This is the second of three meetings between Los Angeles and Chicago this season. On January 19, the Blackhawks defeated the Kings 5-2 at Staples Center in the season opener. After tonight, the two teams will meet at the United Center on Monday, March 25.
Lots more after the jump…
Chicago is yet to lose in regulation this season, posting an 11-0-3 record to begin the season and leading the NHL with 25 points. The Blackhawks goal differential is also the league’s best at plus-19 through 14 games. In its last five games, Chicago is 4-0-1 and has outscored its opponents 20-9, which includes a shootout goal for its opponents. They are tied with Los Angeles for the fewest home games played in the 2012-13 season; this will be their fifth home game. The Blackhawks are 3-0-1 at the United Center.
In Chicago’s most recent game, they defeated San Jose 4-1 at home on Friday behind two points each from Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Marcus Kruger and Jamal Mayers. Ray Emery filled in for an injured Corey Crawford and stopped 27 of 28 shots in the win.
In the teams’ lone meeting this season, Marian Hossa appeared in his first game since suffering a violent concussion in the 2012 playoffs on a hit from Phoenix’s Raffi Torres and scored twice, adding an assist, four shots on goal and one block in 17:24 of ice time. The Blackhawks outshot the Kings 22-21 in the game.
Los Angeles Head Coach Darryl Sutter has not named a starter for today’s game. Jonathan Quick, who stopped 17 of 22 shots in the season opener, is 5-10-1 lifetime against Chicago in 16 games (15 starts), posting a 2.52 goals against average and .918 save percentage. Last season, Quick was 3-1-0 with two shutouts against the Blackhawks, stopping 117 of 121 shots for a .967 save percentage. He posted a 175:59 shutout streak against Chicago over four performances last season.
Jonathan Bernier has appeared in one game in his career against Chicago, a 3-1 loss at the United Center on October 27, 2010, stopping 25 of 28 shots.
Ray Emery has appeared in four career games (two starts) against the Kings, posting a 1-0-1 record and stopping 81 of 84 shots. He was in net in the teams’ last meeting at the United Center, stopping 27 of 29 shots through overtime in a 3-2 L.A. shootout win on March 11, 2012. Mike Richards potted the only goal in a six-round shootout that night.
Corey Crawford remains day-to-day with an upper body injury suffered in a collision with Anaheim’s Bobby Ryan in a 3-2 Ducks shootout win on Tuesday and will not dress. On the year, Crawford is 7-0-3 with a 1.65 GAA and .935 Sv%. Henrik Karlsson is expected to back up Emery this afternoon.
Sunday’s game is the third game of a season-long seven-game homestand for the Blackhawks, who are 1-0-1 in the stretch thus far. The Kings are playing their final game of a six-game stretch against Central Division competition and are 3-2-0 thus far. L.A. is 3-3-1 overall against the Central Division this season.
Rankings and Statistics:
Goals/Game: LAK – 27 / 2.25; CHI – t-2 / 3.36
Goals Against/Game: LAK – t-16 / 2.67; CHI – 2 / 1.86
Power Play: LAK – 27 / 12.5%; CHI – 13 / 18.3%
Penalty Kill: LAK – 17 / 81.1%; CHI – 2 / 92.2%
Shots/Game: LAK – t-13 / 29.4; CHI – 15 / 29.2
Shots Against/Game: LAK – 2 / 23.9; CHI – 12 / 27.9
Faceoffs: LAK – t-21 / 48.8%; CHI – 13 / 50.2%
Projected Lines – Los Angeles
Simon Gagne – Anze Kopitar – Dustin Brown
Kyle Clifford – Jeff Carter – Justin Williams
Dwight King – Mike Richards – Jordan Nolan
Dustin Penner – Jarret Stoll – Trevor Lewis
Keaton Ellerby – Drew Doughty
Rob Scuderi – Slava Voynov
Jake Muzzin – Davis Drewiske
Jonathan Quick
Jonathan Bernier
Notes: The biggest question of the Kings’ lineup is whether the start goes to Jonathan Quick or Jonathan Bernier. After a “really good week” of practice, as described by Darryl Sutter, and Sutter’s comment “got to get them both sharp, simple,” I’m leaning slightly towards Quick, despite Bernier’s recent success. There is the possibility that Brad Richardson could draw into the lineup to match up with the Blackhawks’ speed down the wings, but after consecutive wins and effective forechecking by the Penner-Stoll-Lewis line, I’m not banking on any changes. Kyle Clifford drifted up and down the left wing slot in Friday’s win and could be interchanged with any of the left wingers, though he should still see most of his time with Carter and Williams. As always, line pairings are educated assessments and not definite alignments.
