Justin Williams’ postgame thoughts…
(on his pass to Anze Kopitar in overtime…)
WILLIAMS: “Their D kind of came down the wall a little bit, and then their other D came over at me. I wasn’t sure if Kopitar was alone, but I knew he was over there, so I just kind of threw it over there. My linemates have been terrific this whole playoff, Kopi and Brownie, and he scored another big goal for us.’’
(on getting a goal against the run of play…)
WILLIAMS: “Yeah, certainly. They’re a great team. They come at you hard. They don’t give you any space. They’ve got a heck of a forecheck and a great goalie. We expect more of this throughout the series.’’
(on his pass to Kopitar…)
WILLIAMS: “It’s just an area pass, and you hope the guy skates into it. We didn’t have our best tonight. We know that we can play better, and we’re planning on doing that.’’
(on playing Game 1 after the long break…)
WILLIAMS: “I thought we handled the layoff pretty well. Mentally, we just need to get more focused. The ice wasn’t very good, so we need to take that into consideration. All in all, we’re excited with the win, but we need to follow it up.’’
Great job JW…nice pass!
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Kman Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:19 pm
@g smith86,
If we hav’ent found a way to spread the kudos enough…
JDub now leading the squad thru 15 playoff games with 10 assists.
3rd in SOG only behind his linemates. (45)
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:13 am
@g smith86, That was an amazing play and a remarkable pass. It was all on instinct. I’ve seen the replay over a dozen times, and Willie just passed the puck in a safe zone. He might have heard Kopi calling for it, but it was a blind pass for the most part. In the system, you learn to put the puck in certain areas, and players are expected to be in those areas. It was a broken play at best, but it was a great instinct by Williams to drop that puck into that area. And like Brown said, it was a bad read by the Devils d-man, Bryce Salvador.
Great win in a tight, ugly game!
GO KINGS GO!!
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Stuart Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 8:28 am
@mash-ola, heck yeah! When I saw Kopi reaching on his backhand with one hand on the stick, knowing how bad the ice was and that it was close to the halfway scrape up (meaning the ice was at as bad at that point than any other of the night) I thought he was not going to be able to corral it and then he mosies in on MB and it seemed like surreal slo-mo in my eyes! every fake I kept expecting to see the puck jump his stick, then I thought MB would get the pokecheck on it, then it was by him and I was jumping up and down as Kopi was jumping on the glass, both our arms outstretched!!!
I thought it was a bad read too, but on the replays and postgames, it was pointed out that the only reason Zubrius was on the wall was he was looking to change, his arm was up calling for it, but it was perfect timing for us, bad timing for them!!!
what a game! My heart will truly be tested if e everygame is that close…
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sick goal by kopi
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OneTimer Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 8:57 pm
@palmspringskingsfan,
Unbelievably sick. That … is a PRO.
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Shuchuk Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
@palmspringskingsfan, CLASSIC. reminds me of Gibson.
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Hockeysureshot Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
@palmspringskingsfan, Oh man was that move amazing! Almost as sweet as his breakaway in ST.Louis.
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Tenspot Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
@Hockeysureshot,
Or his tweener-tucker on the Lumberjack.
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KingInVegas Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 11:52 pm
@palmspringskingsfan, Indeed a sick goal and a better pass. Actually if you watch the play from the Kings D zone, it was Parise that was his D responsibility but he veered off Kopitar in the O zone cause the Devils kept the puck in off the boards, but then Doughty got it and threw it up the boards to Williams. Only a matter of Williams getting the puck over to open ice for Kopi to have a break away. So you can blame Parise and then the left D for over playing, maybe a bit too aggressive, on that play.
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:16 am
@KingInVegas, Yes, Parise and Salvador misread the play and were caught out of position.
Parise was a -2, btw. He was on the ice for both Kings goals. Too bad that one he swiped into the Kings net with his hand didn’t count!
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Pili Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 7:42 am
@mash-ola, Yeah I had been hoping the Kings might pick up Parise in the future until that swipe incident. Great talent but we don’t need a cheater.
red49er Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 8:46 am
@KingInVegas, Pili, every single King would have done the same. It just means they’re trying and / or wrapped up in the moment. Your type of attitude is what keeps teams as perennial 3rd place or worse finishers.
