-After Jonathan Toews won 13 of his first 14 faceoffs, the Kings won all five faceoffs against the Blackhawks’ captain in the third period.
-Kyle Clifford took one shot on goal Sunday. Through 170 career games has registered 170 shots. In 13 games this season, he has registered 13 shots.
-The Kings won 26 of 54 faceoffs Sunday, losing the faceoff battle for the seventh time in eight games. They have recorded a 46.8% success rate at the faceoff dot over that span.
-Among the team’s regular centers, Mike Richards (45.3%) and Colin Fraser (36.8%; DNP Sunday) have seen the least success on faceoffs. Jeff Carter (53.5%), Jarret Stoll (52.7%) and Anze Kopitar (52.6) are all above 50 on faceoffs%.
-The Kings blocked 14 shots on Sunday, their second highest total of the season. Davis Drewiske blocked three shots. The Blackhawks blocked 24 shots, including a combined 10 blocks by the defensive pairing of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.
-Sunday’s loss was Los Angeles’ first at the United Center since December 19, 2010.
-Jonathan Quick has stopped 168 of the last 180 Blackhawks shots he has faced (.933 Sv%), dating back to the beginning of the 2011-12 season.
-The 37 shots allowed by Los Angeles marked only the second time in the last nine games that the Kings allowed more than 25 shots. It was the second highest shot total allowed this season, surpassed only by the 39 shots by Edmonton on January 24.
A lot of posts about all the line changes. I think DS is just trying to find 3 guys that are not gassed. I think the biggest problem is conditioning. This is why I think all the changes happened in the 3rd. Just a thought.
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neil Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:21 pm
@Pesus, after this many games conditioning shouldn’t be a problem….its a mental hangover….
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Pesus Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:34 pm
@neil,
Your probably right, somebody comented on another thread about needing new blood. I thought bringing back everybody was a great idea, but now I think a few new players is what we need. Like how Nolan and King where the new guys before we took off last year.
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Gustavo Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:59 pm
@Pesus,
King and Nolan played well when they came up, but this team did not ‘take off’ till after Jeff Carter came and (more importantly) Jack Johnson, left.
I would like to see Toffoli be given a chance, he cannot do worse than Gagne and Penner have already done.
Regardless of what happens this ‘asterisk’ season, Lombardi has to be thinking of ways to replenish the pick coffers.
KingsGuy Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:41 pm
@neil, A bad one too… Stanley Cup hangover
our team is playing lazy… Need to compete for that biscuit for a full 60.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:45 pm
@Pesus, They didn’t stick with the original lines…DS was tooo quick to be impatient, I mean just after the first game of the season he already bench Gagne and mixed up the lines. I don’t know what kind of message that tells players.
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neil Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:56 pm
@rogiesbackup, agree esp after last year when he kept the lines intact and the offense responded…
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A sunday night awaits…..laura/dr phil/robyn will be showing up…..lock up your kids
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Pesus Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:35 pm
@neil,
Walking Dead tonight!
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Duncanz Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:40 pm
…. he said summoningly, as he slowly stirred his cauldron ……………
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there needs to be some scrificial lambs to let this team know this is unacceptable
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Mars Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:21 pm
@Ravens, I vote Kompon. He still needs to bleed.
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Mars Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:22 pm
@Mars, Oh and don’t say look at the Hawks, he hasn’t had enough time to screw them up.
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Ravens Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:24 pm
@Ravens, you have a point his influence still haunts us, but why stop there, can’t we go back and blame Dan Cloutier as well?
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Gustavo Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 7:10 pm
It has been repeatedly posed that Dustin Penner took a salary haricut to have the opportunity to come back to defend the Cup with his teammates.
Based on his play so far this season, I think he wanted the chance to party all season with the teammates with whom he won the Cup. Not much of an effort to defend it on his part. Or more accurately, not much of an effort to win it again.
Gagne cannot do it.
Penner will not do it.
I would like to see both shipped out without delay. Get some picks to refill the coffers and give Toffoli a chance.
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Jeff Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:15 pm
@Gustavo, who, exactly, do you think the Kings could get for Penner? First he’s not very good. Second, he’s on a one year contract.
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Gustavo Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:15 pm
@Jeff,
The Avs could use him, since the Reilly thing is going nowhere. Besides, if there is room in a roster for Westgarth and Parros, there is room for Penner somewhere.
Between Penner and Gagne, I think Penner has more value.
Sadly the only payer we have with a 1.00 Points per Game tally is Greene.
Below him is Kopi with .75
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Duncanz Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:32 pm
@Mars, I always say that Greener has never received enough credit from analytically challenged Kings fans for his offensive dynamism.
