Players and coaches have grown tired of talking about confidence, about home and road records, about history and most everything else. In fairness, most media folks have grown just as tired of asking about all that stuff. With the two days between Game 4 and 5 completed, the focus can return to the ice tonight. The Kings have faced questions the last couple days about confidence, and how that intangible quality might have shifted after the New Jersey Devils won Game 4. Rather than discussing the macro, the Kings are trying to break it down to the micro, focusing on parts of their games that they need to improve rather than worrying about numbers or concepts. Justin Williams and Jarret Stoll talked about what the Kings will want to go in Game 5…
WILLIAMS: “You avoid doubt with confidence. You have to exude it, and we have it in this dressing room. We’re a very confident team that knows we haven’t played our best hockey yet. Now, in saying that, it’s disappointing that we haven’t played great yet. We have to get there, but at the same time, it’s encouraging that we’re up 3-1. … These games are so close. The big stat is, yes, we’re up 3-1, but it could very easily be turned, and we’re well aware of that. I just think we need to be better in every single facet of the game, not just one thing.’’
STOLL: “Winning battles, passing the puck. It starts with faceoffs. I wasn’t very good, last game, in faceoffs. I’ll be better in Game 5. There are a lot of areas. You’ve got to start with the puck. You don’t want to chase the game. Getting that first goal is obviously huge, too. Bearing down on our chances, just being sharper like that. Breaking the puck out cleaner, crisper passes, receiving passes. Just that little bit of sloppy play that we had.’’
And what about the physical play? The hit totals from a game are sometimes telling, but they’re also highly subjective, depending on the off-ice official who is tabulating them. The physical nature of a game isn’t always measured by hit totals, as Devils coach Peter DeBoer pointed out, but in the countless number of puck battles that take place.
DEBOER: “I think the discrepancy, you’re probably talking 10 hits a night. Both teams are playing physical. I don’t think that’s going to be the determining factor. Everyone’s playing hard out there. It’s a physical series. There’s a lot of puck battles. There’s a lot of fight for territory in the corners, in the front of the net. I don’t think there’s a correlation. I think tonight both teams will come out and be real physical.’’
All I have to say, no matter what happens tonight, the LORD STANLEY WILL BE OUR KING OF ALL KINGS!!!!!!
GKG LGK WKW…
WE WANT THE CUP! Lets do it boyssssss…….
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Pili Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
@Sammuch, I’ve heard the ” it could be 3-1 Devils too many times. Fact is, it’s not. Hockey is defitely a game of inches, but it’s a game of details as well. The Kings will attend to those details tonight.
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KC23 Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 2:21 pm
@Pili, Don’t worry too much about the “it could be’s”. History never remembers them.
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Pili Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
@KC23, True
Sammuch Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 2:25 pm
@Pili,
Yes they shall…. GKG
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Bingram Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
@Pili,
I too am tired of hearing ‘It could be 3-1 Devils’. Granted, any shot can go in the net with a lucky bounce, but when the Kings out shoot the Devils in the second game overtime 13-2 it is pretty clear which team was carrying the action.
Kings rule, devils drool.
Let’s go boys, bring it home.
Go Kings, go!
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Make the Devils look for the puck all night…
Skate harder and faster…Hit them every chance…
Please just end the series for Kovi…
Marty has won enough stuff..It’s Quick’s time…
Go King Go!!!!!
Have fun everyone , either in NJ or at watch parties….
I’ll be at home freaking out…
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TiredOfIt Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
@SLIM, Please Fed-ex some drip JIC
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Looking forward to a GREAT GAME!!!
GO KINGS GO!!!
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i’ll be at the tsc…
hope to see some of you guys there…(!)
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Kingsfanone Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 2:46 pm
@variable,
See you there, buddy!
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Both teams are going to come out and play hard….No more talking….no more analyzing…no more jinxes….no more curses….no more excuses/reasons…..dont care what anyone predicts…..dont care how bias NBC is….dont care if Clifford plays….dont care about the refs…..Only one thing matters…and that the Kings win….dont care how….
