The Kings don’t yet know exactly when they will be playing again, but at least they know who they will be playing when the time comes. The Western Conference Finals are an all-Pacific Division affair, with the Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes. Each team won three games in the regular season and the Coyotes edged the Kings (and San Jose) for the division title in the final week of the season. The Coyotes, like the Kings, are riding a strong goalie in Mike Smith, and have a deep group of defensemen and some fast forwards. Jonathan Quick today gave his thoughts on what challenges the Coyotes bring…
QUICK: “They’re a quick team. They’ve got a quick team. I was watching their game last night. I feel like they had a lot of speed coming in on the rush. They always get four guys joining the rush. They always have a D jumping up. Guys like Ekman-Larsson and Keith Yandle, those guys are very skilled defensemen who like jumping up in the rush. They’re playing well. They’re playing with a lot of confidence right now. Mike Smith is playing as well as anyone in the league right now in net. It’s going to be a challenge.’’
The Kings, after their series-ending win over St. Louis on Sunday, are easing back into things. Yesterday was a day off and today, only about half the team was on the ice. Tomorrow, a more normal routine will start. Given the long breaks the Kings have had between games, throughout these playoffs, sitting and waiting is nothing new.
QUICK: “We’re going to do the same thing we did for Van and the same thing we did for St. Louis. We’re going to do as much video as we can, with the time provided, and prepare for them as well as we can. We just have to play.’’
The Kings and Coyotes will essentially have the same amount of rest, given that they clinched their second-round series one day apart. Quick said he wasn’t concerned that the Kings might become stale with all the time off.
QUICK: “No, not at all. That’s not a concern at all. This time of year, not that it’s easy to get geared up, but it comes naturally. You’ve been doing it all year. The days off are great for everybody’s body, to recover and to be as close to 100 percent as possible. … It’s an exciting time of the year. I think the most important thing is trying to take care of your bodies, with the days that we do have, to recover and get ready for the next game.’’
come on Kings Got to win it…..
Little worried but i deal with it into game 1 starts!
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Heh. Quick said they’re “quick”.
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Kings x Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:08 pm
@MK Ultra, Twice. They are listening to your thoughts BTW
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Go Kings!!!!! Kick these dogs it!
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mcsorleyfan Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:10 pm
@mcsorleyfan, That was supposed to be Kick the dogs Out of the playoffs. After the series I want to be able to ask Who kicked the dogs out.
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You got this Quickie!!
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If Quick has one weakness- it’s shots off the rush…sounds like he’s getting ready to deal with those against Phoenix…their defensmen are pretty scary coming in on the rush, the boys need to be ready.
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DesertKing Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
@LB,
High on the blocker side.
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Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:37 pm
@DesertKing, SHHHHH!!! you want them to know???!!! That shot in the ducks game (and I forget the other one in the very next game, or maybe I’m misremembering) still haunts me.
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DesertKing Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
@Stuart,
It happens very rarely now, usually when he hasn’t seen any action for a few minutes. Tippett already knows. How do I know that he knows? Because if I know, then I know that he knows what we all know so it is no big deal that he knows what we know since we already know it and know that he knows what we already know, you know?
Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
@DesertKing, I know, I know, I know, I know…you think you know, but you just don’t know! But Bo knows and Dave Tippett sure as he[[ knows! Got it? cause if you don’t got it, you’re gonna get. Got it? Good. LMAO
FTC
Deke'r Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:36 pm
@DesertKing, ….no…
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DesertKing Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
@Deke’r,
LOL
Kenny44 Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:59 pm
@LB, That’s a weakness for any goalie – the cross ice pass to the late, weakside attacker. No chance to get on the right angle or read the speed.
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They will be ready! Kings over Phoenix in 5 games.
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Yes, this series is causing some concern. The Yotes are playing extremely well and they are getting excellent goaltending. They are also a hard-working team with no real “stars”. Just a bunch of guys who work hard and grind and have a great coach behind the bench. It’s going to be a challenge for the Kings.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:24 pm
@Jeff,
You could pretty much say what you said verbatim from a Yotes’ fan’s perspective:
“Yes, this series is causing some concern. The Kings are playing extremely well and they are getting excellent goaltending. They are also a hard-working team with no real “stars”. Just a bunch of guys who work hard and grind and have a great coach behind the bench. It’s going to be a challenge for the Coyotes.”
