February 17 postgame quotes: Mike Richards

On coming close in the third period:
“That’s what it was. Close. We probably didn’t play well enough to win this game. The slow start kind of cost us. For a team that thrives on momentum, we gave them a lot in the first period with penalties and some turnovers, and they scored some goals, so it put us behind the eight ball pretty quick.”

On what the team succeeded at in the third period:
“We were moving our feet, making them take penalties instead of us getting penalties. It’s a game that obviously we have to get better on. We’ll get back at it on…Tuesday night…against Edmonton.”

On whether Chicago was that good, or if L.A. made them look good:
“We’ve got to give them credit. They’re a great hockey team. But at the start we weren’t ready to play, and they had open looks like Seabrook did right off the bat. Just mental lapses, and I guess not being ready to play. It is what it is. It’s obviously something that we have to look at, get better at and look forward to Edmonton.”

On being 5-6-2:
“[It’s] not the way you want to start a season, obviously. We’ve had some ups and downs. We’ve played some really good games, and some poor games, so we have to try and find that consistency on a daily basis. It’s got to come soon.”

On what led to the possession advantage in the third period:
“Moving our feet creates a world of difference. Instead of making plays standing still, you’re making plays going forward. As a defender, it’s tough to do, so as an offensive player that’s what you have to strive for.”

On what led to the power play’s success:
“I think we put a big emphasis on getting pucks to the net, and Brown did a really good job of getting there. We had a couple of lucky bounces, so that’s something that we have to continue to get better at. At some point here we’ve got to have it win us a hockey game.”

On Jonathan Quick’s performance:
“He played outstanding.”

34 Comments

  1. brian spain says:

    I would like the reporter to ask these guys “Why were you not ready to play”? it seams we hear that too often. Kind of makes a fan crazy, all you have to do is be ready. You are on the road, no family no excuses. Lets go. You are pro’s and you are Champions act and play like it.

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    DLB Reply:

    @brian spain, Well it is much earlier than the bulk of their game times.

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    Duncanz Reply:

    @DLB, Mitigate THIS!
    Seriously, I don’t accept this excuse.

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  2. goldielocks says:

    Richards and Quick were outstanding. Others not so much.

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    kissmyblarneystones Reply:

    @goldielocks,
    +2

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    Duncanz Reply:

    @goldielocks @kissmyplussytwos, I’ll negate that +2 by saying that what I would like to see is consistency and calm .. consistently.
    Not seeing it from the team and not seeing it from JQ and MR….quite yet.

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    kissmyblarneystones Reply:

    @Duncanz,

    Can’t argue with that, though I believe we were just referring to today.

    Duncanz Reply:

    @Blarne, I include today in my reference.

    Duncanz Reply:

    Meaning to say consistent play over the 60 mins.

    King'ntheD Reply:

    @goldielocks, Couldn’t disagree more. During the first 30 min of the game, ALL OF THEM were simply going through the motions

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  3. hipcheck says:

    Maybe the best regular season game Richards has played as an LA King. They should have kept feeding him the puck late in the 3rd when he had the hot hand.

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  4. brian spain says:

    Richards wasn’t outstanding until the third.

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    goldielocks Reply:

    @brian spain,

    Last time I checked the hockey is a team sport. How can you be outstanding all by yourself?

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    Duncanz Reply:

    @brian spain, +1
    Consistency still missing.

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    Deirdre Reply:

    @brian spain, He was strong in all 3 zones, esp defending his own zone. You realize there is more to winning a game then zcoring right? He hustled , he checked ,he directed traffic on the ice, he fired the team up on the bench. If Kopitar and Brown had shown half as much as he did, maybe we wouldb’t have lost this game.

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    JD Reply:

    @Deirdre, agree 100%. Great post

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  5. Way to take charge Ritchie!!! 3 goals in the last 2 games. Keep it up!!

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  6. g smith86 says:

    How can you be not ready to play? Your a professional hockey player…did you not know when the game started? That is an excuse that has to go…how bout this…”We were completely out-played for the first half of the game”…I would buy that one a little more than we weren’t ready

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    g smith86 Reply:

    @g smith86, or maybe “we weren’t ready to play” is a metaphor for something else like “we were completely out-played”…I hate reading between the lines

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    soo-do-nihm Reply:

    @g smith86, I don’t know if he meant that they were literally not ready to play, I think it’s just that they were kind of ho-hum coming into the game. I blame Columbus. They play so poorly that they drag everyone else down to their level and make you play their bad hockey.

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    g smith86 Reply:

    @soo-do-nihm, yea…I know…i am trying to be funny here,…because crying doesn’t work

    soo-do-nihm Reply:

    @g smith86, there there. Don’t cry. We got the Championship once. Isn’t that good enough? Seems like it is for the Kings (and yes, I’m being sarcastic here).

  7. g smith86 says:

    this would be my questions for MR

    Me: Mike, did you know what time the game started today?

    MR: yes, it was a 2:30 pm start

    Me: Did you encounter any traffic on the way to the arena?

    MR: no, we all made it in time

    Me: Did you have any equipment malfunctions?

    MR: no, all equipment was present and in working condition

    Me: so Mike, you stated before that you weren’t ready to play at the start…all eveidence to the contrary…would you like to elaborate?

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    jimmyo777 Reply:

    @g smith86, You are a bid A$$hole. The whole team wasn’t ready and you make it sound like Richie was the only one not ready…. Richie was the only one playing a decent game today

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    Duncanz Reply:

    *** Mr Rosen, action here please.
    (or am I too used to the old guard?)

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    g smith86 Reply:

    @jimmyo777, I was going to respond, but…thanks DUNCANZ…it doesn’t deserve one

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  8. Gustavo says:

    I would like to ask (To Kopi, Brown, Williams and Penner):

    “Do you think the team will be ready to play from the first puck drop next game or should the fans tune you out and keep celebrating last season Cup until you figure out that last season’s heroes are easily this season’s ZEROS”

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    g smith86 Reply:

    @Gustavo, nice! With frustration comes creation…that was very creative

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    JD Reply:

    @Gustavo, hero’s to zero’s… I get it … Hahahaha

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  9. Mars says:

    Kinda?

    it did.

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    Mars Reply:

    @Mars, 5 hour energy. Kick in the pants. Set your clocks ahead. Do something different.

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    g smith86 Reply:

    @Mars, no kidding…this team just can’t get its junk together for a day game…been that way for years

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    g smith86 Reply:

    @Mars, well yea it kind of cost them…because of not being ready to play and all

    sorry…beating a dead horse now

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