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NICE ASSIST JDUB!!!!!!!!!
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:16 am
@Lake Forest, Williams now leads the team in the post season with 10 assists, I believe.
GO KINGS GO!
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the Kings seem to be unphased by anything the other team tries to throw at them…this is a mark of a well oiled machine and great team…well coached and with all the pieces in the right place
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Cry Baby Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
@g smith86, Completely agree. NJ had a couple of cycles but it seemed the Kings would get right back on track. There was not too much sustained pressure.
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Tenspot Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:15 pm
@g smith86,
We played a very sub-par game in many ways and still pulled the win. Makes me feel reeeeaaaaalllll good about our chances if they fix the problems.
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:17 am
@g smith86, I fully expect the Devils to play better Saturday night. But I also expect the Kings to, as well…
GO KINGS GO!
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Great patience, great vision, great veteran play. Thanks JW!
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Kenny44 Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 8:59 pm
@DesertKing, Penner made a similar play to MR earlier. Keep looking for that.
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DesertKing Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:01 pm
@Kenny44,
With the tight NJ forecheck, that may be the only way we get behind their defense.
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Kenny44 Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
@DesertKing, the tighter they close their grip, the more the Kings can slip through their fingers
That would explain some of the passes that were a bit off. I bet Jersey fixes this before next game because they missed some good opportunities that could have been related to ice issues.
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Kenny44 Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
@Chrtistian T, Nah, that plays to their style – point shots and net scrambles.
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:20 am
@Chrtistian T, They need to turn up the air and de-humidify it better at The Rock. When it’s hot and humid, the ice is like soup. The puck doesn’t slide so easy, it sticks, and it bounces a lot too… Nice if the Kings were playing the 1980′s Oilers to slow them down, but not for both the Kings and Devils this post season.
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People talk about crappy ice in LA, but how crappy was that whole arena? You have to bring out a guy with a big hammer to pound the boards back in? Umm…this is the Stanley Cup finals…
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stagger Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
13 down. 3 to go.
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Shuchuk Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
@edwood2, right! and it’s not like NJ has 3 pro teams playing in their building. GO KINGS!!!
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Lavamantis Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 12:00 am
@edwood2, Is it weird that their ice crew are all wearing those plain white painter overalls? I was reminded of ompaloompas.
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:23 am
@Lavamantis, That’s funny! They reminded me of something Looney Toons with a big ACME patch in the back…
Kinda weird cos the Prudential Center is only two years old. You’d think they would have the ice/temperature in better condition, and yeah, there’s no reason the boards should be so bad. I mean, it’s hot and humid in NY/NJ now, but the A/C should be running at full blast…
And like Mike Richards said, the bad ice actually helped the Kings in the third as a couple of golden scoring chances for NJ were thwarted because the puck was bouncing around.
GO KINGS GO!
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So happy JW stayed healthy this season. It’s been a long road back for him. He has to be feeling good right now.
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nice pass Williams! Hope u score goals too
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Attention!! You are all 3 wins away from seeing a grown man cry lol
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paige Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 11:39 pm
@Marty’s Fists, haha. I screamed so loud tonight I thought the police were gonna come knocking on my door
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Lavamantis Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 12:02 am
@paige, Me too, then I realized there were 100 other kings fans in the bar screaming just as loud. And 3 silent Jersey Shore fans brooding in the corner.
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THe puck kept bouncing like a ping pong, lousy ice.
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I wasn’t sure who that was when JW started that pass. Boy was I happy to see big 11 there. Then nervous to see if he could control the puck.
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Shuchuk Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
@LA_1968, our boy is a GAMER. that was so MONEY!
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Wow what a game not the best game played by the Kings but a win is a win. Game 2 will be incredible.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
@scott-77,
Lots of nerves on both sides. But the Kings did a better job overall. The better team won tonight.
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All of the Devils fans went back to NY.
