Kyle Clifford will not be suspended for his hit last night on Phoenix’s Gilbert Brule. Clifford, per the instructions of Darryl Sutter, declined to comment on the hit or whether he spoke with any league officials about supplemental discipline. Sutter said Clifford was “off limits” to questions about the hit, but Sutter was clearly very unhappy that the Kings were even penalized for the hit. He called it a “shoulder-to-shoulder hit, nothing more.” Clifford is expected to be in the lineup tonight. Here’s the video of the hit…
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i hope Clifford plays smart hockey not dumb one like that..
[Reply]
gene Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:18 am
@KingsFanFTW, How can you call that a dumb play? It was shoulder to shoulder and like Sutter says it should not have been a penalty. That is why he was not fined or suspended today.
[Reply]
Lake Forest Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:35 am
@gene, the timing of the hit was way off. Itw as a dumb play, not a bad hit.
[Reply]
bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:50 am
@Lake Forest, No, the timing wasn’t off. If it was off, it would’ve have been an interference penalty. Neither ref raised his arm.
Lake Forest Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:07 pm
@bmova, that just means the refs missed the call. It was a late hit.
bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:14 pm
@Lake Forest, No, the ref didn’t miss the call, he was right there. He obviously didn’t think it was late.
USHA#17 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:38 am
@gene,
Find a tape of the game. The hit was late and high; to the chest and head. Clifford changed both his angle and raised his shoulder into the players head.
I won’t say if I agree or disagree with the severity of the call but am surprised a linesman had to callit.
[Reply]
bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:51 am
@USHA#17, No, it wasn’t late or high. If it was late, it would’ve been an interference penalty. If it was high, Sheriff Shanny would’ve intervened. Neither happened.
Cruiznblue Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:07 pm
@USHA#17,
I kinda agree…althought it looks like the initial contact was to the chest/shoulder and was clean…the follow through did seem to make contact to the head.
either way…Clifford needs to start being more productive and taking less penalties. If anything…Clifford should start trying to get under the skin of other players and making them take penalties.
broncokings Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 5:26 pm
@USHA#17, theres a video at the top. I thought it was a clean hit also, it was high on the body.
Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:18 am
@KingsFanFTW, I thought it was a clean hit. Was it smart, that is debatable. I thought it was a good hit and so did the NHL. The officials last night overstepped and made a call they shouldn’t have. They basically allowed Phoenix to tie and end up winning.
[Reply]
Perro Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:20 am
@Jeff_R, officials have to listen to the linsemen. The linesmen stepped over the line.
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pr0cess Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:04 pm
@Perro, So would that make them offsides?
toemas_sandstrom Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:20 am
@Jeff_R, Last I saw the zebras didn’t blow a 3 goal lead. Yes the major directly led to the tying goal but we had shot ourselves in the foot long before that penalty..
[Reply]
McSorleyfan Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:25 am
@toemas_sandstrom, THAT is true. As much as I loathe LaRue, there’s no way our PK should have allowed 3 in a game! I am certainly NOT laying the entirety of last night’s debacle at the feat of the officiation. This DOES seem a comedy of errors on occasion; I keep wondering who’s writing these crappy scripts!
TheAcaciaStrain Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:34 am
@toemas_sandstrom, no but that doesn’t mean we should get a bad call. The game should always be officiated fairly whether the score is 0-0, or 10-0. While we did blow a 3 goal lead, they scored a goal on the 5 min major penalty as a result. That is why we lost the game. Hence the anger
MindGeyser Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:37 pm
@toemas_sandstrom, While true, tough games can swing on events smaller than a 5 minute major. The refs didn’t blow a lead, but they didn’t need to assist the Kings on throwing the lead away.
McSorleyfan Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:21 am
@KingsFanFTW, Clean hit; that was Dennis LaRue giving the game to the opposition again. IMPEACH HIM!
The NHL provciding officiating for their own NHL owned team is a conflict of interest situation that really needs to be addressed.
[Reply]
TheAcaciaStrain Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:35 am
@McSorleyfan, you sound like this is the first thing that has happened in terms of bad calls against the kings, it has nothing to do with the coyotes, and has more to do with the kings being the kings.
[Reply]
USHA#17 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:45 am
@TheAcaciaStrain,
Clearly McSorley needs another decade as a Kings fan before he fully understands the futility of his dedication to the Kings.
The rest of us have come to expect a yearly Kings implosion as the norm. We patiently wait for the yearly push of the self-destruct button. It defines us. It fills our sports lives with meaning, purpose and identity.
KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:10 pm
@McSorleyfan, yea it was a clean hit but if u up by 1 goal and u just got out of the penalty box and do something like that when a Coyotes defense didnt know where Clifford was at plus didnt know he was going to get hit..
Clean hit 100% agree with u on that..But it was still reckless move to do when he knows the puck was gone and it took him 5 secs to hit when he he supposed ot hit hm for 3 secs..
So interference was supposed to be the call which they miss but turn it to a major penalty which wasnt suppose to be
[Reply]
KINGCANADA87 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:24 am
@KingsFanFTW, Whats not smart about a legal hit that didn’t take him out of position and then got the opposing team to retaliate and draw a penalty. The red stripes never called a penalty on Cliffy, but a linesman called the major, which was an error. All that should have happened was a 2min Roughing penalty on the Yotes. This is how Clifford plays and this is how we want him to continue to play. Good job on DS for protecting his player.
[Reply]
KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:14 pm
@KINGCANADA87, not talking about the hit it self talking about how late he did it…
They got mad about the hit yes it was a clean hit but it still could of gotten a 2 mins for interference which they missed it which also lead to a bad penalty call for a major which it wasnt.
It was late hitting the puck was at the red line by the time Clifford check the Coyote defense men
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:25 am
@KingsFanFTW, A clean check, shoulder to the chest is not dumb hockey.
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USHA#17 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:46 am
@mrbrett7,
If only that’s what it were…then we could feel sorry for the team.
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USHA#17 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:47 am
@USHA#17,
were? was? maybe it was hit to my head…
vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:12 pm
@USHA#17,
that is what it was. video’s right there.
mrbrett7 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:51 pm
@USHA#17, If it’s the responsibility of the “hitter” to place the “hitee’s” head in a proper position prior to hitting them, then, Mad Mike Milburry is correct. It’s hockey…people get hurt.
mrbrett7 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:53 pm
@USHA#17, Just watched the replay again. At not time is the head a target. Clifford’s shoulder his him square in the breast plate.
Now, was it a blindside hit? I think you could make that argument, but I stand by my opinion.
Cup B4 I Die Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:26 am
@KingsFanFTW,
It’s the same argument in the NFL. Guys grow up learning the proper way to tackle or finish a check. Now the rules are changing in a way that almost every hard hit yields a flag or penalty. The leagues are basically asking the players to change the way they’ve been instructed and taught to play their whole careers. The increased diagnosis of concussions is the root cause/reason for this change in my opinion.
[Reply]
MindGeyser Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:43 pm
@Cup B4 I Die, Absolutely correct. Not only the increasing rate of concussion diagnosis, but the increased awareness of what that means for players as people during and after their careers.
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:33 pm
@MindGeyser, ….and how it affects the owners muti-million dollar investments…..lets be real it’s about the cash, if these guys were making minimum wage no one would give a sh!t…
812 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:38 am
@KingsFanFTW, The only thing that was even remotely questionable about the hit was the timing. It could have been a split second late, and thus Cliffy could have been assessed a minor for interference or what have you. Other’n that, the Kings tanked, pure and simple. The officiating is obviously suspect (to put it sweetly) with these kinds of retroactive calls. Bad combination.
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:46 am
@812, These kinds of games are going to happen, giving up 2 PP goals and letting a team come back and all. 82 games a year and you are going to have games like this. The fact is this 5 minute major had a major impact on the game. How many times have people said the good teams find a way to win even when you play poorly. The fact is the Kings didn’t get that chance as the officials called this bogus 5 minute major.
