Friday practice; no Richards, Mitchell

Posted by Rich Hammond on 2 December 2011, 12:01 pm

The Kings are practicing without Mike Richards or Willie Mitchell. Hopefully there will be a post-practice update on their status. There’s some rotation among the forwards, but the top two lines have been Gagne-Kopitar-Brown and Penner-Stoll-Williams. Alec Martinez is also practicing in a normal black jersey, not a no-contact jersey. More updates from practice to come…

Comment (RSS) | Permalink

72 Comments

Stop the Puck says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:02 pm

not good….

[Reply]
variable Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:03 pm
@Stop the Puck,

yeah…not looking good for willie and the ricker…

[Reply]
Jeff Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:06 pm
@variable, I just hope it isn’t like last season when we lost Poni and Willie. The Kings were riding high and then they went out and they Struggle for a while.

[Reply]
McCheese says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:04 pm

Good to see Martinez and Penner back at it. Wouldn’t call it an even trade for Mitchell and Richards, but we can still bring it with that line up.

Still love to see Brown stay over on the left side. Its a lot more fun to watch him there. Now we have a glut on the left and a shortage on the right!

[Reply]
Jeff Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:08 pm
@McCheese, I am glad that Penner is back, but why not reunite him with Kopi and Williams? That line was good, however brief, when they were together before the injuries.

[Reply]
Resedakingsfan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:07 pm
@Jeff, I totally agree with you and have been saying the same thing since the season started. Penner played his best when he first came to the Kings and played with Kopi and Williams. Once Kopi got hurt, things went downhill for Pens, and he hasn’t played the same. TM should at least give it a shot – anything to help Pens get started again.

[Reply]
DEH Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:16 pm
@McCheese, why not swap Penner and Brown, let Brown play left and Penner right? Penner was effective on the right side on other teams, allow him to take rebounds on his forehand and maybe the shift would help him get things together. Plus playing with Kopi and Gagne and brown with Stoll and Williams could balance things a bit.

[Reply]
McCheese Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:35 pm
@DEH, totally agree. Maybe Penner just needs a new jump start to get things going a bit.

[Reply]
Kopi Bryant says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:04 pm

Hate to see injuries, especially to 2 top players.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:13 pm
@Kopi Bryant, Part of hockey that can’t be avoided. This is why I agrued so hard early in the season not to give players away to waivers. Now that depth will be tested. I still think we’re deeper than most teams in the league, and we’ll absorbe these injuries just fine till they return.

[Reply]
PRMan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:40 pm
@Dominick, I would rather see Hickey get some NHL time than Drewiske, so it still doesn’t hold.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:36 pm
@PRMan, That might be your plan, but I’m just stating the Kings position. So far all indications are that Whiskey is here in case a stay at home gets injured, mand I agree with it.
KingsFanFTW says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:05 pm

Well this sucks

[Reply]
Mikey says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:06 pm

Maybe they’re just a little sore or doing off ice work? Think positive!

[Reply]
Lastchild68 says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:07 pm

I hope M Richards is not hurt that bad, He is a HUGE part of the winning streak and good games we have had.

[Reply]
Hagi18 says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:07 pm

Murray post game..”brown had some good looks tonight from the left side..maybe he’s trying to tell me something”

Translation….

Lets move him back to right wing since he’s been playing too well on the left…

I know they’re dealing with injuries but why not stick penner on rw…at least brownies been making things happen on the left side!!

[Reply]
Mikey Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:09 pm
@Hagi18,

Agreed. its not like Penner does anything in any position anyway.

[Reply]
bbb7 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:11 pm
@Hagi18, Strongly agree. It’s the best Brown has looked all season, so yep, TM says ‘let’s switch it up again’.

[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:29 pm
@bbb7,
I disagree
as good as Brown has looked on the left side, he has a ton of experience on the right side…even though Penner sucks, you have to put him in a position that suits him best….since that can’t be the bench anymore, it might as well be LW

[Reply]
Dominick says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:08 pm

Booooo!

