Monthly Archives: October 2009

IS JACK JOHNSON’S PLUS/MINUS INDICATIVE OF HIS PLAY?

October 31, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , ,

10/3 PHX 1-05:31 (PP): Vrbata gets a 60-ft pass from Jovo, slapshot from the top of the circle; Quick should have had it.

10/3 PHX 2-08:22: Point shot that would have gone wide, deflection by Winnik. Not much anyone could do about this one.

10/3 PHX 2-14:08: Simmonds turns the puck over on the outlet and Vrbata sneaks in behind both Johnson and Scuderi.

10/3 PHX 3-00:31: Doughty passes the puck right to Upshall for an easy one-timer.

10/6 SAN 2-19:43 (PP): Deflection by Blake, who was Doughty’s man.

10/8 MIN 3-06:24: Johnsson scores pinching in from the left circle; Johnson was on his man on the right boards.

10/10 @STL 3-13:23 (SH): Johnson takes his man (and Quick) out of the play, Steen curls around and fires into a nearly open net. OK, you MIGHT fault Johnson on this one.

10/12 @NYI 3-18:05: Johnson tries to tie up Moulson but Moulson gets free in front of the crease and puts in the rebound.

10/15 @DET 2-03:33: Ericsson with a seeing eye shot off the faceoff.

10/15 @DET 3-14:43: Doughty turns over the puck exiting the zone and Maltby scores on a 3-on-2 down low.

10/15 @DET 3-19:53 (EN): Rafalski cherry picks a clearing pass and fires into an open net.

10/17 @CLB 1-19:13: Chimera picks off Frolov’s pass to the point and scores on a 2-on-1. Quick probably should have had this one.

10/17 @CLB 2-17:02 (PP): Huge scrum in front, Johnson takes out his man but the puck squirts out to an open Torres who beats an unset Quick.

10/19 @DAL 1-17:18: Morrow with a no-look pass to Benn who is camped out in front of the crease. Not sure if Benn was Scuderi’s or Johnson’s man (Scuderi was closer), but let’s count this anyways.

10/22 DAL 1-16:16: Scuderi fails to hold the point and Neal scores on a 2-on-1. Didn’t look like Johnson misplayed the 2-on-1 since he had the passing lane cut off.

10/22 DAL 3-08:30: Fistric scores from a bouncing point shot that just sneaks through Quick’s five-hole. Johnson had taken out his man Eriksson off to the side of the net. Quick should have had this one.

10/22 DAL 3-17:14: Neal scores with a well-placed wristshot off the rush. Perhaps Johnson could have closed on him quicker, but Eriksson’s drop pass gave him space to shoot. Quick probably could have had this as well.

10/24 PHX 1-09:52 (PP): Doan left wide open to the left of Quick scores off a rebound from Lang’s shot. One might be able to argue that Johnson might have overplayed Lombardi, but probably not.

10/24 PHX 2-15:42: Stoll’s weak clearing attempt gets picked off and Vrbata sneaks in behind the defense and scores. Not sure what Johnson could have done differently here.

10/24 PHX 3-12:30: Doan takes a great lead pass from Jovo and he powers past Johnson to score on Quick. Johnson might have played Doan stronger here.

10/25 CLB 3-09:48 (PP): Both Johnson and Quick overcommit on the right side and Huselius walks around the net and scores on a wraparound.

So, out of the 21 goals scored while Johnson’s been on the ice, only 5 of them were goals that Johnson might have been able to prevent. And in fact, those are stretches; on only two of those goals (Moulson and Doan) would I say that they were clearly Johnson’s responsibility, and none of them were blown assignments or turnovers. Come on, that’s dumb luck if I’ve ever seen it.

The above courtesy of the poster “ukyo” of hfboards.

SO, I HAD THIS HORRIBLE DREAM…

October 30, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , , , ,

Last game in November. We have lost the first 12 games, each in the shootout.During game 13 against Chicago, third period with 10 minutes left, the following discussion takes place:

Jim Fox: “Bob, Terry Murray appears to have developed some sort of nervous tick. His head keeps jerking sideways toward his right shoulders while his right eye twitches. He is muttering something to himself…Bob, can you make out what he is saying?”