[Reply]
812 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:55 am
@Jeff_R, Good points, I totally agree, although good teams usually don’t show up for 25 minutes a night, and they do find a way to shut the other team down when they have a 3-goal lead. The cruddy officiating should have steamed up the Kings in the “right” way. It should have galvanized them.
Bottom line is there is absolutely no excuse for the Kings losing that game.
KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:15 pm
@812, yea that what i was talking about ..Not the hit it self…
The timing was off..That what am mad about..The hit look clean to me at least..
[Reply]
SVIK Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:49 am
@KingsFanFTW, Yeah I would bench him for a bit after that last night. arguably cost us the game with those 2 penalties. stupid play on his part that cost us a vital point in the standings.
[Reply]
red49er Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:59 am
@SVIK, Clifford played his worst game as a King. EVER. So did Kopitar. Clifford’s was bad due to 3 horrible penalties and Kopitar because it looked like a Penner -Like effort by him. He had one pass all game. woohooo. on the other hand Justin Williams had his best game as a King. And what kind of punk is DD8? he lets J.W. step in and protect him? oh wait, he did flip the ‘Yotes player’s glove nearly over the boards. Do I want DD8 drawn into a scrap against Bissonette? no, but that would be better than him hiding behind Williams! when that happened I knew the eventual outcome, no-heart Kings give up the game. Ya, Ya, Williams showed a ton of good teammate /warrior spirit but that is much less his role than our “best offensive defensman”.
[Reply]
pitty Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:50 am
@KingsFanFTW, Gary Bettman is that you
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:16 pm
@pitty, lol not its not..I saying Clifford late hit was dumb not about if it was clean hit or not..
Which we all see it was a clean hit…I talking about the timing.
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:39 pm
@KingsFanFTW, ….I agree….how long does it take the team to realize anything that gives the officials any chance to make a call in the oppositions favor they will…they are the KINGS….got to play smarter…
tommy Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:07 pm
@KingsFanFTW, tHAT WASN’T dum because obviously it was a clean hit. the ref made a bad call. now if the league took action then you can say it’s dumb.
[Reply]
KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:17 pm
@tommy, yea the Hit was clean hit am talking about the timing ..Okay i need to put the part am talking about….
i think that why everyone on my butt lol
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LB Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:08 pm
@KingsFanFTW, If one of the tough guys on Phoenix hit a smaller guy like Loktionov in the same way, this blog would be blowing up with calls for a suspension.
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vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:15 pm
@LB,
dont think so..if you haven’t noticed, he’s not one of the favorites around here
[Reply]
John Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:30 pm
@LB,
It appears to blowing up with calls for Clifford to be suspended…on a clean hit! This is just what happens when a huge man-child drills a little boy in the chest, whiplash. It’s hockey, plane & simple! That linesman screwed the pooche, no two ways about it.
[Reply]
MindGeyser Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:45 pm
@John, The onus here is that Brule has a history of concussions (it’s the reason he didn’t wind up here), and the result colors how people perceive the hit. Clifford was late (should have been penalized) and caused an injury, isn’t that supposed to be a double-minor?
John Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:29 pm
@MindGeyser,
That’s so not late – in any case, if it was the ref would’ve called it, not some linesman who doesn’t get to make that call. And since when is a clean shoulder-to-shoulder hit that causes injury a penalty?! Just because a hit causes injury does NOT make it a penalty!
KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:18 pm
@LB, yea they did it when Richards got hit..
[Reply]
BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:27 pm
@KingsFanFTW,
Agree.
People, don’t forget the guy had just taken a dumb penalty, and had a turnover leading to the 4-3 goal in the second…
–Big Red Dog, play smart!
[Reply]
KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:20 pm
@BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy, yea..I agree ….Am not saying his hit was a bad hit..It look liek a clean hit to me but i was talking about the timing..
He had alot of time to skate by which he choose to hot him which put the Kings to kill a penalty which i say it was only 2 mins penalty but u know the refs like to give something out wrong…
[Reply]
Shakes Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:19 pm
@KingsFanFTW,
in my view, the question isn’t whether Cliffy’s hit was good or not, i think we have to learn that at the end of the game we cannnot put outselves in a position that forces the refs to make a call. In other words, his play (a hit in this case) didn’t prevent a goal, it didn’t get the puck off a player’s stick (the puck had just left), it didn’t change the outcome of the play… thus it wasn’t directly necessary. I think hits like that are important in the first two periods of a game, but towards the end you have to almost dial some things back to play smarter.
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:22 pm
@Shakes, yea am not talking about if it was a clean hit or not..Just wish he doesnt do stuff like that..If Clifford was close by and hit him 1 secs after the Coyotes defense move the puck then i be okay and be piss about the call they made..Which i am piss off about the call but then again if i was the Ref i would of done the same thing…but called it a interference call tho which he deserve that call not a major…..
[Reply]
John Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:33 pm
@KingsFanFTW,
Oh, so now we don’t want our players finishing their checks? Ok, very strange…
vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:40 pm
@Shakes,
i dont think the style of play should change. when its a close game you wanna hit guys, make your presence felt, not dial back, and just chase. he didnt go out of his way or hang any of his teammates out to dry to make the hit, so im just not buying the argument that he needs to play smarter. his job as a forchecker is to put pressure on those guys. and look where the puck ended up…on smiths stick. clean hit, smart play, unfortunate headbutting call.
[Reply]
LB Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:07 pm
@Shakes,
Good point Shakes. The hit was completely unnecessary and the timing was terrible. You never know what the refs will call, but you don’t put your team in danger with a needless play like that.
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Letswinthecup2012 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:42 pm
@KingsFanFTW, Looked clean to me.. Keep your head up should have been the lesson
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Guess that is the leagues way of getting back at the Kings for “clockgate”… You steal two points we will steal a point… No suspension for a great hit… strange.
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That was no 5 min major penalty. The fact is we were ripped off by the refs yet again. They should be fined not Cliffy.
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bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:53 am
@johnjuan, It balances over the course of the season. Remember the “clock” incident in the CBJ game?
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KingsGuy Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:59 am
@bmova, Remember all the good goals that got waived off? It would be safe to say, more has gone against us than for us… And besides, the “clock” was adjusting itself
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bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:16 pm
@KingsGuy, Fair enough. I just HATE blaming the league/officials when something doesn’t go your way. I live in Vancouver and get sick to my stomach when all I hear is conspiracy theories being plotted against the Canucks. Mistakes happen. Move on and get over it.
I think the hit was late but that was about it. If it was a little more from the side maybe you could have called it a blindside hit, but it wasn’t.
Who would have thought a call goes in favour of the coyotes (a league managed team that only makes money if the team makes the playoffs) in a close game with major playoff implicaitons.
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How can there be no supplemental discipline or even a meeting on a match penalty that was called “intent to injure” a hit to the head? This just gets worse and worse. I watched the replay as well and have to agree with Daryl Sutter that there should not have been a penalty. Where were the calls when Richards got hot, or the late hit by Raffi Torres. I try not to believe in conspiracy theories but the NHL does not make it any easier for me.
[Reply]
IceMonkey77 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:20 am
@IceMonkey77, hit not hot
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Perro Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:26 am
@IceMonkey77, Refs get paid by NHL, NHL owns Coyotes. Something seems amiss.
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No shock at all that he wasn’t suspended.
Everything I read and now am hearing was that it was the hit and not something during the tussle with yandle.
So now I’m even more pissed off.
The 4 blind mice got together and made up a friggin penalty that cost us a player and perhaps the game. shame on them. I’d love to know which fool came in and changed the other idiots minds based on something he never saw??? The original call was a 2 min penalty. Still not sure why he should have even gotten 2 minutes..but to give him a match penalty Intent to injure when all he did was throw a clean, legal body check is a disgrace.
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vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:19 pm
@nykingfan,
seriously..so lame
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Pesus Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:46 pm
@nykingfan,
+1
Why arent the refs held accountable? No fine or suspension means clean hit, but they gave a major penalty. Why dont they get fined?
