The Kings now get a chance to make things right at home. How many times has that sentiment been expressed in the last couple years? Last season, the Kings wasted a lengthy homestand, a stretch that temporarily put them out of a playoff spot. This season, they had a two-week stretch in late November and early December, in which they didn’t leave Southern California, and they 2-5-0. So, here they go again, starting a six-game homestand over the next 13 days, starting with tonight’s game against Vancouver (a 7 p.m. start, as a reminder for those attending). Darryl Sutter was asked if it was fair to call this stretch of games “critical.’’
SUTTER: “Every game is critical. Heck, we saw that four, five games ago, right? The positions (in the Western Conference) at six, seven through 12, what’s the difference? Nothing. Good week, bad week, if you lose two or three, you drop. You win two or three, you go up. It’s going to go right down to it. It’s going to come right now to three or four wins, three or four points. We’ve got an incredibly tough schedule, with what we have until the All-Star break. Our schedule in January, we get more into the routine part of it, other than the Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver part. But you’re more into a routine, and then February is crazy. We just finished talking about playing two in two nights on the road. That was critical. Now we come home and get ready to continue to try to improve on our home record.’’
After today’s skate, Sutter was asked about Vancouver. The Canucks are second in the Western Conference, with 50 points in 38 games. They’re third in the NHL in goals per game and seventh in goals-against per game.
SUTTER: “They’re similar to playing Chicago. They’re at the top of the league. There are two teams that are the elite teams in this conference, and they’re one of them. So there is your challenge.’’
Vote for Quick!
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wavesinair Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 3:19 pm
@Diminick,
“Posts that continually express the same singular opinion will be deleted.”
Delete! Delete! LOL
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rogiesbackup Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 5:26 pm
@Dominick, Actually, Bernier might be a good chance. Nucks don’t really know his style. He’s a different “look.”
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Just skate with them. Don’t try to slow them down because they’ll burn you. Keep the feet moving, keep the tempo up, and play smart. Worked against Chicago. That’s how you play possession teams. Turn their speed back against them, and ATTACK THEM!
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rogiesbackup Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 5:24 pm
@Dominick, No. YOU HAVE TO SLOW THEM DOWN!!!! DO NOT allow them to get speed going through the neutral zone and watch the man WITHOUT the puck!!!!!
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rogiesbackup Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 5:30 pm
A lot of stoppage of play is good against this team; disrupt their rhythm.
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Dominick Reply:
January 1st, 2012 at 2:45 am
@rogiesbackup, I love saying I was right, and well…………….I was right.
Off topic. I miss Heidi!
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Mikey J. Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 3:26 pm
@Kingsfan602, Saw her on NHL network. She looks to be covering the NHL classic.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 5:21 pm
@Kingsfan602, Yah I know. I lover her passion for the Kings!!!
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Do it boys, I got to do the NewYears Eve thing and going downtown Chicago. Dinner at 7:30, Puck drop at 9PM. Hope where we go has the Hockey Package!! Game should be over around 11;30 SO I should be okay.. GKG
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Vancouver win because of……..
-faceoffs
*work hard Kopi, Stolly, Richie and Fraz
-sidewall wins in thier end
*D make them pay, Greener, Mitch, Scuds step up and hit what ever moves
-Sundin’s
*make them pay all over the ice, crunch them every chance you get
-Luongo
*pucks to the net and go there for screen, deflection or rebound, he’s big get it into his feet
Kings lets make this count, big game. Bigger then Chicago……..
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FromSwedenWithLove Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 3:31 pm
@Harty, they are called the Sedin’s… Sundin played in Vancouver for one year but that’s another story.
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Harty Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 3:37 pm
@FromSwedenWithLove, who cares hit them……….Sundin, Sedin’s there twins so if we hit one hard and he leaves the game it only leaves one left.
Hit them…….they don’t like it as they are from Sweden…
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Hold em in there zone and the rest takes care of itself. Go Penner score twice tonight.
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Happy New Years Insiders, and see you guys tomorrow. Gonna watch the game at my families house, but won’t be able to hang out with you guys during the game. Enjoy the last holiday of the year, and be safe. GO KINGS!
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Wonder if Higgins is back in their line up?
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Ok! I’m excited to go to Kings game tonight! PP-Zombies will get 2 goals tonight, go kings…
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Ok, we changed from Lakers jerseys to Kings jerseys. Hopefilly the Nucks will hand us a victory like the Nuggets just gave the Lakers. Nucks fans are already showing up. They multiply like pidgeons!
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Steve W Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 4:01 pm
@DesertKing, Nuggets will win tomorrow.
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DesertKing Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 4:05 pm
@Steve W,
Dont think so. They are mentally weak and make mistakes. Ref kept the Lakers out of the game until the 4th with a bunch od ticky tack fouls.
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Steve W Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 4:11 pm
@DesertKing, Since I hate the Lakers, I want them to lose every game. By the way, were there Nuggets fans at Staples, or do visiting NBA fans get threatened by the Laker gangsta fans?
DesertKing Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 5:14 pm
@SteveW,
Several Nuggets fans were there. Everyone well behaved and had a good time.
spidey35 Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 4:05 pm
@DesertKing, I am so sick of all the Nucks fans that have been showing up at our building. I really hope the Kings come out strong tonight and win this game.
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Steve W Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 4:12 pm
@spidey35, I never understand why they can come down here, but Kings fans can’t go up to Vancouver in droves?
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old man Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 4:18 pm
@Steve W, We have jobs.
CB14 Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 4:25 pm
@Steve W, Who wants to go to Vancouver in Winter?
Happy new year Kings fans from Slovenia! We already enter 2012 and I hope I will watch first win of Kings for me in 2012 and you last win in 2011. It is time for Kopi to put one in the net already.
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vegasking Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 4:09 pm
@slovenian fan, on behalf of kings fans, a happy new year to you
and yours as well. Go Kopi and GKG!!
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 4:33 pm
@slovenian fan, Yes! Big night for Kopi!
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we just entered 2012 and i made a kings related wish, but i won`t share it and jinx it!
happy 2012 to everyone. GO KINGS!
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Everyone have there 1-10 score cards ready for the Vancouver diving team?
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