This stat (among others, I’m sure) proves it!
Come back soon, Greener, you are missed where it counts, in the O zone!
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luc20rules Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:16 pm
@Mars, For a full season only about 10 players in the NHL end up with a point per game, and almost all those players are on a run and gun offense like Philly, Pitt, TB, etc. I thought the way the Kings offense/defensive mindset is a 40 goal scorer in a 82 game season is not that realistic. Although now I am beginning to think Carter may do it, but I don’t think he would have 42 assists in the same season.
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luc20rules Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:22 pm
@Mars, Also we won the cup without one (Kopi 76 pts) and there is nothing sad about that is there? Right now the Kings haven’t played well, so really would we expect someone to a point per game guy right now.
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Outblocked 24-14, eh?
It seems getting blocked is becoming a psychological block wall.
We’re proud of our guys when they get in a great block or two but look at what opponents are doing/being allowed to do on a nightly basis.
Hope we are able to sort this out between games before bulk practice time becomes a premium in March.
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g smith86 Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:49 pm
@Duncanz, That should be a stat in the Kings favor…the fact that an up-tempo style offensive team can generate more block shots is telling
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They played 2in good periods, we played one. Once the team figures out how to brimg that 3rd period for the whole game, we will win. Richards is starting to get fired up, but still din’t see the hitting that makes us successful. Almost seems as if the Kings are trying to be a finesse team, which we ain’t.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:34 pm
@DessertKing, Is that what the bus boys were telling you at the Olive Garden?
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DesertKing Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:40 pm
@Duncanz,
No, the banzai chef at our favorite Japanese steak house. Still waiting for the family since it is birthday party night. My son turns 18on and I get a humongous Sapporo. I just wish they had Japanese nachos.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:49 pm
@DessertKing, Console yourself. There’s always drive-thru on the way home.
Banzapetite!
(Happy 18th to the lad from me)
g smith86 Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 6:51 pm
@DesertKing, flied lice and a won ton soup for you
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 7:26 pm
@g smith86,
Flied lice and a won ton soup!?! Remind me to stay away from the Japanese restaurants you frequent. LOL
Ravens Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 7:21 pm
@DesertKing, They played one good period to a club that figured they could coat to the finish line when their opponent showed them the keystone Cops for three periods
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Cliffy with the synergy…170 for 170…13 for 13…that’s the weirdest stat of the night
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This team neads some toughness on the blueline. They are extremely weak on defense. I wouldn’t mind seeing a true tough power forward added to the mix. Behinds Nolan, Clifford, and Richards, this team doesn’t have the type of players that can push over another team. Not sure why they don’t play like they did in the palyoffs, where they ran over other teams physically.. For some reason they just don’t do it.
The 4th line should provide energy and hit everything in sight. The 4th line should go out of their way to get in the face of the other team. Our 4th line consist of Penner-Stoll-Lewis. Tell what line, let alone team, is afraid to play against that?
I wopuld like to see King get a mean streak in him. He is capable of doing it, but for some reason doesn’t play that way.
It’s a fact, the last two season the Cup was one by the most dominating physical team in the playoffs.
Maybe the Pens would send us Deryk Engelland for Gagne and/or Lewis? That would be the toughness we are missing on the blueline and on the team.
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MmmmYummy Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:05 pm
@hbjohn, Penner is scared of getting called for a penalty and being sent back to the dogcar. That’s why. A coach can’t just send Penner to the dogcar and let Richards play around in the paring lot without the message being sent.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:43 pm
@MmmmYummy, That’s the problem I’m starting to be concerned about with this coach…maybe the players are playing too “stiff” do to Sutter’s threatening their ice – time.
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zulov Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 1:50 am
@rogiesbackup, I think Penner wasn’t sat out for penalties where he over-crushed someone – those penalties were ones where he got beat and he held or hooked – which Sutter saw as his inability to keep up with the pace of the game.
Can we get Simmonds and Schenn back? Can we get a short stack for Penner (ya, the dude who inks a 3.5 million dollar deal, becomes an “intern” during the lockout and comes to camp outta shape), can we get a used jock strap worn by Chuck “The Game” Huddy circa 1992 for whatever that thing is that wears #12? Can Trevor Lewis learn how to shoot a puck? Can we agree Doughty doesn’t have the maturity to fully take advantage of his abilities? He’s not a 7 million dollar player.
Can we clone Clifford, Nolan, Carter, Kopitar and….no that’s it.
No excuses. These guys are paid millions and per their coach some can’t even bother to be inshape. Laughable.