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Letswinthecup2012 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:47 pm
@nykingfan, agreed. Huge game between two teams in the playoff hunt. Shouldn’t be decided by a red IMHO
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Letswinthecup2012 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:48 pm
@Letswinthecup2012, ref
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An excellent hit, I am glad the league agrees. The referees feel too much pressure to make these calls just because a guy gets hurt or stunned by the hit.
To be fair, a clock error gave us two points not so long ago … you win some you lose some.
[Reply]
mrbrett7 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:27 am
@VanKingsFan, That’s the problem that I have. The refs are under SO much pressure to call these hits, even when clean.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:48 am
@mrbrett7, It is even worse for the players. They don’t know whats legal and what isn’t. If they would come down with one rule you wouldn’t see all this stuff happening.
[Reply]
812 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:51 am
@VanKingsFan, Gotta respectfully disagree. Because a team may or may not have gotten a win due to the clock thing in no way justifies blatantly biased calls in another game, if that’s your implication.
A unexplained and arguably inexplicable “clock error” has absolutely squat to do with plainly corrupt officiating. Two totally unrelated events.
[Reply]
bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:55 am
@812, I don’t thingkhis implication is one justifies the other. Rather, sometimes calls go your way and sometimes they don’t. Last night was an example of a call not going your way. As long as human beings are making these types of decisions/class, mistakes are inevitable.
[Reply]
812 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:00 pm
@bmova, Sure, can’t disagree there – human mistakes are part of the game. In a way that keeps it interesting. But then why even mention the clock issue? We don’t even know if that had anything to do with a human manipulating a piece of hardware.
The issue here is corrupt officiating, and that’s what we should be talking about. It’s not human error or hardware error.
bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:19 pm
@812, I mention the clock issue b/c it benefited the Kings. As for corrupt officiating, please don’t go there. You sound like a Canucks fans/media. The referees aren’t conspiring against the Kings. Thinking that is plain ridiculous.
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812 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:42 pm
@bmova, Censored? Nice how he gets to call me ridiculous and I can’t say he’s overreacting like a child? Nice! Corrupt officiating spreads I guess.
Clifford should have been suspended by the Kings for a preposterously stupid, obviously dirty play that cost the Kings the game. Clifford hit the guy way late, he hit him in the head and he hit him in the neutral zone with 6 minutes to go in a one-goal game. If Sutter thinks that’s ok, we are apt to see the same absurd lack of discipline and intelligence again and again.
[Reply]
uknojata Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:30 am
@Kevin F, Sutts wasnt the only one who thought it was a clean hit, so did the league.
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Robb Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:36 am
@Kevin F, Obviously dirty pal?? Way late?? If it was that obvious, then why didn’t the league suspend him. Dude u probably never played hockey. That was a clean hit. Not late, not dirty. This isn’t basketball. It’s hockey.
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tornado12 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:58 am
@Robb, i thought this was baseball…
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Pumpernicholl Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:46 am
@Kevin F, “Preposterously stupid, obviously dirty play” ???
Preposterously stated, obviously wrong comment.
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IceGuy Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:49 am
@Kevin F,
Kevin, go back to my extended breakdown of the whole hit sequence I posted in “The Key 3″.
There was no reason to call Clifford for anything that is seen on the Coyotes broadcast of the incident.
And further, what I believe Sutter thinks is that Clifford knocked a Coyote into next Tuesday, recovered the puck and shot it back into the Coyotes zone. Which translates into Clifford doing his job!
[Reply]
vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:21 pm
@IceGuy,
exactly!
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:51 am
@Kevin F, Clifford is anything but a dirty player. Should he have made that hit, that’s debatable. The fact is he is in his 2nd year and still maturing so he will do stuff like this. As he learns he won’t do it again. However the hit was a legal one and should not of been called a majort. 2 minute minor ok I can go with that, as it was a tad late and possibly interference. But no way should that have been a 5 minute major and the NHL agreed.
[Reply]
red49er Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:07 pm
@Jeff_R, good post, the points you make I agree with. To bad he cost us the game.
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dcaps55 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:52 am
@Kevin F, I agree. Sutter can back up his player, but he should advise his young winger that you are playing in a one goal game with 6 minutes left, you’ve been killed by the power play all night long, if it’s even close to being interference or seen as a roughing call, pull back and wait for an opportunity where there is no grey area. I don’t think the hit deserved a major penalty, but I do think Clifford should have known better. Overall, not a great game from Cliffy and overall, I think Kopi kind of disappeared 5 on 5. I was struck that Mike Richards line looked great all game, but Kopi’s line was kind of eh…
[Reply]
bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:57 am
@dcaps55, That’s the problem. It wasn’t interference or roughing. It was Cliffy finishing his check. The back referee was right there and didn’t call anything. The major penalty after the 4 officials congregated at center was just dumb luck.
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Letswinthecup2012 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:50 pm
@Kevin F, completely disagree with you regarding everything you mentioned..
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Brûlé should have “kept his head up” especially when Cliffy out there this is the NHL. Refs blew it.
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Robb Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:36 am
@Cunning Plan, +1
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Capt Jam Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:00 pm
@Cunning Plan,
Agreed. I was just about to post a similar comment until I read yours. Brule became a spectator once he moved the puck on. I didn’t think much of the hit when it happened and I still don’t, other than it was solid hockey hit. It is still hockey, right?
[Reply]
Letswinthecup2012 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:51 pm
@Cunning Plan, indeed. Awful call..
[Reply]
On a different note— one of the biggest components of a potential Nash trade was Bernier, with Columbus picking up Curtis McElhinney from Phoenix how does that change the potential trade dynamic?
[Reply]
Newf Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:37 am
@Kris, not by much i don’t think. McElhinney is useless.
[Reply]
KingsFan78 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:38 am
@Kris, Nash isn’t going to choose to go way out to LA. He’s not going to make any more money with the Kings than he would with the Leafs, Rangers, or Blue Jackets. Players with a true choice don’t choose to play too far west, unless there is a specific reason. A reason like a lot more money, or in the case of a guy like Niedermayer, his brother was already playing for the Ducks. Nash won’t be a King, no matter what the Kings might offer.
[Reply]
Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:54 am
@KingsFan78, Umm why wouldn’t he make more money here? Endorsements, Hollywood maybe being on tv or movies…He could make a lot more money here. Be that as it may I don’t know if Nash wants to come here or not. Not sure anybody knows. I do know Columbus would get the best package from us then any other team, especially since they are doing a full rebuild by trading away the face of there franchise.
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KingsGuy Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:01 pm
@Jeff_R, How about the 365 days of being able to go to the beach and with no snow…
Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:58 pm
@KingsGuy, That is a plus too
I don’t understand why anybody says no to L.A. Who cares if you have to travel more. 
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It looked fairly obvious that the refs only made the call after they saw the player down and stunned. Penalties called after the fact because of a result rather than the infraction is the new de rigueur of the NHL. We are starting to see this more and more now. Get hit, look dazed, get a call.
Now the hit itself looked a tad late but totally clean and hard. I’m sure Brule was dazed but clearly not a match penalty.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:55 am
@bitter, Not only that they looked at the replay on the scoreboard.
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Pesus Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:38 pm
@bitter,
NHL needs to realize that an injury can be the result of a clean hit.
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ESPN NHL – Coyotes acquire C Antoine Vermette from Blue Jackets for 2 draft picks and G Curtis McElhinney
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Subby Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:33 am
@Subby, poor McBackup. He’s been on like 15 teams in 2 years.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:56 am
@Subby, I know I said he must feel like a yo yo. He is injured now and a UFA so he won’t be with Columbus for long. It also means that Columbus is still looking for a Goalie, Bernier still available.
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Cruiznblue Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:10 pm
@Subby,
I see teams making moves to improve their team…
…still waiting DL.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:56 pm
@Cruiznblue, 5 days still left. No big complicated trades have yet happened.
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Knew there was not going to be any suspension. BS freakin call cost us the game. I hope Clifford keeps finishing his checks the same way and punishing anyone who wishes to admire their pass instead of bracing themselves for a hit.