Bob Miller: “I am not sure Jim, let’s talk to Patrick O’Neal who is at the King’s bench. Patrick?”

Patrick O’Neal: “Thanks Bob and Jim. We are at the Kings bench, talking with Kings captain Dustin Brown. Dustin, coach Murray doesn’t seem like himself. Can you tell us what is going on?”

Dustin Brown: “Yeah, you know he sseems out of ssync a bit. He keepss muttering ussselesss…ussselesss…”

Patrick O’Neal: *nodding* “Bob, Jim, back to you.”

Bob Miller: “Thanks…Patrick…Kings facing off in their own zone. Kopitar is ready to take the faceoff…”

No scoring during the third minute. We go to the last 30 seconds of overtime…

Bob Miller: “…Frolov steals the puck, he is skating alone against Huet, he’s got speed, he shoots…OH!! It goes wide…Alexander Frolov was all alone…”

Jim Fox: “Bob. Bob, we appear to have a situation on the Kings bench, Terry Murray is trying to climb over the boards and onto the ice. Is he? Yes, he is screaming something…coach Murray is trying to get to Alexander Frolov. Wow, I have never seen anything like this before. The players are trying to restrain him…”

Bob Miller: “…and look at Frolov. He’s not going back to the bench, the entire play has stopped and I think the Kings are going to get penalized here for delay of game…”

Jim Fox: “Yes they are, the Los Angeles Kings are going to get a penalty…”

Game proceeds to a shootout. Round 7.

Bob Miller: “Well, Kings needs to score to keep it going. They have to put this in the net to avoid their 13th overtime loss in a row. Clearly a club record and an NHL record.”

Jim Fox: “As we said in game 3, it was an NHL record then. This record may never be broken. We have just heard that Terry Murray is doing better. He’s in the dressing room and they are trying to administer some medication to help him relax though they are having a bit of trouble.”

Bob Miller: “Here we go. Peter Harrold with the puck. He must score to send it to round 8. Harrold skates in to the net, he goes wide, has some speed, goes to the forehand, backhand, oh, he loses the puck and it slides harmlessly past Huet…”

Jim Fox: “Oh oh, Terry Murray is back, he just ran through the tunnel and HE IS ON THE ICE! KINGS COACH TERRY MURRAY IS ON THE ICE. And..is that Frolov he is chasing?”

Bob Miller: “It is, Frolov has jumped on the ice to escape and is trying to skate away and…Terry Murray…I think he’s carrying something!”

Jim Fox: “Oh my God, he’s got a sharp object of some kind. It’s a skate blade Bob!”

Bob Miller: “I think you’re right Jim. Terry just ran past Harrold and didn’t even look at him. He’s after Frolov! Look at Frolov, he’s hiding behind Huet and Huet doesn’t know what to do as he’s trying to get back to the Blackhawks bench but Murray has them blocked off…”

Jim Fox: “Security has now poured onto the ice, boy I hope this turns out ok at the end…”

Wish I knew how it ended.

CANUCKS BEAT KINGS IN “USELESS PART OF THE GAME”

October 29, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: ,

Another day, another loss in the shootout.

What Terry Murray calls a “useless part of the game”, the Kings seem quite inept at executing.  Coincidence?  Perhaps.

Tonight the Los Angeles Kings dropped another point they should have had to the Vancouver Canucks in a 2-1 shootout loss, giving Kings’ fans everywhere fits of nostalgia not but a day old.  Shootout goals from Ryan Kesler and Mikael Samuelsson lifted the Canadian representatives over the Kings in a reasonably played, but ultimately lackluster game.

The Kings severely outshot the Canucks 31-16, but were unable to beat backup goalie Andrew Raycroft more than once in regulation.  Scott Parse scored the Kings’ lone goal, the first of his NHL career.  Samuelsson, who won the game in the shootout, also had the Canucks sole regulation goal.  Both goals came in the first period.  The final two frames were a war of attrition.  While Los Angeleans refrained from taking their verbal slurs towards the large Canuck fan presence to the next level of physicality, had the game been more dynamic, who knows what shenanigans might have broken out amongst the polarized group of ticket holders.  That is my way of saying the stands were more interesting than the ice.

