be another day!
LGK!
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Hanging on Since '73 Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:10 pm
@Moondoggie, Yep – you both have a few years on me, and the losing just never gets any easier. The Kings are fortunate to have an amazingly loyal fan base. We just have to hope that our patience will be rewarded some day! For what it’s worth, I think that we are on the right track….but then again I am a Kings fan…
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Well guess now we see who will stay and who will go, i can only think that cliffy now has a spot next year. We all hate to say it but next year will get em, But honestly next year is looking good
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This was tough. Guess I feel sicker than last year. The expectations were certainly higher and the kids, what can you say?? The Kings are definitely improved even tho we exit again in the first round.
Next season, we’ll see more youth. A veteran or two may not be around; we’ll probably be younger next season than we were this season. We have too many good kids in juniors and at Manch knocking on the door.
As disheartening this loss was, our season was full of positives. We’re still young, we’re still learning how to win in the playoffs. We’ll definitely be better a year from now.
Many thanx to DL, TM and the entire Kings team & staff. Also to you Rich for all you’ve done for the Kings and it’s fans. And to all of you, we’ll stay in touch throughout the summer. And we’ll all be there, for the draft, for free agency and this fall for the first drop of the puck.
LA in 2012….LGK!!!
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I guarantee we win the next playoff game at Staples!
It’s tough right now but I’m proud of this team.
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time for DL to get to work
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At the end of the day, i can say i’m proud of em, definitely, i mean Quick was outstanding for most of the series, the defense was terrible but at least tried to correct themselves and they got farther then at least i woulda thought without kopi and the cliffy, richie, simmer line played outstanding.
I think they stuck to thier system this last game for the most part, and went out playing the way they should of, so no regrets from me
Better luck next year boys, Cant wait, see y’all at frozen fury lol
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Had a feeling something like that would happen. Thornton wanted revenge on that high sticking call. Talk to you all next season. Hopefully they will be able to get past the 1st round!
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I know that Kopi means a lot to the Kings but when one player means this much that’s when you know that the team is not any good.
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Randell Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:09 pm
@Mike in NorCal, we just pushed you with our one guy who means that much to three overtimes and beat you twice, get the “HELLA” out of here, for years to come the Kings will be better than you and get used to it since you are from Norcal and all, Socal will always be better
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Kompon HAS to go!!!!!!! Terrible pp all year. Penner see ya. resign zues 1 year, work a trade to get parise. Weve got enough expendables to get that one done
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Kings Fan In Temecula Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:05 pm
@Kingfish, couldn’t agree more, sounds pretty solid honestly
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Not sure why so many believe this year was a step forward. We were incredibly inconsistent. We failed to win the most critical games of the year (Ducks games at end and at least a couple of games in this series). Our lack of offensive skill and creativity remains a glaring problem. We are still a team that is going to have to battle with teams like the Preds, Blues and Coyotes just to get into the playlets The best you can say about this year is that we went sideways. I was hoping for more.
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Rick Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:55 pm
@Rick, “playlets” should be “playoffs”
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dmitriy Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 10:56 pm
@Rick, in todays hockey kings are too slow
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well that’s all she wrote
great season KINGS although we came up short
players i would like to see on the way out
poni
zues
smythe- yes its a tough one but yes
would like to see murray gone but i know that wont happen
would like to see kompon out too
go kings go
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If Terry Murray is still the coach when we start next year, it will be a long, frustrating season next year too.
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If they can’t get the personnel needed by UFA. Then they need to trade for it. That along with the youth in development will give them the depth needed.
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@Royal88, agree
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its the D style of play thats killing us… Its just an excuse for a poor offensive system by kompon. With all the quality play makers we have do this.
lokti-kopi-williams
parse-schenn-brown
smyth-lewis-holloway
cliff-rich-simmons
stoll, smyth, zus, poni, rich can go.. yes rich did good except this last game he resorted back to his -4 +/-
bring up voynov and muzzin for greene, johnson or martinez. I hate johnson.. sure he has some good games but somehow he manages to have the lowest +/- every freakin season.. same with richardson.. replace those two and watch the D be #1… Look at all the talent..
for some reason kompon and murrays system makes scorers not score… penner, poni, lewis, schenn, lokti, holloway are all guys who should put up good points every season.. Yes you can focus on D and still have great offense.. To me its just bad offense and saying oh we are a defensive team.. The PP lost this game and many others for us
and now we have the choice…
bernier, quick and martin jones.