[Reply]
tornado12 says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:09 pm

Hopefully Stoll and Williams can help each other get going offensively like last year and penner can bring a game similar to what Smyth contributed there

[Reply]
wavesinair says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:10 pm

Quick already left the ice leaving Bernier to finish up practice. That is usually a tell-tale sign that Quick is starting the next game.

Westy and Lewis will likely be the scratches. This is how they lined up for most of the drills.

Gagne—Kopitar—Brown
Penner—Stoll—Williams
Richardson—Loktionov—Hunter
Clifford—Fraser—Moreau

Not sure about Martinez…

[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:12 pm
Wavesinair…the insider’s insider

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:16 pm
@tornado12,

And to top it off, Hammond is chatting it up quite a bit with Lombardi…

[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:22 pm
it just gets better and better…DL Panegyric coming?

Kingsfanone Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:23 pm
@wavesinair,

And you aren’t sticking your nose in there because……….

j/k.

Token Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:25 pm
@wavesinair, Waves! How did the D pair up?

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:38 pm
@Token,

I believe Whiskey will be playing Saturday and Martinez will be scratched along with Lewis and Westy.

The pairings changed up quite a bit so I’m not sure. But I’m guessing…

Scuds/Voynov
Whiskey/Greene
Johnson/Doughty

We may see JJ and DD back together again.

[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:41 pm
@wavesinair, NOOOOO! (DD/JJ)
how about
doughty/scuderi
voynov/greene
Johnson/Drewiske

nykingfan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:31 pm
@wavesinair,

Thanks Waves….Rich should hire you.
should be interesting reading re the DL conversation

[Reply]
bbb7 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:37 pm
@wavesinair, JB really needs to be worked in. Only 3 goalies have played as many minutes as Quick so far and it’s a looooong season. Think long term, TM and get JB some playing time.

[Reply]
Adamic39 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:53 pm
@bbb7, I agreed with that thought when JB came in after the 3 shutouts. I wasn’t worried in the least that that was an acceptable decision. Now, however, I would keep Quick in as long as he is outstanding. Once he starts to lose his concentration, even if he is winning, give him a break. I love Quick, but really want JB to get a chance to shine as well.

[Reply]
wavesinair Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Martinez, Lewis and Westgarth still on the ice long after everyone else is gone doing a bunch of saucer passes over sticks, etc. with Stevens. Clearly they’re the scratches for tomorrow.

Clifford stayed behind by himself for about 20 minutes working on a ton of close range shots on goal.

[Reply]
Michael J. Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:07 pm
@wavesinair,

Thanks for the awesome updates. It is appreciated.

[Reply]
JackKent Cooke says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:11 pm

The negative to Brown on the left side is that from there he tends to monopolize the puck, failing to involve his line mates.

[Reply]
Ilikethelakings Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:14 pm
@JackKent Cooke, yea but if hes gonna score a goal a game from their ill take it and we can put him with westgarth and moreau.

[Reply]
Jason4Kings Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:50 pm
@Ilikethelakings, Funny!

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:20 pm
@JackKent Cooke, That’s the knock on him no matter what side he plays on. I like the left because when he cuts to the middle of the ice, he’s on his forehand, and when a defensemen tries to take the inside on him, he can hold the puck away from his body, and fend off the defensemen with his right hand when he drops his shoulder to move inside.

Most of the time, people complain that he isn’t using his linemates enough, but they don’t realize that most of the time he’s in aahead of everyone else because he steals the puck more than any other player in our line up, and once he does, he’s thinking attack.

