Calgary Herald
George Johnson won the Lede of the Night with this observation, in reference to Darryl Sutter’s hangover quote following yesterday’s morning skate: “Late last night, his counterpart, Bob Hartley, probably needed a few good stiff drinks,” said Johnson, who came away impressed by the Kings.
Flames ground up and spit out by defending champs
Scott Cruikshank analyzed the sturdy play of Joey MacDonald, which included the second period collision with Trevor Lewis.
MacDonald without support as Flames flattened by defending Stanley Cup champs
Calgary Herald Hockey Coverage
Calgary Sun
Eric Francis asked Darryl Sutter about whether Los Angeles was experiencing a Stanley Cup hangover. Sutter, through his oft-repeated “I know what a hangover is, and I didn’t have one” reply, denies that assertion while pointing to the team’s vastly different blue line. In the other locker room, Bob Hartley, coach of Colorado’s 2001 Cup-winning team that defeated the Kings in the second round, acknowledged a Cup hangover. So apparently L.A. is suffering a Stanley Cup hangover.
The Stanley Cup Hangover: L.A. Kings proof it exists
Wes Gilbertson has the Sun’s game story, which is accompanied by a terrific photo of Jake Muzzin battling for a puck. Hartley also opines that “the bottom line is that we have to be a grittier team. We need to be in people’s face. They ran our goalie and there was no consequences to this. That’s just not acceptable.”
Champion Kings KO Flames
Flames Nation
Justin Azevedo (a 21-year old University of Calgary student, not the similarly named Kings prospect) has an astute and comprehensive review of the game. He also disagrees with the “they ran our goalie, so let’s beat ‘em up” idea (See: Hartley quote above).
Post-Game: Fallen Uncles
Great shot during the TV boradcast of Quick talking to the young Kings fan wearing a Quick jersey behind the bench during the game. Class act JQ!
[Reply]
HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 1:53 pm
@DesertKing, That Quick is one f—– classy Guy!
[Reply]
NoDoughty Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 1:55 pm
@DesertKing, I thought the same thing! Loved that he did that
[Reply]
Munchrat Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:24 pm
@NoDoughty, Kid: Mr Quick! Over here!
JQ: Yes young fan. You are certainly brave to wear that jersey tonight.
Mr Quick, Why are you benched? I saved my allowance for six months to get tickets for tonight’s game. This has been a huge disappointment. Plus you beat my Flames.
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:48 pm
@Munchrat,
JQ: well my young Paduan, continue to belive in the Force, for it works in myserious ways!
Kid: How so Master Quick?
JQ: Well, if I was playing tonight, you and I would not be talking face-to-face.
Kid: But I am wearing a goalie mask Master.
JQ: Yes, I see, and its ugly too, but in regards to beating your Flames, you must realize they are the dark side of the Force, and only the Kings are on the side of good and rightouseness in the Force, so stay a Kings fan and avoid the dark side.
Kid: Oh thank you Master Quick, I will work hard to improve my skills and become a choice of the DL.
Robyn Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:20 pm
@DesertKing, Super classy, all the way. He’s got a good head on his shoulders
[Reply]
Cav Pilot Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:38 pm
@DesertKing, I saw that. In fact, I rewound the DVR to watch it again right after it happened. Very cool moment.
[Reply]
Hartley is way off base here. lewis wasnt looking where he was going and was concentrating on the puck and accidently ran into the goalie. he tried to stop at the last second but it was too late. if the flames had retaliated they would have lost the man advantage. wheres the benifit in that?
[Reply]
bbb7 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 1:59 pm
@tornado12, Yep, to say he ‘ran the goalie’ is silly, since MacDonald was skating forward out of the crease when they collided. But he’s trying to light a fire under his guys, so I understand his comment.
[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:11 pm
@bbb7, what i was thinking, but if i was a flames fan, with their effective PP, i would rather win games than say we are tough!
[Reply]
What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:11 pm
@bbb7, MacDonald even said he thought it was accidental.
[Reply]
Kenny44 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:17 pm
@bbb7,
If I had the next question for Hartley after that “grittier” comment, I would have asked: “Buff or polish?”
If Hartley wants a grittier team, maybe he should lead by example and spend less time with his haberdasher, aesthetician and stylist.
[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:38 pm
@Kenny44, lol thats funny!
bbb7 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:42 pm
@Kenny44, Harsh but true :p
DesertKing Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:50 pm
@Kenny44,
If he wants a “grittier” team, he should ask the Kings to send him some of those old sweaty “GRIT” t-shirts our guys were wearing for practice and games.
Really disappointed in the Kings after-goal celebrations. They are so subdued, almost like they were “been there, done that, Stanley Cup winners.” OH, wait, er, um, …… nevermind……
[Reply]
So much for not getting respect in the press.