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vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:25 pm
@Robb,
lol hell ya
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Deke'r Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:14 pm
@Robb, …..agree completely….how did Balless not see Cliffy…he came the same direction the puck came from…..nice dive….got a 5 from all the judges…
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Columbus just got a goalie from Phoenix…looks like we might be out of the race for Nash
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Newf Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:38 am
@Daren, McElhinney is a goalie in the same sense that Penner is a goal scorer…
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bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:59 am
@Newf, +1
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:55 pm
@Newf, That is funny but not real nice. Anyway over the years Penner has scored just not this year, just our luck. McElhenny is injured and probably won’t play for Columbus was just included so that Phoenix could stay under the 50 contracts rule.
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Daren Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:57 pm
@Jeff_R, I did not know that…thanks for the info.
Deke'r Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:16 pm
@Jeff_R, …not rel nice….hahahahahah…
Deke'r Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:16 pm
@Jeff_R, yeah….I can spell…
I agree with Frank: a late hit, probably a dirty hit and an amazingly stupid hit with a big game on the line. The refs huddled until they agreed on a call — exactly what the refs should do when a game is on the line.
As for Clifford, a suspension would have been no big deal — he doesn’t add much to the team and, likewise, losing him wouldn’t take much away from the Kings. They don’t need big guys who can hit. They need guys who can skate and score.
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bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:02 pm
@Steve Hymon, You are sorely mistaken. The hit wasn’t late, otherwise there would’ve been an interference penalty. It wasn’t dirty, otherwise the back referee would’ve signaled a roughing call or something.
The referees huddled and THEN made a call b/c they saw Brule go down. That’s not right. Don’t blame Clifford on the hit. He did exactly what he’s taught to do. To finish his check. Everything that happened afterwards was dumb luck.
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fsd1 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:23 pm
@Steve Hymon, Obvious the you and frank are trolls from another blog, go away
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Kingsfletch Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:25 pm
@Steve Hymon, couldn’t agree more. Clifford makes 2 idiotic plays that cost us the game. He needs to play smarter or pack it up and head to Manchester. He’s digressed horribly this year. Pathetic
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Harty Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:33 pm
@Kingsfletch, please, are you kidding me……..this kid has more heart then 6 of anyother players
Your amazing to make these comments, are you a hockey fan, ex-player or emailing as a joke
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Deke'r Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:17 pm
@Steve Hymon, ….I smell a duck fan….
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Letswinthecup2012 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:57 pm
@Steve Hymon, if brûlé would have kept his head up we would not have to disagree..
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It doesn’t change that Cliffy cought refs attention at the crucial point of the game and cost us a game. Besides, what was the necessity with that late hit? He’s gotta be smarter than that.
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number 6 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:46 am
@goldielocks,
You think?
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T Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:56 am
@goldielocks, The pile-on by the Coyotes got the ref’s attention. There was no call on the play.
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bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:03 pm
@T, Exactly. I don’t understand why people don’t get that. There was no initial on the play.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:08 pm
@T, They called a 2 minute penalty on Clifford first. Then for some reason they changed it to a 5 minute major. That is why Sutter went ballistic. There was no reason to change it to a 5 minute major. At worse it should of been 4 on 4 for 2 minutes.
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T Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:21 pm
@Jeff_R, I get that. I was just saying to goldielocks that it wasnt the hit that got the attention of the refs. It was the Coyotes jumping Clifford for a clean hit that got the attention of the refs.
MindGeyser Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:50 pm
@T, The apparent injury to Brule probably helped a lot in getting the refs’ attention as well.
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It doesn’t matter that Sutter didn’t like the call. I wouldn’t expect him to. Even if Yandle or whoever hadn’t been assessed the two for Phx then the Kings probably still get at least a 2 min penalty. I watched it carefully, and the fact is that – had I taken a still photo at the highest moment of impact, Clifford’s elbow is up.
That simple. You have to keep your damn elbow down at that point in the game. If you’re winning by 2 or 3 goals then do what you want. Otherwise use your head….. and I think Sutter would do far better to spend time w Clifford helping him to better understand when you want to be aggressive and when not, rather than disagreeing about whether or not it’s a penalty.
I’d want a coach for my team to take personal responsibility for this sort of thing by saying ‘he was givin it all he could, he just got a bit overaggressive and next time he needs to be smarter’. That would suffice very well.
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XodusMatthew Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:00 pm
@number 6, Since i have the ability here at work, i took the above (thanks Rich) video, downloaded and split it frame by frame… the contact is shoulder to chest with follow through up to head. I missed this hot as i was on my way to my hockey game last night but after reviewing the video (full speed and slow) i disagree that the hit was late. If you watch the video at full speed, the hit occurs 1 second after Brule back hands the puck off the boards (see the video above at 5 seconds).
On another note… teammate told me last night he heard a preposterous rumor of Kopi, Penner and Bernier (with possibly VV) for Nash & Carter. i thre up in my mouth a little when i heard it.
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XodusMatthew Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:00 pm
@XodusMatthew, hit not hot… sorry
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number 6 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:30 pm
@XodusMatthew,
I never said it was a late hit. They ruled it a hit to the head? I disagree there, but his elbow IS up if you look at it carefully.
Do I think the refs were being picyune? Yes I do, but the problem is, you have a 3 goal lead then look to a refs decision to blame them for the loss. It should never have gotten to that point.
I don’t understand why people keep saying this is a dumb penalty. The NHL had all kinds of replays today to look at it today, and if they found it was late there would definitively be a suspension. Therefor it wasn’t late and wasn’t a penalty in the first place.
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There is a reason why they say ” keep your head on a swivel”. It was Brûlé fault not Cliffys.
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Dominick Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:02 pm
@Cunning Plan, If someone hit Richards like that, Kingsfans would not be blaming Richards.
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bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:04 pm
@Dominick, I wouldn’t blame either side. One player is finishing his check, while the other is busy admiring his pass.
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Dominick Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:18 pm
@bmova, You are blaming Brule in this instance? But if it happaned to Richards, you wouldn’t blame anyone?
bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:21 pm
@Dominick, I’m not blaming Brule. A lot of players get caught admiring their pass. If MR did the same, I’d say the same. Keep your head up.
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Dominick Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:31 pm
@bmova, Sorry! I misinterpreted your comment to be agreeing with Cunning plans’ comment.
Nothing wrong with it, but I did disagree with him on it.
Good for Sutter! I’m glad he’s sticking up for his guy, because far too many people on this blog are selling out on him for no good reason. Aside from the hit, he had a mixed game–he made one incredibly good play and a bunch of bad plays, but the hit was a hockey play. Even the Phoenix homers saw no elbow after they bothered to LOOK, and you can tell when you watch the replay that the hit wasn’t to the head–it doesn’t even snap back an inch. His head hit the boards or something, not any part of Cliffy. Okay, maybe he brushed it, but he didn’t hit him in the head.
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SO the Kings have 2 plans right now that i know of. Plan A is Carter/Nash and Plan B is Pomminville/Stafford. Either trade is fine with me. I think both are good and would help us out a lot. We don’t have the players to make both trades, so one only and the Nash/Carter will probably be one or the other not both.
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XodusMatthew Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:02 pm
@Jeff_R, My teammate told me last night he heard a rumor of Kopi, Penner and Bernier (with possibly VV) for Nash & Carter. Not sure how i feel about it.
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bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:06 pm
@XodusMatthew, Stop mentioning Kopi’s name in a trade. I cannot for the life of me see DL trade away his star player. Kopi does EVERYTHING for this team. His type doesn’t grow on trees.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:11 pm
@bmova, While I can see Kopi being traded I doubt it would happen. The same with Dustin Brown. DL isn’t going to trade top 6 guys to get top 6 guys. Penner and Stoll yes but not Kopi, Brown, Williams or Richards. Especially when you have 2 rookies in the top 6.
