The beauty of last night’s game was in the eyes of the beholder. Did the Kings earn a point, at the end of a tough back-to-back set, or lose a point? Did they impressively rally from a ragged first period, or uncharacteristically give up a third-period lead? Did they did an excellent job of killing a third-period double minor, or did they miss a huge opportunity with an overtime power play? The answer, of course, is: all of the above.
Faced with their toughest road swing of the season — with the possible exception of the two season-opening “home’’ games in Europe — the Kings earned one point with the shootout loss and stayed in first place in the Pacific Division (via tiebreaker) with three games remaining in the regular season. Will this game be remembered as the one that brought one tough point, one point that helped push the Kings into the playoffs? Or will it be remembered as the game in which the Kings failed to put away the Western Conference’s 13th-place team, and lost a change at more separation in the division-title race? We’ll find out in less than a week. What was the key aspect of the Kings’ 4-3 shootout loss to the Minnesota Wild? I present three options at the link below, and you can vote for your choice…
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For those who enjoy the traditional game recap, it can be found by clicking here.
only weakness right now is our PP….we can win(see Boston last year)but we would be that much harder to play if we had a decent PP…..
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 10:03 am
@neil, We did score a PP goal in each of the last 2 games. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Too bad Richards shot didn’t go in.
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as it looks, i’d think there’s every reason to expect St Louis to bring their A game against Phoenix and Dallas. the President’s Trophy and home ice will be at steak. LAK and fans don’t want the Blues to be coasting in those games, but i don’t think that will be the case. the Kings are captains of their own destiny, and that’s a pretty god place to be.
[i hate the gratuitous, miniature skills competition that artificially installs a putative "winner" after a hockey game has been discontinued, but since we're stuck with it . . .] that was as abrupt an ‘over and out’ shootout as is possible. Bernier wasn’t very good, but he’s got a tough job with no margin for error. He looked pretty good getting a shutout previously, and as Quick’s back-up, you know he won’t get opportunities to redeem himself if he’s less than perfect. It’s easy to condemn him, but would _you_ want his job?!
i have to question Sutter’s selection for the shootout. don’t know who the third shooter would have been, but Sutter should known that Richards isn’t very good in that situation. perhaps they would have been third and fourth if Bernier would have taken it that deep, but your top 2 goal scores are Kopitar and Brown. Kopitar leads the team in goals, Brown leads the team in game-deciding shootout goals. Those are giant clues as to who you should want shooting.
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wes Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 9:00 am
@wes, meant to say ‘good place’, not ‘god place’– wasn’t a post with a religious orientation at all (that’s against the rules here, of course).
i should have mentioned that i didn’t know how to vote in Rich’s ‘Key Three’ poll on this one. so many ways the Kings might have had a better result. but they did keep themselves atop the Pacific and with the #3 seed.
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 10:05 am
@wes, Dallas is also playing Nashville, who is in a dogfight with Detroit and Chicago for 4th. So I doubt they will rest anybody either and play hard until they have 4th al sewn up. Hopefully that is after or via the Stars game.
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Other: ridiculous schedule
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 9:17 am
@yetiman_oc, Yeah, everyone gets those games, apparently, but the combination of that and having to go through customs in the middle of the night and doing so down the stretch is inexcusable. The Dallas announcers were saying the same thing happened to them last night, but they apparently got in a bit earlier (though they too went through customs in the middle of the night) and played a bit later. Dallas did lay an egg, though, and it looks like the Kings may have benefitted.
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Luke m Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 9:18 am
@yetiman_oc,
Yep! Need to level the scheduling playing field for Western Conference teams.
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 10:07 am
@Luke m, That is why it is too bad Realignment was put off a year. I understand though that the players want to get the CBA done before that.
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We kept our destiny in our own hands. This will not go down as the make or break game. It will be one of the next games.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 10:58 am
@Dilapidus, I think it was the Calgary game.
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If you would have told me before the trip that the KIngs would be in a virtual tie for first in the Pacific coming back home…….and actually first outright due to winning the tiebreak, I would have taken it. I can’t complain.
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I’m reposting this because I unintentionally posted it on a blog entry that wasn’t very current. Sorry for those who see it twice.
I plan to deliver something like this to the NHL, though I’m not sure how or to whom. Your input is appreciated.
To NHL:
I didn’t get to see the end of the last two shootout games the Kings played, even though I paid through the posterior for NHL Center Ice, because you pulled the plug during overtime. Those games were:
3/22 against St Louis
3/31 against the Minnesota Wild
I called DirecTV, only to find out that YOU throw the switches on those games. They said that you guys set timers on the switches, and if someone’s not watching, the game will automatically shut off, typically during OT.
