In recent days, when talking about Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, in particular, Darryl Sutter has stressed the need for the Kings to get the most from their best players. After last night, Sutter doesn’t need to say anything more. He can simply take the stat sheet, highlight three names and distribute it as evidence. Radim Vrbata: two goals, one assist. Shane Doan: two goals. Martin Hanzal: three assists. The Coyotes, arguably, only have three truly threatening offensive players, and every one of them came up big last night, in a huge game for the two Pacific Division rivals. The Coyotes are hobbled, and had to deal with a rare stinker from goalie Mike Smith, but they fought through it with veteran leadership and tenacity. Here’s how The Arizona Republic covered last night’s game, followed by some additional postgame quotes from the Coyotes’ locker room…
Phoenix Coyotes battle back from 3-goal deficit for victory over Los Angeles Kings
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COACH DAVE TIPPETT
(on rallying back to win and how it helps the psyche…) “It’s a good learning experience. You have a team that we knew they were going to come in and come right after us. I certainly didn’t like our response at the start. We were slow to pucks. We were non-competitive in battles. Of the three goals they got, two of them were on deflections that sometimes go in and sometimes don’t. I thought we were non-competitive throughout our group, so we had to make a couple adjustments in the second. After we came back and played well in the second, we got ourselves back in the game. So basically we just said, ‘They won the first, we won the second, who’s going to win the third?’ We ended up getting the points.”
(on games like this can have an impact long-term…) “You hope it does, because it continues to build the belief system that you can win. You can win when things are going well and you can win when there is some adversity in front of you. Like I say, there are some good learning experiences for us there and we’re going to need that.”
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SHANE DOAN
(on the game…) “It’s one of those ones where you’re down three to nothing to a team that we have to find a way to win. Obviously we weren’t happy with the first (period) but to rally and come back the way we did, I felt that our (power play) was huge tonight. It hasn’t been good for us a lot of nights but tonight it was.”
(on Mike Smith’s game tonight and being able to help him out…) “He’s been absolutely phenomenal and, I mean, tonight he was huge, he played really well. He didn’t like his first period, none of us did, but realistically there wasn’t much he could do on those goals. He might want the second one back but the rest of them, there’s not much you can do, and he shut the door and then in the shootout he wins it for us. We are so thankful for him and that he plays so well for us. Our goaltenders have been so good for us. We want to help them out whenever we can.”
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RADIM VRBATA
(on rallying to win…) “(It was) a big win, a big two points. We didn’t have the start we wanted and we knew that they would come out hard and they did. We were flat in the first (period) but after the first we talked in the dressing room about how we wanted to make a … comeback and, you know, we scored a good goal there in the second. (It was) a big effort, especially against [Los Angeles).”
(on the mentality of not settling for just one point, but instead going for two…) “I think the momentum just switched a little bit. As you said, we tied it and we wanted to get more. We hope to get more because they are right behind us in the standings so that was an important point.”
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KEITH YANDLE
(On whether this might be the best win of the season so far considering how the game started…) “Yeah, absolutely, I think it shows a lot about our team and the way that we’ve been playing as of late. I mean, at the beginning of the year we were losing games last minute or in overtime. Lately we’ve been finding a way to play good hockey and come together and it’s been fun and it’s been fun on the road.”
(on tying San Jose in points, and what it does to the team’s psyche…) 11It’s something that everybody looks at and everybody mentions it, and it’s just something that we almost try to keep out of the locker room a little bit. You just worry about your own team and what we’re doing. We just try to win games every night and, you know, that’s what we’re here to do.”
The Coyotes are very well coached.
The Coyotes also showed more of the following qualities than the Kings:
- maturity
- leadership
- heart
It’s that simple really.
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goldielocks Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 10:55 am
@number 6,
Tippett was able to make his players focus while our coach couldn’t.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:14 am
@goldielocks, Most likely because right now the Kings are a fragile team. One mistake and they collapse. The players should be the ones that gets themselves out of this. There is only so much a coach can do.
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dahack11 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:07 am
@number 6,
Exactly number 6. Well said.
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vplaza Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:32 am
@number 6,
It’s actually much simpler than that.
This team is awful right now.
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Something tells me we’ll fall out of the running with columbus and then get Ott and his 3.2 mil cap. I like Ott just not that much, he’s good to have on your team and a complete nightmare to play against.
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gene Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:03 am
@TheRussianKing, Would love to have Ott on jour team. Unlike alot of kings players this year he gives 100% most every shift and sticks up for the rest of the team.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:15 am
@gene, Ott is fine if he is one of a few guys coming in. Ott by himself is not the solution.
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gene Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:19 am
@Jeff_R, Agree 100%. Although in Dallas he plays on the first line alot of time. Goes to the net and corners and gets his nose dirty. ALot of Kings players wont do that. Not afraid of anyone.
