Before Game 1, Dustin Penner went ignored by the media throng. Then, after he scored the game-winning goal Wednesday, Penner faced a circle of cameras. Then he faced them again after Thursday’s practice. And again after today’s morning skate. Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault fanned the flames yesterday when he talked about the Canucks’ need to find an answer for Penner. True to his nature, Darryl Sutter wasn’t quite as effusive with his public praise. Sutter was asked about Penner’s game and, in general, what a player such as Penner can bring to a team…
SUTTER: “He can be a whole lot better for all three periods. You’re talking about him because he scored one goal. If it’s just about scoring, then I don’t think we’re going to beat this team 5-4 or 6-5. I highly doubt that. You have to be very good, 200 feet, everywhere on the ice.’’
Ha ha Ha!
‘Nuff said…
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Sutter will not cut slack to ANYONE!!! Gotta love this guy!!!
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http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/04/13/shocking-tweets-from-official-nhl-team-accounts-after-last-nights-games/
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TheGuv Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
@FKA PakiFro, Can’t believe this crap actually gets attention. What a joke.
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P1 LA Kings Fan Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:58 pm
@FKA PakiFro, HILARIOUS! Thank you!
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tory17 Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 5:06 pm
@FKA PakiFro,
awesome I was LOL when I saw that team photo ( too funny ) thanks
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I can’t say it enough…..Sutter is the man!!!
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Kingz Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 4:29 pm
@Lake Forest, I have liked Sutter from day one. Do you remember all the outrage when he was hired? How do those folks feel now? I guess they are eating a little crow right now.
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Nobody should mention to DS that we have a Division Champion banner at Staples.
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I agree 100% the list is long though who doesn’t play all 200 feet……….
-Penner (struggles from opposition blue line back)
-Doughty (struggles from our blue line in)
-King (struggles in the nuetral zone)
-Nolan (struggles in our end)
-Lotkionov (*will struggle all over the ice)
-Westgarth (does struggle from opposition blue line in)
lets go guys, Westie excluded as he’s not playing……….
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prosmar Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
@LUCALACA, Doughty also can’t keep the damn puck in the o-zone on the PP.
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LUCALACA Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
@prosmar, part of why Canucks lost that game is because everyone was taking runs at Doughty and not worrying about their own game. tonight Doughty will a great game because he won’t get hounded as much.
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Stuart Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
@LUCALACA, First, that has nothing to do with dd keeping the puck in the zone, and secondly IMO the runs tht were taken at dd were pretty well timedq and usually within the context of the play… They did get off their game, but I don’t think it had to do with their runs at dd… More so because of db’s hits and MR’s game. Unflappable those two were.
LUCALACA Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
@Stuart, the runs weren’t well timed. first play of the game we almost scored just because they took runs at Doughty. Doughty even said it in an interview that every was taking runs at him to get him off his game. it didn’t work he had a pretty good game. He could be better but everyone needs to realize he had a pretty good game.
for the record i said “PART” of the reason they were of their game.
FKA PakiFro Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
@Harty,
Don’t forget Quick…He’s essentially useless outside the blue paint.
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TheGuv Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
@FKA PakiFro, Awesome
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BakoCAkingsCondorsGuy Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@TheGuv,
Betcha Q would hit an empty net 70% of the time…
Chris7718 Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
@FKA PakiFro, he scares the hell out of me when he leaves the crease.
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Kenny44 Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
@Harty, Penner had two very strong backchecks all the way down low to prevent chances in game 1. He needs to add consistency.
Doughty – especially has trouble with speed on the rush. TM’s style of coddling the D probably stunted DD here a bit.
King is OK when we have the puck in the neutral zone, but he struggles with transition and back checking.
Agree on Nolan.
Let’s hope for some open ice for little Lokti. I’m pulling for him.
Ironically, I think Westgarth’s best play has been through the neutral zone. Gets his legs moving and gets the puck deep or clogs it up on D. He’s has some brutal fails at clearing pucks in our end, and some embarrassing slams into the glass in the O zone. He shows some promise holding his own around the net. Not very good in the corners, especially for his size.
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kovalking96 Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 6:23 pm
@Harty, you left out Kopitar
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Started pre-gaming too early. Everything is going awry. 4 more hours!
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paige Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
@Shakes, +1
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Kenny44 Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
@Shakes, You might have to power through – accelerate until you purify early, then ease back in to the second pre-game. Maybe @Jess could get you some bath salts
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yeah i’m still not sold on penner. everyone has a good game, and i’m glad he did. he just needs to keep it up.
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DS put the smack down on Penner like the Kings are going to put the smack down on the Canucks. GO KINGS GO!
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Coach has seen his type before… Nothing to see here, yet!
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Kings & Canucks pre-game video, including Rich and Daryl’s thoughts about tonight’s game. Not to mention about a 100 other great stories…
http://kingsnewsdaily.com/pre-game-video/
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hip-check Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
@KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair),Paul…… Nice site by the way
Wayne
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Duckbasher Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 5:14 pm
@KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair),
Fantastic website. Thanks to you and thanks to Rich and the Kings for letting you post the link for us. GO KINGS!
