Updates from this morning’s skate at Rexall Place:
-Jonathan Quick was the first goaltender off the ice for the Kings, which would indicate that he will be tonight’s starter against the Oilers.
-Simon Gagne, Brad Richardson and Andrew Campbell skated longer than the rest of the team, which would indicate that Colin Fraser will return to the lineup in place of Gagne.
-As expected, there were questions directed towards the Kings over Nail Yakupov’s goal celebration from the previous meeting between these teams. I saw nothing wrong with the celebration, nor did Darryl Sutter. I also got the impression long ago that the players did not dwell on the celebration. Still, Drew Doughty shared some interesting thoughts, which will certainly be worth a read when I post them later this afternoon.
-I’ll post quotes from Taylor Hall, Ralph Kruger, Jarret Stoll, Doughty and Sutter throughout the afternoon as well as a preview of tonight’s game. Stay tuned.
It’s official!
There is no goaltending controversy in LA.
(until 9:45pm tonight, perhaps..)
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Lake Forest Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:49 pm
@Duncanz, mr pessimist.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:56 pm
@Out Campest, What are you talking about? I was positively trying to generate some ‘interesting’ debate from the goaltending anal-ysts out in bloggyland there.
Did you wrassle any bears in the weekend while you were ditching our Kings then?
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This team needs to put together a full 60 minutes of hockey, not just one or two periods. Otherwise, they’ll get too deep in a hole to climb out of.
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Bradapiller Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 1:08 pm
@vplaza, We’ve been missing that fire out of the gate all season. We sit back and wait to see what the other team brings and respond, usually too little too late. Thats one huge difference between where we are and how we won the cup.
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Any motivation for tonight’s game shouldn’t come from Yakupov’s goal celebration. It should come from letting him score in the first place. We’ll have to wait for Doughty’s “interesting” thoughts on the subject. Interesting, as my acting teacher used to say, is the kiss of death.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:43 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), I used the word ‘interesting’ in a post on the previous thread …. I just hope more people read @Jon Rosen’s stories than read my posts, then.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
@Duncanz, Interesting.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:47 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), But not as interesting as you..
Harrison Merkin Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
@Duncanz, I don’t usually read Jon’s posts but when I do………..
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Robyn Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:49 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), both teams are better than they were when they first faced each other, so it’ll be interesting to see how things play out tonight.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 1:12 pm
@Robyn, Interestingz.
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OCKingGirl Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 1:40 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com), +1
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Gagne has been ineffective of late, so it’s a good move to put Fraser back in the lineup. We need his energy tonight.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:45 pm
@Dave K,
Gagne’s play didn’t warrant a scratch IMO. I have to wonder if he’s sick.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:46 pm
@Dave K, This is the reward he gets for his big check on a Hawk into the glass in the last game..
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harty Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:46 pm
@Dave K, but gagen should being bring more scoring, but that’s not happening so lets see what Fraser has now in the tank.
The only thing that I keep remembering when Fraser goes in is he’s married to Sutter’s cousin or niece or something…..could this be why he gets the chance?? Who know’s and I guess I don’t care we just need wins whomever is going to get it done.
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Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
Come on, @harty, you know in AB everyone’s married to each other’s kin, aint that how it is?
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Robyn Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
@Duncanz, so AB is like our KY?
Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 1:00 pm
@Robyn, No, that’s Ayr, Ontario.
I think it’s more like Arkansas..
Robyn Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 1:16 pm
@Duncanz, I just meant more of a certain… not-exactly-forwards-perceived-culture regarding the closeness of kin.
Sorry if that’s very cryptic…
Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 1:22 pm
@Robyn, No, it was very well put, but what did you mean by that?