11 or 3 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:05 pm
@XodusMatthew, can’t imagine any worse trade than trading kopi for nash/carter. that is ridiculous
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ILLEGALSTICK33 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:59 pm
@11 or 3, Thats a great idea give up Kopi so we now have wingers with no centers. Richrds can’t play on both lines. Who are we expecting to be our number two? Lokti? Stoll? Fraser? Richardson? LOL!! If DL gives up Kopi for anything less then an allstar center in return he should wake up with a horses head in his bed.
I disagree with the decision. I am a big Cliffordfan, but the hit was absolutely unnecessary. Brule had no way to know the hit was comeing, had already gotten rid of the puck, and the hit served no advantage to the Kings in that instance.
In Cliffys’ defense, the hit was not an intentional head shot, and was the result of him exploding upward. Clifford did already have Brule lined up, so the intent to hit was already in play when Brule got rid of the puck. Clifford was simply following through with his check.
Things happen very fast, but in that instance, Clifford should have backed off. Not an intent to injure, not an intent to target the head, but a poor choice in selecting what he should of done when the player is faced in the opposite direction, and totally unaware of him bearing down on him.
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XodusMatthew Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:03 pm
@Dominick, but…. it was ONLY 1 second after Brule back handed the puck up the boards. can’t change anything in that time.
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Dominick Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:11 pm
@XodusMatthew,
I am not the only one who thinks the hit was late. All around the league (NHL.com, TSN, the Hockey News) all feel in that instance, Clifford should of been looking at the puck, but instead was focused on making the hit.
Had he been focussed on the puck, he would of reacted differently, and eased up.
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bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:08 pm
@Dominick, He didn’t know the hit was coming b/c he was too busy admiring his pass. How can you blame Cliffy for finishing his check. Isn’t that what he’s taught to do???
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Dominick Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:13 pm
@bmova, Am I the only one who thinks the hit was late here?
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bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:22 pm
@Dominick, If you read the blogs a lot of people think the hit was late. I personally don’t think it was b/c the ref would’ve called it, right away. And not after a congregation.
Cunning Plan Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:43 pm
@Dominick,
Yyyyyyeeeesssssss!!!!! Come on Dominick. The game is so fast. These guys have to keep their head up. If I am out on a shift and I know there is a physical player out there who can hit I need to be aware of that person all the time or I’m going to get lambasted. The lateness of the hit is debated now with slow mo and pics, but in the momeant with the speed of the game your don’t think it was late. Brûlé could have faced him and braced for the hit this hockey and Cliffy who is a monster is out there.
Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:52 pm
@Dominick, Dominick I am not sure if it was late or not. I happen to think it was a tad late as they first called it a 2 minute minor. However they changed it to a 5 minute major which everybody has a problem with.
number 6 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:33 pm
@Dominick,
HYE DOMINICK…. LOOK how often we’re agreeing lately!! Your assessment could not be more perfect, but people always want to have a scapegoat. Everypoint you make is right PLUS the fact that the team had a three goal lead and it never should’ve even gotten to that point.
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If you’re on this website long enough (and some of you are), it’s a whole lot of negativity. I think we’re all feeling so let-down by a team that was supposed to make the next big step this year. And I know, I know, there’s more hockey to be played. But deep down, we see the writing on the wall. The Kings are not only NOT THERE yet, but the chemistry of this team (compared to the last couple seasons) has gone south.
The NHL is now a league of 1-goal games. Teams are so close that, literally, a hit goal-post can be the difference between winning and losing. And I wouldn’t even say that the Kings aren’t working hard. They are. But when you pay guys millions of dollars for their goal-scoring talents, I think it’s okay to demand goals at KEY MOMENTS, not just anytime.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:13 pm
@Tony in Denver, That is why this trade deadline is oh so important. It could change everything.
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Tony in Denver Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:15 pm
@Jeff_R, I would agree. Majorly important to the Kings.
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After review – legal hit however not a smart hit. At that juncture of the game you have to be smart and avoid anything “reviewable” (except for scoring a goal or drinking out of the wrong end of a water bottle).
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Dominick Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:05 pm
@crashin’da net, Agreed.
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goldielocks Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:31 pm
@crashin’da net,
Exactly. It doesn’t matter if the hit was legal or 2 minutes miner. That’s not a point. You can argue that your stick was lifted for high sticking but whole point is that you didn’t watch your stick. It’s the same thing with that hit. You’ve gotta be extra careful when the game is on the line. That is why your coach says whatch your stick or demand discipline in the 3rd period. I see nothing beneficial about that hit.
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vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:42 pm
@crashin’da net,
lol gotta love brownie..its all instincts out there, and cliffy was just being cliffy..nice hit imo
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Osaka Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:21 pm
@crashin’da net, So the Kings should hold back or stop playing toward the end of the game?
WRONG!
Clifford and every other player needs to go 100% for 60 minuets. I hope he would do it again.
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And don;t worry about a trade. DL will bet it all for the big gun, lose it near the very end of the deadline, won;t be anyone left of value, overpay for someone who will be a bust.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:15 pm
@crashin’da net, He got his plan b last season. Brad Richards was plan A but Dallas didn’t trade him. So they got Penner. He would of tried for Hemksy but Edmonton wanted too much for him. So Penner was it. It was a good trade. There was no way anybody would of thought he only have 5 goals. I don’t care how much was said about him negatively, there was no reason to believe he only scored 5.
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Dominick Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:26 pm
@Jeff_R, I think he’s talking “in general”. Last few years, DL has chased the big fish (which he hasn’t exactly landed), and all the little fish in that time period have signed elsewhere. That isn’t DL’s intention, but that has been the result more times than not lately.
I agree with you though, there was no way of knowing Penner would only have 5 goals, and be a healthy scratch at this point. Exactly where Poni ended up, but it took longer, and cost more.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:49 pm
@Dominick, Also those big fish were UFA’s. He hasn’t really tried to get a big fish by trade. I wouldn’t call Penner a big fish, a wanna be big fish in a little pond. Trying to get Richards didn’t work because Dallas decided to keep him in hopes of making the playoffs. In trades he got a big fish in Richards. I understand where people are coming from but it isn’t like he is sitting on his butt. How is it his fault guys decide to say no?
Dominick Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:17 pm
@Jeff_R,
Trades, UFA’s, whatever. Fact is, he has been chasing, and others have gotten away.
Whether it was his fault or not (that they didn’t choose the Kings) is irrelevant. I’m not placing blame, just stating a fact.
DL has chased, lesser players have went elsewhere, and the Kings (majority of the time) have ended up with having to scramble for a last minute for a back up player. It’s been that way since the Kings chased after Heatly, and every year it has been someone new.
I did state that I don’t think this is DL’s intention, but it has been the result just the same.
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crashin'da net Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:00 pm
@Dominick, right. Not the intention but the outcome. And agreed, no one could have KNOWN Penner was going to be a bust HOWEVER there already were signs of work ethic issues, correct?
Like my Dad told me with girls and marriage: Be there first and be there with the most (benefits that is). Shoulda listened. ——- Don’t tell my wife
(
Want to get even more ticked? Go back and look at the Bergenheim hit on MR, and compare that to what Cliffy did. Then, consider how the Kings ended up killing off a double minor for doing almost nothing in response to Bergenheim (again, compared to the Coyote pile on Cliffy last night).
What is this, Denmark?
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vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:45 pm
@Kenny44,
lol no kidding
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ILLEGALSTICK33 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:04 pm
@vinny, also Hanzel shoulder to the head of MR in last kings yotes game! Late and to the head. NO Major? Cliffy’s hit was a lil late just a bit. But other then that his primary target was the chest and shoulder. Not the head.
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I like how there was not penalty called when he hit him but when Brule stayed down and the Yotes attacked Clifford they ended up giving him a 5 minute penalty! wtf! They cant just add penalties after the fact!
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:02 pm
@kenny, I think the comparison between this last game and the previous Coyotes game with the Kings is very interesting. Responding to a dirty hit got the Kings behind the 8-ball the first time. Responding to a clean hit won the Coyotes a 3-min major this time.
Gee, no disparity there!