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TiredOfIt Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
@neil, +1,000,000
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We are the better team…..the current record proves that…..if we play like it tonight, the big silver thing is ours…Go get ‘em boys…we’re all behind you, or beside you, whichever works. What a team…what a team….GO KINGS GO….GO KINGS GO….GO KINGS GO
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As the late Al Davis simple stated “Just Win, Baby”!
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dodgervern Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
@King Alex, Well stated and I like the things Stoll was pointing out.I reckon he might just pot the gamewinner tonight for Kings.He has been a trooper for the Kingdom and it will be great to see him lift the cup when the time comes.I sure am hoping that is tonight-GO KINGS,GO!!!
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@Jeff_R….I would really appreciate hearing you say “the thing” today…I think thats what was missing in game 4…let’s try it and see? GKG
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rumpa#19 Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
@TiredOfIt, The stick to the script thing right?
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TiredOfIt Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
@rumpa#19, Affirmative
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C’mon Kings! Lead those passes! No passes into the skates on the breakouts! And Carts, sarts with cow, ends in bell.
Gags with the game winning goal tonight!
GKG!!!
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Pili Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
@crashin’ da net, Yeah they were a touch out of sync, yet were right in the game with more quality chances.
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kings will win tonight. The party is on in long beach ca…
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From my wife:
Put down the pen my Poet friend,
Its time to cut the grass;
If you don’t mow before words flow,
I’m going to whip your _ _ _.
Now once it’s done and neatly trimmed,
Start writing once again;
And tell about the mighty Kings,
Of how they’re going to win.
The yard looks good as well it should,
My chore is neatly done;
With pen in hand I take the stand,
That victory doth come.
So light the fire and clean the grill,
Line tailgates one by one;
And have some fun with meat and bun,
The victory has just begun.
As game time nears put away your fears
The devils should be afraid;
The Kings will rise up to the top,
And devils will be slayed.
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Pili Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 2:32 pm
@vegasking, Very nice! Cheers!
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Kman Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
@vegasking,
Once again
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rumpa#19 Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
@vegasking, Keep em coming.
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At Brick City Bar and Grill across from the Rock… Lots and Lots of Kings fans repp’n!!!
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Same rehashed questions( not talkin bout you, Rich), same answers repeated over, and over again. Mental fatigue just as draining as the physical. Let’s face it, these playoffs have gone on too long, with too much time in between games.
Get it finished tonight boys…You have made us very proud.
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cromartee Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 2:53 pm
@Belexes,
I think the players are doing a great job with the questions. They’ve all been coming off as highly aware and intelligent to me. It’s can be hard not sound like the answer isn’t canned and to me they’ve been as honest as possible. I do not see mental fatigue. I see a win coming and for personal reasons also, I praying it’s in a few hours.
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cromartee Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
@cromartee,
And my unslick typos aren’t mental fatigue either. It’s laziness brought on by the teensy weeny fonts/type.
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I just read the article on Quick in the new SI. Can’t find a link to it but it’s a good read.
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Kings players, please remember the following:
Casucks – sucked
Blosers – sucked
Cryotes – sucked
Bettman – sucks
NBC – sucks
NHL Network – sucks
Devils – suck
Notice a pattern? You guys got this, just play your game, lots of hits, take them out of their game, get them reacting to you, and Mitchell score the storybook ending with the game and Cup winning goal. Have fun boys!! GKG!!!
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CB14 Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
@DesertKing,
Wormer – dead
Marmalade – dead
Niedermayer – dead
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rumpa#19 Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
@CB14, Roadtrip.
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DesertKing Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
@rumpa#19,
Hey, Otis my man!
palmspringskingsfan Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
@DesertKing, Oh lucky loonie … Please deliver the CUP to the KINGS!
Tonight LOS ANGELES KINGS will deliver to their fans. I can feel it!
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Duncanz Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
@DessertKing,
Only trouble is the on ice part of that, we’re fine.
Everywhere else, we’re losing …
EXCEPT to my Uncle Gary!
