The Kings had an optional skate this morning, with two-thirds of the guys on the ice, including Simon Gagne, who will return to the lineup tonight after missing two games. Terry Murray said Gagne wouldn’t normally participate in an optional skate but wanted to make sure he was OK to play, and he is. No changes or surprises coming out of the skate. More notes and quotes to come…
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Can not wait for tonight’s game. Why does it seem other teams play more often than we do? GO KINGS GO!!!
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Andrew:the seconding coming Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 10:59 am
@Forum Gold, It would seem we have a very back loaded schedule. It may be bacause of the trip over seas.
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Forum Gold Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 1:00 pm
@Andrew:the seconding coming, You are right. I was watching the Duck game the other night and was thinking how much I want to watch my Kings but have to wait until Thursday. I’m hoping this stretch was well used on and off the ice. GO KINGS GO!!!
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RobSD Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 1:24 pm
@Forum Gold,
How awesome was that comeback against the ducks? I like watching and routing against the other division teams.
Kingstane9 Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:51 am
@Forum Gold, i have the same feeling LOL
GO KINGS!
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Spencer Maze Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 3:12 pm
@Forum Gold, LOL Agreed. 4 days between games is rough. I definitely start feeling Kings withdrawals after a couple days. GO KINGS GO!
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Wouldn’t it be great if Parse had his break out moment (ala Purcell, Moulson, etc.) …but while while he was on the Kings?
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Dominick Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:07 am
@MB Kings Fan,
You haven’t seen nothing yet. I said, during the summer that it would take him a couple of months, and Murray even stated it would take a month to a month and 1/2 before we see the real Parse. He’s got a great set of hands and when he is fully back from sitting for a whole season, and hip surgery, he’s gonna make some Kingfans proud. Hopefully he continues to score, but my estimates have him probably topping out around early December if he stays in the line up consistantly.
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MB Kings Fan Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 1:08 pm
@Dominick, I think you may be right Dominick. Murray made a great point when he talked about him needing to get in the right head space (as well as physically). Confidence for a skilled guy is enormous… as you can’t just grind out “soft hands”. I’m going to admit, he is showing some flashes of brilliance… I’m ready for it!
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DesertKing Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:23 am
@MB Kings Fan,
I for one would be very happy!
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Glad the #1 line is back – I’m sure fantasy owners are too!
I’ve posted this a few times in the past, but haven’t had the best feedback. As I’m sure many of you are aware, iTunes allows you to download free podcasts. Many of which are focused on local sports teams. Does anyone know a good LA Kings one? I’ve tried a few (Hockeywood and I can’t remember the other) but they’re terrible. They sound like a couple 40 something year olds broadcasting from a basement and every opinion is extremely bias.
Hey Rich, that could be the next chapter in the Hammond legacy! (As long the site is still active of course)
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Andrew:the seconding coming Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:12 am
@kevin from toronto, I believe that KingsCast has a very good podcast.
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Safe a little for tonight boys
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jet Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:45 am
@jet, or save I wish I could still read fine print
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Did Penner show up for the optional skate or did he decide to have an early lunch?
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kevin from toronto Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:09 am
@deadcatbounce, hahaha YYYYYYES!
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DesertKing Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:25 am
@deadcatbounce,
He’s kinda busy right now working on his mustache. If this contract season doesn’t work out to well, he will be looking for work as an actor or softball player and both of those professions require the wearing of a mustache. Of course, a hat trick tonight from him could change everything.
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deadcatbounce Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 2:10 pm
@DesertKing, I hope the added facial hair doesn’t slow his game down even more.
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hapakid Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:32 pm
@deadcatbounce, thinking the SAME thing!! Is he 100% he tweaked his knee in the PHilly fight so maybe he’ll rest it. And he’s shopping for his mustache manicure kit at Target!!!! haha
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Just saw that Nashville gave Pekka Rinne 7rs/$49 Million deal. It will be interesting to see how our Goalie situation will shake out here in the next year or two. Bernier may end up being the more affordable option.
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Stuart Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:34 am
@thailure, unless, of course, he and his agent decide they want to be paid on potential!!!
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bringbackbutchgoring Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:36 am
@thailure, I can’t see us spending that kind of money and term on a keeper when we seem to be loaded with them. That’s an insane amount of money for Rinne, for sure. Hope Quick doesn’t use his agent.