The Calgary media were very niiiice to us.
[Reply]
Lake Forest Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:38 pm
@Munchrat, Only after we won the Cup.
[Reply]
Munchrat Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:26 pm
@Lake Forest, Yes, we did.
[Reply]
After watching Penner the last 2 games, how can anyone suggest he’s a waste cap space. I thought his ability to keep the puck was impressive. He started season lazy, but leave it to the Zen Farmer to know exactly how to get the goods out of him.
Great to see Brown the last couple of games pounding the body. It has a direct effect on how others play us. A few more games of Brown bringing the pain, will open things up for Kopi.
Carter for Jack Johnson and a 1st? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Sure!!!
When you have Scuds, Doubty, and SlavaLava back there, it can only make the Newbies want to play well. They’re improving by the day.
I hope the nay-sayers and band-wagoners have all left the building, cause we’re only going to get better. I predict a 10-3 or 9-4 run at home. We’re 5 points out of 4 place.
Any non-believers left?
[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:47 pm
@kissmyblarneystones, strong post! it really is all rounding into form now isnt it? the PK, PP, forechecking, defense, goaltending, hitting…whats left? oh yeah consistency…
[Reply]
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:01 pm
@tornado12,
Let me tell you what’s going to happen to Chicago. They are not as good as their record, their run has taken on a life of its own and no team can maintain the pace they’re on. Come playoff time, they are going to be spent. I think Anaheim is going to cruise to the conference final, where they’ll meet us. I have my doubts whether they’ll have the legs for us over 7 games by then.
[Reply]
tornado12 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:09 pm
@kissmyblarneystones, the team that really gives me pause is SJ. Simply beacuse the Kings have to SHOW they can beat those guys, its more a mental hurdle than anything IMO (at least it is for me and the fact I live in SJ)
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:18 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
I hear you, but beating both the Yucks and the Pooches was a huge accomplishment for us. Last year, maybe the Sharks are a problem, but now that we’ve won a cup, they’ll be like any other team we meet.
RobSD Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:18 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
I don’t know… I was there opening night and Chicago looked like they were playing a minor league team.
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 5:02 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
Opening night was ions ago and should really have no bearing on whats occurring now. Whereas we’re heading up, Chicago can only go down.
HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:48 pm
@kissmyblarneystones, Craig Button?
[Reply]
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:50 pm
@HockeyNerd,
I’m his evil twin!
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 2:51 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
Calling @marty mulls, calling Mr. @marty mulls. Please pick up the white courtesy phone.
[Reply]
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:16 pm
@DesertKing,
What was that all about? He came out of left field, what a DB
I kind of like the new ‘No Holds Barred’ Blog though,
If @Duncanz didn’t have me on such a short rope, I’d have been all over that.
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:54 pm
@keysmybluntystrokes, not enough to prevent you from going all blarney again on another perfectly good post from @Peggy M in Eastern Siberia, yesterday.
Quite a kerfuffle you got going there without me around to supervise.
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:05 pm
@Duncanz,
Man you’re tough! I wasn’t the only one, and I thought my comments we’re somewhat supportive considering what the potential was. there was a very funny exchange though. ……So you think Bernier should board Kopi? LMMFAO at that one. Good to see your lurking about though.
Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 6:42 pm
@kissmypeggysquares, I was busy preparing lemonade and cookies for @phil and Chris Hansen’s surprise afternoon tea.
Speaking of phil, I find it is appropriate for me at this time to reassume my popularly appointed citizens auxiliary policing duties on the blog.
I also think if we could only work through the cold war era cyphering I’m sure we would discover an other world of discovery courtesy of Peggy and his gang. That’s what I think
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 8:06 pm
@Duncanz,
Now, if only Peggy M could communicate properly………
PalmSpringsKingsFan Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:03 pm
@kissmyblarneystones, we need Penner on the forecheck. I have never given up on him eve last season. he does not have 2 SC rings for nothing.
Now williams… he has some beautiful moves this year
King is the one who should be worried no production
[Reply]
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:24 pm
@PalmSpringsKingsFan,
I think we are expecting to much from King and Nolan. Last year they didn’t have time to think about where they were. A new team with a new coach in the same week? Last season was a blur to them. They were huge along the boards last year and they need to get back to that. Just go with the flow and forget about expectation.
[Reply]
xeropoint Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:08 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/images/photos/000/766/285/RackMultipart.23050.0_crop_340x234.jpg?1259722042
[Reply]
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:11 pm
@xeropoint,
The Cleaner!!
[Reply]
yetiman_oc Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:24 pm
@kissmyblarneystones, Kings look awesome. Kings are heading up the ladder and will be right where they belong after this extended homestand.
[Reply]
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:25 pm
@yetiman_oc,
That is what I have been saying all year long!