[Reply]
Bkrs-Bud Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:29 pm
@Dominick, I like Brown at left wing he has more options.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:38 pm
@Bkrs-Bud, I agree. I’ve been shot down for 2 years now, but his most productive year was with him on Kopi’s left. Last season him and Kopi were headed for career totals with him on the right (before Febuary), but that took 2 years to develope, and they never had a proper skating left winger to play with them the entire time they were together. Smyth was the only one, and he was better with Stoll and Willy.

goldielocks Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:44 pm
@Dominick,

We all think Brown is a power forward. But by seeing him on LW recently, he could do sniper role as well. Like Kovalchk – Right handed LW, Ovechikin – right handed LW, they all cut to the middle effectively and score goals. We could use more of that for sure.

[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:29 pm
@Dominick, dude really “Most of the time, people complain that he isn’t using his linemates enough, but they don’t realize that most of the time he’s in aahead of everyone else because he steals the puck more than any other player in our line up, and once he does, he’s thinking attack.”???

He’s played a much better team-game as of late so I’m not going to bash, but please, let’s be real and take off the brown-colored-glasses for a minute. The man breaks down a wing and does one of three things (except for the last few games as I’ve mentioned and praised as of late): 1)bury his head and take a shot from just inside the blue (and not during line change situations), 2) tries his move just inside the blue line and loses the puck, or 3) carries the puck around the net and only looks to send back up high. Maybe he should think attack WITH his linemates rather than attacking Brown vs. the world.

that’s all for now.

[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:48 pm
@Stuart, The only way Brown can penatrate is to use his speed. When he’s facing a defender he has 1 of 3 options.
1. Stop up and wait till his teammates catch up (which is where turn overs occur).
2. keep up his speed, and hope if he comes around the back side his teammates are in front of the net.
3. If he has an open lane, take the shot.
He isn’t in alone all the time, but it’s a testiment to his speed that he is more than any other player on the team. What you should be saying is “how come Brown’s always in alone, and none of the other Kings players are in a shooting position?”.

It’s kind of amazing that you have so much destain for our most productive right winger for the last 5 years, and yet don’t bash any of the others who don’t even penatrate the zone a 1/4 of the time Brown does.

Stuart Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:54 pm
@Dom, not disdain, I just would like to see a better sense of team-game from DB.

w/re to #1, that is NOT where the majority of his TO’s happen. Rather it’s his one-on-world moves that he gets poke-checked off his stick. Or his “area” passes to no one in particular that easily get scooped up and headed the other way.

Look, as I’ve said the last few games, I see him making great strides lately and I hope for our teams sake it continues. There’s more to this game then scoring/accumulating points. Great players make those around better and I think DB (with all the speed you mention) can make those around him so much better. I just have higher expectations for DB then you do, no harm in that, is there Dom?

But to reiterate: He has been much better as of late and I haven’t complained at all about the recent TO’s or rushed shots he’s taken.

Dominick Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 2:11 pm
@Stuart,
No harm at all. I have noticed that when Brown fires the puck at the goalie, a lot of times he’s facing a defender, or 2 that are in a position to slow him down, and he has no support through the middle.

The 1 on 1 moves are fine with me, because he’s trying to beat someone on the ice, and it never hurts to try. He can’t beat everyone, but as long as those moves are to the middle, I’m fine with it.

Brown gets hauled down (regardless of wether people think he’s diving) more than just about anyone in the league, and most of the time it’s because he goes right at the opposing players with the puck.

Stuart Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 2:15 pm
@Dom, I can totally agree and respect the amount of calls DB earns… let’s just win everygame until Rick and Mitchy get back and I’d bet to say we’d both be very happy!
Ilikethelakings says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:12 pm

Lose richards: gain penner. Good grief.

[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:32 pm
@Ilikethelakings,
Bergenheim=scrooge!

[Reply]
Kingsfan602 says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:13 pm

I’d rather see brown and penner switch spots

[Reply]
4tee says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:14 pm

I was watching NHL Network yesterday and they said Lupul used to beg Carlyle to put him on the left side but he never would. Now he is in Toronto playing on the left and lighting it up while Carlyle is out of a job. I see
a lot of similarities with Brown. He has been a different player on the left side and I wish he would stay there.