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It’s actually amazing how much the comments here echo the comments here at about the same time last year. Back then the questions were “How can they come out unprepared?” and “Why does it take 30 minutes for them to get into the game?” and “They need to make some moves to light a fire under so-and-so and so-and-so.”
Fast teams gave the Kings trouble last season and they still do… and now playing minus 3 of our top 6 D, it wont be any better any time soon. People ask “How will Ottawa make up for the loss of Karlsson?” How about trying to cover for missing BOTH Greene and Mitchell? The Kings are a D first team and that’s the heart and soul of the D. I’m actually pleasantly surprised the game end up as close as it did.
The young D are getting a trial by fire and Voynov is vaulting himself to new heights because he must. You might want to work Ellerby or Muzzin or Dreweski into the lineup as a #6 at some point, but not all at once as a 4,5 and 6. Such is the hand they’re dealt.
Two guys who ARE wasting roster space are Gagne and King. I really think Gagne has lost it; his hockey sense is very low and his shooting (which should be his forte) is awful. He needs to sit. And King has regressed so that he’s hardly noticeable out there; as limited as Richardson’s offensive skills are, you at least know he’s going to go all out and bang. Put him back in.
Keeping the faith, tho, because we’ve seen this before and weathered this before. Beat Edm and Calg (get at least 3 pts, anyway) and then the brutal road part of the schedule is OVER – there’s only one more long (5 games) road trip the rest of the season.
GKG!
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soo-do-nihm Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 8:19 pm
@bbb7, Agree with you about King. I haven’t seem anything worthwhile from King. Gagne was getting better – or at least he showed some great signs of improvement against Columbus. I missed today’s game so I can’t say for sure how he was against Chicago.
You have an excellent and valid point that our heart and soul is gone from the team with WM and MG out with injuries for the season. I’m hoping Marty can come back in time for the Avs game.
But you know what? Thanks for the positivity! As Bailey says (yes I do follow our mascot) BELIEVE because we can get through this. We can do this, right?
In Sutter we trust, right?
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Kman Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:50 pm
@bbb7,
Excellent post.
I don’t think any of the real fans will be giving up on our season despite the miserable start – but your points are right on.
King could still be a force, but it’s really looking like he’s a bit lost out there. Somewhere between Cup hangover and sophomore slump.
Gagne is either bringing it at this point or not. It appears not. I cannot see Gagne (or Penner for that matter) taking up playing time for Richardson right now. Period.
And thanks for reminding some here that we are seriously limping on D. No Marti, Matty and Willie is an awful lot to ask, especially at the same time. Add that (despite the huge TOI) neither DD or Scuds are killing it yet, probably in part because of the pair shuffling.
Some huge positives remain, though, so I will once again stay optimistic. Voynov and Cliffy are looking way ready for primetime. The power-play actually is showing promise.
We still have hard-to-match depth when everyone is performing.
Quick will still be Quick.
Sutter is still Sutter.
Right ?
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:54 pm
@Kman, What happens if Richardson doesn’t “bring it” just as most of the kings this season? Shall we sit him out also?!!!
It appears to me that the team AGAIN has stopped listening to their coach. Can there possibly be mutiny starting in the DS ship?? Bench this guy after the first game of the season, sit this and that guy out for three games, move him down, move this other guy up……I mean, how does this affect the moral among the players?
As a player, I would feel this guy(OUR COACH) does NOT have patience for each member of the team and therefore causes too much pressure to perform well.
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I don’t think very many King players did much off season work outs. It seams the guys are not in game shape. They don’t forcheck like they did in the playoffs. You need to be in tip top shape to forcheck like that. Hope they can get in shape before the many home games upcoming. They can really make a push with the home heavy schedule in the next month. Hope next Saturday they are ready to go for Colorado for the !:00p.m. start. They need to stay close to a playoff spot. The season is going very quickly.
Come on guys lets get this party started.!!!!
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This is really off topic, but I’m seeing a lot of animosity on the blog tonight. What happened to Mars’ idea of at least being civil to each other? I understand we’re all frustrated but how is that going to help the Kings player any better?
I’m not saying group hug, but perhaps we don’t fight with each other on an internet blog? (Disagreements are normal, that’s fine. It’s the fighting that’s not great).
What do you all say?
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thrustable Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 8:46 pm
@soo-do-nihm, because its easy to be rude and uncivil with each other behind a keyboard. And everyone thinks they know more than anyone else. And most bloggers don’t have a life (I said MOST bloggers).