I’d like to ask you this rhetorical question: Which is the greater tragedy? Is it a greater tragedy that WELL-PAYING CUSTOMERS miss the ends of hockey games they paid to see–particularly the most exciting games, which end in OT or shootout? Or is it a greater tragedy that someone gets to see a little bit of the postgame show for the broadcast you’ve contracted the rights to? I’ll tell you what the greatest tragedy is. It’s when someone who wants to pay for it decides the best way to go is to “pirate” it through any of the known methods because YOU don’t care about your customers.
There have also been at least three games that I would have been able to see on NHL Center Ice, but you sold the rights to (apparently) NOT SHOW them to NBC. Feeling lucky to have their obscure channel on DirecTV, I turned it on, and found them showing some EAST COAST game, in its entirety, before showing what they’re cutely calling “bonus coverage” of the scheduled Kings game to which they bought the rights. They were sure to show two sets of commercials before putting on the Kings game, too, and never even had the courtesy to recap the action they chose not to show. So when the guide says there’s going to be a particular game on a particular channel, when does it really MEAN it? Another question: why am I forced to see the HORRIBLE San Jose Sharks announcers whenever NBC shows the games, instead of the best broadcast duo in Hockey: Bob Miller and Jim Fox?
I don’t pay through the nose to see Kings games just to have some snotty pigopolist decide to screw me–the guy who makes it possible to make money on the rights to a broadcast in the first place. If you people didn’t have your heads up your collective hind ends, you’d figure out how to both sell all 82 games to the customer and guarantee that they see them all AND get the “right commercials” for the region in the telecast, making it unnecessary to pull the plug on your paying customers in fear that they might watch a few minutes of unpaid content.
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fsd1 Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 9:22 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Just got off the phone with DirectTV and got the same BS answer that they dont control when the switch if flipped. Add my screw you comment to them too please. Rat Bastards.
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Steve W Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 12:34 pm
@fsd1, It isn’t DirecTV’s fault. It would have happened with Dish Network or Cable. It is Center Ice’s fault. I have DirecTTV, but not Center Ice. Saw the game in its entirety, even the post game wrap up.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 4:22 pm
@Steve W, You saw the game in its entirety because you DIDN’T have Center Ice. The broadcast you watch has commercials tailored to you. Center Ice does not, so they don’t want you watching any more than _the_game_. That’s why the stingy Center Ice people want to flip the switch so quickly (I’m sure it’s more complicated, like a room full of attorneys, but it’s about how the airtime is paid: PPV or commercial.) They bought the rights (it would seem) to show the game, and not the show after the game. It’s not clear whether DirecTV or the NFL mans the switches, though, as it could be in the provider’s contract to shut it off at the right time. I don’t necessarily believe the $10/hr person on the end of the phone when they’re trying to get me off the phone. It could even be a third party contractor.
Again, what’s unacceptable, though, is that they cannot hire the staffing necessary, with all that bling they take in, to make sure they still provide the whole game, while they’re being so stingy. The other thing they could do, which would be far more reasonable, is to do what I do with my DVR: set it to switch off after the game MUST be over (if it’s not a double overtime playoff game.) Then they could ALWAYS use staffing to switch it off EARLIER than the timer’s set for. The only question is WHO is responsible, and your anecdote does not answer that question.
Jeff_R Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 10:13 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, I believe that they show the SJ announcers because there games are shown on a Comcast owned channel whereas who do you think owns NBC Sports? Don’t expect to see Bob and Jim on NBC Sports anytime soon. Most likely at Bob’s age he doesn’t want to do other teams games and travel more then he already does. Otherwise I am sure Comcast/NBC would use the best announcer in the game, Bob Miller.
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❌TheAcaciaStrain❌ Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 4:22 pm
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, I’m sorry you are having these problems. Like you said you pay through the nose and deserve to have the services you paid for properly. However, if I were you and I didn’t get a reply along the lines of, we are so sorry this won’t happen again. I recommend you cancel your service or at least that package and watch it online for free. The last seasons (not this one) some games weren’t on fox sports west so I checked online and found this website that has all NHL games for a dollar a year. I know how much it can suck to not see a game that you want to especially if you’re paying a lot of money for it. And I forgot to mention there is the NHL gamecnter live service although I’m not sure how much that would cost you. Good luck with your letter I hope you get a refund or something. Cheers.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 5:48 pm
@❌TheAcaciaStrain❌, Thanks. Yeah, I’m keeping my options, and I’ve exercised many of those. Still, I think the pigopolists need to see in writing what it is they’re doing to the paying customer.
