As with most optional skates, the Kings’ practice crew today was limited mostly to the young players, plus veterans Matt Greene and Dustin Penner. There was no sign of Kyle Clifford, who missed Game 2 with an “upper-body injury’’ after he went head-first into the boards in Game 1, courtesy of a hit from Vancouver Byron Bitz. Asked about the possibility of Clifford playing tomorrow in Game 3, Darryl Sutter said, “Probably not. He’s got to skate, right? He’s not skating yet.’’
That makes Brad Richardson’s status all the more important. Richardson skated today, five days after he underwent an emergency appendectomy. Richardson almost certainly won’t play tomorrow, meaning that Andrei Loktionov is once again likely to get the call in Clifford’s fourth-line spot. Richardson is making progress, though, and gave an assist to his mother, Jan, for helping out…
Question: How are you feeling?
RICHARDSON: “Better than I was Monday, I guess. I was feeling pretty rough. It was pretty nice, though. My mom was here, and she’s the one that diagnosed it. She was a nurse for, like, 20 years. I was lucky. She was here at the right time. I just felt some pain on Sunday. We had a day off Sunday, and I just woke up and felt some pain on my right side. I called the doctors and my mom was feeling around and she said, `Yeah, I think it’s your appendix.’ Even the doctors weren’t sure if it was or not, and then I had some tests and it was, so I had the surgery Monday night.’’
Question: It was arthroscopic?
RICHARDSON: “Yeah, it was. I’m feeling a lot better than I was. Obviously I was on the ice for a little bit today, so I felt OK. It’s still a little sore, but that’s the way it is when they move stuff around in there like that.’’
Question: Do you know when you might be able to play?
RICHARDSON: “I’m just taking it day by day. There’s no real timeline. I’m just seeing how it goes each day.’’
Question: How did you feel skating today?
RICHARDSON: “I felt OK. It’s pretty sore. It’s really annoying. I have stitches right now, so it’s kind of rubbing against. It’s tough, because of my pants and stuff. It kind of felt weird. It’s really tight, too. I felt all right. I’m surprised I felt as good as I did, for what I had done. We’ll take it day by day and see how it goes.’’
Question: Have the doctors given you any idea as to when you might play again?
RICHARDSON: “I’m going to go see the doctor again on Monday, so I’ll probably have a better idea then. With this kind of thing, it can get better pretty quickly. I’m not going to say a date for sure, because I haven’t talked to (the doctor). I’m going to try to skate again tomorrow, and if it gets better then we’ll go from there.’’
Any word on Mike Richards’ health/concussion, Rich? He looked like he was rocked by Booth and looked dazed a few seconds after that.
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firesone Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
@rogiesbackup,
He’s fine.
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Nobody died, right?
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Duncanz Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
@CB14, As long as they weren’t fighting ‘The Winchester Windmill’, Ottawa’s Matt Carkner today!
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lvkingaholic Reply:
April 15th, 2012 at 11:08 am
@Duncanz, laughed my vegas arse off…………….
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lvkingaholic Reply:
April 15th, 2012 at 11:09 am
@lvkingaholic, looked like hammerlick was tryin to kill the sharts player………. damn he was punchin hard
you gotta listen to your mother!
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Dannybhoy says:
April 11, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Kings have got this series. Kings win first 2 in Vancouver, break our hearts with losing a 3rd period lead in game 3 at home. Win game 4 in regulation to get the whole NHL talking, lose game 5 in Vancouver. Bring home the 3-2 lead and polish them of in overtime in game 6 at Staples Center. We will be bringing back the thunder that we need in our building …Go Kings
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Dannybhoy Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 5:02 pm
@Dannybhoy, Oops! according to this chappie, we will lose on Sunday…..I have been informed he talks a lot of tosh sometimes…GKG
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Shotongoal Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 6:01 pm
@Dannybhoy, One game at a time. After 43 years of following this team it’s all about one game at a time!
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USHA#17 Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
@Shotongoal,
Amen!!! Now lets go out on the concourse and party like the old days!
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I’ll just leave this here.
http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/18533559.jpg
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paige Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
@PaganHagen, +1
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vinny Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
@PaganHagen, lol
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We need you asap Brad. You’re a real nuisance when you’re not on the ice being a real nuisance to the other team. Convalesce with all safe speed.