Funny how the Blues/Kings were considered ‘mirror’ images of each other yet it may be the Coyotes who are more like us than anyone else. No?
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variable Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:32 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
i agree…
i think we might have the slight advantage in forward production/depth…but everything else is basically very similar…
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Lake Forest Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), I think we are deeper defensively and offensively.
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Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
@Lake Forest, doubly deeper?
vplaza Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
On NHL.com, their first look at the match up bears out what you’re saying, that the Kings and Yotes are pretty much mirrors of each other. Much more so than vs the Blues.
And NHL.com’s key to the Kings’ winning:
“Kings will win if… Los Angeles finds a way to get its power play going. These teams are relatively even in most categories, but the Kings’ anemic power play could be a difference-maker. There is too much talent for such ineffectiveness.”
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DesertKing Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:03 pm
@vplaza,
Thank you!!
Mik3ysfv Reply:
May 9th, 2012 at 5:03 am
@vplaza, thanks Kompost
LB Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 6:04 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), I think the Kings have far more talent up front than phoenix. I see that as the only difference, but should be enough to make a difference.
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IMO, Kings have been playing a better all around game so far in this series. My concern is, we have been streaky this whole season… Let’s hope we can put together 8 more W’s.
Its going to be a physical series.
R Verbata, line needs to get shut down.
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krash324 Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
@KingsGuy, Bright side is we only have to go 8-6 to be Stanley Cup champions
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mrbrett7 Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
@KingsGuy, Series hasn’t started yet. I know…details. I knew what you meant.
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Kenny44 Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
@KingsGuy, Don’t be buying vowels on Radim’s behalf, now. But I agree,
gotta putta bodda on Vrbata
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sh27696 Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 5:44 pm
@KingsGuy, Most of the season, I would have agreed with you, but with the return to the lineup of Martin Hanzil, and the addition at the deadline of Antione Vermette, the Coyotes have a top 6 that needs to be dealt with. Smith is a difference maker,but yotes scored 9 goals on Pekka Rinne in the 1st 2 games in PHX in the last series. Then Smith took over and Preds were toast. Hanzil , Vrbata, Whitney Boedkker, Vermette, Doan. Matches up with our top 6 forwards pretty evenly.
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I know everyone thinks these teams are pretty even based on the regular season, but keep in mind PHX has yet to see this Kings team post trade deadline. These Kings have been so different from March on…
PHX still looks like typical PHX.
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CosmicQueso Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
@Bean32, Then you haven’t been watching too close.
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Bean32 Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
@CosmicQueso, I’ve watched every game. PHX is still PHX. Defensive and tight.
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I don’t think anyone can accurately predict how this series will go. Both teams are playing out of their minds. Both goalies are on fire. Yeah, we’re 8-1, but they’re 8-3. Not too shabby. It’s tough to judge who played the better teams in the 1st 2 rounds. Daniel didn’t really play until Vancouver was already out of it. Elliot couldn’t handle the pressure. Chicago doesn’t play the best defense, and Rinne didn’t appear to be on his game.
I was ultra confident after we eliminated St Louis on Sunday, but then I watched Mike Smith shut down Nashville last night. I really have no idea what’s going to happen!
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Capt Jam Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
@BigFatKingsFan,
PHX is 8-3 with home ice advantage in both series. LA is 8-1 with road ice advantage.
I don’t think there’s any question that the Kings are the much more potent and effective team at this point. The NAS team that played throughout much of the regular season was not the same team in the playoffs. Things changed for NASH after Radulov rejoined them.
Yeah, NASH bounced the Dead Things out, but DET is just a bubble team in transition at this point, as is CHI. I don’t think this series, overall, will be as close as most people are projecting it to be.
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rtana Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:07 pm
@Capt Jam, I think the kings match up very well against the coyotes, I thing that will be the difference is if the kings can get bodies in front of smith and making it harder on him. And also taking advantage of when he plays the puck making him move it before he wants which leads to turnovers.
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I was at the last game in Phoenix when we blew the three goal lead. For me that was the low point of the season. This Yote team is a very good one and they worry me. But I think we are playing about 100% better than we were the last time we were in Jobbing.com. Winning the first game is going to be critical.
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Deke'r Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
@fourtunato,….”Winning the first game is going to be critical”…..doesn’t seem so critical for the Devils….