Robyn Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
@Duncanz, well there goes my career in comedy. I was trying to be sly with what you were alluding to about everybody marrying each other’s kin in AB. I think I was trying too hard to be clever. I’m just not as interesting as you are, sir Yoda
Harrison Merkin Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
@robyn I don’t know what you do with your KY but, I can assure you it shoud have nothing t do with yet kin
harty Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
@Duncanz, no siblings or cousins married in Ayr @Duncanz……..
rogiesbackup Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 3:19 pm
@Dave K, I really think this benching this guy or that guy presents a resentment…not good for moral. If he plays good…..and doesn’t score ….well how is sitting on the bench going to allow him to break out of the slum!!?? I saw him take some shots at the opposing goalie…just didn’t go in! Rest of the Kings aren’t exactly lighting up the lamp either.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 4:03 pm
@rogiesbackup, While I don’t doubt DS knows 100 times more about coaching than both you and I put together I am just not understanding that either. Rotating through 6 or 7 non productive forwards, changing line combinations as often (or even MORE) than TM did, criticizing players to the press when it should be kept private and behind closed doors….I’m just not getting how this is supposed to help or how it HAS helped. I really think DS is panicking when there is no need. He can, if he wishes use the SAME EXACT 4 lines that did so well last spring. Patience is the hardest thing sometimes, but it is also sometimes best NOT to change anything. But of course I defended TM to the bitter end so what do I know?
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No problem at all replacing Gagne. No question he’s been the least effective of an ineffective bunch. I get the feeling there won’t be much more to come from Gagne. I think his career is nearing its conclusion based on his play.
I understand he had the concussion issue last year that ended his season, but prior to the concussion on 12/26 he had gone 17 games without a goal and only 4 assists during that time.
Not very good numbers at all from a top 6 winger.
Glad JQ is back in goal. We need him to get him on a roll and take us back to the playoffs.
He’s arguably the best goalie in hockey..He needs to be the man for the Kings to succeed.
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I think Gagne has been playing well as of late. We need more scoring/play making hands on the ice…not grit.
So is Mitchell skating?
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Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 12:59 pm
@Cruiznblue, interesting non sequiter..
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Robyn Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 1:12 pm
@Duncanz, your comments are so interesting today
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Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
@Robyn, Interesting is as interesting does, maam!
Mistakes in both instances! Gagne has been playing well, if the Chicago game is the barometer then well over 1/2 the team should be sitting because very few were playing well!!
Quick is a mistake, Bernier is the one who is playing under control and should get the start.
Darryl Sutter is a one goalie guy, look at his time in Calgary and playing Kiprosft in 70 games a year.
I think these are both mistakes that will cost us tonight.
But only time will tell!
Out
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Bradapiller Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
@cetericeman, I think Bernier will get the start tomorrow in Calgary, and depending on how these next two games go I wouldn’t be surprised if Bernier also starts vs. Colorado on Saturday if he out-plays Quick. I’m hoping Quick shows up tonight and shuts down Edmonton, gets back to his playoff numbers (or at least Vezna form) and we can ship Bernier for a top 6 Dman & a spark plug left winger.
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Bradapiller Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 1:17 pm
@Bradapiller, top 4 Dman*, I can dream
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 4:14 pm
@cetericeman, Gagne needs to put points on the board. He isn’t doing that.
And lets put this non controversial Goalie controversy to a rest. Quick is the #1 Goalie. PERIOD. When and if Bernier stands on his head, steals games and gets shutouts when the opposition has fired 30 or 40 shots I PROMISE YOU we can revisit this. Giving up one goal WHEN THE KINGS DEFENSE HOLDS THE OPPOSITION TO PRACTICALLY NO SCORING CHANCES is NOT, I repeat NOT, understand ****NOT**** the same thing!!!!! Bernier is not “red hot”. He is not even lukewarm. Quick is better now, he was better last year, and he will be better for the foreseeable future. What part of “#1 Goaltender” are you and half the bloggers here suddenly not getting? Or are you all actually @poorman clones?
Moot anyway for tonite because the next 2 games are back to back so they have to be split. Did you forget that?
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YoBro Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 4:37 pm
@HockeyNerd, How the hell can you claim Quick is ‘better’ than Bernie right now??? How??Bernie has started 2, count ‘em 2 games this year and he’s won them both. What’s Quick’s record? Jeezus; Penner, Gagne, Stoll, Brown and others all catch hell on here for not doing their job, i.e.- scoring. But Quick gets a pass although he’s not doing his job,i.e. keeping pucks out of his own net. Well, I, personally, am not inclined to give him a pass based on past performance.
