Even some of those of us who were there had to glance at the schedule for confirmation. The Kings and New Jersey Devils played twice during the regular season, with both games in October. That’s Oct. 2011, even though it feels as though it was two or three years ago. Given how much has changed for both teams, and the ups and downs of a six-month regular season, it’s doubtful that either team will put too much emphasis on the regular-season meetings, both of which were won by the Devils (one in a shootout).
For one, Devils goalie Martin Brodeur played only one period against the Kings because of injury, and backup goalie Jonathan Bernier started one of the games for the Kings. Both teams have undergone roster changes. The Devils’ bottom-six forwards, credited by sparking the team in the playoffs, were completely different in October. The Kings had totally different lines as well. All of which explains why Dustin Brown isn’t thinking too much about those regular-season games, or even when they were played.
BROWN: “It’s one of those things — I don’t even really remember the game. I just remember it was our first game back (after Europe), I think. Maybe our second game back. I don’t really remember much about their team, from playing them. Both teams are a lot different now. … I think there’s a big difference, game four in the schedule and a Stanley Cup Final game. It’s pretty irrelevant, what happened in the regular season.’’
One thing that players can look to is that the Devils figure to be their greatest challenge of the playoffs. The teams aren’t identical, by any means, but the series could easily come down to a battle of the forecheck. Both teams are aggressive in that area and both will look to establish momentum by stifling the other. Brown and Jonathan Quick talked about the matchup and the similarities between the teams.
BROWN: “I think they’re both really well structured. I think there’s differences in our structures, but everyone looks at the matchups and if they’re similar. I know they’ve got big wingers and so do we. It’s really hard to say, just because we don’t play these guys like we do the Coyotes and all the other teams we faced. We’re looking at video now, and figuring out what their game plan is.’’
QUICK: “They play a lot like us. They play a really strong game. They work hard. They have fast, big wingers. They have great centermen. They have a strong forecheck. So that’s something that I’ve going to see a lot of, over the next few games. I have to, if I’m able to, play the puck and try to create stuff for our defensemen so they’re not getting ran. If you look at Kovalchuk, Zach Parise, they’ve got tons of guys. Those top two lines, in general, are very potent, so we’re going to have to neutralize them.’’
Getting excited for Game 1!
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Funny how this is the 3rd series in a row (so weird typing that) that the Kings are ‘similar’ to their opponent.
First it was St. Louis… like looking in a mirror.
Then the Yotes… great defense, great goalie just like us.
And now the Devils.
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LA_1968 Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 5:56 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), Waives, And I forgot about how St. Louis was REALLY the mirror of the Kings. Totally forgot about that.
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sh27696 Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
@LA_1968, It’s so easy to forget, with just 14 games plaayed in 7+ weeks, the talk before the Blues series seems nearly as lomg ago, as the games in October vs the Devils. The Kings have won every round so fast, it seems like all we ever get to watch is other teams playing. There have been 80 games played and the New York Rangers played 20 of them It’s possible that the Kings can win the Stanley Cup, and play fewer postseason games than the Rangers, did!
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Duncanz Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 2:36 am
@sh27696,
Kings have played 14 games so far, the same number as the Caps have and only 2 more than Flyers, both of whom lost a full round earlier!
Pasadena Hockey Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 10:22 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), I thought the same thing. And to the point of 14 games in 7 weeks, there isn’t a lot of new info. Everyday my 6 year old pretends he is an announcer covering the Kings on Fox Sports. This morning when he went into his banter driving to school we really didn’t have anything new to discuss. They are different in that they won their conference. We won our conference. It is different this time in that it is for the cup. Enough waiting, lets get it on! GO KINGS!
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gralx Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 11:13 am
@Pasadena Hockey, 6 years old? Sounds like he should be about the right age to take over once Bob decides to hang it up!
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But we’ve got DS.
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Kman Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
@Diego,
And… we have the man-advantage ! Really.
(It’s just the PP that concerns us.)
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sh27696 Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 11:26 pm
@Kman, Fortunately, we also have the playoff SHG advantage!
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/globe-on-hockey/are-the-los-angeles-kings-the-best-eighth-seed-ever/article2445646/
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Ron Reynolds Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 6:29 pm
@petemagoop,
Thanks for that!
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LA_1968 Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 6:43 pm
@petemagoop, There’s no trophy for best eighth seed ever but what I like is our goal differential. Who wouldn’t though? Even number 1 seeds.
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CPMC29 Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 8:01 pm
@petemagoop, So your saying we have a chance?
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BryBry Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:59 am
@CPMC29, Haha dumb and dumber
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Hopefully DS tells Quick to play it safe, to concentrate on stopping the puck, when in doubt let the defense man play it. Quick’s great but puck handling ain’t his strong point.