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As per TSN’s Darren Dreger, SJ is very interested in Nash. He and Thornton are good buddies. If Nash is prepared to come out west to play in SJ, there’s no reason to think, at least on that ground, that he wouldn’t also be interested in coming to LA. Besides, why would you want to live in SJ when you could live in LA!?!?
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:45 pm
@bmova, SJ is sucking right now. If they trade for Nash it won’t make them better probably make them even worse.
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bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:08 pm
@Jeff_R, How would Nash make LA better but SJ worse? I don’t follow.
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number 6 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:35 pm
@bmova,
the only reason i said Clifford play dumb because he hit the guy late usually that should be interference call 2 min to me it look like a clean hit but he did it way off he had time to go by him but he chose to do soemthing dumb when he just got out of the penalty box..That is dumb Hockey play…
Never give refs anything to call when ur team is up by one goal…..mostly when PK wasnt top of their game.
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stickboy Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:23 pm
@KingsFanFTW, it wasn’t a late hit! It was a clean hit! No one called a penalty. The only reason a linesman called it a major, not a late hit….a bad call is a bad call, but after seeing it and everyone argue that you are wrong, you keep digging…Kings win the game if the refs didn’t blow the call!
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KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:06 pm
@stickboy, yea it was a late hit look at it again..u only have 3 secs to hit him without the puck that was 5 secs right there when Clifford check him..Clean hit or not that was a dumb hit to do..
so what if they didnt call it….That why i said it should of been a 2 mins interference penalty…
Clifford was reckless that game…No facts can proven am wrong here.Am sorry the only facts people got is that they didn’t call it when it actually happen.
u have 3 secs to hit him if not then dont hit him at all…he hit him 5 secs when the ref miss it because the puck was moving the other direction..
Well then my god people learn hockey please learn it…I been watching this sport all my life and i know the rules of it…That wasnt a 5 min penalty it was more like 2 mins interference penalty.I did say it was a clean hit but it was still reckless check…Clean hit or not it was still plain out dumb to check him like that..Never give Refs anything to get u in the box.
Yea they didnt call it when he first did it but the fact is they still had time to make a decisions if it was a penalty or not..5 mins was way out of line but 2 mins was deserved.
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stickboy Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:26 pm
@KingsFanFTW, Thank you for your recommendation. I did watch it again, maybe you should too. Brule played the puck with the clock half between 25 & 24 seconds….Clifford’s hit on him was at the 24 second mark…watch it again, The evidence, as you so clearly stated is right there for you to see. No more than a full second elapsed between Brule passing the puck and Clifford hitting him. Maybe you spent too much time learning hockey and not enough time learning to count. Don’t watch it in slow motion and count, it won’t work right! Clean hit…hockey is a physical game.
KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:48 pm
@stickboy, well i never look back to it and i know how to count ur right the timing was there and i was wrong about that…
But he still blindsided him..Am i wrong there??Coyote defense didnt even know he was going to check him.He had no reaction to defend himself or prepare for the hit that Clifford was going to do.Which called Blindside check.Which int he rules book that they should not check a player from blindside..
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crashin'da net Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:04 pm
@KingsFanFTW, Blind sided cuz he wasn’t looking. Not KC’s problem. What’s he supposed to do, call his cell first?? Hit was in the chest and shoulder. How do you blindside with a hit to the chest? Anyway, it’s over. Kings better beat COL like they are the dog.
KingsFanFTW Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:16 pm
@crashin’da net,,Blindside hit doesnt matter if it was a hit to the head or not or that matter if it was a clean hit or not.Which I believe it was a clean hit…
It was KC fault because he the one that throw it out when he just got out of a penalty box by taking a dumb penalty to begin with.Which also lead into this penalty that should of been 2 mins at least.
I understand that some blme has to do with Coyotes defense but mostt he blame has to be on Clifford to more smarter at times..
He a good and one tough player but doing that will make a bad name for him self in the NHL…Which will lead every player to try to go after him or try to fight him more and more.
The question still remains…why a “match” penalty? The only criteria for a match penalty is INTENT to injure which is very subjective and totally not the case here.
From the NHL rulebook per Head contact:
“48.2 Minor Penalty – For violation of this rule, a minor penalty shall be assessed.
48.3 Major Penalty – There is no provision for a major penalty for this rule.
48.4 Game Misconduct Penalty – There is no provision for a major penalty for this rule.
48.5 Match Penalty – The Referee, at his discretion, may assess a match penalty if, in his judgment, the player attempted to or deliberately injured his opponent with an illegal check to the head.
If deemed appropriate, supplementary discipline can be applied by the Commissioner at his discretion.
Since they could not call a major(by rule)for head contact, they chose the match. But, intent to injure? Really?
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the hit on richards by hanzel the game before this was the same kind of hit. a little late and a little high and there was nothing done about it. refs suck plain and simple.
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roadtripper21 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:35 pm
@stench27, GREAT POINT!!! the league/refs really needs to change part of their decisions based on whether or not a guy stays down. Hanzel had NO intent on playing the puck and hit a guy who didn’t even have it, Richards just didn’t stay down! Clifford on the other hand hit a guy who just had the puck, but then buckled like a soccer player. Hanzel may be a lot taller than Richards, but it was still much more shoulder to head than Cliffords was!!! When do the officials get reviewed for “fair” play and suspended?
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:43 pm
@stench27, I also believe that was an elbow to Richards while Cliffords wasn’t.
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vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:49 pm
@stench27,
richards was going in to dig out the puck..that was just a blatant interference. definitely a little high tho.
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http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=618270
Salt for the wounds
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Stupid hit. The league needs to redefine what finishing a check/late hit means. Late hits where the receiving player has no idea it was coming are dangerous. The puck was gone. Long gone. Clifford could have avoided the contact easily. Clifford had one goal in mind and that was to explode an opponent IE intent to injure. That is what must be removed from the game.
If yote did not go down injured then no call. That goes to show you how stupid officiating and the NHL truly are. The league needs to redefine what finishing a check means. So that call is a penalty if the receiving player is not injured.
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vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:53 pm
@klr,
no
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Let’s keep analyzing it, maybe it will change the outcome.
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ILLEGALSTICK33 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:10 pm
@Lake Forest, This is what people want to talk about. You can leave if you like. Oh..and I just farted and your standing down wind….sorry
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Clifford doesn’t deserve any of this, by the way this kid bleeds LA Kings colours.
Everyone who calls themself a fan at this point should be asking why the 5 minute penalty, right now.
This is an issue widespread not only at the NHL level of play however hockey leagues have empowered the officials to control too much of the game on the ice.
Hockey will never be the same as it was moving forward, because in the 50s, 60′s, 70′s, 80′s, and 90′s concussions were so much worst. Bull crap……….
This league will turn into a no touch league and then all the soft hearted no hockey minded people will be watching it. Players will be paid like $60 a week as fan base in some centers will be 6, that’s right six.
Would the minority stop trying to run the league and the world. Speak up majority of hockey fans, this was a old time hockey hit and if your going to watch your beautiful hit you’re going to get your bell rung. Head up man………..
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Harty Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:33 pm
@Harty, should have read beautiful pass not hit, sorry.
Just really pissed at ref decisions, linesmen stick to calling off sides and icings.
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Gail Weber Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:55 pm
@Harty, Right on yea!
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klr Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:59 pm
@Harty,
I agree with you 100% that the yote was watching his beautiful pass….and the referees no call was an example of old time hockey. New messed up ambiguous rules of NHL hockey showed up after the player proved to be injured and the penalty called.
I love the Big Red Dog Kyle Clifford…..I love a a physical tough game but I think its a dirty hit to finish a check after the puck has left when you KNOW the man blind…even if posing. Stupid hit end of story.
If Clifford new he would be called even if the man did not get hurt…..he does not make that check. The game will can survive and prosper with banning blind finishing of checks/border line late hits. Ironically, Clifford would have been in better position if he avoiding the contact.
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” Sutter said Clifford was “off limits” to questions about the hit…” wtf, maybe Sutts thinks he coaches in the KHL. So Cliffy does nothing wrong in the eyes of Sutts or the NHL but is forbidden to talk about the hit?
