It’s been noted before, how the emergence of a threatening second line — centered by Mike Richards — might help the Kings create the type of lineup balance that they have so often lacked this season. The theory is that having two scoring lines would make the Kings tougher to defend, and would take some pressure off the Anze Kopitar-centered first line, since opponents would have more to worry about. Darryl Sutter had a different take.
“I hope they put some pressure on them,’’ Sutter said, referring to Kopitar’s line, presumably meaning that if Richards’ line performs, Kopitar’s line will feel pressure to keep up pace. It’s part of Sutter’s continuing tough-love message to Kopitar and his linemates. That said, Sutter seems pleased with the extra dimension that Carter has brought to the Kings.
SUTTER: “It just gives you a different look at ice level, in terms of speed and the skill set that he brings. It’s just a different look. The Getzlaf line and Richards line were dominant lines (Saturday) night. When they were on the ice, they dominated, both lines. That means you can spread it around.’’
So why couldn’t we see Nolan move up to the top line and then creat the 3rd line of KC-JS-DB? wouldn’t that make 3 lines that should be able to score on any given shift?
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Weasel Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
@Stuart,
Let’s see if they beat NSH Tuesday before requesting line changes!
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variable Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
@Stuart,
nolan played on the first line to begin a game or two…
well, the lines we currently have are working nicely…inevitably, the lines get jumbled throughout the course of the game, especially in the third period…sutter does this continuously, as most coaches do around the league…
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Harty Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
@variable, I’m good with Nolan, yes Jordan you can do this……….
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variable Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
@Harty,
nolan and king are both playing well…
king is starting to give us what zus used to on the pp…
THEFL Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
@Harty, both nolan and king can eventually be great replacements for zus and Wayne. Kings game has 180′d from when he was called up previously and I really like Nolans skillset.
Alex Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
@variable, The way Penner been playing lately he needs to be on the second or first line. Where he is at wright now will not work.
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hockeynerd Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
@Alex, I think Penner looks good on the 3rd line, looks more comfortable, probably less pressure for him, going forward in his career he might be a bottom a solid bottom 6 guy.
Duncanz Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 5:01 pm
@variable, You’re seeing quite a future in your lite brite, aren’t you…
variable Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 5:40 pm
@Duncanz,
hehe…
i like king as “lite brite”…he’s got a goofy smile on his face most of the time and he has buggy eyes…he seems sort of an aloof, happy-do-lucky, lumbering-type of guy…it’s all out of affection, of course…
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Duncanz Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 9:39 pm
@variable, Big difference from his 1st call-up, remember?!
Never cracked a smile – didn’t have much cause, I guess.
He seemed lonely and forlorn and a little bit suspicious of his surroundings. Kinda like a dog you just brought home from the pound that got hit with rolled up newspapers by his previous irresponsible owners.
Anyhow, this time around he looks ‘lite’ and ‘brite’, and to be fitting into the household just fine!
Brilliant move by Kings, by the way, to bring him up along with his partner, Jordan Nolan. The dual call-up apparently has helped both of them, and they are settling in together better really than any of us could really have imagined they would.
One of the least sung of the several awesome transactions Kings have performed this season, imho!!
Kopi has always been a little streaky. This year he hasn’t had a really dominant hot streak yet (except maybe just at the very beginning of the year). In some ways this is a positive because he’s just too good to have a completely mediocre year. (right? hope!).
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DesertKing Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
@Weasel,
Agree, hopefully he starts a new streak during the homestretch and carries itover into the play-offs.
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yard dog Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 2:11 am
@Weasel, sure hope so…lots of talent there (and a big contract to boot), at least, so they say
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There are probably so many un-spoken
Dynamics going on with the emergence
of Richards/Carter tandem that happens in the
locker room..
Need time for that to settle…
Kopi and Williams And Brown aren’t the big fish
At this time…Could affect their play…
Or is Kopi’s Ankle worse than we know?
Williams has been invisible lately…
I’m secure it will turn around..
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FdoFmFull Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
@SLIM, There are many dynamics happening with Richards-Carter emerging.
iMO, it’s time to make a couple of adjustments to take this team to the next level.
With the Kings roster, it’s strengths and weaknesses, I’d create 2 scoring lines, a checking line, and a “heavy/physical” line.
All without putting undue pressure on the very youngest members.