I think the Kings got off to a good start, although I wouldn’t know, since I spent the first 8 minutes of the game standing in a ridiculously long will-call line.  To tangentiate (I know its not a word, but it is now) for a moment, I am vigorously disgruntled over the inability of Staples Center to move an overly long line through the turnstiles quickly.  Maybe its the staff, or maybe it was just the numb-skull in front of me who spent 10 minutes arguing with a Staples employee about god knows what, but either way, I was disappointed that the Kings no longer play the live telecast over the gigantic screen outside Staples Center.  If I am going to miss half of the first period waiting in line, at the very least play the dang game on the big screen.

OK, enough ranting… the people in section 315 got their fair share upon my late arrival to the game.  I apologize to anyone I may have offended.  No I don’t.  Yes I do.  It’s a hockey game, no I don’t.

I do sincerely apologize on behalf of the Kings for not burying any of their plentiful shots.  Raycroft may have made 30 saves, but he does not truly deserve the boost in save percentage he will bear from this game.  The majority of the Kings’ chances were not of the prime variety we have become accustomed to over the first 13 games of the season.  Last night Nabakov stoned the Kings.  Tonight, the Kings were apparently just stoned.

Perhaps that is not fair.  The Kings did play a strong game.  In a general sense, they outplayed the Canucks, holding them to a mere 10 shots through 2 periods of play.  Unfortunately one of those 10 shots was a quality one, which beat Jonathan Quick at 18:36 of the first period, a shade over 7 minutes after Parse potted the Kings’ only goal.

Maybe it was the long wait in line, maybe it was the beer, or maybe it was the blond in front of me who didn’t ask, but rather told me to keep my voice down, but I walked away from this game with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.  The Kings reverted to dump and chase hockey far too often, usually as soon as they felt any pressure, and when they did skate the puck in, they often took haphazard shots before setting up a quality cycle.

It is encouraging that the Kings walk away with a point and the satisfaction of carrying most of the play to their opponent, but point or not, a loss is a loss, and the Kings clearly need to work on their shootout abilities, regardless of how much coach Murray hates it.  One can only imagine what this game would have looked like had Pavol Demitra, Daniel Sedin and Roberto Luongo played.

Speaking of injuries, this Kings’ fan is missing Justin Williams.  While Simmonds did not play poorly, Williams’ unique speed and ability to move the puck through the neutral zone was sorely lacking tonight.  Let us all hope his mysterious injury (chafed thighs?) fully heals by the next game at Phoenix on Monday, November 2.

Normally in a back-to-back scenario, 2 out of 4 points seems pretty good, and ultimately it is acceptable, however even in this young season, the Kings have shown that they are capable of much more than this effort.  Granted, this was the last game of the Kings’ toughest month of the schedule.  The next several days of rest and team practice will serve the Kings well.

A point is a point is a loss.  On to the next game.

Go Kings!

PREGAME: KINGS VS. LUONGO-LESS CANUCKS

October 29, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , ,

Tonight at Staples Center the Los Angeles Kings take on the severely depleted Vancouver Canucks.

The Canuckleheads are without Daniel Sedin, Sami Salo, Pavol Demitra, Ryan Johnson, Jannik Hansen, most likely Kyle Wellwood, and most pleasantly for the Kings, star goalie Roberto Luongo.  Andrew Raycroft will get the start in Luongo’s absence.

Personally, I am happiest than Daniel Sedin is out, since that makes the Canucks only half as ugly.

No changes thus far for the Kings as the Jonathan Quick will take on back-to-back games for the second time this season.

Go Kings!

RANDY JONES WAIVES GOODBYE TO FLYERS

October 29, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags:

The Los Angeles Kings used their high waiver priority today to claim defenseman Randy Jones from the Philadelphia Flyers.   In 3 days the waiver priority is reshuffled, which will put the Kings as one of the last teams eligible to claim another team’s castaway.

Jones, just 28, has been much maligned by cap conscious Flyer fans for the better part of a year now, most likely because of his $2.75 million price tag.  Jones was actually on re-entry waivers, so the Kings are only on the hook for half of Jones’ contract, which expires at the end of this season.

I admit, I have watched Jones play maybe 30 total minutes of  live hockey, none of it memorable.  He will most likely be sitting in the press box, a $1.375 million insurance policy.

