On the team’s recent even strength play:
“Yeah, I think it’s coming around…We had a tough 35 minutes in Chicago, and after that we woke up and had a decent period – the third period in Chicago – so that was good. After that, I think we were starting to play solid hockey again.”
On the chemistry and the possession game with Dustin Brown and Justin Williams:
“Yeah, we had a couple of rough games, if you pick out a few. Edmonton was not the best possession. Chicago was not the best possession. But in Calgary, I thought we managed the puck pretty well, especially through the neutral zone. That pretty much sets up offensive zone time, anyway, and once we were in the offensive zone we were able to make plays and get open and get some quality chances.”
On the keys to slowing down a fast Colorado team:
“The way you slow them down is really a puck possession game. We want to make sure we make strong plays again through the neutral zone, first and foremost, and then holding on to it in the offensive zone. By no means are they a big team, but they have a lot of skill and speed. I guess we have to use our ability to protect pucks to our advantage, and we’ll see what happens.”
On managing and protecting the puck, especially through the neutral zone:
“I guess it goes back into a little bit of a D-zone, too. For me, as a centerman, I’ve got to get low. I’ve got to make sure that I give support to our D-man. The last couple of years with Dewey, it was fairly easy, because obviously he makes really good decisions on the ice and really good plays. So every time that I’ve gone through the neutral zone with speed, he was able to find me. It backs them off a little bit. It gives me a little bit of room, and then I can make plays off that. Through the neutral zone, you want to make sure that you have a good support, that you’re not dumping pucks in places where you can’t get it back. Every time you hit the blue line wiuth speed, for the most part it backs the D-men off and you can make plays off the rush.”
Nopitar…… NO DONT GO THERE ! Kopitar will soon be healthier and watch out !!!!
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Shiny Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 3:21 pm
@Neil, Nopitar got left behind in Calgary. KOPITAR, however, will be front and center in the game. O have a good feeling about Kopi tomorrow.
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Shiny Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 3:21 pm
@Shiny, I*
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Gotta remember how fast Duchene was/is.
He can skate right past some players.
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FKA PakiFro Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 3:30 pm
@Lake Forest,
I don’t remember if Kopitar played in Colorado. The Kings do look better now than they did then. Plus there were a couple of freak bounces off the backboards.
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KingMe20 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:49 pm
@FKA PakiFro,
He did play in that game (he’s only missed one), but it was his first one back. I’m not certain that he’s 100% yet.
Doughty will need to be sharp against Duchene and Landeskog.
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brian spain Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 8:56 pm
@KingMe20, Landeskog is hurt isn’t he?
We’ve seen the last two games it pretty much starts with Brown. He starts taking the body, everyone seems to respond and get fired up. Have to get physical with this colorado team. If not, they’ll skate circles around us and buzz our net.
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goldielocks Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 3:54 pm
@jess,
With Landeskog back in lineup, they are much more dangerous.
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anyone at the game when Kopi broke his leg against the Avs…..
You could hear people whispering it was so quiet when people noticed he got hurt.
i saw him go down and not get up and knew it wasnt good.
it was right after he had the most consecutive games started.
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JCarson17 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:28 pm
@Lake Forest, Nope. Go knock on some wood now!!
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KC23 Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 4:55 pm
@Lake Forest, Yep, I was there. Like being at a funeral after that.
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Deke'r Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 5:48 pm
@Lake Forest, …Yes, was in the opposite corner about 5 rows up…..knew he was done when he went down….a day I would like to forget….
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Harrison Merkin Reply:
February 22nd, 2013 at 8:57 pm
@Lake Forest, Yikes! Delete that post. Crank caller! Crank caller!
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Kopi go to the net more and shoot more it will happen hang in there
Go Kings Go!
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He said they woke up after 35 minutes in Chicago, seems like it always takes this team a while to wake up for the afternoon games.
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Kopi is looking better every game and has setup Brown with pretty good passing the last few games
Go Kings Go
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