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The Coyotes are probably the most opportunistic team remaining in the playoffs. They play that rope-a-dope style and just do all their scoring by way of hit-and-run. Personally, I think it is a crazy way to win, but it’s working for them because Smith has been amazing. Another thing is that those goals are total back breakers as they usually come on the heels of the opposing team pummeling the Coyotes for long stretches at a time.
The Kings need to keep their forecheck going strong but not get lulled in too deep or it opens up that hit-and-run break that the Coyotes seem to always capitalize on. Not a lot of “ugly” goals by their top scorers, but a lot of break outs with nice finishes.
Our right side defenders that are generally responsible for the first break out pass, are going to have to resist the urge to pinch too low even when the ice seems tilted in the Kings’ favor. Stay patient, play safe (particularly against Whitney coming at you on the point) and eventually one will go in. I really think the key to the series will be controlling the Coyotes on those 3-4 breaks they always seem to get.
Quick is going to have to stay sharp even though he will see an average of 20 shots a game.
PHX wins a lot of games where they were out-played. To a man, the Kings will need to stay patient and have faith in their system. They’ve held to it so far, so there’s no indication that they can’t continue to do so.
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Coyote’s suck.
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Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
@DesertKing, short and sweet!
FTC
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By the time i get to phoenix……..
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loskingpride Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
@neil, LA will have already won the series and be up 3-0 in the SCF.
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OFF TOPIC – I hate to say it but I think Hayword is a LA playoff good luck charm. Is it wrong that I want him to work the Phoenix series??? He actually has not been that bad when he isn’t working the Duck’s booth…
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:58 pm
@MMF,
Yes, it’s wrong
Seriously though, I can’t stand listening to him. It reminds me of an old story about Mary Hart from Entertainment Tonight. I don’t know if it’s true, but I remember something about a woman having seizures every time she heard her voice. Something like that anyway…
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Hackwoods Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:46 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), There was a Seinfeld episode about that.
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vplaza Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
@MMF,
Is there a petition to have Hazy REMOVED from the broadcasting team? I’d sign that one in a heartbeat.
But, I see what you’re saying. I sure hope that it’s killing him to see the Kings win like this and have to try to sound objective.
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Hackwoods Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:52 pm
@vplaza, I am with you. I will sign that petition with my name, all my friends and families names, and even make a bunch of names up. I really have always like Davd Strader and Brian Engblom even when they were with ESPN. They are a good duo, but Hazzy is a d-bag, and always will be a homer. He was pretty fair and honest in the past series except when he really went way overboard during the game 2 beat down by the Kings. The Kings were up 4-0 and 5-1, and the Blues were really playing hard, and all Hazzy could say was how good the Blues were playing. I know he is most likely trying to keep the fans watching interested, but I can just say one thing…”Hey dork, the Kings were sitting back playing defense and not even attempting a forecheck and just dumping it in and pursuing with only one guy. This is why the Blues looked so effective.” The guy is truly an idiot.
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Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
@Hackwoods, best ESPN hockey duo was Gary Thorne and Bill Clement!
YoBro Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 5:07 pm
@Hackwoods, Yep, Gary Thorne – the voice of God! Of course second to OUR Bob Miller.
Go Kings
G. Faulk Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 5:27 pm
@Hackwoods, Best post all day, that guy is a dork and he can duck up on these nuts!!!
This is a little off topic, but of importance to true Kings fans. I am very troubled by the possibility Bob Miller, after 39 years of excellence in broadcasting Kings games to loyal followers, will be prevented, due to NBC’s contractual rights, from calling what may well turn out to be the Kings historic run to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup. I have been a Kings fan since my first game as a 9 year old in 1972. Bob Miller has been consistently outstanding and exciting calling Kings games for the past 39 years. He has meant to the Kings every bit as much as Vin Scully has to the Dodgers and Chick Hearn did to the Lakers. It is only right, as the Kings near the pinnacle of franchise history, that Bob Miller be the one to call the Stanley Cup Finals for the legions of loyal Kings fans, should we get there. Please take a moment to email Kings management and/or NBC sports and request that a deal be brokered between the team and NBC sports allowing Bob Miller to announce the Finals series at least for the Los Angeles market. I read in the L.A. Times this morning how disappointed Bob is to not be able to announce the playoff games at such an exciting time in franchise history. We fans need to do everything in our power to try to influence the decision makers. Bob deserves as much. Go Kings Go. Bring home the Cup!
