On what he saw of the hit on Rob Scuderi, and the following engagement:
“I didn’t really see much, to be honest with you. It happened pretty quick, and I was the closest to him and it really happened quickly.”
On the pivotal penalty kill and the Quick save in the third period:
“The penalty kill was good. I was sitting in the box. I had a pretty good view of it. We’ve built a lot of momentum over a lot of games that I’ve been here with good penalty killing, and tonight was no different. Quickie made a couple big saves there in the third period. I say that a lot, but he seems to step on his head when we need him.”
On Brandon Dubinsky alluding to no bad blood between the former Atlantic Division foes:
“To be honest, I said the same thing in the hallway. It’s just one of those things. I think it was obviously a heated rivalry with Philly and New York, so I think that was probably one of the main things – that we play each other so often. Stuff happens.”
On whether that Philadelphia/New York rivalry “might continue in the Western Conference”:
“I hope not. I’m tired of fighting him. He’s strong. But he’s a good player. He works hard and finishes his hits, and it was just obviously something that happens in hockey.”
On whether he thought it was a “little more than finishing a hit”:
“I’ve got to be honest. I didn’t even really see the play. I saw the result, that’s it.”
Step up first.
Ask questions later.
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Anjin Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 6:11 am
@Save, Hrudey!, yep. Richards did what a leader does and I applaud him for it.
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Ok, riddle me this, why doesn’t Richie have rhe presence of mind to throw off the (visored) helmet BEFORE fighting which would’ve saved him, and the Kings, a valuable 2 PIMs?
He did the same last season vs Stars and tonight it could’ve cost us.
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MickSorley Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 9:03 pm
@Duncanz, I agree. I understad things happen in the heat of a game, but in a situation like that he is skating over with the intent of lighting the dude up. At least have the presence of mind to lose the helmet.
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Lake Forest Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 9:11 pm
@Duncanz, meh, heart is pumping and all you are thinking about is punching the guy. You’re not thinking oh does this guy have a visor??
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MickSorley Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 9:13 pm
@Lake Forest, Heat of the moment shouldn’t trump smart play.
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MickSorley Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 9:14 pm
@Lake Forest, Besides, he’s not concerned with the other guys helmet, it’s his own.
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Darrell Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 10:32 pm
@Duncanz, I dunno, maybe because he’s had concussion issues? Just sayin’.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 12:11 am
@Darrell, @Telos,
You know what? Right after returning from his convalescence last season I was exactly where you guys are at now. Quality player, susceptible noggin, not the most physically imposing. I was horrified when he jumped straight into retaliatory confrontations like this one.
But we’re a year further on, morale may not be at it’s best and our defense corps is hurting.
If a run like Dubinsky’s does not get met with an immediate physical response the effect it has on your team may be detrimental and game changing.
As stated below, when you see MR not responding in such a manner and/or hear your team’s Coach announce that he shouldn’t be taking charge to be a proxy enforcer in such situations then you’ll know it’s not the correct mandated response.
Right now, I’ll bet you DS just loves his moxie and I can’t see him doing much at all to discourage it.
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Telos Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 11:39 pm
@Duncanz, He has concussion issues and he is a top tier player for us. Just can’t risk it. He is a leader and made a statement, but it is not worth him getting injured for the rest of the season. Can’t stop Richards from stepping up for his teammates, so this is the next best thing.
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Save, Hrudey! Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 11:58 pm
@Duncanz,
I recall Brownie’s comments after the Dallas penalty (Kopi was hit btw):
“That’s a penalty I’d kill any day.”
My sentiments exactly.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 12:12 am
@Save, Hrudey!, Yup!
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Well lets hope the GH hat trick awakens the beast!! Richards you are a beast…how about a shortie. have not seen one yet this season.
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Robyn Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 9:36 pm
@PalmSpringsKingsFan, He’s definitely starting to look more lively in the games now. He’s not quite as sluggish as he was early on in the season. But this is very similar to last season when he went through an insane “dry spell” where he couldn’t score at all then all of sudden, he was a beast who couldn’t be stopped. I’m with you. I’m hoping the beast in MR has been reawakened for good this season. The Kings need that beast.
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Who cares. Richards knows what to do, and this is why we have him. Emotion is what he brings, and emotion is what we need again
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jmiller Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 9:15 pm
@jmiller, and I was directing the who cares to the visor comments…just to be clear
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Duncanz Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 9:16 pm
@jmiller, I do.
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Shakes Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 5:47 am
@Duncanz, then i pronounce you man and wife.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 7:35 am
Thank you, Rev. @Shakes.
That’s not to suggest that his input to the game would not be muchly appreciated by all Kings fans.
Gee, I think even @Gustavo’s or @Harty’s hearts could melt a little in view of his efforts for the team tonight!