[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:26 pm
@4tee, very interesting…thx

[Reply]
40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:22 pm
@4tee,
I agree. Brownie’s whole game, not just in the offenbsive zone, has come alive with the move. Penner could probably use a change too given his struggles at LW. We need Brown at his best and now is not the time to move him back to RW, IMO.

[Reply]
Paul G says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:17 pm

Brown-Kopitar-Hunter
Gagne-Loktionov-Williams
Clifford-Stoll-Lewis
Moreau-Fraser-Richardson

(Richardson for Westgarth since we’re playing Montreal)

[Reply]
KINGS17 says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:31 pm

Time for Kopitar to wake up from his nap.

[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:34 pm
@KINGS17,

I realize he’s not scoring, but I think he’s played really well throughout the whole season.
He’s been skating the puck into the offensive zone..he’s been terrific in the defensive end.
You hope the scoring slump doesn’t last long, but his overall play is outstanding.

[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:35 pm
@nykingfan,
another guy is JW
His play has picked up over the last couple of games but he’s struggling to find the back of the net….just like Borwnie last night, JW will be rewarded for his hard work.

[Reply]
vplaza Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:32 pm
@nykingfan,

His play int he defensive zone last night was superb. Loved how he stuck to the play and not run around chasing the puck. His scoring will come.

The guy is giving us a point a game, for crimminy. Barring injury, I expect his goal count to go up soon.

[Reply]
Cry Baby Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:34 pm
@KINGS17, Kopi works his ass off every shift. I am sue he apologizes for not scoring every shift!

[Reply]
JackKent Cooke Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:46 pm
@KINGS17,
As noted above, since the line changes, he hasn’t been getting the puck from his line mates.

[Reply]
colo king fan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:47 pm
@KINGS17,

everyone predicted this would happen when TM messed with the lines, and now it has.

[Reply]
fsd1 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:49 pm
@colo king fan, yet we are 6-3-1 in our last 10, go figure.

[Reply]
JackKent Cooke Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:52 pm
@fsd1,
Parallels the call up of the Russians.

nykingfan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:08 pm
@JackKent Cooke
Yeah if not for Lokti’s 0 goals 2 assists.. God only knows where we might be right now.

Cry Baby Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 12:54 pm
@colo king fan, Give me a break…kopi’s line has been getting plenty of chances. Since the line changes the kings have won their games. If there were no changes everyone would be screaming about that.

[Reply]
nykingfan Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:05 pm
@Cry Baby,
It never stops!!!!!
I also believe that Murray’s responsible for the economic issues going on in this country!!!!
I also realize that the terror attacks that we all thought were the work of Al-Queda, is really the work of TM!
j/k

KC23 Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 2:13 pm
@colo king fan, How do you not mess with the lines when you lose your 2nd line center?

[Reply]
bringbackbutchgoring Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:00 pm
@KINGS17, Yeah Kopi better score soon or Green will bang another one off his noggin

[Reply]
Stuart Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 2:16 pm
@bringbackbutchgoring, did it go off his dome??? LOL it’s not funny but since no animals were harmed it kinda is. I wasn’t sure where it caught him.

[Reply]
Elac says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:35 pm

Nice to have a D-man like Martinez available to come back just when Willie Mitchell may be out. Westgarth has been looking good, why not keep him in? When Richards comes back, why not a former Flyers line of Richards, Gagne and Williams? That way you can have Brown on left wing and Penner on right wing of a Kopitar centering line.

[Reply]
goldielocks says:

December 2, 2011 at 12:46 pm

I’m glad Hunter is not on 1st line anymore.

[Reply]
bringbackbutchgoring Reply:
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:01 pm
@goldielocks, I always thought that was to send a message to Williams and others

[Reply]
Rookie says:

December 2, 2011 at 3:00 pm

great….:(

[Reply]