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Future Kings Icon maybe????? Make the crown insignificant and more emphasize on a lion!!
Give a LOUD lion growl at Staples after a goal!!
http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2cfmitKYq1rsg4tro1_1280.jpg
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rogiesbackup Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 5:22 pm
@rogiesbackup, Hehe….looks more like the Lion is going to be victorious over this canuck.
Lion sound FX at Staples after a Kings goal!!! Lets do this for next season!!!
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Slight correction, I think you meant to say, “was it laparoscopic” rather than arthroscopic.
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Why won’t the Kings bring up Toffoli? Is saving a year that important?
Or is it not necessary ‘yet’ with this series locked up for all intents and purposes.
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Real 7 Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 5:38 pm
@R.E.M. Murray, fact #1- Toffoli is primarily known as a goal scorer
fact #2- the Kings have six (6) former goal scorers, proving we have lots of fire power in the lineup; so we don’t need help
fact @3- Toffoli is without NHL experience; you don’t throw a raw rookie into a pressure cooker situation like this, without harming our chances rather than helping
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Real 7 Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
@Real 7, should read: Kings have six (6) former 30 goal scorers in their lineup
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R.E.M. Murray Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 10:12 pm
@Real 7, It is interesting how for most of this season the Kings couldn’t buy a goal, now all of a sudden we don’t need this Guy?
I understand he is turning 20 this month and is still raw. But I will reverse the argument and use Braydon Schenn. We said the some thing about this guy last year. He plays minimally until late this season, and without much NHL experience, comes out and has a monster Game 1. And I will argue than Toffoli has a near equivalent Junior pedigree to that of Schenn.
He is filling 4th line minutes, it is not like I am saying we throw him completely into the with big minutes.
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 5:49 pm
@R.E.M. Murray, Toffoli is still playing in the OHL playoffs. As long as that is going on he isn’t going anywhere. Game 6 is Sunday night with the 67′s down 3 games to 2. Tyler did have the game winner last night to stave off elimination. If the 67′s lose tomorrow then Tyler will either come to the Kings or Manchester. Most likely as with Schenn he will go to Manchester.
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vinny Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
@Jeff_R, in another part of the world, holloway and mollers team are down 0-3 in their series with a game tomorrow
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USHA#17 Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 6:09 pm
@R.E.M. Murray,
He’s still got some growing to do before he can start to match up physically. Loktionov is OK and even he is getting pushed around a bit.
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R.E.M. Murray Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 10:25 pm
@USHA#17, Toffoli has more size than either Loktionov or Mike Richards so I can’t take this seriously.
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Way to go Momma Richardson!!!!
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IceGuy Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
@Gustavo,
Thanks, Mrs. Richardson.
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The worst thing in the history of hockey happened tonight. I turned on the Ranger game & Brian Heyward was fling the Colorado commentary. Someone please help!!!!
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
@PaulHB, He’s actually not so bad doing games that don’t involve the Ducks. Not saying he is good, just not that bad.
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PaulHB Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
@PaulHB, dumb smartphone was SUPPOSEF to say Heywsrd was DOING YHE COLOR COMMENTARY …
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 14th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
@PaulHB, Was wondering how he was doing the Rangers game in Colorado
.
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Go cliffy Go
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Contrary to public opinion
And @DuncandoNUTz rumor baiting…
I will NOT be at Staples tomorrow
Wearing A woman’s one-piece bathing suit…
But he is right about one thing…
I do have nice hips…
GKG…
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@David,
“Laparo”, “Arthro”, “Tele” it all looks like alien hieroglyphs to us non- doctor types.
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get well kyle, com’on kings keep this going
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#winitforCliffy
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Would never say we got this series in the bag. I’m just enjoying the way they are playing right now. I love how there being so aggressive on the PP. Quickie is just a beast between the pipes and M. Richards is kicking butt and taking names! Love this team!!!
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Not to say we dont want you back on the ice Brad, but dont’ push yourself too hard. You did come back from a surgery (big or small, it’s still a surgery). Seeing how Vancouver played in the last two games, they are going to pick on you if you get back on the ice so soon. We do want to see you back next season
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