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Gustavo Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 10:43 pm
@Duncanz,
I’m gooey all over…(eyeroll)
I think Richards watches the movie Goon waaayyyy too many damn times.
He should be smarter than that.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 11:30 pm
@Gustavo, You might find yourself on the less populated side of the ledger here.
That is absolutely MR’s (unspoken) role when he’s on the ice during such a ‘battering’ of a teammate.
And if you don’t hear any negative conversation from DS on it you know that it’s the brief he has been given.
What if the right matchup for a response doesn’t come in good time? Your team looks like patsies.
It’s just an expected function in such a situation in hockey that a swift response is enacted for the sake of team morale and to signal to your opponent that they don’t get to take a run against a player and simply get away with it.
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MR is off the snide.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 9:53 pm
@Mikey J., Schneid, ha ha, but yes, at last.
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Mikey J. Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 9:57 pm
@Duncanz, Thanks man. I should of checked.
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I’m endlessly amused by his comment that Quick “steps on his head” when the Kings need him. Not sure what that means.
I was a tad horrified when Richards went over to bust the dude up because we can’t really afford the penalty (the atrocious PK in ANA is still fresh in my mind), but I still loved that he went to stick up for his teammate and just decided to take Dubinsky down.
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Mikey J. Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 9:55 pm
@Robyn, You know what he meant, and yeah, he captained the Flyers.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 5th, 2013 at 10:06 pm
@Robyn, He means ‘stand’, but it sounds funny, huh.
He said in the postgame TV interview he only ended up fighting Dubinsky because he was the closest guy, but basically he’s the ‘designated’ guy (at least on the top 6) to ‘enforce’ some measure of jungle law when any King gets roughed up during the play.
He’s routinely outhulked and outreached by the opponent concerned but that’s why you appreciate him even more for the selflessness and sacrifice.
If only he’d remember to flick off that visored helmet first, though.
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MickSorley Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 12:05 am
@Duncanz, Exactly! Visor stuff aside, I really appreciate the effort!
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Duncanz Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 12:17 am
@MickSorley, With a handle like yours I wouldn’t expect any less!
Yes, the team played a great 2nd and 3rd periods.
No, I do not think MR going after Dubinsky was smart.
Emotional? Yes
Fun to watch? Hell no! It cost us a major penalty in our favor. 4 minutes for MR, 5 minutes for Dubinsky. What a stupid waste!
Richards, you’re a 5’9″ midget who reminds me of the little chihuahua at the big dog park who tries to bit the ankles of every pitbull that walks by him. Let the Nolans and the Cliffords and the Frazers collect payback for boarding Scuderi.
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Save, Hrudey! Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 12:02 am
@Gustavo,
Let me ask you this:
Do you think the Kings become more inspired by watching Clifford or Nolan go after a player that delivered a cheap shot, or by watching Richards go after him?
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vinny Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 9:58 am
@Gustavo, are you sure you’re not jason pominiville? ..or possibly ANY member of the 2011 sabres? this is ridiculous, and is explained above nicely.
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Can’t blame MR for doing what he did at that moment. It seems that if he doesn’t, no one else will. Seriously, who? We’ve got players who can, but rarely do and teams know this.
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Save, Hrudey! Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 12:03 am
@bbboy67,
Completely agree.
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I blame the other Kings out there for not getting doing it sooner than MR.
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Deirdre Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 7:16 am
@KC23, Matt Greene is probably the only guy who sticks up for his teammates like Richards does. If Richards didn’t go after Dubinsky, nobody would have.
Same as last week when Doan slewfooted Browne. Nobody went after him (including Brown) until the next shift, when Richards came on the ice and immediatly approached and challenged Doan.
He’s been that guy, the one who defends his teammates without question, since his junior days and he’ll always be that guy.
I just hope if he’s ever the one who gets cheapshotted, somebody from the Kings takee his back the same way.
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Save, Hrudey! Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
@Deirdre,
Great post.
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Save, Hrudey! Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 2:07 pm
@Deirdre,
“cheapshotted”?
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I never worry about this guy making the right decision, whether its fighting, chirping, PK, PP, even strength.
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I had no problem with Richards response last night. I remember watching Doughty get kneed by Artyukhinan in Tampa & Kopi getting slew footed by Cleary in Detroit back in the 08-09 season and no one on the team responded. I was yelling at my TV. After both of those incidents, Jim Fox commented on the lack of response by the Kings and how important that would be towards becoming an elite NHL team. Lombardi even addressed it in the media with the whole “playing hard for each other”. Now we have guys like Clifford,, Nolan, Fraser & King but it is Mike Richards example that leads the way in that department and I love it. I is one of the reasons the Kings are hard to play against
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Save, Hrudey! Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 9:23 pm
@Drew Doughnut,
Completely agree.
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