I’ll post various reactions to Nail Yakupov’s harmless goal celebration in a separate thread. Until then, here are Drew Doughty’s quotes from today’s morning skate.
On frustration over not having any goals, and that the team isn’t scoring timely goals:
“Yeah, kind of. Obviously myself, I’m pretty frustrated I don’t have a goal yet. But like I said, I just want to build on my defensive game, get better in that area, and then eventually when I get that first goal, more and more are just going to come. But that’s kind of the same for everyone. We need more timely goals. Even though we kind of didn’t show up until late in the third period there against Chicago, a goal on the power play in that last minute would’ve been huge, and that’s a goal we’ve seen from our team a lot over the last couple years. We know we’re not doing those things right now, and we’re determined to make them happen.”
On whether the team wants to “play angry” and the feasibility of doing so for 60 minutes:
“I don’t know if you want to ‘play angry,’ but you want to play determined and anxious, and you want to be prepared. We haven’t been prepared before. Even our Columbus game, we won 2-1 but we did not play well. We didn’t play very good at all. We should have had way more goals. We should have blown that team out of the water there, and we didn’t play well. We’ve got to look back at those things, and we’ve got to be determined. We’ve got to learn that we haven’t started our games off well. We’ve got to come out hard in that first 20 minutes, and that’s a key point.”
………..and if that does’nt work, then maybe we should try playing “ANGRY”. GKG!
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“.. and you want to be prepared. We haven’t been prepared before. Even our Columbus game, we won 2-1 but we did not play well. We didn’t play very good at all.”
It’s Game 14 & according to DD, the Kings haven’t been prepared to play 60, in any game this season. A reason to be concerned, or just ‘doughnut speak’? Anyone, please translate. gKg!
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Kind of, obviously, he he.
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Wish Greene was playing tonight. He would make sure that Yakupov would be reminded that you get to celebrate goals like that when you have accomplished something like Darryl Evans did. Tying a regular season game late in the 3rd, in the 2nd game of the season, is actually very bush, and while some think it was harmless, it has been very apparent that his teammates didn’t appreciate it very much either. That would indicate that Yakupov is hurting his personal reputation which has a negative impact on the Oilers team. Yakupov doesn’t even qualify to carry Darryl Evan’s jock let alone copy his celebration. Kinda like when JMFJ did the Tebow. I was actually embarrassed by that and it wasn’t much later that he got traded.
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Bonvivant Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
@DesertKing, Who cares how he celebrated. That’s not the issue. Actually the NHL needs some more bombastic goal celebrations.
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LB Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
@Bonvivant, Agreed! Not an issue.
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King John Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 2:25 pm
@DesertKing,
Let him alone…he’s young and he was excited at scoring (for them) a big goal in the last few seconds for a big comeback win. Their team is trying to make some strides, and they did it against the defending Stanley Cup Champions.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 2:44 pm
@DesertKing, You bring up a good point though.
Was Yakupov familiar with the ‘Miracle’ game and was he intentionally taunting the Kings with that??
I would guess not, but if he was let’s bring the ‘Hammer’ down on him!
Or at least we could ‘JR’ him, if you used to watch night-time soaps in the ’80s and get my drift ..
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Pride + Passion + Pissed off
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Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
= PakiFro
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
@Duncanz,
Good thing I’m FKA..
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Sorry. Nothing, so far in the Kings’ performance, indicate to me that this team is what DL had envisioned going into the season. He keeps talking about “culture” and building that culture in LA like The Patriots or Redwings, Yankees etc. This team had a date with destiny last year. That’s about it so far; just a date and not a marriage to.
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fsd1 Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
@Bonvivant, I totally disagree with your thought process, the culture is there, the same players are there (alto missing greener and willie hurts) so for the record, the games i have been watching shows the same culture, just taking time to make the adjustments for the loss of two vet defense and goals going in the net. This team will make the playoffs barring any more injuries and will be a force to reckon with. just my opinion, I actually like the way the team is playing, few lucky bounces we would be in the middle of the pack.
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tornado12 Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 3:06 pm
@fsd1, after your demonstrated unremitting faith in this team throughout all of last year, I will never doubt you again….I believe the Kings wil make the playoffs now!
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fsd1 Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 3:07 pm
@tornado12, lol, thanks for your support!
It blows me away that over celebrating will hurt someone’s feelings. The LA Kings players aren’t a bunch of little girls that got their feelings hurt and are seeking revenge. I love that stuff in a game. Yakupov wasn’t taunting anyone or “rubbing it in our faces”. He was just excited. It was a crazy game. The best response is a deciding win. Concentrate on that please.
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Brown needs to start hitting again!
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Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
Ok @neil, I think it’s almost time to let you get back to your feet because it looks like the new @neiling is @Marsing!
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I’m doubling down DD get his first goal tonight. Obviously, I could be wrong though.
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I have to say it again, Drew Doughty is not Norris trophy material.
Sutter knows this and is attempting to get his plus/minu down by shortening his ice time…….
But on an upside, Edmonton is young also and our D have a fighting chance tonight with youthful Forwards.
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Nail Yakupof !!..The earlier the better.
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