On what has allowed the Kings to “get on a roll”:
“We’ve been fairly consistent, other than the first two games of the year. [We’re] just trying to get everybody to settle in…some new guys on different lines, things like that.”
On whether the team’s best players have been the best players recently:
“Carter and Kopitar and Voynov have been real good. Kopitar missed camp, missed the first game of the year and his game has come along. Jeff’s been really good, right from day one. He probably got us two or three wins.”
On using the same six defensemen through the playoffs last year, compared to this year:
“Actually we played six defensemen for about 50 games last year, which is a rare thing. I guarantee it never happens again. So we’ve had to put three or four kids in now that three guys had never played a game for us last year in the playoffs. You know what? There’s this great thing about ‘oh, they brought all their team back’…that wasn’t really true. At the end of the day, it’s still about we’ve won whatever it is – four, five in a row – the bottom line is we’ve scored almost four goals and we’ve given up one and a half. If you do that, you’re going to win. If you don’t, you’re going to lose.”
On Alec Martinez:
“He’s cleared to play.”
On whether it’s good to change the mix during a winning streak:
“He’s no different than our other young defensemen. He’s a guy who plays 12 to 15 minutes. So he’s not getting in just for what he did. He’s got to beat somebody out. When that happens, it’s based on other guys’ performance. Not that big a deal.”
On whether he expects Martinez to play:
“We’ve got everybody in warmup. We’ll just see after.”
On what type of a player Jake Muzzin is:
“He’s really similar to Marty, only bigger. Really similar player, quite honest.”
7MilforVV !
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jet Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 4:39 pm
@Duncanz, for5years
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I’m in coach heaven.
You mean a coach who believes there should be competition between players for the right to hold a spot including the goaltenders??
DS, -if only I knew you were on the horizon when Terry Murray was coach and giving me sleepless nights!
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Kenny44 Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 5:33 pm
@jess,
If you had known, it would’ve made it worse. MurrayVisionTM might not have held up as long as it did. Paul would’ve been happy, though.
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Got to love DS – what have you done for me lately
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Excellent line of questioning, and a little insight into who the battle is between for that 3rd puck moving spot!
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BTW, haven’t given both Stevens and DS their props for that 3rd period against Detroit. That was some materful line changing. Steven probably should get a ton of credit for what he’s done with our new young defensemen. Muzzin is playing some exceptional hockey. I’m seeing things from Muzzin that Martinez just hasn’t been able to pull off. Muzzin is far more talented than I thought he was going to be.
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YoBro Reply:
March 2nd, 2013 at 2:31 pm
@KC23, I would say Muzz has done OK. Certainly not exceptional, but he is just a kid. He has progressed, but is still a turnover machine, especially early in games. As far as him vs Marty? Please,, no comparison IMO. But if Marty ain’t ready, stick with the kid.
Go Kings
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