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Big chances on the PP and came up empty.
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BTW, where is @Poorman?
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 9:13 am
@Michael J., Puck73 says he’s on moderation and responding by publicly broadcasting messages which show his distaste for Rich Hammond and/or the blog.
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Michael J. Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 10:14 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
What, since he doesn’t have a job how does he “publicly broadcast messages”? Shouting from the top of the Empire State Building?
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Duncanz Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 12:13 pm
@Mighty Joe (Young)
Ha haaa!
That might just be the post of the day already …
If not of the bloody DECADE !!!!
(sorry Jim)
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 4:24 pm
@Michael J., I believe there’s this thing called a BLOG, which was created sometime in the last DECADE or two, and almost anyone can run one, even in this more fascist society. Believe it or not, even jobless and homeless have these.
2. The Kings failed to protect a third-period lead against a weaker opponent.
Honorable mention: Who schedules an NHL hockey team to play an important road game down the stretch after arriving in the city at 4AM that morning, because they had to fly the night before and go through customs after playing the previous evening? If this would have been against a better team, most people probably would have simply penciled in a loss.
The fans love the shootout? This one doesn’t, and I hear from a lot who do not. Is there some survey I’m unaware of?
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pr0cess Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 9:37 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?, Ya its the owners survey…
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Cruiznblue Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 10:01 am
@What’s the frequency, Kenneth?,
I loved the shootout when it started…but I’m starting to not like it as much. But you dont want these regulation games going extended periods…with fatigue and potential injuries increasing. Maybe a 10min 4on4 OT period?
Maybe they could consider 3 pts for regulation/OT win…2pts for SO win…1pt for OT/SO loss. Might push teams to go all out in the OT.
I’m sure eventually something will change in regards to the shootout…
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 10:59 am
@Cruiznblue, I’m good with a five-minute 4-on-4 overtime that can end in a tie.
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Other-Bernier looked off.
He’s always been a lot more conservative with his motions than Quick is, but he just didn’t look like he was “on” tonight. Those two early goals and the shootout (especially) made it look like he wasn’t quite comfortable out there. He even had a few uncharacteristic errors in handling the puck.
I’m not saying if Quick is in the net we win the game, but I think if Bernie feels better coming on the ice we would have.
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 10:18 am
@HatTrickHero, It might have something to do with playing once in a blue moon. I mean since Sutter took over how many times has Bernier played? 3? Not counting games where he took over for Quick. I expect one of the Goalies to be traded after July 1st. Either Bernier as Quick is resigned or Quick as the price is too high. As a #1 Bernier will be a lot better as he plays more.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 11:01 am
@Jeff_R, I’m kinda in between you on this. I thought Bernier played as well as can be expected–until it came to the penalty shot and the shootout. That was horrible.
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Just a little optimism injected into the stream: the Magic Number to clinch a playoff berth is 5 points…that we get or Dallas does not. Of course I wan’t 3rd seed, not 8th…but clinching is clinching.
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 10:21 am
@Mel Powell, Kings need to win Monday night. Everybody else plays Tuesday. So it is up to the Kings to up there lead. Win and they will be up 3 on SJ and 4 on Dallas. So if Dallas beats SJ in Regulation they will still be 2 behind. In that scenario it will be a huge game on Thursday. Win and we clinch a playoff spot. Most likely the final game on Saturday will be for the Division title and 3rd.
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Hate to bring any negativity, but if you want to be an elite team, you have to win games against teams like Edmonton and Minnesota. 4 points.
Nonetheless, it’s about to be a crazy week! Buckle your seat belts!
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 10:23 am
@California Royalty, Well we play Edmonton again tomorrow. Win and that is 5 out of 6 points out of those 3 games. That is not bad at all, not great but not bad. Even top teams lose to lower teams. ST Louis lost there #1 seed by losing to Columbus.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 11:04 am
@California Royalty, I 80% agree, but there are limits to that, including the travel conditions around that particular game.
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ForumFan Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 11:23 am
@California Royalty, I believe we did beat the Oyl. I’m looking at the point against the Mild as a plus too. Wonder how many of us would perform our best work in our own profession in similar circumstances?
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Duncanz Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 12:25 pm
@FoamFuton,
I work double-shifts as a test dummy for Sit ‘N Sleep, and I have not for one day ever had trouble doing my job under such challenging circumstances!
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Ever thought of bringing in Quick for the shootout last night?
This could have been baseball!
Just a thought.