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:41 pm
@uknojata, He wants Clifford to have his eyes on tonight’s game and future games. He doesn’t want him to be bombarded about this. I think this is the right thing to do. It happened and it is over. No need to keep talking about it.
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fsd1 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:42 pm
@uknojata, duh, there is a freaking game tonight, he wants him more focused than he was last night and probably soesnt want a 21 year old to go thru the kind of bs (like this blog) before a game. Makes perfect sense to me.
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fsd1 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:43 pm
@fsd1, doesn’t
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Sebastian Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:44 pm
@uknojata, of course, Sutter was a player and understands talking about the hit and non suspension will only be a distraction to the team that plays in just hours. get over it and move on.
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uknojata Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:59 pm
@Sebastian, hahaha a distraction?! ahhhh, ok. These guys are professionals, but answering a question about a clean hit is going to get in their head? Why let these guys talk to the media at all, or watch TV, or get online? They may get distracted!
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neil Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:29 pm
I@uknojata, maybe ds needs to focus and not mumble about the hit…..now ds is controling what his players are saying….really? If that is going to distract the team…..we will never win
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All this Clifford/Referee bashing aside, he played his best hockey last year when paired with Richie in the middle and Simmonds on RW. Now I’m sure that Simmonds was the catalyst on that line, but I’d still like to see him play again with Richie in the middle and Lewis on the right side.
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vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:56 pm
@bmova, thought they already tried that? could be wrong tho
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bmova Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:07 pm
@vinny, Not those three together.
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vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:49 pm
@bmova,
in any case, id have to agree that simmer was the catalyst on that line. id also like to see him play with richie again
Ruutu is officially off the market. Signed 4 year extention with Canes.
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Sebastian Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:49 pm
@goldielocks, Ask Devin Setoguchi if signing a contract extension means hes off the market. haha
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goldielocks Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:51 pm
@Sebastian,
Yea, that’s true. But it didn’t happen right after he signed.
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Sebastian Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:56 pm
@goldielocks, well, happened next day, very unlikely to happen again, but still anything CAN happen. i have a feeling Lombardi will disappoint us all at the deadline, nothing new there.
Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:20 pm
@goldielocks, Wouldn’t Carter be a better player in that respect? He got traded shortly after signing a 11 year deal.
Cheap shot. Hope DS sits his rear in locker room tonight.
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fsd1 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:53 pm
@KC23, nope, not a cheap shot, i hope he plays tonight.
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KC23 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:58 pm
@fsd1, Change those uniforms and have a King hit like that … a day late and a dollar short and you’d change your tune. That was a blind side cheap shot well after the puck left the player.
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stickboy Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:03 pm
@KC23, the dude just played the puck…and watched it go down the ice, in pure admiration of himself and boom…that’s hockey! Maybe you’d enjoy the NBA…
KC23 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:19 pm
@stickboy, If it was hockey he wouldn’t of got a 5 minute major that cost us the game.
Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:32 pm
@KC23, If that is true why didn’t he get suspended? Not even 1 game. The officials (referee and linesman) overstepped and called it wrong. 2 minute minor for interference was all that was warranted.
vinny Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:52 pm
@fsd1,
i agree, not cheap, not late, hope he plays
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tornado12 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:56 pm
@KC23, surprising to hear you say that….
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Letswinthecup2012 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 5:17 pm
@tornado12, +1
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On the bright side. Both Nolan and King look to be maintaining their above average play. King looks especially good on the forecheck. Having those two big bodies playing well improves our chances significantly.
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Forum Gold Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:14 pm
@KC23, If we can start shooting on net and not wide thus creating some rebounds I think Nolan could win us some games by his play. GO KINGS GO!!!
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KC23 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:26 pm
@Forum Gold, They both looked very good. Kudo’s to DS for spliting them up to help both top lines. Having a hard time figuring out what we should do with the bottom 6 though.
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I did find it interesting in Helene’s coverage of the game last night that she assumed Clifford would be suspended (from this morning’s LA Times):
“Clifford will be suspended pending review of the play by NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan.”
Guess she was wrong…
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KC23 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:05 pm
@SLG1013, he didn’t target the head and that saved him from the suspension. Low life cheap shot non the less imho. I got no use for that kind of play from anyone.
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fsd1 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:45 pm
@KC23, dude, you need to chill a bit, this is not like you at all.
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Letswinthecup2012 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 5:19 pm
@KC23, ?? The puck left about a second Before the hit..
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crashin'da net Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:08 pm
@SLG1013, First time Helene’s ever been wrong….
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the hit only looked bad because Brule was admiring his pass instead of bracing for the hit. you see that hit 50X a game. player makes pass, player hit into the boards, play continues. the hit was shoulder to shoulder from the side. Brule’s lack of paying attention is what cost the Kings that penalty and ultimately the 2 points.
horrible call but that’s nothing new for the Kings, especially against the NHL’s team. and the fact that Clifford was not suspended proves that point.
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Dare I say it would benifit the NHL if the Coyotes make the playoff’s.
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KC23 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:12 pm
@Jamesonafterawin, True, but on the other hand to my shock they didn’t over turn Brown’s goal.
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tornado12 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:38 pm
@KC23, good point. it loked above the crossbar on the replay I saw
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KC23 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:15 pm
@tornado12, Looked too close to over turn, but that never seemed to bother Toronto before.
We see players finish a check behind the play like that 20+ times per game. If you think it was late then there are at least 20 missed calls for late hits every game. The only thing that got attention here is that Brule was was not prepared for the hit, got hit solid, and went down like a softie. Clifford is expected to play hard, and thats what he was doing.
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Letswinthecup2012 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 5:20 pm
@PurpleBlacknGold, Yup
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dean, no trades now please. start drafting some offense and sign jq
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:11 pm
@11 or 3, If you draft some one they won’t be available for 2-4 years. We have guys coming in but they won’t be available until next season. Why should he not make trades to try and help now? If we were 15 points out of a playoff spot I would say ok to that but we are 3 point behind SJ and Phoenix.
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11 or 3 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:16 pm
@Jeff_R, we are in such a position of weakness to make a good trade now. if we go the trade bernier, jj route, need to wait until summer. can’t make good deals when you are desperate and everyone knows it. carter is too expensive for too long even if he is decent. they want too much for nash this would strip all our tradeable assets.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:27 pm
@11 or 3, How are we in a position of weakness? We have depth on defense and goaltending like no other team has. Defense and Goaltending are at a premium right now and the Kings are in the best position to capitalize on that by helping there offensive lack of depth (Wingers).
11 or 3 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:40 pm
@11 or 3, we are in a position of weakness because every person says if dean lombardi doesn’t make a trade for a winger now, he is out. if the kings don’t make the playoffs, he is out etc. the only good winger is nash that is clearly available. we appear to be desperate for him. we send any more than bernier and jj for him and we are getting the short end. we get carter for anyone other than penner and we are getting the short end.
Totally unnecessary & senseless hit, when your team has a one goal lead and only 6 minutes left!
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Rich,
You gotta post poll. Clifford hit clean or dirty?
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tornado12 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:37 pm
@klr, clean
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fsd1 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:47 pm
@klr, clean
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Kaiser Soze Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:59 pm
@fsd1, way clean.
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colo king fan Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:06 pm
@klr,
Squeaky frankin clean.
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Great hit by Cliffy! It was clean & just on time. If you have the puck expect to get hit.
The Kings got robbed on that one.
The refs are making more & more calls after the fact, when the player gets hurt by it.
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klr Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:35 pm
@Jay GoLAKings,
Only one problem…he did not have the puck….and it was gone for at least 2-seconds.
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Jay GoLAKings Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:44 pm
@klr, Watch the video again… He just passed the puck, not even 2 seconds. If it was late the ref right by them would have made the call on the ice.
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colo king fan Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:07 pm
@klr,
There’s a term for that, its called interference and its a 2 minute minor penalty, not a 5 minute misconduct.
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klr Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:10 pm
@colo king fan,
I agree with you. The call the interference and if there was an intent to injure per the discretion of the ref call that too. My point, if you call the interference the late hits stop.