Here goes
Penner – Kopitar – Williams
Brown – Richards – Carter
Clifford – Stoll – Lewis
King – Fraser – Nolan
This puts the onus on your “top 6″ all legit, to score consistently. Penner is ready and they were superb once!
I have a feeling that Brown will make the Ricky-Carter duo even better!
As long as Kyle doesn’t complicate things in the dzone, that’s one heck of a checking line with grit and speed to shut down the opponents top line.
I like the 4th line to come out and lay the body on the defense, forecheck like a MF, and tire out the opposition.
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crashin'da net Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
@FdoFmFull, Swao King and Cliffird and you sold me.
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crashin'da net Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
@crashin’da net, that’s “swap” nto “swao”.
I still say you need a tough guy on Kopi’s line……..
Clifford, Nolan or King up with Kopi and Brown
They need the push around the boards, Kopi is getting pounded along the boards, Brownie can take it and dish it out but Kopi gets tired, you can see it in the 2nd and 3rd period.
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Harty Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
@Harty, let him play up the middle and leave the boards to the grinders, but he has to help out down low in our end. That’s a must
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puck73 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
@Harty, You push Clifford the same way @poorman pushes Bernier. Yes, its that obvious.
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pr0cess Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
@puck73, So Harty is poorman now eh??
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puck73 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
@pr0cess, Well, I guess I could have used a different example. My apologies to the both of you.
DesertKing Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
@puck73,
Had to go there huh?
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puck73 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
@DesertKing, I clearly made a mistake, and in the spirit of Daryl Sutter I had to admit to it. And besides, I doubt either one of those guys are a bitter, disapointed ex DJ in the SO CAL market that is trying to find himself in the Big Apple.
DesertKing Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
@puck73
CB14 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:18 pm
@puck73, At least with Harty we know why the love is there. Clifford, and Nolan too I believe, are both from the same area that @Harty is. I can understand being a little biased in that case. But I have no idea why @Poorman loves Bernier so much.
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Duckbasher Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
@CB14,
Ummm… maybe because he’s an awesome goalie?
CB14 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 5:21 pm
@DuckBasher, Then why the hate for Quick who is also an awesome goalie who has proven much more in the NHL? I like them both very much, but Quick has proven to be better than Bernier, and has been a top 3 goalie all season long. Bernier hasn’t.
Alex Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:33 pm
@Harty, I think Penner is ready to step in.
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The Kings have netted 4 goals in the 3 of the 4 games that Carter has played. Everyone on this blog knows how tough the Kings are if they score a minimum of 3 goals, the record shows that. Anyway, if the team keeps scoring 3 or more, and Kopi continues to “struggle”, I will cry all the way to the Win column !
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Osaka Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:14 pm
@puck73, Another way Carter has helped is through the trickle down effect. We added a skilled played who took Stoll’s spot who took Lokti’s spot making the third line a very good line. We finally have an NHL 3rd line.
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Kopi will be fine. I think he’s still on pace for almost 70 points this season, which isn’t something to sneeze at. In the midst of a year where the Kings as a team has been mired at the bottom in goals scored, he’s still on pace for a good point total for the year.
Would have loved him to maintain his torrid pace from earlier in the season, but this season wasn’t a good one for the entire team as far as scoring is concerned, so he’s not alone.
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11 or 3 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 10:40 pm
@vplaza, exactly
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crashin'da net Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
@vplaza, correct.
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Stuart – Not sure Clifford is providing what we need right now. He seems to have regressed. I think our fourth line is a more responsible with Richardson in the lineup.
Competition is good. Let’s see if Kopi and others can hang with having to compete for ice time…Kopi was still on the ice for the last 30 seconds, so he knows that when it hits the fan, coach still wants him on the ice.
But, I have to say, I agree with Sutter, the guy I like seeing on the ice the most is Carter. When you play hockey, you know which guy on your team is your best player and for sure, the best player (most skill, most aptitude, most speed, most finish) for the Kings right now is Jeff Carter…
Finally, I think we are so used to seeing Kopitar play amazing, we have a right to be disappointed, but he is still quietly producing even though it seems like he’s not…I’d like to see more goals and moving to the center of the ice more. Some hard hits from earlier in the season seem to have rattled him and he’s not as willing as he used to be to get to those “hard” areas…I’ve always said I would fine Kopitar if he ends a game without at least five shots on goal. He’s got such a great shot and it seems like he rarely pulls the trigger…
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puck73 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
@dcaps55, Clifford regressing? Good afternoon, I would like to introduce myself, my name is @Harty, and you are no friend of mine!