Jones broke into the league with the Flyers during the 2003-2004 season, playing 5 games.  Over the next 4 years, Jones played 212 games for the Flyers, registering 13 goals and 56 assists for 59 points.  His best season was 2007-2008, probably not coincidentally while playing under Terry Murray as a defensive coach.  That season Jones played 71 games (his highest single season total), and put up 5 goals and 26 assists, good for almost half his career points.  He was also a +8 that season (he is a career -3), and registered 58 PIM (134 career PIM).  He has also played in 22 playoff games, scoring 3 assists and notching a +7 with just 4 PIM.  Here is his player page at NHL.com

While Jones is not the mean beast that Denis Gauthier was, he is best known for something you would expect from Gauthier.  Jones plastered Patrice Bergeron into concussion-land back in 2007.  You might remember the hit.

So the question really is, what the hell do the Kings want with him?

Well, Dean Lombardi had talked about wanting to add a veteran defenseman over the summer.  With 217 career games, Jones is no OD, but he does have enough experience to squeeze into the vet suit.  Terry Murray is already familiar with Jones, and Jones is already familiar with watching an NHL game from on high, though he will have to get used to a new press box.  I wonder whether some players prefer being on an NHL squad but not dressing, or dressing nightly for an AHL team.  Depends on the man I guess.  I have no idea what kind of man Jones is, but from that mugshot of his, I’m getting a “F*** it” vibe from him.

In light of this claim, rookie Alec Martinez has been placed on injured reserve.  Poor kid.  His chance at subbing in is all but lost now.  Although, with Thomas Hickey playing poor enough recently to watch a game from the press box himself, perhaps Martinez will come in handy in Manchester once he is healthy.

So, welcome Randy Jones.  May your days as a King be useful and well appreciated.

SHARKS SQUEAK OUT VICTORY AGAINST KINGS IN SHOOTOUT

October 28, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , ,

Kings have won different types of games this season.

Want a high scoring game? You got it.

Want a low scoring one? No problem.

Comebacks? Got that too.

Win in overtime? Come on, give me a challenge!

Heart wrenching leads given up but still hanging on to win? Piece of cake.

Low scoring 1-1 affairs that end up in a shootout only to win it in the sixth round? Ahhhh…maybe next time.

The Kings and Sharks each had their chances during the three periods of regulation and overtime to win this game.  Both goalies came up big. Unlike most shootouts, and taking nothing away from Sharks goaltender Nabokov, goaltending wasn’t the deciding factor. Anze Kopitar, Wayne Simmonds and Dustin Brown each had a chance to win it for the Kings. Kopitar shanked it wide. Simmonds couldn’t get a strong shot off “five” hole. Dustin Brown lost the puck in his “patended backhand, forehand, hang on for an eternity and shoot high on forehand” (which has needed some re-engineering for a while now) attempt.  You can’t give an offensively gifted Sharks team that many lives…hell, you can’t do that with any team, sans perhaps the Maple Leafs.

The Kings goals came from Alexander Frolov on a nice wrap around in the first.  Handzus, yes Handzus, scored the lone shootout goal.

The Sharks received goals from Patrick Marleau, who has made a career out of playing the Kings, and two shootout goals, one each from Heatley and Clowe.

The irony of the Frolov for Marleau rumors is not lost on me coming into this game, nor leaving it.

One point is one point…just like zero isn’t any.  One is better than zero in hockey.  We’ll take it.

Go Kings.

PLAYING CATCH-UP: LITTLE BIG MEN: DOUGHTY, SMYTH, FROLOV

October 28, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news

Sorry about the delay on these.

The first play is from the second Dallas game. Doughty makes a great poke check near the end of the game to free up the puck to Wayne Simmonds. Doughty then elects to move the puck up ice himself and get it deep. The Stars had just tied the game and were surging, and this play eliminated Dallas’ last chance they would have in the game to win. The Kings spent the rest of the period in the Dallas zone and then, as you know, won quickly in OT.

The second play is the second assist from the Kings first goal (Brown) against Phoenix. A small play, but Smyth had to corral the puck quickly, and made a heads-up pass to break Kopitar for the 2-on-1 with Brown for the goal. Quick thinking and good passing on Smyth’s part. While Smyth got a point for the play, it was not pointed out during the telecast, so I thought I’d give Smyth credit here.