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ForumFan Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 11:11 am
@micwoo, don’t think that’s allowed per the rules. Also, let’s not forget that none of the goals to that point were Bernier’s fault…though Kipper probably would have made the saves ; )
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Duncanz Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 11:47 am
@ForumFan, Point being that Quicker is a better shootout propositition than JB.
It is a code of honor in the NHL that you don’t sub gts for the shootout even though your specialist sits high and dry on the bench.
It’s a pity, really. For example, I remember watching the VAN vs PHO game from several weeks back when, in fairness, the PHO D had done a fantastic job of protecting J Babs for 65 mins. When the game went to SO, I was thinking he had no chance in the 1 v 1 SO, and sure enough he died a horrible death with Mike Smith looking on ruefully. A huge ‘lost’ point for the Yotes.
@FF, I doubt there’s a rule preventing a change after the OT, but there certainly isn’t one for during the previous 65 mins, right?
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Duncanz Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 11:50 am
@Farmy Fun, Ha ha ha, didn’t even notice the Kipper clause so adeptly inserted!!
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 8:26 pm
@micwoo, One angle, legality aside, is that the “specialist’ goaltender would have to figure out how to get time for a warmup (I don’t think the league will be interested in encouraging this behavior by providing extra time) and hasn’t been tracking the puck all game. One might find that the “specialist” who hasn’t be tracking the puck isn’t as good as the goaltender who has. I think it’s also unfair to make a goaltender play three periods just to give the decision to another…and yeah, I hear it coming…but this isn’t baseball.
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Kingsfanforlife Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 8:32 pm
@micwoo, that would have been great but he wasn’t stretched out and could end up with a bad injury, we don’t need that!
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It’s almost like the Kings were comfortable with the game slowing down in the 3rd period…and I had a bad feeling that the Kings were going to blow the lead too because of that.
Now I know this is obvious…but the Kings next game is HUGE and they MUST win their next game against Edmonton at home. They need to put themselves in a good position going into the mini 2 game playoff series with San Jose.
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The schedule this past week was pitiful. However, as Rich has pointed out previously, the Staples Center is one of the most heavily booked facilities in entertainment. All of the West Coast teams are at a big disadvantage travel wise, but the Kings ownership group are responsible for the decisions which also cause the team not to be able to practice on their own ice, play on a less than ideal surface sometimes, and have an even more difficult schedule than would be the case anyway.
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Duncanz Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 11:56 am
@ForumFan, … and not to aquire an NHL shootout quality goaltender (from Calgary) ..
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ForumFan Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 12:11 pm
@Duncanz, [grins] didn’t know the Flames were shopping Henrik Karlsson. Think Edmonton have some trade offers they want us to consider too.
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KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair) Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 12:05 pm
@ForumFan,
“which also cause the team not to be able to practice on their own ice”
Not true. It’s geography more than anything. Most players live near the beach and, since LA is so spread out, it make sense to practice in the south bay. Not to mention it’s also next door to LAX. All in all, it’s a good setup.
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ForumFan Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 12:30 pm
@the_artist_formerly_known_as_wavesinair,
not sure DS agrees with you
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Duncanz Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 12:47 pm
@KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair),
I am a brand new fan to this sport and am still learning.
Surely, a committed ownership group would be happy to shuttle the King’s advantageous home ice between the two facilites to give the team a leg-up over the opposition.
I have been to Dubai, and over there they transport whole golf courses from one city to another for the weekend if it suits one of the sultans!
If anybody can give me a satisfactory answer why this relatively effortless function cannot be performed, I would really like to hear it!
Thank you.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 1st, 2012 at 8:29 pm
@Duncanz, If you’re talking about physically moving the ice, I’d suggest the first priority should be making the ice decent (better than it is now) for games.
Duncanz Reply:
April 2nd, 2012 at 12:32 am
@REMDevotee, You’re right.
No, sorry. Just having an April 1 laugh.
I know AEG can’t afford to move the whole caboodle like the golfing gulf emirs can.
The OT power play was poised to score. There is no fault with the power play. Backstrom made the save on MR. That was the difference right there. No debate, no dispute. We should be all to familiar with Quick stealing points from other teams. That is what happened last night plain and simple. Backstrom stole a point from us.
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A tough point earned on the road after a game the night before in canada. Kings in first place, hold tie breakers, and have two of three final games at home. Fasten your seat belts!
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Two keys:
- All three Wild goals were unstoppable: the first a near-in ice to top shelf deflection; the second JB was blocked by his own D; the third that weird skate redirect
- JB terrible at penalty shot / shootout (at least last night)
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My comment to OTHER: The ref’s allowed two goals for Minnesota that should have been disallowed! Especially the one that was clearly kicked in!!!! Very bad calls! Wake up Toronto!
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