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Shakes Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:36 pm
@DesertKing, Actually I was on the train… All the kings fans went back to NY
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:26 am
@DesertKing, It was nice to see a fair number of Kings fans at the game, especially on the Kings’ first goal by Fraser. That fan in the black Kings jersey behind the glass who jumped up from his third row seat and slammed up against the glass was AWESOME!!!
Way to represent, Kings fans!
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letswinthecup2012 Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 9:57 am
@mash-ola, haha i kept trying to see that guy hitting the boards on the replay, but i never saw him get to the glass… saw him get up and start running though!! Frasier, Kopi!!!!
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The LA Kings Rock!
Go Kings Go !
Thanks for a great game guys!
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Williams you did real good…
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Man-on-Fire!
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My heart is still going 1,000,000 miles an hour!
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:27 am
@Mars, My blood pressure was pounding like sledgehammer…
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Pili Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 7:44 am
@Mars, Here it is the next morning and mine’s still going lol.
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When Fraser scores..
A Kings fan launches himself into the glass behind..
Check it out..
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TiredOfIt Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 12:30 am
@SLIM, Was that Dunc’s?
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I love watching the replay of the first goal, when a guy in a Kings jersey runs down from his seat and jumps into the glass. Way to go, Kings Nation!
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SLIM Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:06 pm
@Jon G,
Look above^^^^
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Jon G Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
@SLIM, Nothing gets by us experts, eh?
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I cant believe we have to wait until Saturday for Game 2. Bettman sucks.
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Sorry for caps but NBC’s COVERAGE WAS THE WORST COVERAGE I HAVE EVER SEEN! I WAS THROWING UP IN MY MOUTH.
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DesertKing Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
@Steve,
1 word – mouthwash
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crashin' da net Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:08 pm
@Steve, I was throwing up in your mouth too!
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crashin' da net Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:09 pm
@crashin’ da net, uggghh, no. wait a minute…….:)
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DesertKing Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
@crashin’ da net,
3 words – case of mouthwash
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edwood2 Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
@Steve, Well, at least they didn’t have homer Hayward.
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TiredOfIt Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 12:31 am
@Steve, I am going to point this out on every thread even though you all saw it like I did. NBC’s coverage of the game had the typical east coast tilt that we are all used too. Doc and crew we’re leaning toward NJ and were hoping by their tone that NJ would win Game 1. Unfortunately that hope was CRUSHED by #11 on a break away scoring the GW against the greatest goalie in NHL history if you listen to NBC long enough. Great win by a Kings team that didn’t play their best game.
Now let me weigh in on the “local” broadcast after the game. Fred Grogan or Hogan or whatever was horrible and the attempt from this crew to report the events of this game was a travesty and an utter disgrace. I know this sounds harsh but are you kidding me? We have been on this (we) playoff run for how long? 7 weeks? And the local news crew for this team can’t put together a better effort than what we saw tonight? Horrible picture quality, crappy lead ins with highlights not being qued up, cutting players off in mid interview, goofy questions and an interviewer that acted very familiar with the players when his station couldn’t even get the players pictures or the team log right until round 3?. Very humble should have been his mood considering the way NBCLA has handled this team up to this point. The Kings definitely deserve better and so do we. Kings fan for 40+ years and I want these boys to get the respect they deserve. Rant over….for now…..Go Kings
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Blade17 Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 7:02 am
@TiredOfIt, Great post re: the NBCLA coverage. What a shame Roggin can’t just get out of the way and hand the coverage over to Bob & Foxy (they deserve some pub too…best play by play TEAM in LA by far, apologies to Vinny, but he works alone). Kind of like Bob Costas did on the Network intro, a few quick lines, then he got out of the way for Doc & the crew. I didn’t think the Network coverage was that one-sided in favor of Devils, especially the studio team (god, Roenick is awful). Been a Kings fan since 1972 myself. Cautiously optimistic right now, and just loving the ride. GKG!!!!!
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How long will friggin’ ESPN talk about the Heat/Celtic game? Jeebus Chris! Get to the Kings game already!
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CB14 Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:11 pm
@vplaza, I was thinking the same thing. 11 minutes and still going strong on Basketball.
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vplaza Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:13 pm
@CB14,
And they’ll spend 2 minutes on hockey. GOD I HATE ESPN!!!