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spidey35 Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:47 am
@bringbackbutchgoring, Maybe Quick can use Jack Johnson as an agent.
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bringbackbutchgoring Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:49 am
@spidey35, Funny because I thought JJ negotiated a pretty good deal for himself last year based upon his stats. Now it looks like we might have gotten a steal
VanKingsFan Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:40 am
@thailure, How many of these huge goalie contracts ever work out?? I don’t understand this at all from Nashville. Not their MO. 7 Million a year!! That’s madness.
He becomes untradable, and he needs to be a top 5 goalie every year to make it worth it. Highest paid goalie in the league?? bad move
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bringbackbutchgoring Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:43 am
@VanKingsFan, It makes more sense for Nashville than Kings since Nashville need to avoid the cap floor but still makes Rinne grossly underpaid and screws up other teams goalie pay scales…
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bringbackbutchgoring Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:44 am
@bringbackbutchgoring, uh grossly overpaid…
VanKingsFan Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:42 am
@thailure, Not to mention… how the HELL do they afford Weber and Suter next year and remain competitive. They can’t afford to give those three guys a 20 Million dollar cap hit.
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jet Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:42 am
@thailure, The player who wants to stay with the Kings will have the opportunity to. I look at the number of fans combined in the last three arenas we played in and with a back of the napkin calculation I cannot see how the league can keep the salary cap number. If the number goes down, DD may have signed himself off the team. I bet his agent never explained the league economics and possible consequences to Drew before signing.
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bringbackbutchgoring Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:46 am
@jet, Salary cap goes up I bet. Dallas was a fluke because of World Series, Phoenix attendance wasn’t that great last year either and Winnipeg move should help.
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Dominick Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:58 am
@jet, He’s a corner stone player. If it goes down, the Kings will find ways to get more for less somewhere else. Pittsburgh has 2 players taking over 8 mill a piece in capspace, and they find a way. DL’s a lot more creative than Shiro (who only has those players by default, not design), and has been more “big picture” since he got here.
We may not see how it would completely work in all possible scenarios, but DL will already have a plan in place before any of us even see it coming.
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bobknob Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:04 pm
@jet,
there’s also the TV agreements. Bettman seems to have done pretty well here. Plus the outdoor games are bringing more exposure to the league.
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Perro Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:35 pm
@thailure, Such a rediculous contract for a net minder, especially on a budget team that will never be abel to spend to the cap. Going to be hard to keep sutter and weber around now.
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Anyone know who’s starting tonight? Quick or Bernier?
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deadcatbounce Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:22 am
@Eldoret, Mr. Quick.
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Stoked that Gags is back! The guy gives us alot of versitily,skill, and goal scoring prowess that is greatly needed. Im hopeing that Parse and Penner stay where they are currently and make those 2nd and 3rd line LW spots thier own for the rest of the season. Penner has played the best so far on that line and it would do us wonders if he keeps it up. We have a great top 9 going if everyone is clicking.
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jess Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:43 am
@BrokeKingsFan,
Looking for the return of JJ tonight (if he is not paired up with DD). Looking for big hits from Brown, Richards, Greene and Clifford. Looking for a goal or two from Gagne, Richards and Brown. Quick will stand on his head and delivers a rabbit punch to Smyth in the crease. Hopefully if things spin out of control with a track meet type situation and the Oilers get a goal or two up, Murray calls a timeout and settles things down. Looking for Doughty to keep it simple and focus on his game. Looking for Penner to wake up and if not, hopefully Murph makes him ride some pine for a couple of games. Would be nice to see VV return for the game against the Penguins but I doubt it.
-GKG-!
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bringbackbutchgoring Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:53 am
@jess, I doubt any King has a personal animosity towards Smyth, so don’t see why a fan who is just a bystander would get himself so worked up about it. Everything worked out fine.
