Somewhere, at some point during the extended All-Star break, it’s likely that Kyle Clifford will be enjoying a large steak courtesy of Kevin Westgarth. Clifford recorded a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick’’ last night, as he got on the stat sheet with a first-period fight, a first-period assist and a second-period goal. Not a bad trifecta, especially considering that, in 125 previous NHL games, Clifford totaled nine goals, 12 assists and 24 fighting majors.
“First one,’’ Clifford said, after the game, regarding his speciality hat trick. “Westgarth and I had a bet, that whoever got the first one gets a porterhouse steak.’’
It seemed fitting that Clifford got a bulk of the attention last night, as he represented a line that played very well for the Kings, along with center Colin Fraser and Westgarth. After yesterday’s morning skate, Darryl Sutter publicly called out the fourth line, and said the line had “been sort of off on the energy part of it.’’ The line responded by contributing to the first two goals, and by playing a solid all-around game.
SUTTER: “They’re all guys who have to play hard and bang. If they don’t, they’re not very effective. It’s simple. We’ve still got lots of work to do. We’ve moved Cliffy around for the most part, so hopefully, as his career goes along, he can be more than that.’’
Clifford’s game seems to be headed in the correct direction under Sutter. In 29 games under Terry Murray this season, Clifford had one goal and three assists and, in general, seemed to be tentative in many situations. That’s not uncommon for a young player — Clifford turned 21 this month — but in 17 games under Sutter, Clifford has two goals and three assists in a fourth-line role, and appears more confident in his fourth-line role.
CLIFFORD: “We all kind of play the same way. We’re real simple and we just get pucks in deep and get some hits going, and that gets energy for our team and creates energy for ourselves too.’’
Beast!
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Cliff is a hear & soul guy or the Kings. He is filling in the whole that was left by Simmonds, and I’ll bet he had quite a bit more upside than we have all seen.
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Hockey & Rocky Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
@Hockey & Rocky, pardon all the typos above… “CLIFFY IS HEART & SOUL”
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LAK1ngs Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@Hockey & Rocky, He’s Hot and Cold?
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Harty Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
@LAK1ngs, for a young player that depends on the trust the coach shows in him LAKings. If they play him 8-10 minutes its a different Clifford then the 3-5 minute guy.
Hot and Cold as a young player is common my friend, not a shot at him…………..
slapshot Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 10:14 am
@Hockey & Rocky, We of the same typing skill! I actually read as you had intended it to be, oh wait what does that say about me. Disregurd < what I just typed.
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:06 pm
@Hockey & Rocky,
Slightly less offense and slightly more toughness. I hope he does develop into what Simmonds was here and what he is in Philly. I truly think the Kings miss him. Maybe Jack for Simmer + a pick??
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Sam Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
@FKA PakiFro, Simmer is at best a very good third line player. He scores in Philly because that teams scores a ton. He’s not worth a defenseman who just turned 25 let alone that and a pick. I like Simmer a lot too but he’s just not that good.
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:18 pm
@Sam, I said Simmer + a pick for JJ, not JJ + a pick. A near 20 goal scorer and a decent pick for a number 3 d-man, I’d do it. His grit would go well with Richards. I’m just talking hypotheticals of course. Not truly advocating it (like it’d matter anyway)
EJ Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
@FKA PakiFro, if the Kings are going to deal someone like Johnson, it’ll be in a package for a bona-fide scoring winger, not a grinder like Simmonds. I like Simmonds a lot, and I’d like him to play again for the Kings, but not in that scenario.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 9:13 am
@Hockey & Rocky,
He’s the closest thing we’ve had to Lappy since Lappy.
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you had me at Porterhouse….
liking the look of the 4th line recently. Sit Hunter for a while.
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Sam Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
@Lake Forest, Sit Hunter FOREVER.