Let’s see if he can go the 1st 10 minutes without giving up a goal and putting us in a hole we gotta crawl out of- AGAIN. I think he’s done it every game he’s played thus far.
Hell, the hated ones down south would be .500 if not for their “backup” who is 8-0. I hate to see those guys looking smarter than us. And I ain’t no freakin’ Poorman, just a realist who doesn’t believe JQ walks on water.
Go Kings
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 5:08 pm
@YoBro, Bernier did not win those games by himself. The TEAM won them AND HE GOT CREDIT FOR THE WIN.
Do you understand the difference between the past and the present? What Bernier did in all of 2 games (where he had INFINITELY more help than Quick did in HIS games) is NOT in any way, shape or form an accurate predictor of WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
Quick is the better Goaltender. PERIOD.
And nobody is talking about giving Quick a pass. There are concerns and I am sure Ranford and Sutter are addressing them. Lets use your OWN example. Are you going to take Brown out of the lineup and replace him with Toffoli? Toffoli is playing MUCH better right now than Brown. Why not go with the “hot hand”?
If none of this is getting through to you maybe you should open up a book on probability and statistics. The first thing it will tell you is if a coin comes up heads 10 times in a row it is STILL 50/50 to be heads on the next toss. It is neither more likely to be heads (it’s not a “hot” coin) nor tails (it has no memory).
Quick is better. Yes, RIGHT NOW.
Bernier being better right now is an illusion. You CANNOT go just by results or “wins”. Goalies do not win games. TEAMS win games.
YoBro Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 5:26 pm
@YoBro, @Nerd How did he have MORE help, with the same team in front of him? YOU are clearly giving him a pass, which is purely emotional, not logical. Nobody is happier that we won The Cup last year than I am. But THIS year Quick hasn’t shown me crap. I’m a LA Kings fan, first and foremost. Not of any particular player- of the TEAM. And if Quick isn’t playing up to par, exactly how long do we wait for him to come around? Till we are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs? The other guy hasn’t lost a start yet. Maybe, just maybe he can get us a few more wins if given the chance.
I’m NOT saying Quick is Wally Pipp, but what if Bernier IS a Lou Gehrig? It has happened before you know. It’s all about what’s best for the TEAM with me. And yes, Virginia, goalies DO win games sometimes.
As far as probabilities go,You are aware that any time you buy a stock, you are advised that “past performance DOES NOT guarantee future results”.
I know Quick has it in him, but he sure ain’t got it right now. Remove the blinders.
Go Kings
HockeyNerd Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 5:40 pm
@YoBro, I get that Quick is not playing like he did 8 months ago. What I’m not seeing is that Bernier has done anything special to justify using him instead. Of course Goaltenders do, quite often, “steal” games that a team had no business winning. If you or anybody think Bernier came anywhere NEAR doing that against the Blues or Columbus than I don’t know what else I can tell you. You sure weren’t watching the same game that I was.
YoBro Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 5:58 pm
@YoBro, @ HockeyNerd I never said Bernier stole a game . Just that he’s won his 2 starts. And I do think that’s kinda special.
Go Kings
Quick is cursed right now, everytime a goalie signs a long term deal they go to crap.
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Thanks Jon
Go Kings Go!
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So…who will be the first to Nail Yakupov?
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Duncanz Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 2:19 pm
@Gustavo, It could have been ‘The Hammer’…
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… Bernier should have started against Chicago and tonight against Edmonton. But, stroking Quick’s ego is more important than performance, I guess.
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Wow Quick is starting. Chalk this up as a Loss. Calgary here we come!
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 4:20 pm
@Paul, Unbelievable.
What part of 2 games in 2 nights and “#1 Goaltender” do we need to explain to you?
And forgive me if I prefer to watch a game without assuming a Conn Smythe trophy winner will have a bad game.
@Poorman: what have you done with all the bloggers? What are your terms for their safe return?
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Paul Reply:
February 20th, 2013 at 11:00 am
@HockeyNerd, Quick played his first solid game in a long time.
Conn Smythe Quick was pre-back surgery. Post-back surgery Quick is a different goalie
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Gustavo Reply:
February 19th, 2013 at 5:38 pm
@Paul,
What are you smoking? Really??
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