Kings want to avoid `pajama party’

Perhaps, tomorrow morning, Darryl Sutter will blindfold his players, feed them a steak dinner and try to convince them it’s nighttime. The Kings and St. Louis Blues have a noon start time for Game 4 tomorrow at Staples Center, and afternoon games haven’t been the kindest to the Kings. In the regular season, they played four games that started either at 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. local time, and they went 0-3-1. Whether that’s a coincidence or not, the Kings will try to break that trend tomorrow. Dustin Brown and Justin Williams said they don’t consider the early start to be a factor.

BROWN: “No. We’ve played noon games, and you guys have all the stats with our noon games. All I have to say is, this isn’t game 43.’’

WILLIAMS: “I’m fine with the noon game. I think everyone here is, too. We’ve had so much time between games here that we kind of want to get them going. So, having an earlier game is probably nice for us.’’

Darryl Sutter, asked about the early start time, shrugged and told the media about his sleepwear.

SUTTER: “I just fold my pajamas, and that’s it.’’

It was suggested that perhaps Sutter’s midseason arrival might break the Kings out of the presumed afternoon funk, but the stats don’t really bear that out. Under Sutter, the Kings lost an afternoon home game to Columbus and an afternoon road game (in overtime) to the New York Islanders.

SUTTER: “We played an afternoon game and lost 1-0 Columbus or somebody. It was a pajama party. I don’t think it had anything to do with me coming here. … I will tell you tell you this. How many people are standing here? Three, six, eight, 10, let’s say 20 of us. Some of you guys are morning people and some of you are not. That’s a fact. The 25 (players), are they all morning people? Or are they night people? That’s a fact. You can’t change that. I don’t think I can change that.’’

42 Comments

  1. Mike D says:

    GO KINGS! Good luck gents, following you on gamecenter from melbourne, australia.

    [Reply]

    kb Reply:

    @Mike D, thatta boy!

    [Reply]

    King Cobra Reply:

    @Mike D, How is the surf??

    Good on you for supporting the Kings from down under!

    [Reply]

    Duncanz Reply:

    @Mike D, & Go MFC Kangaroos (back atcha)!

    [Reply]

    variable Reply:

    @Mike D,

    awesome to hear support from australia…

    can’t help but to acknowledge yr handle “MIKE D” ,with the sad passing of MCA yesterday…when i see yr handle, that’s what instantly comes to mind…

    anyhow…great to see the kings success reach yr continent…:)

    [Reply]

    Forum gold Reply:

    @Mike D, 5 am wakeup time for Kings Hockey on a Monday? I declare you a Die Hard. GO KINGS GO!!!

    [Reply]

  2. Kingsfanforlife says:

    have never been a fan of the matinee’ but it’s a playoff game, like they said,,,,,, so let’s put this series away!

    [Reply]

    USHA#17 Reply:

    @Kingsfanforlife,

    They’ve not won may afternoon games nor many 2nd round series nor any four game sweeps.

    Solve the afternoon issue and everything else falls in place.

    [Reply]

    BryBry Reply:

    @USHA#17, at around 3pn tomorrow, I hope to see the greatest traditions of all sports on center ice.. the series ending handshake. GKG!!!

    [Reply]

    Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:

    @Kingsfanforlife,

    Hockey during the day never feels quite right.

    [Reply]

    Duncanz Reply:

    @Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
    Should look the same inside the arena..

    [Reply]

    What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:

    @Kingsfanforlife, “Let’s do this!”

    [Reply]

  3. rumpa#19 says:

    I always crack the first beer by noon anyways so i will half to start by 10am. DS is taking away all the distractions,onward and upward.

    [Reply]

  4. Nancy says:

    Highlight of my day ” Kings on ice” Its not the time of day you play, its the will and want to take it all the way! I believe our boys are playing stronger and being more aggressive then ever… Keep it up boys!!!! YOU OWN IT..

    [Reply]

  5. Gustavo says:

    In bed by 8:00 PM, up by 5:00 AM…they’ll be ready to play at noon.

    [Reply]

  6. Duncanz says:

    How did we actually do in Game 43?

    [Reply]

    variable Reply:

    @Duncanz,

    it was january 9…a 5-2 home win versus washington…

    cliffy had a goal and an assist…

    [Reply]

    @puck73 Reply:

    @variable, Nice research V ! Your on top of your game on an off day !

    [Reply]

    Forum gold Reply:

    @@puck73, Insiders do not take recovery days. GO KINGS GO!!!

    variable Reply:

    @@puck73,

    thanks, PUCK…:)

  7. @puck73 says:

    Looks like Klesla will have to attend a hearing for a boarding incident yesterdy vs The Preds. I guess the Yotes have a couple of scumbags on their team, and of course that already includes Torres.