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g smith86 Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:09 pm
@soo-do-nihm, you should have been here last year around this time…or last season in december…the grim reaper was involved in every other post
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Pesus Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:11 pm
@soo-do-nihm,
You want a piece of me???
Just kidding
Lets play nice, Go Kings!
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Fret not, the staple or this team is turning it on late season and eeking into the playoffs, for which the team is built. The Kings simply don’t match up well against the Blackhawks, a team on a tear so far this season. We missed an opportunity for 2 points…no need to panic…still in reach of 8th.
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I say that they have a hard time matching up against the faster teams…this Kings team is built for the long haul…they were able to turn the game around today because the stuck with it and found their legs and were just physical enough early on to have an impact later…
And that’s just it…this team would have a hard time against any fast team, but in a best of seven series…as we saw last year (when they took out the nucks and yotes) they are a very dangerous team to contend with…
If this were a home -and-home…I gaurantee that the Kings would get the better of the Hawks come tomorrow
It’s hard to be rational about it…and I get frustrated with a percieved lack of effort, but i have to remember the system and style our Kings play…and I guess, if I am being completely honest, I don’t exactly like it…and efforts like today are partly to blame for that…
BUT…at the end of the day, it produced the end result we all wanted and I certainly haven’t given up on this team…I think they are fully capable of achieving the dream again
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Wow, all seven games today down to the wire. Talk about a competitive league. Not easy watching our heroes from last spring struggling so far and all of us somberly being taken back down to reality. The trip through Alberta should tell a lot about what side of average this team is on. By the way, your number one Neilina.
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Well should have posted this before today’s game, but after the 1st Chi game to start the season I said I wouldn’t make an assessment until the 12 game mark. I really feel there is no need to panic. Yes, we have problems D is not as strong minus Mitchell & Greene, some Forwards are playing into shape instead of reporting in shape, the team is not scoring the way it did at the end of last year, Quick is not playing well, etc. Too all of this I say it is temperary. Mitchell however cryptic his status reports are will be back probably soon, Martinez will be back maybe next game, Greene about a month before the end of the season. The out or shape forwards should be in game shape by now and have played much better over the last 4 games. As far as the failure to score, the way the Kings played D and puck possession on offense last year got teams frustrated, fatigued, and created/forced penaties and turnovers. Which does what creates offensive opportunities. Quick not playing as well? True, but he because of back surgery didn’t have strength training, practice, training camp, & preseason. Do you really think a guy as competitive as Quick will not round in to top form before the 20 game mark? The Kings are fine. If we deal a spare part it will likely be for someone another team deems to have no value. What production do we expect out of that?
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jess Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:47 pm
@luc20rules,
I don’t know @luc. You had me at well.
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DesertKing Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:57 pm
@luc20rules,
Perfect!
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Just have to get into the playoffs. Didn’t get to see the earlier blogs and only portions of the game, but how can Quick have the stick knocked out of his hand twice, then pushed away by a B’Hawk, and have no penalty for interference called?
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Mikey J. Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:19 pm
@DesertKing, The boys have their work cut out. With so many close games it seems like every team in the conference with the exception of maybe Columbus are going to make very difficult.
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luc20rules Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:25 pm
@DesertKing, I wondered the same, one answer is the game was in Chicago. Personally I think
Chicago was ripped off last year in the playoff series vs Phx, and now like Bill Cowher with the photo of the opponent with 12 men on field is milking the bad call(s) for all they are worth. Also with the lockout the NHL needing something compelling to bolster interest in the NHL, so the NHL wants Chi to break a record for most straight games undefeated in regulation. I know all conspiracy theories, but sort of compelling right?
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attention david kopifield ……… your nightly disappearing act has gotten as old and tiring as your las vegas revue ………
for your next trick , will you kindly put yourself on injured reserve , as willie did , and make tyler toffoli appear from your magic box .
mr. kopifield – you are the invisible man , and your playing about as poorly as the 1980s chevy chase film did ……………… in my opinion , your the best player in the league , but i can not stomach one more night of this rg3 type situation …… kings and kopi will you please pull the plug as the redskins should have .
if we dont make the playoffs , so be it ………….. because id rather have you sit now and be 100 percent healthy starting next season so we can try to win 2 cups in 3 years – which would be fabulous .
this way tyler will get some valuable experience heading into next season when we can truly make another run , because folks it aint happening this year …. even if kopifield struggles onward and we squeek into the playoffs , we surely will not win with him playing like this ………
or try injured reserve for like 3 or 4 weeks , and then maybe come back and see if your knee feels any better .
so take your cue from willie and kindly pull the plug , because this is not the real kopitar that i have seen over the last 6 years .
sincerely , the rabbit in the hat
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bbb7 Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:28 pm
@phil sykes, I actually thought Kopi was the best King on the ice the prior two games, tho I agree today wasnt his best game. He is not the problem.
