It seems to have been decided, even before the first drop of the puck: this will be a low-scoring series. That’s certainly a reasonable assumption, given that in the regular season, the St. Louis Blues and the Kings were the two most stingy teams in the NHL in terms of goals against. Then again, last night’s game between Nashville and Phoenix featured two top goalies, and it ended with the Coyotes winning 4-3 in overtime. After today’s morning skate, Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said he doesn’t expect a high-scoring series. There might be a little gamesmanship in Hitchcock’s statements. Certainly, he won’t be coaching his players to expect high-scoring games, but nonetheless, Hitchcock made some interesting points…
HITCHCOCK: “I think this series is going to shock and surprise people. I don’t think you can keep that standard up: one goal, one goal, one goal. I don’t think you can keep that up. I think when emotion gets as high as it does, just like it did last night, I think the legs get a little bit rubbery, I think you see the players more on the move, like you did last night. And I think you’re going to see more scoring chances because of it. I think, when you’ve got young teams and it’s very emotional and very intense, it’s hard to get players to focus and stop on pucks like you can in a regular-season game. So I think you’re going to see more errors. I think you’re going to see more mistakes. I think you’re going to see more scoring chances because of it, and I think you’re going to see more games like the one was last night, where there was a ton of scoring chances. I think you’re going to see that happen here.’’
Speak for your own team Hitch!
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Donald_S Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:48 am
@KOHO,
What I want to know is, how did Captain Kangaroo ever become a hockey coach?
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rontheking Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:53 pm
@Donald_S,
Well, you saw what happened to the two Mr. Green Jeans in the last series…wandering around lost after the series like it wasn’t a beautiful day in the neighborhood after all or ever would be again….
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Ultimate shock – Kings win 9 to 0 and Penner gets the hat trick.
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ashykins Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:20 am
@DesertKing, the ovechtrick
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Finally Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:20 am
@DesertKing, awesome
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gralx Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:41 am
@DesertKing, we could roll back the clock and the kings could get 3 hat tricks in one game like we did against the flames back in the 80′s (might have been early 90′s, but a long time ago LOL)
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Harrison Merkin Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
@gralx, I was there! First ever Kings game. It’s been downhill since
go Kings!!!!!
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vplaza Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:29 pm
@DesertKing,
Did St. Louis replace their goaltenders with Fleury and Bryz?
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39scars Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
@DesertKing, Uhh, pass the bottle my friend
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
@DesertKing, The penncaketrick.
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So I guess Hitch expects his team to lose by more goals than normal because of his reasons stated?
Doesn’t he realize Sutter doesn’t read the papers? This isn’t baseball…
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King of OC Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
@Cynic,
agreed,
As far as veterans and experience I think our team has the edge. Need the big boys to play AK, DB, DP, JC WM, RS, MG, and MR and series clincher JS to be very productive.
GKG GKG GKG win Game 1!!!
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He has a good point…
If DS can continue to settle our guys..
This should be low scoring…
Otherwise it could be a shootout..
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lakingbob(chi) Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:09 am
@SLIM, If he would of said 1 more ”I THINK” the drip might have started for me.. That said, bottle is full and waiting!!!!
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SLIM Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:17 am
@lakingbob(chi),
I Think therefore I am…I Think…
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Ron Reynolds Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:41 am
@SLIM,
Roses are red, violets are blue,
I’m schizophrenic and so am I.
rontheking Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:55 pm
@SLIM,
Maybe Hitch is overthinking things a bit…I think he might be.
TiredOfIt Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 3:05 pm
@SLIM, If you give a dance, you gotta pay the band….just sayin
OneTimer Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:20 am
@lakingbob(chi),
He went 9 for 9 … using “I think” at least once in every sentence. That’s kinda spooky.
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lakingbob(chi) Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:57 am
@OneTimer, Do ya think???
YoBro Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:59 am
@OneTimer, So what do you think?
39scars Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:43 pm
@OneTimer, You get one per lifetime concussion
bbb7 Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:06 pm
@lakingbob(chi), Dustin Brown countered that Hitchcock obviously said ‘I think’ too many times, obviously.
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Duncanz Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:19 pm
@bbb7, … it is what it thinks ..