FdoFmFull Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:47 pm
@TheRussianKing, Here’s why I’d like to see the Kings acquire Ott:
Not to have him on either the 1st or 2nd lines, though he would be fine, rather -
To be the key to a FEROCIOUS shutdown line, either as center or wing, that would finallly free up the Kopi and Richards lines to not have to expend energy trying to shut down the opposing top scoring line!
The question is, which other 2 existing roster players are good candidates for the FEROCIOUS shutdown line?
Place your votes: __________________________
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FdoFmFull Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:51 pm
@FdoFmFull, My vote: Lewis and Clifford (need to teach Cliff how to clear the zone, though!)
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:58 pm
@FdoFmFull, Right now we need scoring not guys to be FEROCIOUS.
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Phoenix trades to get better. DL reprograms his cell phone yet again.
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IndioKingFan Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:07 am
@KC23, DL gets forwards who had a great year 3 years ago or who’s best years are behind them and “hopes” they will be good once again.
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:12 am
@IndioKingFan, I don’t believe this. If the guys he was bringing in are in there 30′s I would agree. But the players he has brought in are in there mid to late 20′s and should have lot of years left to be at the top of there game. There is no reason for all the players to be having downer years at the same time. I can understand if it was 1 or 2 guys not all, minus a few.
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IndioKingFan Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:17 am
@Jeff_R, I was thinking of Hunter, Moreau and Penner. Obviously guys like Richards and Gagne don’t fit that mold. But at the deadline the Kings won’t get a Rick Nash, more likely Hemsky or some other third liner who won’t make a difference.
5holer Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:06 pm
@Jeff_R, Well stated with the sting of emotions removed! Bingo all around!
neil Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:13 pm
A@Jeff_R, hunter…moreau….penner
..moldin…..halpern…..all useless
Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:44 pm
@neil, @IndioKingFan, Those guys, except for Penner, weren’t brought in to score 20+ goals. They were brought in for depth and character. Had we not had the whole team slump like we had this year things would of gone differently for Hunter and Morreau. Modin and Halpern were brought in to help the team make the playoffs for the first time in almost 10 years. Nobody expected the Kings to do much in the playoffs that year and it was good to get the experience for our young players. Penner was a good trade but your emotions on how bad he has done this season is clouding your judgement on the trade. All those guys were not useless. They just didn’t work out for reasons not of there making, except for Penner. Who knew he would turn out the bust that he has and on paper he should of been a good pickup and scored 20+ goals. But it didn’t turn out that way and that is not all DL’s fault.
Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:09 am
@KC23, That Phoenix trade is a lot easier to make versus the ones Dean is trying to make. Multi player deals or one for Nash or Carter is very difficult as a lot of players are involved.
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5holer Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:10 pm
@KC23, Hey KC, Jeff R is Bang on! Coyotes are an NHL Owned Team with all the perks that go with its marketing campaign! Cannot Sell a dead horse for a race can you? Maloney has Gary and company in his corner. Lombardi is not fashionably well liked in New York or Toronto! Kings lose that battle always!
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Jeff_R Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:47 pm
@5holer, Uhhm that wasn’t exactly what i meant about it being an easy trade. I meant the fact that he was traded for picks and a Goalie who has been traded 1000 times the last 2 years, makes it a lot easier to make then one that deals with a lot of different parts. The Nash deal for instance has to have multiple parts from Roster players to prospects and picks…Plus the Salary implications. Lot harder to make.
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Think outside your boxes DL, we need a shot of adrenaline in this team. Time to shake things up and get this team on track or by seasons end some heads are gonna roll..primarily yours!
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gene Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:21 am
@KOHO, Agree 100%
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5holer Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:04 pm
@KOHO, If they got as much adrenaline as they need right now, then they would all die from an OD! How to revive the dead in less then 20 games of the season? My best guess, barring unforeseen miracles from within the dressing room(not likely), is see ya at the draft table in June! Too much to fix at the deadline for anything to work right, and too high a cost to get the necessary help. DL has done exactly what he believed would benefit this club. By measure of examination on paper, it should have worked to a larger degree. This club is very close, but haste indeed makes for a large and expensive waste! Sell and get well in off season with more Cap Space…that is if the “other Donald”(Fehr) allows a season to happen next year? I say scary, but true! Yes Nash, etal, but at the right price and for the right pieces only or skip it! I hear Timmy Liewecke approaching the Hockey Ops offices anytime now! Look out!
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No hearing, no suspension, no fine. Should not have been a penalty last night let alone a major. Refs (linesman) screwed the Kings hard last night!
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CosmicQueso Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:30 am
@gralx, Your grapes, they are sour. Kyle Clifford is who you should be blaming. His turnover was unforgivable and the hit was late enough to be questionable. He was frustrated all game and wanted to get off a cheap hit. Sure, it might not have been a blow to the head but Clifford put himself in a questionable situation. If he just keeps skating, nothing happens. Instead, he lets the frustration out on a defenseless player that, in today’s NHL, will be protected.