Projected Lines – Chicago
Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Marian Hossa
Patrick Sharp – Dave Bolland – Patrick Kane
Bryan Bickell – Andrew Shaw – Viktor Stalberg
Jamal Mayers – Marcus Kruger – Michael Frolik
Duncan Keith – Brent Seabrook
Niklas Hjalmarsson – Johnny Oduya
Nick Leddy – Michal Rozsival
Ray Emery
Henrik Karlsson
Notes: Chicago’s fourth line combined for four points in the 4-1 win over San Jose on Friday. Brent Seabrook was credited with seven blocked shots in Chicago’s opening day win over Los Angeles. Winger Daniel Carcillo has resumed practicing after suffering a knee injury in the season opener but is not expected to play today. As always, line pairings are educated assessments and not definite alignments.
I guess I’m getting old because I’m having less and less patience for these so called “hockey experts” who don’t know crap about the Kings or their fans. Yet another “expert” makes a fool of himself by putting down the Kings fan base with a fricken ignorant comment: http://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=655877&navid=DL|LAK|home Under Thomas Dance or dunce or something like that regard whether the Kings should panic yet.
Geez, that p1sses me off.
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linny Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 8:46 am
@KC23, yeah….saw that one n I totally agree with you! Panic=lots of bad moves. Not to mention we’re at. 500 with all these devastating injuries
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gboi Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 8:58 am
@KC23, don’t let that garbage bother you man. he’s from the “Canucks Army.” he’s clearly just upset that Kings dominated his precious Canucks and the Sedin Sisters last season. No biggie. they’re cup-less and that should make you smile. That’s all it is.
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Kopi Bryant Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:00 am
@KC23, I never listen to these so called “experts”. When I was younger I would and thought they knew what they were talking about. As I’m getting older I see that they have no clue whatsoever. It’s basically a guessing game when predicting. Hey me and you both can be “experts” also KC. Let’s start today I choose the Kings to “upset” the Hawks 4-2. Let’s see how that works.
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tomb Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:18 am
@KC23, Thomas Drance is the managing editor of Canucksarmy.com. He’s obviously bitter about the Kings beating the Canucks in the first round of the playoffs last year. If he had done his homework he would have discovered that the Kings have sold out every home game this year and have an average attendance of 18,281. The Kings rank 14th out of 30 teams. He’s one of the reasons why there is so much B.S. on the internet. Send him a tweet @ThomasDrance.
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DesertKing Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:32 am
@KC23,
Court definition of an “expert” – someone who knows more about a topic than the average person.
Based upon this definition, we are all “experts” in relation to Kings hockey.
I hereby announce, as an “expert” on Kings hockey, that I predict the Kings repeating this season as Stanley Cup champions.
As to all of the media “experts”, none of them picked the Kings to win it all last year, a true indicator of their inability to pick anything other than their noses.
GKG – AGAIN!!
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FiG17 Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:46 am
@KC23,
Just one more reason to despise the Canucks.
Dude’s writing a feature FOR the Kings and he insults their fanbase. Winning journalism right there.
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Robert R Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:50 am
@KC23, Apaarently he doesn’t know his Drance from his elbow.
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trytodethroneus Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:06 am
@KC23,
As we have all come to know, most of these “experts’” hockey knowledge
stops at 8pm est everyday
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luc20rules Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:12 am
@KC23, Thomas Drance was the only one that said anything bad. All 4 hockey wise just said ride it out. Outside of a few noisy insiders have been saying the same. The best analysis was if the Kings made a trade to get a top 4 Dman or 2 then it would create other holes in the roster to fill. Then personnel decisions becoming a game of wack a mole as resulting problems pop up.
As for Drance it is very easy to understand. The guy likely writes in the east coast and hasn’t stayed up to watch a Kings game in his career or atleast the last 4 years, well probably since they moved to Staples 12 years ago more sellouts than not.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:26 am
Hang on a mo’ there, KC23 et al.
I think you’ve missed his point here.
It’s not a put down.
In fact if you read his whole blurb he’s saying that stats indicate the Kings’ situation is nothing to panic about and he expects things to turn around for the team before too long.
The comment on Kings fans not caring about the regular season, admittedly clunkily articulated, is made with last season’s meaningless 8th placed finish in conference and subsequent Cup winning playoff turnaround fresh in mind.
Check his piece out again and tell me if you still don’t agree.
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linny Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:06 am
@Duncanz, oops…this isn’t the ” panic/no panic” analysis I saw. I saw one when we were 3-5-2 n the analyst said PANNNIC!!!!! As in time to start making ridiculous trades. U r right that their comments aren’t so terrible (aside from what he said about the fans not caring….etc…)
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Duncanz Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:21 am
@linny, But if you dissect it he’s only saying it doesn’t matter to fans since the Kings will likely make playoffs and prove their reg. season foibles to be inconsequential and not indicative of their true capability, vis a vis 2011/12.
ashykins Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:47 am
@KC23, I dont know what the point of his comments at the beginning are
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I would love to see Hawks get a ’1′ in the reg lose column today. GKG!