We need to take it easy on cliffy. If the play was called correctly we would of gotten a PP after the scrum. Probably win the game and everybody would be talking about how cliffy made up for his turn over that led to a goal. Keep hitting Cliff!
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Jay GoLAKings Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:57 pm
@Pesus,
+100
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MIke Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:39 pm
@Pesus, I totally agree! And since the incorrect call was made, I would like to see some kind of accountability for the official, fine them, suspend them, because it’s their job to get it right. But of course, that won’t happen because league officials won’t do anything that would undermine “their” officials. Makes me nauseous how Bettman, Murphy, Shanahan (his decision to not suspend Clifford in this case notwithstanding), Campbell, et al back up to the pay window and basically do nothing to earn their paychecks nor my respect (all MY opinion alone).
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The hit was borderline. Shoulder to upper chest area. What made it worse was the fact that Brule’s head got smashed into the boards and you can debate whether or not he was still in play after the pass. Either way the league is gonna crack down on that kind of hit all the time whether it was dirty or not. It’s just the way it is.
In other news Wayne Simmonds has 22 goals on the season with 23 games left to play. I say he hits 30 this year and we all pull our hair out collectively. Sigh.
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Ruutu is off the market. I wonder if DL is going to lose the Nash sweepstakes to the Sharks? I can’t help but get the feeling that we can’t win. If we get Nash we’ll lose too much in the process and we don’t we’re stuck in the mess we’re in now.
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The “Wussification” of this great sport, and many of it’s fans continues…
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colo king fan Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:08 pm
@Belexes,
they oughta suspend creme brulee for hurting himself by watching his pass (which wasn’t anything special anyway)
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Given the major penalty and all (whic was crap, by the way) I’ve been thinking about the playoff game against the Blues when one of them ran over our goalie and O’Donnell dropped the gloves. He got a 5 minute major and we lost the game. I was mad that we lost, but fine that Sean stuck up for his teammate. That said, I’m mad that we lost last night, but fine with Cliffy’s hit. That’s hockey. That’s how it should be played. I hope he goes out there tonight and hits everything in sight, as long as it’s a clean hit, like last nights hit.
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colo king fan Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:09 pm
@Kaiser Soze,
Ive never been angrier because of a sporting event than that O’Donnell mess… what a horrible moment in bad officiating that was.
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Jay GoLAKings Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:17 pm
@Kaiser Soze,
Totally agree. That’s hockey. Hit em Cliffy!
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Too bad Clifford didn’t get suspended. Dumb play, dangerous hit, and late. He obviously took a run at Brule. He had a terrible game, and he needs to sit and watch.
Bench Clifford play Penner. Can’t be much worse.
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Harty Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:35 pm
@zulov, ha, ha……he plays with heart everygame and you sit back and judge him on a clean hockey hit?
I would love to see you out there vs. him on 1v1, man you would find yourself in row 6.
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Letswinthecup2012 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 5:24 pm
@zulov, -1
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Totally clean, Brule probably has a bruised sternum. Which would tell you where he got hit! Unless he got concussed from hitting his head on the glass! For those saying it was late? Remember your watching in slow motion.
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number 6 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:39 pm
@Devilmachine,
Everybody is saying it was a late hit. I don’t know whether it was or not, but stop the motion when it’s at it’s height and look where his elbow is. His elbow follows thru. It’s that simple. His elbow follows thru. The guy didn’t have the puck. You can even gently place your body in front of his (I’m not talking about love now kiddies) and press him against the boards to make sure he’s taken out of the play. At that point in the game With A One Goal Lead, it’s really not necessary to try and flatten him into the boards.
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Devilmachine Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:54 pm
@number 6, The elbow follow through is just the natural physics. If it were anything more The Colonel would have been suspended. But regardless, it’s a tricking contact sport or I thought it was. Smaller pads and less plastic caps, dissolve the instigator and we solve this problem!
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number 6 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:40 pm
@Devilmachine,
And when everyone says ‘totally clean’…. it’s so close to Not being totally clean, then why take the chance? Any good answers out there will be appreciated.
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Osaka Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:40 pm
@number 6, It wasn’t a chance, it was a clean hit. Doesn’t matter if he hit Brule’s head, it wasn’t the principle point of contact. I understand there are such things as a late hit but define it for me. Show me in the NHL rulebook, it isn’t there. Again I do understand there are late hits but it is purely subjective.
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Keep hitting every little soft blanket on the ice. Lets get back to “rock’em, sock’em hockey……don’t let up a bit Kyle, forecheck and next time take him harder.
For all the little softies, tough. Get over it……its NHL not AHL or other no touch sports.
If it was dirty, so what…it happens, if you have played this game you have been on the receiving end of these hits prior. Move along…….
We are loosing our fastest, toughest game by softies, little softies.
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Devilmachine Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:10 pm
@Harty, Exactly!!!
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number 6 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:11 pm
@Harty,
My answer Harty to “if it was dirty so what…. it happens” is that most of us prefer to see the Kings win, rather than lose. So I’d prefer to see a W than a 5min major at that point in the game. If they are up by two goals, then, yeah, maybe. Up by three, down by 2 whatever. But the KIngs are up by a goal for the whole period.
Conveniently peeps also aren’t mentioning that he had JUST come out of the box after serving a 2min minor. You can play hard, but you can’t just be wild and consistently put your team at a disadvantage. Remember the game the Kings were winning in Dallas and I think it was Moreau who took an absolutely ridiculous penalty w mins left and Dallas tied the game then won it.
Bertuzzi is nasty. Lucic too. But I doubt they’d be as inclined to make borderline hits like that w their team up by one w time running out. I could be naive in saying that…. but there’s a reason why those teams win.
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Osaka Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:55 pm
@number 6, Wrong! The winning teams all have dirty players. Losing teams don’t. It goes with the attitude of winning at all cost. We need more of the Cooke, Lapierre, Thorton, Downie, Ott, Lucic…… type of attitude. I think when the Ducks won the cup they were the most penalized team in the league. Clean play doesn’t equal success. I wish more guys would play like Clifford.
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klr Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:12 pm
@Harty,
What league do you play in?
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Harty Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:31 pm
@klr, All oldtimers now >50.
Did play my fair share of Rep Hockey as a minor (Mite-Bantam), Junior hockey for 5 years and stints through different leagues from there including Senior A without a helmet and I’m fine. Just looking at things differently.
No room for soft, bleeding hearts who don’t want the tough play. I agree silly penalties are uncalled for, but when its a hard hockey play, give me a break. Shanahan saw right through this play, he’s been on both sides of this play.
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It wasn’t even that big of a hit! Just solid! Anyone know what his injury is? Wind knocked out of him and bumped his head!
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I read some say Clifford went from low to high so since he finished high it was a penalty, he made contact with the head. Um, that is what the NHL wants. They don’t want the head to be the principle point of contact, it wasn’t since the principle point of contact was the chest. You are allowed to make contact with the head.
This hit wasn’t late IMO, but how do you define late? Show me late hit in the NHL rulebook, not there. It is purely subjective.
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Good for Cliffie, Real Man playing Real Hockey! I could care less if the bs call led to the loss, some things are worth more than two points and Cliffie finishing his check on one of these new pansy players is worth it.
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Harty Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 4:32 pm
@John Wilmers, amen
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Good Lord. The officiating this season is such a joke. Did Clifford hit late, yes. Did he hit his head, no. Did he hit his shoulder first, yes. Was Brule hurt, yes. Did the refs have their hand up for a call, no. How this was 5 and misconduct and not just 2 for charging or interference or roughing is beyond me.
On 2-11 in NYI Williams got blind-sided and almost had his season ended in front of the refs without a call. 5 minute major for that hit at a critical point in the game, I just don’t see it especially a call made by the lineman. I’ve never heard of a lineman making that kind of call well after the play. I’ve only heard of slashes and spears with clear intent to injure calls being made.
Terrible, terrible officiating this season. At some point they need to find some consistency.
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