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Darryl Sutter, -keeping it real.
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Kenny44 Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
@jess, and all we have to do is keep him out of the GM chair, cuz that’s when keepin it real goes wrong
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jess Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
@Kenny44,
It can cause confusion when you try and milk your secretaries!
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Penned had a good game. Let him have another. GKG!
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Jody Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:18 pm
@Jody, I meant penner
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Ian Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
@Jody, Ok is not Ok.
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jess Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:40 pm
@Ian,
Oklahoma is OK.
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Fact of the day: Luongo has lost 5 of his last 6 playoff games (credit sportscenter on that one)
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
@Shakes,
More facts:
The Kings have never gone 2-0 to open a series on the road.
The Canucks have never gone 0-2 to open a series at home.
That’ll change tonight…because it’s the cup
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Stuart Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
@FKA PakiFro, These are not the facts you are looking for…
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
@Stuart,
Those are the facts I’m hoping no longer qualify as such by the end of the game
Shakes Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
@FKA PakiFro, Other facts: Vancouver had never had a riot in April… Yet…
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crashin'da net Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
@FKA PakiFro, Let’s make some history!
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KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair) Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
@Shakes,
That’s weird. So have the Canucks.
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Does anyone really think we did better with Sutter?? Or do you think the team would end up in the same place 8th!?! I don’t think Sutter is anything special..
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Ian Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
@ducksuck, Is there no television in your cave?
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 5:24 pm
@Ian, I approve of this comment.
Signed, Darryl Sutter
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Kaiser Soze Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:42 pm
@ducksuck, Yes, we did better with Sutter. Don’t get me wrong, I like TM, but I don’t think he was offensive minded at all. I think Jim Fox said it Wednesday night, TM was more sit back and wait and look for opportunities, whereas Sutter is more take it to the other team and make your opportunites.
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Gotta love Sutter. He doesn’t pour syrup on anything.
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LUCALACA Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
@Ian, love it!
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To all the players who work 200x85x60. you’re welcome.
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Spoken like a true farmer where all they have is dirt, fire, and meat. Bless you Sutter. Make them earn their praise.
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Kenny44 Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:44 pm
@crashin’da net, and they were thankful to have it!
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Penner may have gotten one big goal, but he’s got a long way to go to dig himself out of our dog house…maybe if he had played a bit better we could have been facing a lesser opponent (although we seem to be doing good against Nux) or we could have traded his rather large buttocks to another team for…..?
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YuriM Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:43 pm
@Ravens, a free dinner @ IHOP
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Think about this. Why did Alain Vigneault throw his 1st line against our 3rd line? I’m sure DS recognize their strategy but I just don’t know what he’s expecting from the 3rd line.
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Fox and Penner on NHL Live…
Talking about Penner’s beard
And his need for “Just For Men”…
Penner with that toothless grin is in good spirits…
Having an all round bad year [in life as well as Hockey]
I’m routing for this big Schlump to do well…
And go Lokti Go…
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Ravens Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
@SLIM, he is a likeable slug
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Jack Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
@SLIM, I am convinced that with the right linemates he would do very well.
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KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair) Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
@Jack,
I’m convinced with the right wife, he’d be an all star.
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Ravens Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
@KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair), That is halarious
hip-check Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 4:08 pm
@KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair), Right on….haha maybe he needs a Russian wife.. I know a few that are available….smirk
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 5:26 pm
@SLIM, I am too. I think the poor guy is totally in the depths of depression, but the last few games he seems to be trying to claw his way back up.
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VERY PUMPED for this game tonight! Go Kings Go!!!
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Vancouver’s new dive team: http://bit.ly/IPOZGf
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
@KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair), Nice! um not, ah the guys, uh I mean the Canuckleheads on the uh, bodies, I’am heterosexual you know?,LOL.
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tory17 Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 5:10 pm
@KingsNewsDaily (formerly wavesinair),
very funny ,thanks for that,hope I can get that photo out of my mind LOL
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Penner won the Cup playing on a line with Getzlaf & Perry. If you want him to be offensively productive, he’s gotta play with guys who can do all or most of the puck handling through the D & neutral zones, and just let him go to the net. Penner looked intense all 3 periods of G1 and actually Dwight King seemed to be a bit slowed by playoff jitters. Hope Sutter puts Penner up with Richards & Carter and drops King down some time during G2. That’s a nice top 6 if Penner can keep up the intensity, finish his checks and battle along the boards like he did last game. Go Kings!
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hip-check Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
@egold44, You know I think that has a lot of truth ……
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PK Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 4:29 pm
@egold44,
Getzlaf – playmaker with the puck,wicked quick shot
Perry – gritty rink rat with hockey sense
Richards – gritty rink rat with hockey sense
Carter – wicked shot, creates plays off the puck
Penner – Big body, wicked wrist shot
If he can find the soft spots on the ice, and his linemates can get him the puck, I would not be surprised to see his name on the score sheet a lot more…
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san Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 4:30 pm
@egold44,you got that R. he never sore 29 and 32 goal playing on the third line.there is no one in the nhl that will 30 goals playing on the third line
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 4:40 pm
@egold44,
Let us never speak of The Win That Tainted the Cup again. It’ll take back to back kings Cups to restore it to its original sanctity.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
@egold44, I haven’t seen anything about it, but Martinez is the one who really seemed unprepared for the speed of the playoffs. I hope he can pick it up a notch.