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:02 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
Penner was my dark horse pick this season. Last season nobody (and I do mean nobody) could see how well Penner was playing down the stretch heading into the playoffs because they were pissed he wasn’t scoring, and it took me 2 full rounds before people stopped thinking I was crazy when I said Penner was playing well. He might not be scoring a bunch, but he’s protecting the puck and doing other things to help us win.
He’s in good shape right now, and doesn’t have any concerns as far as injury that I know of. He still won’t be lighting up the lamp this season, but we do need his size and strength to help the team play that physical style they like to play.
[Reply]
kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:12 pm
@Dominick,
Why do guys always go straight for the Puss for gratifying results, instead of stepping back and looking at the whole package before them. Penner has a lot of attributes that no one wants to see. Because he’s a winger, he should automatically net 20. It doesn’t work that way.
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 7:01 pm
@kissmypennystocks, It used to back in those rainbow crested days when he was a perennial Byng, Selke and Maurice Richard candidate wherever he hung his hefty hemet.
Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 7:07 pm
*helmet, i don’t think he ever played in hemet..
Very nice piece form an opponent’s writer. Nice to finally be getting respect. I’m still a doubter because of our problems on D but watching last night sure was a tonic. Hope Willie comes back. One day I hear he and Greener are gone for the season, the next I hear they could be back for the playoffs.
[Reply]
Deke'r Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:03 pm
@fourtunato, ….that’s the thing with rumors…..
[Reply]
HockeyNerd Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 3:36 pm
@fourtunato, Keep that head up. All the problems we’ve had, 3 defensemen out, all those road games and still we are right around .500 hockey. Mitchell may be back sooner than later but if that’s not the case there are plenty of options for DL to get some more help there. Quick is starting to look like the Quick of 2012 and Bernier has convinced DS to use him more often. There is absolutely no reason this team couldn’t and won’t make the playoffs and we all know what it is capable of once there.
[Reply]
I just watched the highlights of the Pitt-Philly game and boy an I glad our team has two very good goalies. Vokun’s swimming in and out of the crease makes Kelly Hrudey’s play look like an elephant tied down outside at Barnum & bailey. Bryz is simply full of holes.
Yes, both teams, especially Pittsburgh, don’t put too much effort on the back end. That being said, the goaltending is awful whether the D plays tough or not.
GKG
[Reply]
DesertKing Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:03 pm
@Michael J.,
Which is why the winner of the West will win the Cup again this year, unless it is VanHoover or the Guppies.
[Reply]
Duncanz Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:15 pm
@Michael J., I guess I half agree with you there based on that one epic play where for what seemed like half a minute Vokoun got himself ‘caught up ice’ Fowler(not ‘Flower’)-style … although he looked relatively composed while the Flyers forwards fired away at the net with ALL FIVE Penguins skaters flapping around in the crease BEHIND Vokoun like …. well, Penguins, I guess.
But at least they were defending responsibly in that instance! … Except for Vokoun, of course.
Never-the-less, smart of Bylsma to shield ‘the Daffodil’ from yet another inevitable thrashing around at the hands of the Simmonds led scoring machine from across the state!
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:21 pm
@Michael J.,
Hard to say. Pittsburgh is a +13 in goal differential (3rd or 4rth in the league I think. I’m too lazy to look right now). They have let in 6 more goals than the Kings defensively, BUT, they have played 2 more games than the Kings. Defensively their still OK.
[Reply]
wobsse6 Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:34 pm
@Dominick, Offense is great to watch…but Defense wins cups. Neither Pittsburgh nor Flyers have a sound backend.
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:38 pm
@wobsse6, Balance wins championships.
Michael J. Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:36 pm
@Dominick,
I respectfully decline to agree with your sentiment
[Reply]
Dominick Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:41 pm
@Michael J., Too early to tell. Just as the Kings defense won’t be the same at the end of the year and will only get better, Pittsburgh might see something similiar.
jess Reply:
February 21st, 2013 at 4:49 pm
@Michael J.,
Maybe it’s best that east coast hockey games just pull both of their goaltenders.
[Reply]
I understand and agree with all the jubilation here over the Carter/Johnson trade, but truthfully I think this is one of those proverbial ‘win-win” trades in that Carter was unhappy in Columbus and wasn’t performing for them, and in return the got a cornerstone D who was happy to play there.. and a draft pick.
[Reply]
Great game, now that looked like a Stanley Cup champs
[Reply]
Calgary press :: “At the top of their game, the Kings simply wear away on teams, grind them down, into sawdust, insidiously, relentlessly. Pushing, prodding, pounding, carving out an inch of territory, then a foot, then enough room to snap off a shot or work a game-changing play.” -
wish I’d said that…
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Johnson+Flames+ground+spit+defending+champs/7994609/story.html#ixzz2LapXwuZu
[Reply]