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Steve C Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 12:15 am
@Sam, Lokti isn’t doing much recently either. I think either he or stoll should sit the next game. I would sit Lokti for awhile since he’s been getting the ice time and hasn’t scored a point in a month.
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JackKent Cooke Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
@Lake Forest,
Cut in the Beverly Wilshire. Steak is superb and no one does sides better than Wolfgang Puck’s crew.
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I wonder where they will be going for steak. I like Ruth’s Chris the best, but I’m always open to suggestions.
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puck73 Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
@Tyler, Ruth” Chris is my favorite as well. The Cowboy Ribeye well done and butterflied….DAMN! What are we waiting for, lets go !
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puck73 Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
@Tyler, Another great place is in the Westfield mall, near Union square San Francisco. Lark Creek SteakHouse, incredible. Highly reccommended.
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:19 pm
@puck73,
When in San Fran, I never,,,,, EVER miss a trip to The House of Prime Rib!
And if I were Cliffie, I’d wait for a road game against the Blackhawks and cash in at the Chicago Chop House!
Great, now I’m hungry.
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KingsGuy Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
@Tyler, IMO, best steakhouse anywhere, is “The Steakhouse” in palm springs area. Get the bone in rib-eye, you won’t be disappointed. However, it’s not cheap…
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puck73 Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
@KingsGuy, Sounds good to me. A little creamed corn, a chopped salad, baked bread,ooohhh yahhhh !
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Lake Forest Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
@puck73, guys stop it. I’m so hungry now!
KingsGuy Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
@puck73, Haha, now you’re talking!
Dilapidus Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
@Tyler,
In LA I’d probably go with Lawry’s.
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LomitaKingsFan Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
@Tyler, Guessing since these guys live around the South Bay area they will head to Charthouse in Redondo.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
@LomitaKingsFan,
Been awhile since I’ve been there, but a very tasty steak!
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purple and gold Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
@Tyler, 2 best steaks I ever had: some hotel across the street from the airport in Calgary, can remember the name though. second best was from the timberline just outside Ogden valley in Utah. Oddly enough had both on snowboarding trips.
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Mik3ysfv Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
@Tyler, The Stinking Rose. Everything has ridiculous amounts of garlic. 64 cloves of galic on a perfectly prepared rack of baby back ribs.
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Mik3ysfv Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:17 pm
@Mik3ysfv, even garlic ice cream. On La Cienega off the 10. Head north.
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Mark Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
@Tyler, I just ate a 2 inch thick bone in ribeye at the stockyard in Nashville. Very tasty.
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dabronx Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 6:13 pm
@Tyler,
My bet is Flemings on the Manhattan / Gundo border. Or Houstons
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Westy got snookered.
He should of known he’d only get like 3 goals all season, and the chances of getting into a fight, and scoring an assist, all in the same game, are like finding a new planet in the Milkyway galaxy with a backyard telescope.
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Stuart Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
@Dominick, I’ve done it 3x…find new planets in the backyard that is…
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purple and gold Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:16 pm
@Dominick, Thanks for the info on the advanced stats
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40YearKingsFan Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:30 pm
@Dominick, I’ll say one thing though now knowing that they bet on such things,,,,, if I was on the ice and Cliffie or Westy had just scored a goal and an assist, I’d get off the ice!
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I found it iteresting that Jim & Bob mentioned that Gordie Howe only had 2 “Gordie Howe Hat Tricks” in his entire career.
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Dominick Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
@JWR, That should be in the dictionary under “irony”.
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KingsGuy Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
@Dominick, Maybe first guy to do it?
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Dominick Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
@KingsGuy, That would make sense. lol
40YearKingsFan Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
@KingsGuy, First recorded Gordie How Hat Trick: Harry Cameron (HOF’er) St. Louis Pats, December 22, 1920.
40YearKingsFan Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
@JWR, Rick Tocchet is the all time leader in Gordie Howe Hat Tricks with 17!!! Tic-toc!