Zatkoff isnt good enough but imagine having martin jones and bernier. Bernier is ready to be a #1. I feel if we want to be a structured defensive team, bernier is our guy. He makes the normal saves. If we want a high powered offensive team, quick is our guy.. he makes the ridiculous 2 on 1 saves and stuff.
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Randell Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
@jason, just stop and go away
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Randell Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
@Randell, and Bud Holloway plays LW dumbsh.it
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Very sad now. Proud of this team but very confused during this series with their play at home. A major PP at the end of the third to win it and we cant get out of our own way. I just don’t get it. But, I’ve been saying this for years with this team. I’m 51 and have been hoping for better for about 41 of those. Oh well. We die hard Kings fans know this feeling very well. Now here comes the standard line for Kings fans, “See ya next year” Night all.
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@Royal88,
Dude, before you start berating Kings fans about their hockey and/or team knowledge, you may need to learn a thing or two about the sport yourself.
And to criticize Rich for adhering to the rule and regulations clearly posted is really a slap in the face to all the hard work he’s done over the season and playoffs.
You don’t like what he’s doing you’re free to leave and start your own blog.
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Gotta say, Sharks fans are a lot better than Schmucks fans. I was just reading comments on the game recap, and sure there were trolls, but they were outnumbered by a great number of respectful and complementary posts, even apologies for the trolls. To their credit, most Kings fans have been gracious too. We all seemed to agree that Schmucks fans are a cancer.
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Hey, the guys did the best they could. They gave it their all. For the most part they’re still a young team learning how to win in the playoffs. With a couple of bounces this series could have gone our way (never mind game 3) it just seemed to me the sharks got the bounces when they needed them (case in point: thornton’s ot winner, bounces right to him) I’m very proud of my Kings team, considering all the adversity we had in the second half. We won when we had to. We got no help from any other teams because when we won they won, when we lost they lost. Kopi going down was the topper. The hockey pundits wrote us off right from the start and the Kings gave the sharks a battle. So, there is no shame. I”m looking forward to next year with Deano hopefully getting a potent scorer or two, Schenn up, and a healthy Kopi. So keep your chins up people. I see nothing but good things for next year. We are becoming a battle tested team and the young guys know what it takes to win in the playoffs. It’s gonna be all right. GKG! Goring 19 Eternal Kings Optimist
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Mikey J. Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:53 pm
@Goring 19, So true. It was quite a run just to get here.
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My heart is bleeding that the series ended in the first round. Should have, could have, would have. But hey Kings, you had a great season! Just keep on playing harder and learn from your mistakes. See you bounce back next season! I love you guys. Thanks for making hockey exciting. I live near the Honda Center and could easily be a Ducks fan for the sake of venue. However, I have this strong connection with the Kings that I don’t mind driving all the way to the Staples Center just to watch you play. So proud to be a Kings fan. Good luck and have a good summer.
Thank you Kings Insider for this blog. Good job.
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Thanks Kings for not winning a home game this series. Thank you coaching staff for never adjusting during the game. Thank you Dean Lombardi for not getting that goal scorer who can score under pressure. And last but not least a non sarcastic thank you to you Rich Hammond for giving us the insider for fans like us who have been loyal have an opportunity to vent out our broken emotions
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Go Hornets!!
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It’s those ugly black jerseys! They do NOT have a good record in games where they wear those dating back to their introduction, and their play-off record in them is terrible! I’m just sayin’…oh, and the fact that they need to make some trades to bring in 2 scoring forwards and another solid d-man; UFA market ia going to be very thin and it makes no sense to mortgage everything on Richards (a la Kovalchuk).
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LAK1ngs Reply:
April 25th, 2011 at 11:31 pm
@5hole, Yes, it’s the jersey’s fault they suck on the Power Play.
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@Royal88, I’ll agree with you about TM
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Ducks playoffs – over
Kings playoffs – over
Who’s next? I hope not the Lakers!!!
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Steve W Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 1:38 am
@JB@OC, yes!!!!
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I dont really know what to say. I’m hurt. I’m angry. I’m disappointed. I’m proud.
Having said that, Kompon has to go. Then, DL needs to spend the chips we have to get a scorer or two. But first, Willie Mitchell needs to be resigned to a 2-year deal tomorrow morning.
Parise-Kopitar-Williams
Clifford-Richards-Brown
Richardson-Schenn-Simmonds
Smyth-Stoll-Lewis
Mitchell-Doughty
Johnson-Scuderi
Martinez-Greene
Too much to ask for, a pipe-dream, I know. I’d like to have Zeus back, but I think we’re too deep at center unless a guy like Loktionov gets traded. Lewis is the right candidate to replace Zeus on the PK, and plus he can play wing. Is Parise really likely? Sure. But we need to shed salary at some point, and Penner heads that list, with an aging Smyth next on the list, despite my love for him. The truth of the matter is that salary will be a huge caveat if DD and Simmonds are to be re-upped, and if we can take on a big ticket item like a Brad Richards.