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I love that everyone is turning on DD. Kings fans are blind at times and his poor play has been ignored all season, but with the much higher stakes, many are now calling him a liability.
He’s been one all year.
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hip-check Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
@Bama Kings, Thinking ahead …should we trade him at draft time for Edmontons number one pick…They are in market for a number one defenseman…
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If DD would drop his ego and stop carrying around his jr. Mighty Mites trophies when he was awesome at 10 years old, he might learn to play defense in the NHL. He is scary bad at times and when he is good, he is the 3rd or 4th best defenseman on the team. Super star hold out needs to drop his attitude and play MF hockey. If he keep it up next season, dump him at the trade deadline to a team like Columbus that might have a #1 pick and free up some cash.
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tory17 Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 5:15 pm
@cac90277,
I’ll bet JMFJ would just love that not
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Penner could very well end up being that X factor for the Kings this playoff year. He has all the skill in the world, and he has size too. He hasn’t put it together, but in the bubble that is a 7 game series, match-ups start exposing players’ weaknesses and skills alike. Penner’s biggest weakness has been lack of consistent hussle. Whether that was from off-ice stuff, lack of conditioning or incompatibility with linemates, this is the playoffs and there is no excuse for lack of hussle. If he can bring it for 30 seconds at a time with smart changes, he will keep getting great looks at the net skating with Richards and Carter.
If the problem is effort and conditioning, it can be fixed quickly. He is not out of shape. He would not be on the active roster if he was too fat to play. Penner needs to play loose. The off color humor at his own expense either indicates his head is clear and he is ready to move on with life; or, it means he’s getting depressed. Based on his recent play, I’m hoping it is the former.
AV had it right. Penner is a problem for him to worry about, just like everyone else on the ice. That is his job, to ensure that everyone matches up against someone properly. Penner is a huge match up problem for the Canucks because of where he falls on the depth chart when it comes to making the assignments. Seriously, who in th lower half of the Canucks line up is a good match up against Penner? If he brings his game then he is going to find a lot of space out there.
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dodgervern Reply:
April 13th, 2012 at 5:28 pm
@PK, Yea i think Penner has a huge upside and I am hoping that the excitement and challenge of the Stanley Cup playoffs can replace the intensity of emotions he must have from his divorce.At some point he will realise he has moved on.Lets hope this is at the victory celebration for cup win,if not sooner!
I am getting so amped for tonights game I can’t come up with any predictions but hope we come out fast again,take care of the puck and keep attacking all game.Limiting our penalties is huge,but I can see Richards with a “shortie”GOKINGS,GO!!!
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I love how blunt Sutter is…PREACH!
#GoKingsGo
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Penner clearly did not invite Sutter our for pancakes after the game
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So this is not gonna be the popular opinion but I figured I’d raise some debate…first of all, I agree with Sutter…he’s right about Penner. But, I must say he doesn’t publicly give many of his guys any “‘at-a-boys” (at least during his interviews). Has anyone else noticed this? His hard nose approach is indeed serving the team well but eventually, he’s gonna need to give credit where credit is due. There’s always room for improvement in his players’ performance and in his own but if good play/behaviors aren’t acknowledged at some point it might take a toll on attitude on the team.
He even does it on a broad basis…when the Kings win, he’ll attribute it to the poor play of the opposition quite often rather than giving his team some credit. It must be awesome being on a team and trying to maintain the “winners attitude” when your leader can’t publicly hand out any accolades for your hard work. The Kings didn’t get to the playoffs by accident. Sure, they could be better, but they certainly weren’t last in the league. Just sayin’!
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What Suutter means is that there won’t always be a Carter doing a sic pass to you with a skate. We win by all going 150%. Sometimes Penner digs hard yes and sometimes he scores and sometime he hits hard. All immensely valuable but do all those thing for 3 periods, that’s the trick
There is no next season’s there is only this Stanley cup. How would they play if the entire franchise was depended upon the winning of the Stanley Cup?
Ridiculous? Cannucks will play that way tonight. They’re pissed off and the Kings have to tighten everythiing and beat them bad. Then we go after the next geets’s. Bam! Win.
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Born and raised a hockey mongol, just as my father…. Met Dustin at a point in my life where i was not being cut any slack for lacking on the Ice. and he told me 3 words. And the next season my team Won the Big Silver Mug. so watch how we choose our words friends. Play-offs are always a second season third for some guys. Pens Knows his role and will play it well, Sutter will say and do whatever he can to keep Pens on Edge. But once your on the bench with Pens and played for darryl as i did in Calgary its hard to figure him out. Darryl is a beuty. And Pens likes him as a coach. Not a Couch like most think….. Jg
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