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Duckbasher Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:52 pm
@dcaps55, People might think I’m crazy… but I’d try KOPI at the point on the second PP unit. He’s got a great (and accurate) shot. Plus he’s arguably our best defensive forward so I don’t think you’d be giving up much in the way of defense.
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vinny Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 5:08 pm
@Duckbasher, i liked amart there..vv almost scored a stamkos-esque goal the other night with amart up top, plus he’s pretty good at getting his shots through on a regular basis
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Duncanz Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
@vinny, Tho’ I like ‘basher’s idea.
Kopi is definitely a natural QB type and playing that position might be quite a boon, especially for him.
Only drawback would be how slow he is on the turn in the case that the puck is lost and there’s a breakout going the other way.
vinny Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 6:34 pm
@Duncanz, both good points, but i was just thinkin more along the lines of getting amart and vv some confidence in knowing that they can really make something happen when given the chance thats all
Duncanz Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 9:59 pm
@vinny, No, totally agreed.
We are fortunate to have a plethora of options at the present time, and I think that, given time, and with all die respect, having AMart & VV together would cause us to discard from our memories that we ever had DD/JJ as the no.1 PP unit!
ToughD Reply:
March 7th, 2012 at 1:31 am
@dcaps55, yeah Kopi’s got an accurate shot, wherever he decides to shoot he always has the goalie sprawling. While Stoll who’s got a cannon makes the goalie look like he’s making a routine save.
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no offense to Brown and Williams, but they are 2nd and 3rd line guys on any other team. I am not saying they are not important or don’t fill a role, but they are not elite NHL forwards. I know it’s all we got, but it’s more than a little disingenious to expect Kopi to put up 1st line #’s when his line mates are roll players. I know Brown has been hot lately, but we need a few 30 – 40 goal scorers to make a top #1 line. This team is not deep enough up front and will not be until someone in the front office or ownership can convince a top free agent to sign here in the sumnmer.
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puck73 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:47 pm
@KYerky, Totally agree about Brown and Williams. Those 2 guys are top 6 guys, while Jeff Carter is a top 3 guy…there is a distinct difference. If Gagne and Parse were healthy, at least one of those 2 guys would be off the 1st line IMO.
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CaliforniaKing Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:18 pm
@puck73, I distinctly remember Gagne being a non-factor before he got injured. With Parse being so inconsistent and injured over the last 20,000 years, I have a tough time believing either of those guys fit in. The Richards line will become the first line for LA. Kopi will go to second line due to the fact that his wingers aren’t effective. Maybe adding Parise this summer will give Kopitar the skill on the wing he deserves.
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ToughD Reply:
March 7th, 2012 at 1:38 am
@CaliforniaKing, with the more aggressive style we have been playing, there is more scoring chances and I think both Gagne and Parse would benefit. Gagne does have the scorer’s touch and we could better evaluate Parse’s offensive talents.
Osaka Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:20 pm
@KYerky, If we were to upgrade a winger on the first line during the summer, it would be Williams.
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KYerky Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 9:26 pm
@Osaka,
and move Brown to a 2nd or 3rd line, where he belongs. (I like him, he’s just not a 1st line guy)
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ToughD Reply:
March 7th, 2012 at 1:41 am
@Osaka, Williams who some have said is our best offensively skilled forward has been our biggest disappointment this season.
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wes Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:22 pm
@KYerky, “we need a few 30 – 40 goal scorers” sounds nice but this isn’t the 1980′s or even 5-6 years ago; there are only a few 30 – 40 goal scorers. by the way, both Brown and Williams fit the category (both have put up 33), although it just hasn’t been there this season.
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Duckbasher Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
@wes, well stated. Let’s not forget that we also have Gagne skating. And he’s a two-time 40+ goal scorer and a two-time 30+ goal scorer. If he gets healthy and can bring his game for the play-off run… this team (on paper) is stacked and has the players to make a deep run for the cup. I don’t know about the rest of you… BUT I’M EXCITED. GO KINGS!