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DesertKing Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
@john,
I still think AEG should have a huge watch party at Staples for the away games if there is nothing else going on. Yes, I would pay to go, yes I would buy a beer or soda, yes I would buy nachos, yes I would buy Cup nick-nacks at the team store. YES, I WANT TO HEAR BOB AND JIM CALL THE GAME!
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Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
@DesertKing, for a minute there, I was worried you wouldn’t buy nachos!
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DesertKing Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
@Stuart,
No jalapenos, just cheese and chips, but I always run out of cheese before the chips and that coyotes (sucks)!
Capt Jam Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:46 pm
@john,
Possibility? Friend, it’s a certainty that Bob will not make that final call. And it will be a travesty.
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Gfo12ce Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
@john, I was meaning to write sometihng just like this. +1.
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CL Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:54 pm
@john, It’s not just hockey. If the Dodgers get to the World Series, we’ll be forced to listen to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver assault our earlobes instead of the soothing sounds of Vin Scully…
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Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 1:57 pm
@CL, and Vin doens’t even do radio anymore either, right? That was the only we heard Chick back in the day, because he always did the simulcast!
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CL Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
@Stuart, Hm… didn’t really think about that. These days, they simulcast him for the first three innings. In the playoffs though maybe he’d get the whole game, and the other fellows would just be left by the wayside.
Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
@CL, if he already does 3, it only makes sense that it would be up to him if he wanted to do the entire game…I’m sure the other talkers would bow out graciously.
With Chick, that’s why when they show a lot of old Lakers Championship moments, his voice is there. because he also did the radio even when the networks took over.
Hackwoods Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
@Stuart, The only thing I can think of then is that Nick and Daryl step aside on radio and let Bob and Jim call the rest of the playoffs. Nick has been nearly as valuable to the Kings as Bob has, so I hate to think this way. Maybe we go back to the “original” tandem of Bob and Nick for these games on radio, but Jim has been around for nearly as long as Nick, and Daryl is the Miracle on Manachester poster child. Tough decisions, but I think Nick would agree that Bob needs to be calling the balance of the playoffs, however long they go.
Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
@Hackwoods, It would def be worth mentioning/trying. Daryl and Jim can be “sideline” reporters or something. If nothing else, give Bob the p-b-p and let Daryl and Nick spilt the color??? something, anythng!
john Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:14 pm
@Stuart, there is about a 8-10 second gap between the call on the radio and the action on television. That makes it virtually impossible to listen to the game on radio with the volume down on the t.v. I tried it for game 4 vs. St. Louis and it was too difficult, no matter how lousy and East-coast biased the NBC announcers were. Instead, go to ipetitions.com and type in : “los Angeles Kings Hire Bob Miller and Jim Fox to broadcast for NBC sports” to see if we can persuade NBC sports to make an accomodation in the L.A. area.
Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
@john, already did that one… someone mentioned an app that syncs the stuff up, but too technical for me.
Maybe if you paused the TV (dvr’s only) and tried to sync it up like back in the day with Pink Floyd and the Wizard of Oz…
Sebastian Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:00 pm
@john, here is the link to the story in case anyone wants to read it.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-kings-20120508,0,82495.story
im with you on this, but like Kopi says, “its is what it is”. i would like to see this change, where the regional broadcast would retain rights to do all their teams games within their market, and NBC taking over all out of market broadcast, but im sure NBC would have none of that. they pay the NHL the big bucks, they do what they want and they dont give a damn about us or any other market getting their broadcast guys.
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Zeley Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
@john,
I thought I saw a glimmer of hope at the end of the article. It very well may have been a delaying tactic and nothing more, but the article ended with the following (presumably from the NBC spokesperson, but it’s out of the quote marks):
. . . but it’s too soon to speculate on Cup finals coverage.
Not a flat-out denial. It’s not much. Still, I say continue to send your positive remarks to NBC, and just maybe, they will consider it when the Kings earn their way to the finals.