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Shuchuk Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:16 am
@Sean, oh yeah! they’re overdue for a butt-kicking. GKG.
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The more I thought about it last 24 hours I think it will b quick today (I lose the bet @Jess). I tried to get into sutter’s head n he ended up in mine (“the horror…the horror”).
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tomb Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:36 am
@linny, lol. Sutter was talking about sticking with the hot goalie a few days ago. Today he’s talking about keeping both goalies sharp. After being the backup goalie the last two games, Quick will be hungry to reestablish himself as number 1. If he starts, I would expect a really good performance from him.
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Anybody get even a “whiff” of Brown playing injured? I remember in an early game against yotes he got corkscrewed or just thrown flat on his back pretty hard by guess who……DOAN! I can’t remember any devastating hits dished out by Brown this year n he should have at least a handfull by now.
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soo-do-nihm Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:16 am
@linny, Sadly, our captain has yet to be found on the ice except for one game where he got 2 goals (although I believe we still ended up losing that game). No word if he’s playing injured or not. Players probably keep that close to the vest.
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harty Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:38 am
@linny, he’s fine, no inury or issue…..
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this game should give us all a very clear picture of where LA is right now. have they finally hit mid-season form or did they just play 2 struggling teams? winning against a tough opponent on the road would shut a lot of “experts” up, losing 5-2 again and we are officially one step closer to panic mode.
GKG.
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Sorry if I missed the announcement, but who is manning our crease today?
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DesertKing Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:33 am
@DBking,
Jonathan
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toemas_sandstrom Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:35 am
@DesertKing,
Beat me to it!
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DesertKing Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:36 am
@toemas_sandstrom,
DS beat both of us. He’s a classic
toemas_sandstrom Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:35 am
@DBking, Jonathan.
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DBking Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:48 am
@toemas_sandstrom, not Quick enough I guess
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These lines are sad to see. Richards is not going to get going playing with Nolan and King. I wish Sutter would put last year’s Stanley Cup run lines back together.
Also where’s Hickey? Why hasn’t he been called up? Why is he still in Manchester?
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DesertKing Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:36 am
@Scott,
I guess you have been on vacation?
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harty Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:37 am
@Scott, agree where have you been, Richards and Nolan are real good, not sure about King he is in a slump or funk….he shows some good things at times but without result.
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hbjohn Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 9:41 am
@Scott, “Also where’s Hickey?”
LMAO
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CB14 Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:12 am
@Scott, Hickey’s in Long Island.
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LB Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:25 am
@Scott, Hickey has been playing for the Islanders this season. Richards hasn’t played well enough yet to be the team’s 2nd line center.
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Kenny44 Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:42 am
@LB,
Tough swipe at Richards – not good enough to be the Islanders #2 center. You may be right, based solely on performance to date.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:41 am
@Scott, For the life of me I can’t understand why Sutter won’t play Deadmarsh.
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linny Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:53 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), cuz deadmarsh is helping Allison recover from a concussion…hoping they can both come back at same time! ( ok I know this was silly but there appears to be alot more levity here this year)
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okay boys, get this ship going in the right direction……beat the Hawks!!!!!!!
We just have to be patient at times today, no guessing on pucks at Hawks blueline, this is where the Hawks become most dangerous, on the odd man attack.
One forechecker in the 1st period DS, lets read and react with F2, F3 and allow the F1 to attack and be cautious till we have them sleeping. 2nd period attempt to take advantage of the long change by quick ups and odd man rushes of our own.
Finally in the 3rd play the game right……..depending on the score open up or close down.
Lets go Kings, Lets go Kings
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KFII Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
@harty, And stay out of the penalty box!
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What channel is the game on? I’m on NBC channel 4, and it’s the sabres and pens!!
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I’ve rooted for the Hawks the last two games so the Kings can give them their first zero point game. Watch the turnovers and we should be fine. As Magic used to call it, it’s Winning Time. GKG!!!
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WTF- Why are they showing the Pitt vs Buffalo game instead of Kings vs Blackhawks? How can they justify placing a game with two east coast teams on the west coast? I just don’t get NBC, bunch of morons running that network.
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GMac Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:11 am
@GMac, my bad, I thought start time said 12:30 eastern, game on 12:30 pacific. I guess I’m the moron. Wouldn’t be the first time.
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Is it just me, or do others agree that it’s like a breath of fresh air
when we don’t have to sift or fast forward through comments from a certain
nameless (fill psyches) and whomever engages him in his “dog & pony” show?