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Osaka Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 7:16 pm
@Duckbasher, Gagne is not the same player he was when he scored 40 goals. He is a depth player now. Brown, Williams, and Carter are very good wingers. We could stand to be a little better at RW1 or LW2 but we are not too bad, getting there. “If” Gagne is able to play next season I can see him taking Penner’s spot at LW3.
Osaka Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
@wes, I would settle for a few 20-25 goal scorers.
Because a guy scored 30 goals once it doesn’t make him a 30 goals scorer, you are what you repeatedly do.
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KYerky Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 9:24 pm
@Osaka,
Gentlemen,
Just look around the league and compare our 1st and 2nd line against most of the other teams. We are woefully behind in top 6 forwards. Yes, Carter helped (if he and Richards can stay out of Sharkey’s 4 times a week) We got league leading goaltending, above average defense and a bunch of 3rd and 4th line role players. Not enough 1st and 2nd Line guys. Check the stats at the end of the year. Many teams will still have one to two 30+ goals scorers. Kings will have none. Need to get a guy who wants to sign here in June (and keep him out of Sharkey’s
Off Topic–
If anyone is interested,I have a 1 page schedule grid for the western conference teams (excluding detroit, vancouver, and st louis) so you can have an “at a glance” sheet to see who plays who for the rest of the season.
You can email me at fiftyonetracker@yahoo.com
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puck73 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
@trytodethroneus, Thank you for extending yourself.
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trytodethroneus Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
@puck73,
My ex-wife was trying to get me to do that for years
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Lake Forest Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:41 pm
@trytodethroneus, ZINGER!
Are we expecting too much from Kopi? Has he hit a wall? Is he showing us, that’s all there is in his play? Maybe he can’t reach the “next” level? Seems every team has him totally under control. They know what his moves are. I personally don’t see the killer instinct other high scoring center men show. Were we expecting him to be the next Steven Stamkos, Sidney Crosby, or Alex Ovechkin? Are we expecting too much from him? Just wondering what your thoughts are…
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pr0cess Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@John Roy Morgan, Kopi in my eyes is one of the best if not best 2 way centers, But i think its going take time for him to break out of what was TMs system of defense first. There is more balance now but i think its going take time.
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Duckbasher Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 5:05 pm
@John Roy Morgan,
Kopi is very quietly putting up some very solid numbers on a team that has struggled to score goals all year. He’s as solid on defense as our best defensemen are. He had a broken ankle and had surgery at the end of last season. Give the kid a break.
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DLB Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 6:05 pm
@Duckbasher, I agree. With people saying he’s hit a wall, the entire team has struggled with shooting, so everyone’s numbers are down; and they’ve had less depth without a solid third line. Still Kopi is the team leader.
I know we want to push our players to greatness, sometimes it seems like the best players on this team get more flak than the others who aren’t meeting their career averages (Richards, Stoll, Penner, practically everyone).
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I say structure the offense so Kopitar doesnt have to play all 4 corners of the ice all the time, PLUS grind pucks from the boards….who wouldnt get tired like that. and his a big guy, maybe bigger guys get tired faster..;-)
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CB14 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
@jack, Like @DanFan says immediately below, he’s been brainwashed by TM into playing defense first all the time. I remember watching the all-star game and I saw Kopi backchecking, he was the only forward playing any defense what so ever in that game.
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Save, Hrudey! Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
@CB14,
I, for one, appreciate Kopi more for all his defensive prowess.
And if that’s a direct result of TM’s defense-first system, then I say, “Thanks Terry, for helping make Kopi the well-rounded player he is.”
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Duncanz Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 10:23 pm
@Save, Hrudey!, +11 …
I think we are still seeing remnants of TM brainwashing Kopi. Defense first and grind the boards is what Kopi has been told his whole time with the Kings. How often do we see him and JW battling for the same puck. In contrast, on one of Carter’s goals, MR was battling along the boards and Carter started to move that way but backed off into the slot. Richards wins the battle, passes to carter and goal. Kopi needs to get away from the boards and let JW work there. Kopi should be looking to put himself in a good scoring position.
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puck73 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 3:55 pm
@DanFan, I really thought we had moved on from the Terry Murray bashing. Clearly some of us havent, and with that I would like to take a moment to thank you for pouring more gas on the fire, Thank You Sir, totally concur
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DesertKing Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
@puck73,
Meanwhile, somewhere in an elevator in Sarasota, Florida – “Burned out light, fake veneer mahogany siding, Dick Clark’s oldies – what kind of elevator is this, Heaven’s waiting room?”