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Cry Baby Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:15 pm
@vplaza, Why are you watching ESPN? They don’t even cover hockey…do they?
vplaza Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
@Cry Baby,
I actually don’t know why I bother. They’ve had “Kings/Devils” on the “Coming Up” bar on the left for the past 20 minutes, but goddammit, they don’t give any indication that they’re going to stop talking about basketball anytime soon.
CB14 Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:19 pm
@vplaza, That’s the only reason why I kept watching. They kept teasing the hockey coverage.
TiredOfIt Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 12:32 am
@vplaza, God I hate (noun)ball
CB14 Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
@CB14, FINALLY. After 17 minutes we get HOCKEY!
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vplaza Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:24 pm
@CB14,
And we get five minutes of hockey. F U ESPN!!!
Kman Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
I know we joke around a lot on here, but it really IS UNBELIEVABLE is’nt it.
It’s ESPN. It’s the Stanley Cup finals. LA is making history right now before our eyes.
And we are getting Basketball semi-finals from a pre-empted season, plus FULL baseball highlights.
Maybe an honorable mention @ No.11 for Kopi in top plays coming up.
Seriously.
KingsATX Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:46 pm
@vplaza, If they (ABc/ESPN) had an NHL contract it would be the lead story. They don’t want to create excitement/interest for NBC. Sad, but true. MLS highlights up next!
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Kman Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 11:44 pm
@KingsATX,
Ultimately it is a contractual thing. Neil Everett & Stan Verett got little sidesnips in while showing Kopi’s overtime winner on top plays @ #4. They said [D.Penner] would have had Kopi @ #1 and so would they. (“yunno but heck, we just work here” kinda thing.)
Most of all the reason this bites is BECAUSE the NHL does not have what we would call a ‘dedicated’ contract. It’s about dollars – we get it. I’m sure Bob & Jim get it.
Kinda what’s wrong with a lot of things.
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:34 am
@vplaza, LOL… OMG, I was thinking the exact same thing! Granted, they had just boradcast the Celtics/Heat game on ESPN. But if you’re going to spend that much time on the postgame, you should have just broadcast the show as ‘NBA Tonite” and not pull any punches. To call it Sports Center and spend 20 minutes on that game, then go to the top-of-the-hour SC broadcast and spend ANOTHER 12 minutes on the game, it was just absurd. It was like 40 minutes on that game alone. The left-side ticker on what was up next didn’t move for over half-an-hour.
So they finally get to the Kings/Devils game: Six minutes. Six whole minutes. LOL So sucky, it’s hilarious!
I’ll bet it was just the opposite in Canada on TSN’s Sports Centre…
It’s like a weird parallel universe where the same thing happens… but with an emphasis on hockey… go figure, eh?
Good night, Gracie…
Go Kings Go!
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fans on the shot??? what is he smoking?
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SLIM Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:10 pm
@Lake Forest,
Yeah! that’s what happened….NOT
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Tenspot Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:23 pm
@Lake Forest,
I thought the same thing when I heard that.
“The Kings scored? Kopitar? Must’ve got lucky on that fanned shot cause the Devils are SOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD…. The only way the great Marty Brodeur allows that goal is if Kopitar gets lucky by fanning on it. If Kopi had done what he wanted to do and elevated it, Marty’s leg would have had it. Go Devils… wait are we still on the air…”
Bah…
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THey have to announce the games this way….
EVERYONE knows the Kings are the hotter better team…
What else you gonna do…
Plus there are some homers involved..
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TiredOfIt Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 12:34 am
@SLIM, Do we really need Weight saying that the Kings got lucky the way they played? NO
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This is the type of game that Stanley Cup champs figure out how to win. 3 more W’s……….
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I think I still hear the party in Slovenia after Kopi’s goal.
Wasnt the prettiest game but the D prevailed and NJ was for all intents held to zero goals. The boys looked a touch slow in their decision-making, partly cause NJ forechecks faster than any team the Kings have faced so far, but adjustments will be made and the team speed will be better in game two.
Mr Toad’s Wild Kings Ride continues!