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zulov Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
@vicarious, You noticed that too. Had a tiny panic attack when I read Quickie’s quote… let’s hope he is not too focused on puck movement….
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Shakes Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 8:20 pm
@vicarious, Yeah that part about him creating stuff for our defenseman made me pause… Just be yourself Jonathan and don’t get tempted to do more out of your comfort zone
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OMG.
MORE EAST COAST BIAS ALERT!
NHLN just showed the WCF & ECF deciding games back-to-back.
Did anyone (@Mercury, @Exhausted, @SVELTE) time the length of the respective celebrations?
Actually, there was no respect!
As soon as the first Kings met Dustin Penner to celebrate they cut it off.
The NJD celebration was shown in full, plus interviews and commentary.
What the peacock do we have to do to demonstrate to them there is hockey west of the Mississippi and south of the Mason-Dixon Line???
I want to throw up in my pozole and tortilla chips right now!
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LA_1968 Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 6:48 pm
@Duncanz, Yeah I noticed that too yesterday. Typical. Why do you think the majority of their “experts” picked NJ to win the Cup? Better celebration!
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Jeff_R Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 6:50 pm
@Duncanz, Well in NHL’s defense The Kings OT winner was a lot later then the Devils. The Kings game ended right at the 2 hour mark, so they had to cut away fast. Didn’t watch the Devils/Rangers game to see what time before the 2 hour mark it ended.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
@Jeff_R, 6 mins, then almost 5 mins of extra stuff before commercials, and the top of the hour.
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Jeff_R Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 7:57 pm
@Duncanz, Be happy they are repeating the games and don’t nitpick. They will be repeating the Finals all summer long so we will see the Kings lift the Cup into September and possibly longer if they don’t sign off on a new CBA.
TiredOfIt Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 7:55 pm
@Jeff_R, Jeff….the LAST thing any aliens need here is LOGIC…..j/k…voice of reason Jeff…as usual
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TiredOfIt Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 7:51 pm
@Duncanz, As I said in a later thread, we’re getting the “East shoved down out throat” crap right off the bat. And if you’ve noticed all of the lead ins for NHL network have devils in them…AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH
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Jeff_R Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
@TiredOfIt, Umm maybe because the Kings have the longer time off, so everything they are saying about the Devils now was already said about the Kings after they beat the Coyotes.
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LomitaKingsFan Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
@Duncanz, Off-topic. Had the pleasure of meeting Duncan down at Toyota Sports Center this weekend. Great guy to talk hockey with. As promised Duncan here are the shots that I took from both Saturday and Sundays practice.
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjzG8YJC
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Duncanz Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 3:03 am
@LomitaKingsFan,
What a beautiful portfolio of photos, @LomitaKF. You ought to be doing this for a living. After viewing them I almost felt I was there!
Excellent titling and commentary, as well. Loved the Darryl Sutter’s breakfast one.
If you look very carefully in the well accepted bandwagon gallery shot you can see a couple of peanut munchers extraordinaire, @brian spain & Your Los Angeles @Duncanz!
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sh27696 Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 11:33 pm
@Duncanz, Chill the NJ OT goal was scored in about 70 seconds at a home game. Penner sored nealy 18 minutes into OT on road ice. That was just editing to show hockey action, rather than fans throwing stuff onto the ice.
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KC23 Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:15 am
@Duncanz, I believe that is more about the Cryoties than disrespect for the Kings. NHL network’s main job is to promote the league and showing the Cryoties post game juvenile antics doesn’t lend itself well in that department.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 2:54 am
@sh27696/@KC23,
Totally, but it turned into a pretty good thread in the end, right?
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Holy cow I am famous. Myself, Duncan and Greg made it on the NHL Channels Finals preview during the segment where they interview Marcel Dionne. They got that while we were in Phoenix. Wow.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 6:30 pm
@Jeff_R,
You might’ve been best to say you, @Duncanz & @Blarney for the not-so-inner-circle punters, @Tweety!
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Jeff_R Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
@Duncanz, I was so shocked I forgot.
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Jeff_R Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 6:37 pm
@Jeff_R, It is on the NHL Tonight show that will be repeated all night long.
Duncanz Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 7:48 pm
@Jeff_R, Ok, West Coast biaswatch is officially CANCELED for the foreseeable future due to the infamous “@Jeff_R Gang” being wrangled by the NHLN cameras.
Clearly the balance has been completely redressed and we are now in an a acceptable state of satisfactory normalcy.
VIVA LOS NBC Affiliates and NEVER MIND THE PEACOCKS, HERE’S THE TEX PISTOLS!!!
GNBCG & GKG GKG GKG GKG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Kissmyblarneystones Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
@Duncanz,
Class!!!