The third play is really a whole shift. Frolov, as he often does, dominated with possession. 3 separate times in this clip. Brown also made good plays to help get the cycle going, but Frolov’s great pass from his knees to Brown allowed him to find an open Handzus for the Kings first goal of the eventual blowout against Columbus.

RETALIATION: THE COLUMBUS WAY VS. THE KINGS WAY

October 28, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news

I heard some people asking for youtube video of the cheap shots against Doughty and Frolov from the Kings last game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Here are all the key plays from that game, all cheap shots included.

Also, I will be catching up with the little big men plays from the last three games. Sorry they are late, but check back soon for that update.

PREGAME: KINGS TAKE FIRST SWIM IN SHARK TANK

October 28, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags:

Dany Heatley?

Who is that?

Isn’t he supposed to be some great goal scorer? Didn’t the Kings need to trade for him to have any chance at a respectable offense? A few months ago you would have (as many did) screamed “hell yes!”

But that was then, and this is now. The now where Anze Kopitar has scored 2 more goals than Heatley and 4 more points than Joe Thornton through 12 games of the season.

In a battle for the Pacific Division lead, the Los Angeles Kings (16 points) take on the San Jose Sharks (15 points) tonight for the second time this season and the first time at the notorious Shark Tank. Supposedly a tough building to play in, the Kings say ‘phooey’ as they look to extend their winning streak to a season high 5 games.

The Sharks have spent the majority of their time on the road, having played only 3 games at home before tonight. They are 2-0-1 at home, but I’m sure they will be OK being .500 for a day or two.

Dead in the water are forwards Devin Setoguchi and Ryan Vesce, who will sit tonight with leg injuries along with the previously paining Joe Pavelski and Torrey Mitchell.

Expect the Kings lineup to remain the same. Justin William is having a ‘hella’ hard time getting healthy and did not travel with the team up to ‘NorCal’. Luckily for him his ears will be spared the areas more agitating colloquialisms. Hopefully the rest of the team remembered to bring their harpoons.

I smell chum.

Go Kings!

SCUDERI FINED, NOT SUSPENDED

October 26, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , ,

Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi has been fined by the NHL for his missed hip check on Blue Jacket, Jason Chimera. The amount is not known but I am betting between $5,000.00 to $10,000.00.  Scuderi was asked what he thought about the fine. He responded “well…I guess the kids won’t be getting presents at Christmas this year.” He didn’t say that. Try to keep up.

No official word on whether Derek Dorsett will be fined or suspended, unless you consider the “Columbus Dispatch” official.  We do not.  So, did he leave the bench or not, and none of this “no, he didn’t leave the bench, it was just a late line change…randomly…right after the hit…and he was the only one that changed. Yeah.”

Please.

NHL GIVES ANZE KOPITAR FIRST STAR HONORS

October 26, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , ,

The NHL has named Anze Kopitar as the first star of the week.  The title is well earned.  Kopitar scored 6 goals and added 3 assists. In a coincidental twist, former King Michael Cammalleri was given second star honors. Dean Lombardi was asked what he thought of “Cammalleri” being named second star.  He responded, “who?”

For those of you without a sense of humor, the latter was a bad joke.

KINGS UNDRESS THE JACKETS

October 25, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , ,

Anze Kopitar, Ryan Smyth, Wayne Simmonds, Dustin Brown, Jared Stoll and, tonight, add Alexander Frolov. Remember those names.  If you are not a Los Angeles King, fear those names.

The Los Angeles Kings played a solid 40 minutes last night in Phoenix and beat the Coyotes.

Tonight, they played a relentless 60 and destroyed the Blue Jackets.

The passes connected.  The shots were hard and on target.  They hit to punish, to bring pain and pain they brought.

The goals were Handzus, Kopitar, Stoll, Kopitar, Frolov, followed by…Frolov for the Kings.

The Blue Jackets were irrelevant tonight. They never stood a chance.

More words are unnecessary. Let’s take a deep breath and enjoy this one.

PREGAME: KINGS VS. BLUE JACKETS, REVENGE PART II

October 25, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news

The Kings may not have the curse of superstition shrouding the Columbus Blue Jackets, but they do have a bone to pick.  Continuing the month from hell, the Kings play their second of three back to back games tonight at Staples Center against the Jackets.