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My train is leaving Newark just now heading back to Pennsylvania. There were a few bitter angry Devils fans that cursed about me and LA as we left the game. You can only laugh, can’t fire back when you’re surrounded by Devils fans..There was one guy sitting near me that had to have an extra chromosome. Kept yelling “hit em” even when it didn’t make sense. Devils are skating up ice with the puck and he yells “hit em”! So glad the OT goal shut his ass up.
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Kman Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 9:51 pm
@Ben,
Once again, way to represent Ben. Looked like there was a core Kings contingent there. GKG!
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luc20rules Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:01 pm
@Ben, Must of been great being there. I was going to try and make game 2, but thought what I really want to do is be at the last game. I am a season ticket holder, so I will be at Staples for Games 3 & 4, (6 if needed), but I am saving my money for a possible game 5 or 7 however it might workout. My guess is game 7 would cost a fortune, while I am assuming game 5 and NJ will be reasonable if its 3-1 with LA up.
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Ben Reply:
May 30th, 2012 at 10:29 pm
@luc20rules, bought tonights ticket on Sunday for $330, by Tuesday that section was $215, by today it was $165the (all stubhub). Not sure if you can wait till last minute again, but there were at least 1500 seats availableand this morning.
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TiredOfIt Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 12:35 am
@Ben, Here’s to you Ben, Thank you for your represent
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Ben Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 7:10 am
@TiredOfIt, thanks Dude. There were a few of us to support the boys last night. Its easier when you’re in a group though, tougher when you’re alone like I was. You’re an easy target with no backup. Did meet some fans with Monarchs jerseys on (Brown, Voynov). They drove down from Manchester for the game…heavy, heavy accents, definitely not from LA. Anyway, Devils fans around me were more frustrated than cheering seemed like the entire game. From the live game standpoint it seemed as if the Kings had the Devs smothered almost the entire game. Kings gave them no room to make any plays. This makes waking up at 4:00 am to watch the previous nights Kings game on DVR for the last 4/5 seasons all worth it. Even in Pennsylvania I feel connected to this team, can watch Bob/Jim on the postgame show (thank god for satellite and DVR). My father and I had season tickets back in the 70′s so I definitely had to call him (he’s 82) back in LA and celebrate quietly (surrounded by Devils fans)while on the platform waiting to get the train back home. Its important for me to have the Kings finally win the cup while he’s still with us. ok…I babbled a lot, sorry.
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Pili Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 8:07 am
@Ben, You’re not babbling, dude. Awesome way to represent and appreciate your dad and I truly wish my dad was still here….bigeest Kings fan I ever knew, never missed a game. This one’s for him.
Parise had a pretty good forehand earlier in the game! Hahahaha
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:38 am
@VegasIce, NICE!
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anthonyy, anyone?
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:39 am
@JPKelly, And what does Poorman have to say about this run???
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Definitely not a Stanley Cup game by either team, by far. Fantastic game to win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Actually Parise exposed himself as a huge CHEATER with grabbing the puck and praying no on saw him.Obviously will do anything to win include cheating.[do cheaters pray?]
Kopi’s goal was all pro and williams set it up.We are winning because we play as a team and not “stars”or individuals.So congrats go to the whole team for a great start.GO KINGS,GO!!!!.
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:42 am
@dodgervern, It wasn’t so much that he cheated, it’s that he actually prevented one of his teammates a chance to get a garbage goal. Not sure if it was Zajac or Henrique who was standing in the crease during the scrum. If Parise hadn’t swiped at the puck with his hand, and the refs still hadn’t blown the play dead, there was a Devils forward that was right in the crease waiting to swipe at the loose puck.
It was a godsend that Parise wasn’t thinking and that his swipe was so obvious that even a caveman could have made that call!
GEICO… so easy, even a caveman could see that…
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Yeah, Kopi & Brown have been awesome…but Williams has been pretty damn good also.
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mash-ola Reply:
May 31st, 2012 at 2:44 am
@ToughD, unheralded, unselfish play. Not always recognized, but never going unnoticed… Nice play, Williams!
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great pass JW!!!
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