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Kissmyblarneystones Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 7:51 pm
@Jeff_R,
An unlikely grouping, if ever there was one, but a great time all the same. The robust discussions in the car on the way home were particularly memorable.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 7:58 pm
@Kissmyblarneystones,
“Unlikely” is a euphimism for the ages!
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Jeff_R Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 8:01 pm
@Kissmyblarneystones, Yea well what is it they say…Opposites attract? Well nothing more correct about our trio.
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TiredOfIt Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 7:56 pm
@Jeff_R, Wait where what?????????? I just watched that where were you guys?????
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Jeff_R Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 8:00 pm
@TiredOfIt, During Marcel Dionne interview, when they are talking about LA being a Hockey town.
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TiredOfIt Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 8:02 pm
@Jeff_R, were you guys in a bar?
Jeff_R Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 8:06 pm
@TiredOfIt, I believe we were at Margaritaville or right outside it.
Kissmyblarneystones Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
@TiredOfIt:
Where else would we be?
TiredOfIt Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 8:24 pm
@Jeff_R, I see three guys in a bar…one with a DD jersey(right) #23 Jersey and a scarf(middle) and a Kopi Jersey(left)
Kissmyblarneystones Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 9:00 pm
@Jeff_R,
@TiredOfIt, That would be us!!
TiredOfIt Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 9:42 pm
@Jeff_R, Awesome!!!!!!Looks like you guys had a great time…a memory for a lifetime….
KC23 Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:17 am
@Jeff_R, I believe me and my wife were in the bar at the time of the interview. This was Tuesday’s Phoenix game right? (game2)
Kissmyblarneystones Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 2:04 am
@Jeff_R,
@KC23 Yep!!
Kissmyblarneystones Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 2:06 am
@Jeff_R,
@TiredOfIt. Let’s just say that I will never forget it!!
LA_1968 Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 9:44 pm
@Jeff_R, @Kissmyblarneystones, @Duncanz,
My wife and I just saw you guys on there. We were laughing our asses off.
Nice dance Duncanz. You told me your goal was to get on some kind of video for the Kings season. I’d say that’s pretty close so Congrats!
Kissmyblarneystones aka Greg… Did you drop your wallet under the bar?
Jeff_R, you were the coolest cat.
Way to go guys!
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Jeff_R Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 11:58 pm
@LA_1968, Thanks and it was great meeting you and you family. Hopefully can do so again soon, perhaps game 6 clincher at Staples?
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Kissmyblarneystones Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 2:02 am
@LA_1968,
No!! I was scratching my butt!
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Why do people put so much stock in what teams did years ago in the finals? What past Kings/Devils teams did in the finals has ZERO to do with the teams that will meet on Wednesday. I think it’s laughable that Devils fans keep mentioning that their team beat two other teams who came into the finals 12-2. Those Devils teams are not taking the ice on Wednesday. The things people will latch onto to try and give support to what they believe will happen. I think the Kings will win because they have been the best team in the playoffs. If they continue to play as they have, the 1993 Kings will have no effect on the outcome of the game, I’d wager!
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sh27696 Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:03 am
@Minnesota Kings Fan, The Devils do have a guy who played on both of those teams, Martin Brodeur, and he does scare me. Did you see the games in 1993 at the Forum. In both games the Kings got tieing goal in the 2nd half of the game and you could see Patrick Roy’s self talk and body language, say both times, that’s it for tonight, I’m not letting anything else in. Brodeur has obviously done that as well, which is why he has won the Cup 3 times in 4 previous times in the final round. Given the time between rounds, the talking heads, and the writers need to do something to fill time. While I am glad, that the schedule, did not demand a flight from AZ, directly to NY or NJ. There is frankly too much time between games and way too much time to fill, when, a series doesn’t go 7 games.
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KC23 Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 12:19 am
@Minnesota Kings Fan, NJ has to point to the past because their team clearly doesn’t match up that well right now.
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My analysis on how I think the Devils will try to exploit one of their key strengths – the power play. At the same time, it helps to deflect attention from one of their weaknesses – play inside their defensive zone against a rugged, big team like the Kings. Defense by way of offense.
The Devils will try to impose their will on the Kings by way of their forecheck and they tend to put lots of pucks on-net. Because they have an edge in the power play, they’ll try to keep pressure in the offensive zone to force the Kings into long shifts and to commit penalties. With the Kings’ pathetic PP%, they can even take the occassional gamble on a marginal hit and feel that they can get away with it. My guess on the players that the Devils will targe to try to draw penalties on are:
1) Drew Doughty – Don’t think that the Devils and everyone else didn’t notice the way that Drew lost his cool in the series-clinching game against Phoenix. Drew has 12 PIM in the playoffs and ranks 6th on the team in that category, as well as the highest among the DCorp. My guess is the Devils will try to get under Doughty’s skin.