    [Reply]

    McSorleyfan Reply:

    @@puck73, Hoping they weed out the bad ones on Nashville rather than our boys…

    [Reply]

  8. Dump and Chase says:

    Finally some recognition!

    http://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/2012/5/5/3001786/la-kings-are-cup-favorites-hey-media-catch-up

    [Reply]

    Forum gold Reply:

    @Dump and Chase, I’m pretty sure Sutter does not want the guys reading any part of this. GO KINGS GO!!!

    [Reply]

    Leo Reply:

    @Dump and Chase, Great article, GKG!!!!!!!!!!!!

    [Reply]

  9. DAVID says:

    Wow! Everthing I read hear on INSIDER tells me and makes me believe that this KINGS TEAM ephasizes everything about TEAM and LEADERSHIP! I have been a FAN since I can remember back to 1971 when I started going to games at The Forum. This is the most exciting thing to be a part of….being the last Original Franchise from Los Angeles of all sports for a chance to WIN IT ALL! GKG!!!!! I have always believed it will happen before my time comes to rest. LETS GO BOYS and be the 1ST to sweep a series this 2012 playoff year and take out the Coyotes who seemed destined to prove what they are about. Lets WIN the LORD STANLEYS CUP no matter what or who we are against. You all are proven winners no matter what happens!

    [Reply]

  10. Big Rob in Dallas says:

    The start time is a non issue now. Like Brownie said it’s not Game 43 of the regular season or where we just played 30 hours ago or the 3rd game in 4 days. The adrenaline rush prior to the start will get everybody up and ready. Even though they are acclimated to the time change you can make a case that STL is playing at 10:00 AM.

    [Reply]

    Jeff Reply:

    @Big Rob in Dallas, actually, noon in LA would be 2 p.m. in St. Louis.

    [Reply]

    InTheCrease Reply:

    @Jeff, Yes, but he’s in Dallas…

    [Reply]

    Duncanz Reply:

    @InTheCrease,
    [hurriedly fishes out maps and charts ... only to find the Pimples Repub of TX has seceded and OK now has a bunch of beachfront property on the GoM for sale!]

  11. Itchy says:

    Astronauts traditionally get a steak and egg breakfast before a launch… sure, why not our LA Kings?

    [Reply]

    Duncanz Reply:

    @Itchy, HOCK-EY, if you will …

    [Reply]

  12. Gail Web says:

    1) Get rest? Yes

    Then Get Milk, Yes, then Go Kings Go! to all the way to the cup, it’s yours for the taking, see all tomorrow!

    Go Kings Go!

    Can smell Ice!
    :-)

    [Reply]

  13. Robert R says:

    So what’s StL’s record in matinee games?
    Also, it won’t feel like 2 PM to the Blues. They’ve been in town since Wed, and the jet lag has disappeared by now (one time zone per day, so it’s said).

    [Reply]

  14. Diego says:

    I don’t think the Kings will need monitors tonight, but just in case. Who has the first watch?

    [Reply]

    InTheCrease Reply:

    @Diego, Cindy, Sue, Betty, Veronica, Sally (the saucy one), and lisa Anne…

    [Reply]

    Itchy Reply:

    @InTheCrease,
    I think “InTheCrease” just got a new meaning!

    [Reply]

    Duncanz Reply:

    @Itchy, WHORE-KEY!

  15. What's the frequency, Kenneth? says:

    I think I need a Kings T-shirt that says “This isn’t game 43.”

    [Reply]

  16. Duncanz says:

    ” …. I will tell you this. How many people are standing here? Three, six, eight,10, let’s say 20 of us. [Brad Richie might know] Some of you guys are morning people and some of you are not. That’s a fact. The 25 (players), are they all morning people? Or are they night people? That’s a fact. You can’t change that. I don’t think [even] I can change that.”

    The ZEN FARMER strikes again!

    …. altho’ I ‘m not sure he got all his “facts” right, there …. Right?

    [Reply]

  17. KW says:

    The Kings will win today.
    The Kings are going to win the Stanley Cup
    We won’t let them loose
    We are Playing the Best Hockey of the Season Right Now
    We Will Win
    Go Kings Go
    We want the cup and we are going to get it
    NO ONE will stop us.

    [Reply]

  18. SoCalPhilip says:

    Guess I won’t be going to the Pantry for breakfast this morning…can you imagin the line there? I ‘ll be watching on TV …Crush ‘em early and it will be “to hard” to quote a King.GKGGG

    [Reply]

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