When these two teams met last week, the Blue Jackets demolished a first period lead by the Kings in such fashion that saw Alexnader Frolov earn a night in a suit and tie.  At that time the Kings were coming off a two game losing streak.  This time around, the Kings are rolling on a two game win streak.

The Jackets, who also played last night (a 6-4 win against Anaheim), might be more bruised up than the Kings, who will again be without Justin Williams.  Jackets’ coach Ken Hitchcock told the press this morning that three forwards and one defenseman sustained injuries that could keep them out of the lineup tonight.

The Kings will start Jonathan Quick again as Terry Murray hopes to imbue Quick’s step with the arrogant swagger than made him the successful battler he was last year.  The rest of the Kings line-up will likely remain the same from last night as well.

Go Kings!

CONFIDENCE. AN INTANGIBLE WAYNE SIMMONDS POSSSESSES IN SPADES

October 25, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , ,

Los Angeles Kings right wing, Wayne Simmonds, was asked to fill in on the first line for injured forward Justin Williams.  Terry Murray’s decision was helped along with a tip by General Manager, Dean Lombardi. That tells you that both the coach and management are pretty happy with Wayne’s play. Wayne’s play tells Murray and Lombardi that they made the right choice.  Our second year player has been playing like a first line forward and now, he’s talking like one.

“I’m really aware, aware of my body and my movements and exactly what I’m doing. I like to hit, but I’m not going to go crush a guy if I know the puck is going to go on to someone else and I’m going to take myself out of the play. I like to think that I’m a smart player, and that’s something I like to pride myself on. I think Terry sees that as well, and I think it’s working well.’’

In hockey, as in life, the confidence one carries into and through the task at hand often dictates its success. Head up, chest out and an unpretentious intensity.

Wayne is walking the walk.

Go Kings!

NHL LEADING SCORER ANZE KOPITAR GIVES COYOTES COMEUPPANCE

October 24, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , , , 1 Comment

Superstition.

It’s deviance unmercifully inflicts terror upon a fan base.

Tonight, the Los Angeles Kings gave superstition a big middle finger as they held on until the dying seconds to fend off the Phoenix Coyotes in a hard fought 5-3 victory.  A truly bipolar game, the game ebbed and flowed between the two teams throughout each period.

The Coyotes controlled most of the play in the first period.  Raitis Ivanans was on the positive side of a penalty call for the first time in his career, but the Kings failed to generate any steam on the ensuing power play.  Superstition took hold when Alexander Frolov took a penalty immediately as soon as the power play ended.  After a minute and a half of constant control by the Desert Dogs, Shane Doan scored a goal off a rebound to put his team up 1-0.  The opening period, while not too poorly played, evoked a familiar prescience of disaster.  A failed powerplay.  An untimely penalty.  A King-killer with a taste of blood.

The second period was a very exciting incessant pull and tug between the two teams, neither willing to give an inch.  The Kings came out fairly flat, but capitalized on a power play when Anze Kopitar finessed a goal-mouth pass to Dustin Brown who promptly fired the puck into the empty net.  A flurry of penalties followed that saw the Kings with two separate two-man advantages inside of a minute.  During the second, longer power play Kopitar sent his second beautiful pass of the night across the ice to Jarret Stoll, who potted his first goal of the season.  The cloud of superstition began to dissipate until Radim Vrbata (who is following too closely in Shane Doan’s footsteps) tied the game on a broken play only 1:18 after Stoll’s goal to end the second period in a 2-2 tie.  Vrbata now has four goals on the season.  He had two against the Kings opening night.  I don’t like that.

The clouds regathered and began to darken, but then the Kings did something different.

The Kings came out in the third determined to cast all fantasized beliefs aside and played the polar opposite of the third period against Dallas.  2:16 into the final frame, Scott Parse made the most of his NHL debut as he drove down the right wing, faked a shot and slid a perfect pass to a streaking Stoll.  Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov panicked when Stoll cut sharply to middle and put a backhand shot in the net for his second goal (and the season) of the game to give the Kings a 3-2 lead.