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jess Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:10 pm
@bringbackbutchgoring,
That was just an innocent stab @ humor buddy wake up! -Lost in cyber translation I guess.
bringbackbutchgoring Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:19 pm
@bringbackbutchgoring, Seen several similar comments that seem to suggest a personal animosity. Not really directed towards you in particular but can appreciate a guy like Smyth that put 100% effort night after night and even tutored our younger players in his off time.
jess Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:25 pm
@bringbackbutchgoring,
Thanks, and well I sort of get what your saying but he IS ON THE OTHER TEAM and therefore the enemy no matter how you slice it. I don’t dislike him like others have expressed rather strongly at times but I won’t be cheering for Smyth either. I hope he tries a wrap around on JQ though so I can laugh my tail off:)
SO NO WESTY TONIGHT? If not thats like three games in a row he hasn’t played and i dont agree on that with good ol stone hand hunter out there.
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Dominick Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:36 am
@TOMMY, 4rth line hasn’t made any bonehead plays that have cost us anything. Westy, and Hunter are basically the same, but that’s a good thing because it gives us some depth for the 4rth line, and Hunter could fill the 3rd line for small doses if we’re in a pinch (while Westy is strictly a 4rth line winger).
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TOMMY Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 1:24 pm
@Dominick, True and i agree. I just like how he adds a little spunk to the team. and i haven’t seen to much spunk lately (hits) (fights) (grinding).
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wavesinair Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 1:29 pm
@TOMMY,
That might be true except that Hunter is scratched as well! LOL. Moreau is the 4th line LW.
Gagne-Kopitar-Williams
Parse-Richards-Brown
Penner-Stoll-Richardson
Clifford-Lewis-Moreau
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letswinthecup2012 Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 3:36 pm
@wavesinair,
sick 4 lines. i predict the kings getting it back tonight…
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CB 14 – Hey, I am sorry I misread your post yesterday. http://lakingsinsider.com/2011/11/02/watch-out-for-smyth-around-the-net/#comment-831000
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CB14 Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 7:34 pm
@jet, I saw your comment, all is well jet!
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Hunter > Westgarth
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This should be a very tactical and closely played game. EDM has better numbers over the last 5 games and has won 5 in a row, but the Kings have better numbers when they are home and EDM is away. So far, EDM is just 1-1-1 on the road.
In recent history, though, there are some interesting stats between these teams:
Oilers are 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Los Angeles.
Road team is 10-2 in the last 12 meetings.
Oilers are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings.
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Dominick Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:16 pm
@Capt Jam, Surprising Edmonton has only let in more than 2 goals against once in their first 11 games. This will be a real test for the Kings offense tonight.
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Capt Jam Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 1:05 pm
@Dominick,
Yup. This one has the makings of a 2-1 chess match.
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Hey Mr Murray! Kings can have the best D! But if we can’t score it does not matter. Loosen it up a little.
If D is great but we can’t average more then 3 goals a game, our Kings won’t go far come playoff time!
Please when a player is hot keep it going… Example: JQ sat out after 3 straight shootouts & SV SENT DOWM AFTER A 3 pt night!
HELLOOOOOO!! The kings did well in October because Quick & Kopi played like superstars & a lot credit to JJ & MR
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Stuart Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 11:58 am
@Sammuch, I think 3 goals a game would do us just fine in the playoffs…granted we won’t win every game of every series, but I can see us winning a round or 4.
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Dominick Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:28 pm
@Sammuch,
Kings are 2.36 (21rst) right now. Defensively we’re letting in 1.91 (2nd) right now. If the Kings could boost their production up to somewhere around 3 wothout giving up too much on defense, that would put them in the top 10 in offense, and all but gaurentee we’ll win more than we lose.
Of course if we continue to make defense the main priority, then every game will be a dogfight, and most games will be low scoring, 1 goal games that could go either way.
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Sammuch Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 1:21 pm
@Dominick, So true.if DD can get going sometime in Dec that should pull us closer to 3 goals a game! In Nov we need SG, JW, DB to take up a notch, just not sure if TM is going to loosen just A tab little bit more offense so these guys can produce some goals from playmakers like Kopi & MR…
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iekingfan71 Reply:
November 3rd, 2011 at 4:55 pm
@Sammuch,I would normally agree, but the last few games have been sloppy defensively. Not overall, but huge mistakes that lead directly to goals. It was the same last year, the Kings started out great and then a month of easy back post tap-ins for the other teams. Don’t want it to go that way again. More offense, but not irresponsibly.
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I don’t know about you guys but is there anyone out there who is waiting patiently for Penner to start earning his paycheck? This guy should be way more dominant around the net than he has been. He should be a beast out there and I’m just not seeing the effort.
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