Almost a quarter into this season, the Kings and Ducks will play for the first time, but they have, in a way, shared some time this season. The Kings and Ducks were two of the four teams that opened this season in Europe, although they did not cross paths. When the Kings played in Stockholm, the Ducks played in Helsinki, and when the Kings played in Berlin, the Ducks played in Stockholm. Has there been a hangover? Entering tonight’s games, both teams are outside the top eight in the Western Conference. In the East, the Rangers and Sabres are both in the top eight, but their travel was less strenuous. Or is it just an excuse? In a post last month — found here — I looked at the records of recent teams that started their seasons overseas. Terry Murray brought it up again yesterday, in terms of this week’s back-to-back games against the Ducks.
MURRAY: “I think we’re through the European trip. This homestand has been really important, to get recovered from that. It was a lot harder than what I even thought. Coming back, after spending several days on the East Coast, and starting to feel good about it, it (lingered). I’ve talked to people in other places who have gone through something like this, and they just felt that their game was off for a considerable length of time. Especially the skill guys. Handling the puck, making plays, scoring goals. All the guys that I’ve had conversations with, it’s taken lot longer to recover than what they thought at the time. They look back, reflect back years later, and they really felt that that was the reason why their game was off a little.”
these next few games can set the tempo for the rest of our season boys!!! go out and smash some ducking faces in!!! and put a few in the net too!
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This cannot be an excuse. Maybe for a week after they returned, but certainly no longer than that. The Kings showed they can come to play (against Minnesota). The question is, do they always come to play? The answer is no.
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Dominick Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
@Tre West, In the last 3 years 9 out of 14 teams that went, tanked. 7 of those teams fired their coaches by Febuary. There is a precedence for teams taking longer than a week to recover, and it sets the tone for the season in some cases. This year, The Kings made the longest trip, and so far we haven’t seen anything but flashes of what this team is capable of. Nothing consistant anyway.
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Blurker Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
@Dominick, Haven’t the last 3 cup winners started the season in Europe? I seem to remember hearing that during the broadcasts.
Seems like all those problems may have existed even without a European vacation. The good teams will overcome. So far the Kings are still only consistently good on paper.
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Dominick Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
@Blurker,
There have been 3 Cup winners who started out in Europe. Pittsburgh Penguins Started there, struggled, Fired their coach, Then Mmade a run all the way to the Cup. Some say if they didn’t start out in Europe, they might have dominated the league from the very beggining.
They definately didn’t recover in a week. It took them 1/2 a season.
nykingfan Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
@Tre West,
How do you know?
I don’t mean any disrespect, but they’ve gone thru something that you, me, or anyone else on this blog can’t relate to…so how the heck can you argue and say that’s no excuse?
I like how you definitively said no longer than a week as if that’s somehow written in stone.
cmon!
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Tre West Reply:
November 17th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
@nykingfan,
Have you ever been exhausted? Mental, physically, exhausted? With proper rest, you can overcome it. I’m sure it was hard to deal with for a week, maybe 2, but this is November. It cannot be an excuse. Could you imagine someone using that excuse in any other scenario?
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Just win the dang game.
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So what happened with the Fraser deal? Wasn’t the ruling today?
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YES!
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DAVID Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
@Dominick,
LOL A man of few words.
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That is not an excuse. The coaching stuff was effected, not the players and the team will never recover from this. We need a new head coach.
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fsd1 Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
@Armen, they were all Affected and it is a proven fact that these trips Affect players. Did you read the above at all? “All the guys that I’ve had conversations with, it’s taken lot longer to recover than what they thought at the time. They look back, reflect back years later, and they really felt that that was the reason why their game was off a little.”
We don’t need a new head coach.
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Wow, TM using Europe as an excuse for the recent bad play seems particularly weak since the Kings played pretty well in the games before that.
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Dominick Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
@BringbackButchGoring, It’s not an excuse, but a contributing factor.
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My European hangover was real. All too real. So is my Pasadena hangover. LOL.
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Excuses are like b-holes Murray, everyone has one and they all stink! Quit hiding behind these weak statements and motivate your team! Go Kings Go!!
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fsd1 Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
@King4life, HE isnt making any excuses!
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fsd1 Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
@King4life, what part of “I think we are through with our European trip” did you not understand?
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Garrett Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 8:46 pm
@fsd1, Wow TM shouldn’t you be worried about tonights game rather than commenting every post
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maybe the league should rethink sending west coast teams to Europe for the start of the season. Somehow, it doesn’t seem fair that the Kings and Ducks keep getting sent over there. Conspiracy anyone?
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I think it’s more phscological than physical. All our guys live out of town. So in the first weeks of the season they’re still getting their personal lives setup. If they are out of town for 2+ weeks it leaves a lot of stuff to do once they get home. The Kings always do good on the road because there are less distractions.
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psychological
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Whatever TM. Stop approaching this like an observer.
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For a minute there, I thought the skill guys were having trouble with “the system”. Now, thanks to TM I clearly understand it’s just a travel thing.
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Hangover schmangover!! It doesn’t matter. The team needs to get these 4 points and deny the Ducks 4 points in these back-to-back inner division games. It is still a long season, but the Ducks look vulnerable right now and burying them this week will be huge at the end of the season.
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Oh come on…. these are professional athletes playing for a sport that they have dedicated their lives (up to this point) to.
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Naw…it wasn’t about Europe. It was about Murray screwing with the goaltenders when Quick was on the three-shutout streak.
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this
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The excuses are just that…..excuses. Enough time has passed since the Europe trip & I do not believe it has anything to do with our lackluster performance so far this year. I do not like to hear talk like this coming from our head coach right before a back to back with the Schmucks and Detriot looming on Saturday. Why can’t TM ever say we are prepared to go to battle and give everything we have for a full 60 minutes to get the 2 points? TM stated on a previous thread he does not motivate his players as they are professionals and should be able to motivate themselves. This is not helpful to a group of young players trying to find their identity. Here is a freebie for you TM… Hey Kings, you are the better team & I expect a full 60 minutes from each & every one of you tonight and every night & if you can’t give me and your fans that, I have a place on the bench for you next game. Lackluster play will not be tolerated by anyone……ever! Now let’s go kick some Duck ass & bury them as a little payback for last season’s season ending losses.
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You went to Europe Rich, I know you’re not a hockey player, but how long til you were feeling normal when you came back?
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Rich Hammond Reply:
November 16th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
Yeah, I wouldn’t want to compare my situation to that of players, but it took a long time. I’d say at the start of last week, I started feeling normal.
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I don’t buy this excuse too much. Having been deployed a couple times it really doesn’t take long to get adjusted. It’s a matter of preparation meaning you need to rest more during the days and stay up at nights prior to flying. They just hit a rut and now need to more consistent.
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Whether or not there’s a hangover after returning from Europe, I don’t think the NHL should be playing there in the first place. Seems a little stupid to me to want to extend your brand overseas when you should be concerned about filling seats in North American arenas more.
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