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Shuchuk Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
@40YearKingsFan, too bad he sucked as a King
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 9:15 am
@Shuchuk, I don’t think that’s true. I remember him getting guff when he was on a 50-goal pace.
c4sraser Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
@Shuchuk, yeah n he was tuffer than the clown he was traded for
Glad Clifford had great game yesterday…He was a beast on a mission..
Hope he keeps this going the Kings going to need any help by everyone..
Hope the Kings starts a winning streak going they going to need it.
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Off topic. Ovechikin declined participating ASG because of the suspension. Does that really matter if he is guilty of some penalties or not?
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Stuart Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
@goldielocks, I hope he gets fined for declining…
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CB14 Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:00 pm
@Stuart, And suspended another game too. That’s what happened to Lidstrom and Datsyuk a few years back when they decided not to participate.
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Forum gold Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
@goldielocks, This is his choice. He stated he did not want to be a distraction but in my opinion he is just pouting. GO KINGS GO!!!
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
@Forum gold,
My thought also……..he’s pouting.
It’s ok. He’s gotta learn not to launch himself, and this is the problem the NHL has.
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goldielocks Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
@Forum gold & Kingsfanone,
Yea, he could just grow up …
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 9:16 am
@Forum gold, Of course he’s pouting. At some time in life you have to grow up.
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John Roy Morgan Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:13 pm
@goldielocks, I am sure that Ovechkin didn’t take into consideration the $154,677.75 fine leveled against him. I am also sure he knew that his not being at the All Star Weekend would take away some luster from the event. I am sure of it!
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I’d love to be at the table eating a steak with Westy and Cliffy, hell that would make my whole year.
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Hell when Clifford scores a hat trick, I’ll buy him a Large Steak!!!!
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The Colonel totally rocked the Ottawa Senators yesterday. Keep it up Colonel.
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Let’s all get steak…Westy is buying, lol!!
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I can’t wait for the Colonel to take his show on the road. GO KINGS GO!!,
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Off Topic: Anyone know if those video highlights that they play on Fox after each game where they typically play rock songs are anywhere to be found? Interested to find some of those songs if possible.
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Lake Forest Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:31 pm
@vplaza, for that breathe carolina go to http://www.WTFdidyoureallylikeus.com
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Dominick Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
@vplaza,
The all musical ones are hard to figure out, but the ones with words, I just put the words on you tube, and eventually find a match. For instance: “last man standing” is 1 song. I put it in, and eventually found a match with the band “Pop Evil”.
Probably an easier way to do it, but that’s what I do.
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Kingsfanone Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
@Dominick,
Same here. Just Google the words. Example? “Blame it on the boom boom.”
Let the internet work for you.
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vplaza Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:49 pm
@Kingsfanone,
Thanks. It is great that they actually put the song and artist in the videos, but I don’t remember some of them, so I was hoping they were kept somewhere on teh intarwebs.
vplaza Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 4:50 pm
@Dominick,
Thanks, found that one.
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…coulda swore Cliffy had one a few games back…obviuosly not….perhaps I was seeing the future….fat chance….probably too many ABA’s…
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“We have to wait until next wednesday!?”, he exclaimed with a slight whine in his voice…well, we can’t talk about steak for a week…Ahh screw it, best steak I ever had was at Carrabbas in Orlando…and it was a New York tbone on special for 20 bucks! I had a hunch and went for it…Darn good steak!
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Congratulations to Clifford. It was really nice of Westgarth to make this bet since the likelihood of winning it was miniscule because Clifford had a big advantage statistically. Clifford plays a lot more minutes so he has more opportunities to get a Gordie Howe hattrick.
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best steak ive ever had was at zazas in florence italy. filet mignon drenched in some thick brown sauce. i need to go change my pants.
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Thought Cliffy would have contributed more at start of year. Like how he’s played the last 15-17 games. Still envision him playing next to Richards or Loktionov. Go Cliff Go! Go Kings Go!!!
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