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phil sykes Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:49 pm
@bbb7, disagree
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phil sykes Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:52 pm
@phil sykes, invisible all season ……entire offense flows thru him ……..always has …. always will ….. just get off the ice and check into rehab
Gagne Kopitar Williams
Penner Richards Carter
Clifford Stoll Brown
King Fraser Nolan
I think that will get the offense bumping. Nothing fancy just what I believe will work and keep them together for a few games. Not just a period or so when they don’t score a bunch right away.
I wanna see more hits. We used to hit so much. Everyone. We need it back. Brown needs to start laying people out.
Our cycle is good but we gotta drive the net. This goes back to as far as Frolov (who I loved) never took the puck to the net. Hardly anyone does.
Shoot first, think later. And aside from the two pp goals i really don’t need to address what needs to be done. Anyone watch the buffalo put game? See their pps? Amazing.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:01 pm
@Subby, The first line really really had great chemistry early part of last season…..worries the heck out of me when DS mixes the lines up so much that it affects the moral of the playes on this team.
I mean I think it sends a message as opposed to the “Line” working and figuring things out THEMSELVES. You mix players all over the place then line will not have a chance to learn together/to figure things out TOGETHER.
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I am not mad about the lack of scoring.
I am not upset about the injuries.
I am upset with the lack of checking, back checking.
I am angry with the lack of crashing the net;
or having someone parked for the inevitable rebound.
I am infuriated that they do not give a full 60,
They do not look or play hungry!
We are playing soft, trying to play a finesse game. This group is not that.
Don’t take this as I am a disgruntled Kings fan.
I know our Kings are so much better that this.
I am just seeing some oddities, anomalies, I cannot explain.
We have time to make it in the playoffs.
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It appears to me that the team AGAIN has stopped listening to their coach. Can there possibly be mutiny starting in the DS ship?? Bench this guy after the first game of the season, sit this and that guy out for three games, move him down, move this other guy up……I mean, how does this affect the moral among the players?
As a player, I would feel this guy(OUR COACH) does NOT have patience for each member of the team and therefore causes too much pressure to perform well.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:11 pm
@rogiesbackup, I agree, but under TM there was seemingly no pressure and nobody called out for anything. So what are you gonna do?
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zulov Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 1:35 am
@rogiesbackup, Doubting DS is a little silly – I don’t think the players have tuned him out. Some players are above the law and will never sit – DD, Kopi, Brown, Carts, Richards, Scuds, – thats fine.
The players that have been sat this year were simply not physically ready to play. Penner, although he hasn’t scored, is back for good I think. Gagne, is scary useless. Lewis and Stoll are necessary, and unfortunately King has looked pretty terrible this season.
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While this team could have played a better full 60 minutes and there are plenty of concerns lets ALSO not forget we nearly battled our way back in it — and this against a team who has yet to lose in regulation, in their building, and without half of our starting defense. Richards is starting to look like the guy we gave up Simmonds and Schenn for, Quick looked much better, and the Doughtys, Browns, Williamsses, Kopitars and Gagnes have too much pride as pros and know too well what they can accomplish to let their droughts continue for much longer. Lets keep our heads up, stop taking bad penalties, clog the neutral zone against teams like today’s opponent that use their speed so well, fight through the “screw the King officiating” (that struck yet again today — how in the world is it
OK to interfere with a goaltender by knocking his stick away?????) and we’ll
string together a solid 10 games in a row to get right back into it just as THIS VERY TEAM has done so many times before. Besides: Crsig Button, that “expert” on all things Los Angeles Kings said himself we should panic, and when has he ever been right about ANYTHING? Plenty of season left. We can do this yet again. KEEP YOUR HEADS UP!!!!!
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kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:12 pm
@HockeyNerd,
Amen Brother. I like your attitude!
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Osaka Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 2:21 am
@HockeyNerd, You mean we shouldn’t fire Sutter, Dean, and blow up the roster?
Kings just can’t do it until their backs are against the wall. This will be the 3rd straight season right?
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Michael J. Reply:
February 18th, 2013 at 8:11 am
@HockeyNerd,
Good words.
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I’m watching R. Kelly’s “trapped in the closet chapters” right now imagining him singing everybody’s posts of frustration from today. It’s freaking awesome.
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Anyone else notice that DD is MINUS ELEVEN!!!??
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