And also, we blew a 3 goal lead through turnovers and being unable to respond to Doan and Vrbata.
So, don’t blame the refs. The blame for this loss lies very much in the Kings locker room.
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5holer Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:50 am
@CosmicQueso, Perfectly well articulated! I do say that the emotion of Clifford is to be expected and is acceptable, as my only exception to your take. But your argument about his hit is well constructed, so I will abide with it with one caveat….Cliff is only 22 and in the developmental stages of his NHL career, so one shouldn’t expect a veteran’s approach to that play just yet! Otherwise, an A++ post “Mr Space Cheese”, if I translated your handle name right!
Cheers to ya!
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dahack11 Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:53 am
@CosmicQueso, exactly Cosmic.
It’s seems this team & more than half the posters on here are always giving excuses. I’m tired of them myself. Good teams don’t complain.
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5holer Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:15 pm
@dahack11, You got it there Hackman person! 100% on all scores! Bad teams find excuses! e.g. LA Kings looking for excuses all the time! Posters? that is another long tale for another day! I have spoken too much about it already here!
Steve W Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:42 pm
@dahack11, Not true, the Lakers always blame the refs when they lose.
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:53 am
@CosmicQueso, Perhaps you missed where it shouldn’t have even been a penalty.
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Silence Dogood Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:41 pm
@CosmicQueso, Brulee is an “eggshell skull”. The check was shoulder to chest. Maybe the check was a hair late, but it was, on balance, a check which would normally NOT draw a whistle. Then Brule keels over — I am not saying he faked it, but I am saying that any normal healthy hockey player would not have collapsed as a result. It was Brule’s crumple that influenced the officials to make a bad call.
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It was a clean hockey hit with contact to the chest and shoulder primarily(just as Foxie described it on the telecast). No penalty was called by either Ref until conferring with the linesmen. A linesman is not a referee, so why make him a dual official in any instance? Video replays should be used, or just let the no calls stand IMHO! This is what I dislike about today’s NHL!…remove the human factor of officiating on a subjective play? Why? Dennis LaRue is the lowest rated Ref in the NHL for several years and counting! No testicular courage to say no to the linesmen, since he was mere feet from the play when it unfolded in front of him. If its anything its an interference call because the puck was gone awhile before Cliff hit Brule…nothing more then that for sure. The momentum of the hit by centrifugal force alone brought contact to the head area by its force alone(simple physics). Not avoidable, so can’t ask for inhuman ability to stop inertia! Nuts, but it did not cause the Loss! LAs Best 1st period in several months, then the Zambonies had a hard time cleaning up the humungous eggs laid in 2nd and 3rd periods by the Queens! They were Queens for a Day last night for 2 periods, as prosperity kills them!…and don’t expect much tonight at Pepsi Center either! The door is closing, the lights are out, the faces are sad and sagging, and we all know once again its wait til next year for a higher ticket price to boot! A $62.4 Mil Bust indeed! Blame whoever you like, but its strictly a player thing, all those prima donnas are the sole cause! Its not even Lombardi’s fault either! Most experts were fooled by this bunch of gutless wonders from day one of camp! No pride in the sweater just yet!
My humble take!
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Newly acquired Steve Downie from TB scores the game winner tonight! Better pray it ain’t so! Avs 3, Kings Zero…Oh that Varly, Ouch Again! Hate that, but gotta say just to keep my tormentors happy here, Ducks are in, Kings are out! See ya! PS- I am NOT a DUCK FAN!! But, I always tell the truth as I see it!
Outa Here!
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When they play three in a row like the last three games, it really makes one question if it is worth paying for season tickets.
It has been a long time.
The current roster just does not play with heart.
Start with Mr. Softee Kopitar – great ability to skate and stick handle, but does not go to the places on the ice from whence goals are scored, and does not hit.
It is very hard to be a Kings fan.
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Hard to know what these guys would have done if they stayed in LA but here are some real depressing stats (if you are a Kings fan):
Matt Moulson — 25 goals and 25 assists
Wayne Simmonds — 24 goals and 17 assists
Teddy Purcell — 14 goals and 22 assists
Kopitar and Richards combined only have 31 goals.
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mask0425x Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 2:08 pm
@Carsonopoulos,
Did you forget to look up Poni or just got too depressed to do it? Not exactly running for Rocket Richard, but already more than double the goals last year here with the Kings. Coincedence? I think not!
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Depressed cannot even come close to explaining how I really feel after me and my friends have spent over $100,000 maintaining season seats since the early 1980s.
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zulov Reply:
February 22nd, 2012 at 3:35 pm
@Carsonopoulos, Man, I feel your pain. I haven’t spent anything remotely near that, but your post sums up how much this team has let fans down.
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