2) Richards’ Line – Dustin Penner leads the Kings in PIM with 26 and Richards is 4th with 15. Of the Kings’ top 2 lines, Richards’ line has greater difficulty in clearing the zone and have been involved in several GA and quality chances for the previous 3 playoff opponents. My guess is that DeBoer will try to pit his top line (Parise/Zajac/Zubris) and occassionaly his 4th line (Carter/Gionta/Bernier) to try to frustrate the Kings 2nd Line.
3) Quick – I’d not be surprised if the Devils take liberties in crashing the net, especially early in the game since they love to get off to fast starts, just like the Kings. The Devils have scored almost half their goals in the 1st periods. As I mentioned before, they won’t mind trying to rattle Quick and make an early statement, even at the expense of being penalized since they may consider it a good gamble considering the Kings weak PP.
If the Kings are able to clear the zone quickly and get past the neutral zone – which won’t be easy – turn the tables and establish a forecheck of their own, then they can deny this strategy by the Devils. The Devils will be the toughest team the Kings have faced in this aspect of the game. They are better than Phoenix and St. Louis, much better with their modified “trap”. Right now the only line that I see being able to skate the puck into the Devils’ OZone is Kopitar’s, due to his individual skills. Richards’ line will need to catch Carter flying on the wing with a pass to spring him and that will likely only happen close ot the boards and away from the middle of the ice, just want the Devils want to see.
GkG!
Cheers!
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Go Kings Go!
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“I have to, if I’m able to, play the puck”
Uh oh. I love Quick as much as the next guy, but we may be better off if he avoids doing this.
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Duncanz Reply:
May 28th, 2012 at 7:53 pm
@Eric,
We need to get him ‘blinkers’ so he doesn’t see the puck when it’s at the side of the net!
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EAST EAST EAST….c’mon NHL network…MB MB MB MB MB….spread it around a little bit eh?
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Duncanz Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 3:09 am
@TiredOfIt,
Mississippi Burning???
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7MILforHickey Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 4:20 am
@Duncanz, looks like the rattle snakes are committing suicide
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Penner shoots…….HE SCORES!!!!!!!!!! and that’s the ballgame
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Kovalchuk skates down the left wing and OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO…what a crushing hit by Brown…..oooo he’s hurt Mike…..Kovalchuk is down and he’s not moving…oh my goodness what a hit!!!
He had his head down the whole way Mike and Brown just CRUSHED him…..I hope he’s alright…this could effect the rest of the series Mike……….more to follow….Go Kings Go
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Duncanz Reply:
May 29th, 2012 at 3:20 am
@TiredOfIt,
Emrick: “And Kovalsuck (sic) LOSES HIS HEAD there courtesy of a HUGE HIT by Dustin Brown – who, by the way, is not necessarily known as “Jason” Brown, although if the cap fits … although, you wouldn’t need a cap if you lost your head, of course … etc,etc”
[ ***nb, this is much more a commentary on ME's wondrous sense of humor than it is my own!]
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Is it just me, or does it seem like Clarkson has a screw loose? Guy creeps me out…
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i just dont see any advantage that nj has on the floor check. la’s forwards are bigger more skilled and faster not to mention hungrier. brown,penner, carter, lewis, stoll, king, kopitar, frazier, richardson, nolan, faster lewis williams richards and down right mean richards and richards and richards,and brown and brown and brown/// talk about mean greene, mitchell doughty, scuderi and so on and on on on kings are tough they should be renamed the down and dirty kings
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Guys we were nervous before each past series,remember? KINGS will win big, i feel it.Stay calm.kings proved that they are the best.Some people try to discredit the KINGS,but they cant do nothing.KINGS are the next NHL champions.I guaranty this.4-1 KINGS.GO KINGS GO.
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I hope our game plan is not Quick playing the puck.
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Did anyone else get a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach when Quick mentioned playing the puck? I’m a little worried he’ll see Brodeur doing it and try to copy him…
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ToughD Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 1:39 am
@Danielle, EXACTLY!
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I think we play a similar game to the Rangers and they got eliminated in six. We were brilliant in the Canucks and Blues series at forechecking and keeping teams to their backhand, and dominated. As the Yotes series wore on, we did less and less of that and the Yotes seemed to have more and more success at beating our forecheck.
No doubt Kolvy worries me and especially on the PP, but hopefully we stay out of the box. And mind our defensive responsibilities. We’ve got three good grinding lines, and hopefully the Richards line continues to produce. Richards needs to dominate, Penner continue to use his big body to protect the puck and score some timely goals and paases, and the ninja Carter will pop in once in a while and utilize his deadly shot as well as some nice passes.
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ToughD Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 1:47 am
@ToughD, and Quickie needs to continue being our MVP!
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