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DesertKing Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:25 am
@trytodethroneus,
+1
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Duncanz Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:32 am
@trytodethroneus,
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Michael J. Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:36 am
@trytodethroneus,
No…………………….. sifting…………………………………… just…………………………. fast…………………… forward…………….. for………………….me……………………………
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trytodethroneus Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:53 am
@Michael J.,
You mean like a “DVRed” event commercials?
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Michael J. Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:10 am
@trytodethroneus,
Yes, only much more annoying.
I think it’s time to see what Quick can do after sitting a few games and thinking about what it was to dominate, our D. seems to have regained some sort of poise with the new guys getting up to speed, however the last two wins came against a much lesser team, we are either in for a very rude awakening alla the Lakers, or this is the turning point, I hope for the later, I hope our guys had enough coffee this morning to keep up with the speed on the Hawks
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Nice to se the Blog survied another night of craziness…. Is Robyn/Laura/Dr Phil all the same??? Has anyone seen them together !!!!
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harty Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:28 am
@neil, I have to admit this season more so then ever, “there is some crazy people saying some crazy things to each other or to bloggers in general”.
Where do some of the bloggers come from……space??
It’s been fun reading some of this stuff…….
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Duncanz Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:47 am
@harty, How is the Ayr down there?
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neil Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:59 am
@Duncanz, Harty’s favorite band….”Ayr Supply ” ??? Iam really trying Duncanzing…
Duncanz Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:07 am
im all out of love here, @neel …….
Hey! If Cliffy gets an assist today I’ll race you to post “Ayr supply!” on the game thread!
neil Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:12 am
@Duncanz, Do they play “Ayr Hockey” down there???
Michael J. Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:12 am
@Duncanz, @kneel
If Nolan scores with Cliffy’s assist then it’s Ayr-Jordan???
neil Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:58 am
@harty, Then we have the usual suspects !!!! Hope to see Cliffy with more time today !!!!
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harty Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:17 am
@neil, hey guys…….many questions but today is quite nice in Ayr…..its -8 celcius or -5 degree’s and bright and sunny……
Funny you should ask, we do have a traveling band for parades referred to as Ayr/Paris Band.
No Ayr Supply band but several feed supply stores for grain, oates and other animal food products.
Not sure both you guys are in California but Ontario Canada February’s are odd, snow, sun, spring like or freezing like weather all in one.
Duncanz Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:33 am
@hayrty, Sounds positively ethAyreal up there!
Much fresher than in (nevertheless lovely) Pahrump, NV here.
When you’re in the district, pop into the trailer and there’s all-you-can-barf PBRs and salted pretzels waiting for you and Mrs @harty!
It’s a regular ‘Hockey Day in America’ unlimited buffet down and out here!
BOB CHICAGO:
Check the last page. Hope to see you (and other LAKI regs that are going)!
We’re going to Edmonton and Calgary too btw.
My wife is super happy today. Got a picture with Kopi last night on his way to dinner.
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harty Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:39 am
@LA_1968, enjoy you lucky people……….enjoy
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LA_1968 Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:20 am
@harty, Thanks man. We will. Hope we can get 2/3 on this trip.
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The only time you will ever see Quick try to assign blame to someone else for a goal scored against him – the Verizon/NHL commercial.
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Ravens Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:44 am
@DesertKing, I love that commercial, I laughed so hard
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DesertKing Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:44 am
@Ravens,
Me too. They are so deadpan, just like DS.
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Rosie’s in the lineup?! What courage and mettle this heroic pseudo-amputee has shown, coming all the way back from that brutal open ice chainsaw attack by Dustin Brown.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:56 am
@Kenny44, Don’t think it can be the same Rozsival. That last one’s leg got blown into a million pieces and ended up in an ashes urn in Shane Doan’s Dia de Los Muertos shrine.
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Kenny44 Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:59 am
@Duncanz, I hope it is the same guy. We’ve had good success this season against our bitc . . . rivals from the Cup run.
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trytodethroneus Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 10:56 am
@Kenny44,
Hey!! The KINGS are 1-0 the last time he “played” against them.
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Michael J. Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:14 am
@Kenny44,
He’ll be wearing his Purple Heart…
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I’m going to go for a ‘Quick’ bite to eat,maybe some steak and eggs with some ‘Bernier’ sauce.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 11:39 am
@LVKINGS88, Don’t forget your Greenes!
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@Duncanz…hey, r u sure about the “Drance” comment? Looks to me like he’s saying that we’re “fair weather” fans who don’t care until n unless we make the playoffs. Anyway this was just a lead-in to the offer I made about the tix. U didn’t answer me on the Columbus preview where I mention a couple of games. I think its because u n @Neil r like the Looney Tunes “chipmunks” (who r hysterical IMO) n r busy trying to deal with the NUTS from this site!
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neil Reply:
February 17th, 2013 at 12:10 pm
@linny, This isnt the playoffs yet???
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