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Capt Jam Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 10:04 am
@KingTrojan,
Pass on Brad Richards. Would love to see Zeus back next year in our sweater, but for the right price.
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Kings played great but in the end the Power Play ends up costing them the season. It sucked all year and they couldn’t put the game away. There is a time to reflect on this and we have a long off-season ahead, but to put it in as simple terms as possible – if you can’t score on a 5-minute major with the game on the line you don’t deserve to advance.
I’m proud of the team and the way they played w/o Kopi. There is no way they should have been in the series and they played well enough to win it. I have no doubt in my mind that if Kopitar plays the Kings are in round 2.
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oscar Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 9:43 am
@Dave, The results would of been the same if Kopi was available. And to all that say we are better this year…..the only thing that I look at is the score, and we went out in the first round, with the series at 4-2. I could be wrong, but was it not the same last year?
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Capt Jam Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 10:01 am
@oscar,
I tend to agree with you, Oscar. The Kings fell out of their system coverage far too many times that one person would’ve made such a huge difference. Also, strange as it may seem, with Kopitar in there I don’t think the power play would’ve had the relative success it did in this series. The PP is too stagnant with Kopi because he usually holds the puck too long in the same spot on the ice, making it easier to defend against. Without him, at least the puck was in near constant motion on the PP (as it should be).
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Dave Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 10:01 am
@oscar, i disagree 100%. Kopitar is a top 10 player in the league and is a difference maker. With Kopitar in the lineup we beat the Sharks in the regular season and if everyone else played like they did in the series (Quick especially) we win that series in 5 or 6.
Not taking into account his injury makes no sense. He is the centerpiece of the team. I thought the team played admirably without him and could have won the series without him but to say the team didn’t take a step forward basing only on the final result is your frustration speaking.
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Capt Jam Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 10:10 am
@Dave,
And that’s exactly the problem, Dave. He’s the centerpiece. Without him, the Kings functioned more as a team in the purest sense of the word. With him, it’s too Kopi-centric.
Considering the Kings giftwrapped 3 of the 4 of the Sharks wins for the other side, the Kings (without Kopitar) should’ve closed this one out in 5.
Agree with you that this team took many steps forward, especially considering we took on more youth this season. Things are looking up down the road.
Dave Reply:
April 26th, 2011 at 10:25 am
@Capt Jam – I agree that they relied too much on Kopitar in some ways and that it was probably good for the team to learn to play without him. But it’s similar if you take Datsyuk away from Detroit. He’s so good on both ends of the ice that you just can’t replace him. He makes his teammates better – that’s not a bad thing.
I agree, the Kings should have won in 5 or maybe 6 even without Kopitar. Quick played well enough to win the series, no doubt, and they scored more than I thought they would.
I really like where the team is headed. Simmonds didn’t have a great year but had a very good playoff. Same with Richie. Clifford showed that he can be a bona fide #3 LW next year with possible top 6 talent. Lewis stepped up his game and showed he’s going to be a valuable player for this team. And I really believe Penner will be a good fit with Kopitar and Williams.
I really like the look going into next year – even if DL does nothing but re-sign the RFAs.
Penner-Kopitar-Williams
Smyth-Stoll-Brown
Clifford-Schenn-Simmonds
Richie-Lewis-Westgarth
Parse-Loktionov
Doughty-Mitchell
Johnson-Scuderi
Greene-Martinez
Muzzin/Voynov/Hickey
Quick/Bernier
if I’m DL i would dangle Martinez and possibly another d-prospect and maybe someone like Parse or even Stoll or Smyth to land one more wing.
but i would be comfortable going into next year w/o any additions and see who shakes free during the season.
420 posts! Where’s the green man icon when you need it?
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Thank you KINGS and everyone involved with the team for a great season. Lots if highs and lows, but I too see where this franchise is going, and we can all be excited for next year. With Kopitar things nay have turned out different but, the team pulled together and played their butts off. I was at game 6 and had a fantastic time. Just a shame it ended with that bad bounce for us, that was too quick and shocking for sure. No blame on anyone.
I’ll return next season as aKINGS fan and hope to see an even more complete team so we can finally bring home the cup!!
Go KINGS Go!
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