Sample example:
Uncle Gary’s birthday was exactly lucky number 7 days ago!
Therefore, I expect Rob Scuderi #7 to be our talisman tonight.
I mean, come on! Do you really expect Henrik Tallinder #7 to be the hero??!!
Also Uncle Gary took over in the Kings previous most successful year of all time, 1993.
Now, in the last year of his tenure, due to the Mayans being correct (it’s gonna happen, I’ve run the numbers. Simple math), the Kings should arrive once again in the Stanley Cup Final!
It’s all too perfect when you figure it all out.
Thank you Uncle Gary!!
And to all those who tell you you suck, I’m-a just gonna tell ‘em you blow.
That oughta put a few folks back in their places!
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T-minus @vplaza … ooh, I mean,
MATTY GREEEEEEEEENERRRRRR !!!!!!!
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cromartee Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
@Duncanz,
I’m not the only one messing up the countdown. Come back vplaza. Let it go down!
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vplaza Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
@cromartee,
sorry, just here at LA Live. Hoping that we get the same result we got last week when we were here.
T-minus between Greene and Jamie Storr
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vplaza Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
@Duncanz,
Sorry, I’ve been remiss in my duties.
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TiredOfIt Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
@Duncanz, Bring the silver thing to US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Man, ole Dustin looks like he has pulled 3 All nighters in a row!!! LETS FINISH THIS TONIGHT!!!!
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oKAY,, just pu $50 on UNIO RAGS and $100 on the Kings….
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OT…for any Navy people out there, the USS Iowa has begun her trip down the main channel to her new home in LA Harbor
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Duncanz Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
@monkeyhour,
IOWANT THE CUP! IOWANT THE CUP!
There you go..
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monkeyboy Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:31 pm
@Duncanz, what do you do in your spare t… ime…..I love your posts!
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DesertKing Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
@monkeyboy,
Toured the Missouri in Pearl Harbor. The Iowa will be awesome.
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Ok I went to Costco and got my bottle of Moet & Chandon, Go Kings, I don’t want to wait until Monday to drink it
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Duncanz Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
@Ravens,
Good juju, forget the voidoo!
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rumpa#19 Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
@Ravens, 2 bottle ready in the cooler, and of coarse 2 30 packs ,brats, burgers, & 1 steak if they win. (Ribeye.)
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I’m having a beer just to calm my nerves!! Let’s get it done TONIGHT, BOYS!! GKG!!
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rumpa#19 Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:30 pm
@Devilmachine, 10 deep already, but dont worry im a pro.
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Pili Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Wherefore art thou, Jeff R? Perhaps taking a Quick like pregame nap.
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Itchy Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:46 pm
@DevilCrushingMachine,
Fixed your name for you…
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Team work tonight boys!
Go Kings Go!
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Pili Reply:
June 9th, 2012 at 3:39 pm
@Gailweb, There’s the post I was looking for
. Go Kings GO!
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Its all about themes and ideas.
We love you boys, have all year. Truth: every game has been huge along the way, in a way this one no bigger than when they were at different points in the postseason. Every game in its own way dictates the story you tell.
the Kings have brought something to the table. a tenacity that has both surprised and defied their opponents. This is al that needs to continue.. Not about anything distracting. As they became powerful since Game 1 on April 11th, along the way, it could be argued that every successive Game was the most important game in franchise history. and certainly for the modern mini-era: meaning the recent incarnation of the club as it became apparent they had some big pieces.
All other big games are no less big than this one and that is what they must remember. You must focus on one game and that game only.
Focus. Energy. Methodical, methodical, methodical. team unit, five men who exactly know where each other are, even if the opponent doesn’t realize it, moving the puck and directing the faster pace all together, as one.. The ultimate team game. And that statement can be seen as a reference to two things: why to love hockey, and also the Kings these 2 months: they have really done some heady important work.. Dont worry about impressing anyone. Just get back to that game that you play: the little things that r actually huge plays. and huge plays that all add up as the little things that weren’t so little.
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