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Hackwoods Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 11:56 pm
@Zeley, I thought the same thing after just reading the article. The door is not totally shut on the idea of having Bob Miller involved if the Kings are fortunate enough to make it to the finals. Very promising. To be on this nice playoff ride with the team I love the most but to do it without the voice that I have listened to for over 30 years just really brings this great feeling down a notch or two.
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Ron Reynolds Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
@john,
Nicely said, John. Thank you for a great post.
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i wonder what the vegas odds were on the kings and coyotes playing in the wcf…?
this is going to be a very intense series…i really envision the series like an ol’ time heavyweight fight, as both teams are very physical and capable of playing complete games…and, obviously, smith and quick are at the top of their games…
but i can’t overestimate the “counter punch” factor, meaning that the team that capitalizes on the others mistakes will probably prevail…
we should be psyched up for a great match up…
gkg…:)
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A lot of talk about PHO but I bet Tippett is worried about the matchups he’s going to go with.
This series will be a battle at the faceoff dots! Look for Stolly to be huge in at the dots!
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The Kings are (27-14) +13 goal differential for the playoffs, while PHX is (29-21) +8 while having played two more games than LA.
No doubt the Kings are the much better team going into G1.
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vplaza Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
@Capt Jam,
You can add that they’ve played the top two seeds compared to the teams PHX played.
That said, a lot of that goes out the window when they meet on game 1 since it’s the first time they’ve played each other in a while and certainly the first time since both teams started their playoff runs.
It will be a tough fight but I think the Kings will come out on top. They’ve shown resiliency (ability to bounce back after a goal against them) and continued defensive and goaltending excellence.
Now, if they can just score on the PP….
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If they continue to play the way they have been, there is no reason they shouldn’t win. They need production from all 4 lines and Quick just needs to be Quick.
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Trivia Question: Who asked Dustin Brown the first question (that we can hear) in today’s media scrum?
http://kingsnewsdaily.com/pre-game-videos/
It’s a rare day when this guy is in the Kings locker-room!
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Capt Jam Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Jim Hill is the man. He’s the only LA sports anchor I’ve seen many times at Kings games over the years.
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mcdangles Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Jim Hill
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Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
@mcdangles, I haven’t heard it, but if it is Jimmy, he must’ve thought there was a Lakers shot-around at TSC today… or he quit the Spearmint early.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
@mcdangles,
Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner.
I heart Jim Hill. Wish he’d cover more hockey.
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Michael J. Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
I really like Jim, but c’mon… the Kings??? I’m not buying it.
Michael J. Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
A guy who can’t seem to care about the Kings unless they are deep in the playoffs?
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
@Michael J.,
Unfortunately, yes.
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Naturallawyer Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), so would that be this Jim Hill?
http://www.laobserved.com/assets_c/2010/11/jimhill-sactokings-5420.php
Yes, you saw that logo (in)correctly…
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
@Naturallawyer,
Wow. That is embarrassing. Never saw that before.
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If the Flyers and Rangers get eliminated, will NBC just simply cancel the play-offs?
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Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
@Ryanitos, no, but all games will only be on NBCSN… no national Tele for the finals.
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Michael J. Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
@Stuart,
You forgot to add that they will be pay-per-view.
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Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:22 pm
@Michael J., and have start times of noon Pacific… on weekdays only!
Ryanitos Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:27 pm
@Stuart, I hate NBCSN: Pierre McGuire, Brian Hayward, and Brian Engblom are absolutely brutal. They are only missing Drew Remenda to have the Four Horseman of Broadcasting Apocolypse.
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Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
@Ryanitos, LOL!!! yeah, Drew is terryble!
PurpleBlacknGold Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:42 pm
@Ryanitos, I gotta be honest. As bad as Pierre is, I would rather listen to him than Doc. If Doc Emeric comes up with one more stupid verb to use in describing hockey plays I am gonna flip. When a puck “skitters” wide, does it do a special little dance that throws a rainbow? Or if it is “knifed” along, does it become sharp and slice through the ice like butter? That guy drives me nuts!
Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
@PBG, I would much rather hear Doc than Haywire… but it’s really the lesser of two evils, in my mind. At least Doc sounds genuinely enthused.
Duncanz Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
@Stuey, You don’t think it’s all a little affected though?
Last night, I think it was, after one of the teams had knifed a skittering puck into the zone, someone took a shot, he heard a clink, lost sight of the puck momentarily, and when he finally saw it had skittered away from the goal and was about to be knifed back out of the zone, like a full two minutes later, it was …. “OFF THE PIPE!!!!”.