I think he forgets who we played last. Kings know intense and they thrive there.
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It’s still a 3-2 league, as DS says…
They won’t all be 1-0 games, nor 7-5 games, but certainly nothing like Pitt/Phil…
With the Kings improved scoring in the last 25 games or so and the Berglund/McDonald/Steen line perking up vs San Jose, I can’t see too many 1-0′s…
GkG!
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Kings are ready for either style-”fast and furious or choke em.”We have a good team that gets better with each game and if they don’t take silly penalties should win the special teams battle.I can’t wait!!GO KINGS,GO!!!
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I think the Blues are a great team.
I think they proved they deserve to be in the playoffs and win a division.
I think Hitchcock should win the Adams.
I also think I like our chances … I think I like them a lot.
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Duncanz Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 11:55 am
@OneTimer, I think this is OneTime you are right!
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39scars Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
@OneTimer, We have been getting the bounces. Hard to beat a team with a top goalie and with things goning their way. Kings in 6
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Maybe 1st period, 1st game jitters. After that Kings get down to business.
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He’s trying to psych us out. Won’t work hitch. Your guys may cough up the puck to inexperience but don’t assume we will too
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On NBC Sports Mike Halford, never heard of him before, picks the Kings to win the Cup. Awesome guy and someone I will be watching from now on
.
GO KINGS GO!!!!!!
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lakingbob(chi) Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:10 pm
@Jeff_R, Eddie O. HAS BEEN WITH THE kINGS BIG TIME BUT LAST NIGHT HE PICKED Nashville with the Kings being very dangerous…
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TiredOfIt Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
@Jeff_R, I gotta read it Jeff…..tell me all will be ok this round…it worked last round
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Looking at all the St. Louis team and coach quotes, they really don’t seem very confident. Hitchcock makes a lot of comments speaking for both teams.
The teams are extremely similar except for one thing: Our second line is actually as good as a first line on any roster. Richards even led a team to the Stanley Cup finals. We’ve been winning with almost no goals from them (other than in G1 last series). If they start producing, our team is unstoppable.
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39scars Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
@Dump and Chase, If our LWs produce, we are unstoppable
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I am runnin out of things to do and we still have 4.5 hours to go!!! Bowling tonight,I think NOT!!!! wife will be pissed but its the seond round!!
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lakingbob(chi) Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:02 pm
@lakingbob(chi), Getting into the Cards-Brewers game knowing they are only blocks from the KINGS..
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
@lakingbob(chi), Watch the Rangers/Caps. That will make time fly.
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I think there is going to be knocks and blocks and rocks and box on Hitchcocks sir.
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Duncanz Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:16 pm
@crashin’ da net, It’s a lox !
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39scars Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
@Duncanz, And a real Brown and blues series
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Big whoop Hitch … you beat a 7 sead with a crappy PK and a crappy goalie. We beat the team with the best record in hockey and 3 games on the road. Tell your boys to tighten their chin straps.
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Jeff_R Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
@KC23, Hitch said we are the #1 seed now that we beat the #1 seed. Great coach but he is going down……
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Everybody’s looking at me
Feeling paranoid inside
When I step outside I feel free
Think I’ll find a place to hide
Tell .. me .. people
AM .. I .. GOING .. INSANE …
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lakingbob(chi) Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:20 pm
@Duncanz, NO!!! We just have not been in this position and a team that is for real in a long time…
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SLIM Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
@Duncanz,
Nor you’re Rockwell…
No you’re insane..
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Duncanz Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
@SLIM,
You mean I’m a great illustrator..
or a tool…
Please to not answer this…
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Kissmyblarneystones Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
@Duncanz,
…All day long you think of things
but nothing seems to satisfy
Think you’ll lose your mind
if you don’t find something to pacify…
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Kingsfanone Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
@Kissmyblarneystones,
That’s what they made “binky’s” for!
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Duncanz Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
@Kissmyblarneystones,
Has he lost his mind
Can he see or is he blind
Can he walk at all
Or if he moves will he fall …
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Diego Reply:
April 28th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
@Dunc-ozzy,
Nobody wants him
They just turn their heads
Nobody helps him
Now he has his revenge
how many times did he say i think
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