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Lake Forest Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
@puck73, this cracked me up!
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PP Anybody? Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 5:41 pm
@DanFan, Exactly. I’m glad you pointed out that play with Carter. He’s the only player not poisoned by the old system of over supporting the puck along the boards. He let MR battle it out 1 on 1, and went to the slot so he could be in a scoring position. There is still too much of the Kings game where the rest of the guys on the rest of the lines are still supporting the board player instead of breaking away to the slot. Another thing that happens is, that if the 2nd board player peels off to the slot, one of the defenders will have to leave the boards and go to him, freeing up the 1st board player into a 1 on 1, rather than a 2 on 2 cluster with nobody in scoring position. I wish every player would get on this page already. Scoring would start to flow to all the lines, rather than just Carter.
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bbb7 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
@DanFan, I agree; often Williams will finally get a puck free for s few seconds with his twisting and turning and when he looks around, Kopi is further from the goal than him or too close to him to be open. More offensive triangle from those guys would help their scoring, and Kopi can still play all 200′.
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Starting to remind me of the messaging Torts did with Vinny Lecavalier when he took over in Tampa.
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PHX continues its 0-for-March freefall….just in time for us to take over.
I expect two points tomorrow. The Kings hold a numbers edge going in to tomorrow’s game (unlike last week).
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Mike Milbury on NBC just same some sarcastic comment about Jeff Carter being happy now that he’s in LA. Enjoying the weather, the money, being with his friend. Doesn’t sound bad but he said it with such sarcasm it made me want to puke. I hope JR lays him out next time they’re on the air together, what a prick!
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wes Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
@toemas_sandstrom, Milbury is such a grating, pompous, swaggering, belligerent clown. i can’t imagine how he keeps that job. c’mon, NBC Sports, do the right thing. can Milbury now.
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vinny Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
@toemas_sandstrom, lol saw that
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John Roy Morgan Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 6:10 pm
@vinny, The same JR who stole a few Million from us for a year of his presence? :-X
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King Cobra Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 8:15 am
@toemas_sandstrom, you need to change the pr to a d on your last word….
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Pitt up 2-0 on the Yotes.
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Duncanz Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 5:08 pm
@Osaka, Smith, looking like dishwater all of a sudden, huh?
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i love Kopi…but now he has to play like he’s the best player on the team not just be like he was prior. …a simpleton of a player just doin ok.
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Oh lord. Scapegoating and man crushes be dammned, Kopitar has out-performed Richards this season. You have to stretch and squint and deny facts to argue otherwise.
Let’s just appreciate having two scoring lines for once for once instead of being caught up in this motivational stuff.
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Shuchuk Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 7:11 pm
@DLB, Richards with Carter has looked GREAT so far (imagine if they didn’t have to skate with a rookie). sorry, but that is our top line. nothing against Kopitar, I’m glad he got that ENG…I see nothing wrong with Brown & Kopitar on the 2nd line.
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kingarella Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 10:08 pm
@Shuchuk, I have to disagree. Kopi is playing “bad” and he is still outscoring Richards and anybody else on the team. Kopi also had to play with 3rd, 4th liners…I have to agree with DLB
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11 or 3 Reply:
March 5th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
@DLB, it is remarkable… by far our best “non-goalie” is kopi. by far the most points on our team. plays great defense 99% of the time. ds is over the top with his phil jackson like head games. he will lose the team by next january if he keeps this up…
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Sam Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 8:35 am
@11 or 3, I agree with everything you said there except losing the team. Kopitar does need to move his game forward. He’s stagnated somewhat and his skillset allows him to be so much more.
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Phx loses again! 2-1 to Pitts.
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I was at the game vs the Ducks on Sat and all I can say is how amazing it is to have a line that generate consistent offense. (Carter-Richards-King) Every time they were on the ice the Ducks were scrambling. The last time we had a line that punished you with goals was Deadmarsh-Alison-Palffy.
Hope they continue their success. Carter was definitely a SMART move..
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King Cobra Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 8:17 am
@SaveByCechmanek, I agree!!
The Deadmarsh-Alison-Palffy line was so sick!!!
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