@PBnG is right, right?
Dude is seriously challenged.
Naturallawyer Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:17 pm
@PurpleBlacknGold, you forgot “waffleboarded” which is somehow a verb…
PurpleBlacknGold Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
@Duncanz, I knew you would come up with an agreeable comment!
@naturallawyer, I cringed just reading that, cause I heard it in my head! Give that guy a dictionary and a Valium, right?
Coyotes will only go as far as Smith can take them. I think we are more complete, we have a number of guys that can carry our team thru a game or series: Quick, Brown, Kopitar, Richards, Doughty. Personally, Brown has had the most impact in the playoffs for us so far. Look for Kopi to take charge in game 1
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Mr Diver Ryan Kessler went through Shoulder Surgery for a torn Labrum and will be out 6 months.
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Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
@Jeff_R, read that on NHL.com… all that wreckless diving all over the ice will hurt your shoulder more than staying on your skates! Who knew!
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loskingpride Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:30 pm
@Jeff_R, As an athlete who has gone through the surgery 2 times before the age of 20, I can see why he would need it with all the diving around he does!
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vplaza Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
@Jeff_R,
A shopping cart must have hit him on the behind at the grocery store and he instinctively dove to the ground, hitting a shelf that injured his shoulder.
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Michael J. Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
@Jeff_R,
With the improved shoulder Kessler should be able to execute that forward full-twist pike with hardly any splash at all.
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Stuart Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 2:48 pm
@Michael J., a splashless turd…sums him up about right.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
@Jeff_R,
Wait till you see all the Labrum tunnel ‘dog paddling’ injuries that are going to occur with the Yotes just trying to keep their heads above water in this series!
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Kenny44 Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
@Jeff_R, stupid sandbar
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Jeff Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
@Jeff_R, he might be able to do a Triple Lindy when his shoulder is healed.
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I’m not worried too much about the ‘Yotes speed. If the Kings can foil their rush at the blue line like they did in the last two series, the dogs will be will be neutered.
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It’s the Kings vs the NHL in the conference finals!
Since the league owns Phoenix (at least for the rest of the season), that means… Bettman would get a Stanley Cup ring if they were to win?
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Jeff_R Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
@California Royalty, He can hand the Cup to himself if they win it
.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
@Jeff_R, He had better just parade it around the red carpet.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen him skate.
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Deke'r Reply:
May 8th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
@California Royalty, …probably not but sure would make selling the team alot easier….
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I read all the comments above. Anyone else get worried when Doan and Vrabata are on the ice? They always seems to come up with timely goals against the Kings. Phoenix was on a tear for the last 3rd of the season, vaulting them into 3rd place in the Conference. The tear continued into the playoffs. Smith, Whitney, Yandle, Aucoin, Klesla all good players but Doan and Vrabate make me nervous.
GO-KINGS-GO!!!
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So far any LA media coverage of the Kings is related to the fact that the Lakers and Clippers are still alive. The fact that the Bball playoffs conflict with Hockey will never allow for solid Kings coverage. I hate Bball!!!!!
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The Coyotes didn’t make it to the Conference finals by playing shabby hockey. In fact, they started putting all the pieces together prior to the Kings, and played with greater consistency down the tail end of the home stretch. So there’s absolutely no reason to expect anything other than a struggle.
I think one of the keys for us is going to consist of maintaining our dominant play in the neutral zone. If we can do that, I think we can force them to make some unwanted adjustments to their offensive game. Pace may be a factor. Our line changes are going to have to be precise. We allowed a grand total of 6 goals vs. St. Louis, but one of them was scored as a direct result of a sloppy line change. Controlling the pace by dominating play in the neutral zone will help us control pace and take away some of their speed.
Solving Mike Smith will probably prove to be our greatest challenge. We’re going to need to do to him what St. Louis was unable to do to Quick: screen him, produce rebounds and pounce on them.
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I am reading that most of the folks making their predictions here are taking the Coyotes too lightly. That’s a big mistake. Never mind the seedings. Chicago was favored highly to beat the Coyotes as were the Predators. If the Kings players and coaches take the Coyotes as lightly as the writers here, then the Coyotes will be playing for the Cup. Coyotes in a hard fought 7 game series.
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