After killing a penalty taken by Matt Greene for uppercutting Paul Bissonnette, the Kings first line went to work.  They dominated down low for entire shifts until Wayne Simmonds gathered a rebound and beat Bryzgalov to put the Kings up 4-2.  Kopitar received the second assist, giving him three for the night and boosting him two points past Alexander Ovechkin for the NHL’s scoring lead with 19 points.  The Kings continued to play well, showing for the first time a keen ability to keep up offensive pressure while protecting a third period lead.

The Coyotes did managed to cut the Kings lead to one when Shane Doan floated a puck by a frozen Jonathan Quick on a breakaway.  Quick had attempted a poke-check, not the wisest decision under the circumstance, and was not able to extend his left pad as a puck that was never shot glided past him.  The Coyotes surged and tried to mount an attack, but the Kings held firm, playing smart hockey through the neutral zone.  Dustin Brown added a stat-padding empty net goal with a fraction of a second on the clock.

While this curse-breaking win is worth exalting over, some signs of caution did emerge.  Two of the goals Quick gave up could be considered soft, Doan’s second goal certainly pushing the issue.  Drew Doughty struggled more often than we are used to seeing.  Alexander Frolov took a few shots, but did not take control of his shifts.  Jack Johnson had trouble reading the play and gave up several turnovers that led to scary chances.  Most disturbingly, Michal Handzus showed flashes of his first year with the Kings, making at the very least 3 hugely uncharacteristic defensive blunders.

However, the positives outweigh the negatives just as the Kings score outweighs that of the Coyotes.  Anze Kopitar played another brilliant game.  His is becoming as much a rock on defense as he is a horse on offense.  Scott Parse looked like a player who absolutely does not want to get sent back down to the minors.  Wayne Simmonds exuded confidence and played what this writer thought was his best game of the season.  Dustin Brown regressed, but in the good way.  He scored two goals and put a hurt on many Coyotes, throwing his weight around on every shift.

While the Kings and their fans sleep soundly tonight, superstition is momentarily free to plague someone else.  However, the bitter energy of past defeats will linger a little longer as the Kings rematch against the Columbus Blue Jackets tomorrow at Staples Center.

Go Kings!

PREGAME: KINGS SEEK REVENGE ON COYOTES

October 24, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , , , , ,

As the Los Angeles Kings look over the faces on the Phoenix Coyotes’ bench, they will see two things.  First they will see the Western Conference’s second best team.  This will be but a fleeting image.

The lasting picture in their minds will be a much harsher one, the visage of humiliation.

The Kings lost their season opener to the Coyotes in a performance so awful, one would have thought TWA had been resurrected to sponsor the game. To their credit, the Kings were only the first of several teams to be shocked and awed in submission by the surging Coyotes. Bankrupt only in funds, the Coyotes boast the NHL’s best defense, giving up only 1.50 goals per game (a whole half goal better than Buffalo, the next best defense). Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov deserves a large chunk of the credit for the Coyotes’ (6-2-0) fast start as he holds the best numbers for a starting goalie with a goals against average of 1.26 and a staggering .949 save percentage.

If Anze Kopitar, fresh of his first career 3 goal performance that put him atop NHL scoring alongside some Russian guy name Ovechkin, has any say in the matter, Bryzgalov’s numbers will be considerably higher by the end of tonight’s game.

This game means more than just points in the standings. This game is about redemption. The Coyotes have had the Kings ‘number’ for several years now, but the season opener set a new precedent, one the Kings hope to wipe clean. Tonight will be as much a physical battle for the Kings as it will be psychological.

The Coyotes are fast, skilled and unrelenting. The Kings will not let the Coyotes speed take them by surprise again, and if they are smart, will counter it with a punishing physical game. Thursday’s game against the Dallas Stars was one of the first in which Dustin Brown frequently looked to rack up his brain-cell kill-count with devastating open ice hits. He will need to build on that tonight. A few well placed hits from Brown early on will go a long way towards making the Coyote’s young forwards think twice about carelessly waltzing through the neutral zone.

Making his NHL debut tonight will be LW Scott Parse, an all but forgotten prospect, who has a score of his own to settle. Terry Murray did not play Parse in any preseason games as he was openly critical of the 25-year-old’s lack of offensive flair in training camp. Parse will play on a line with Jarret Stoll and Teddy Purcell.  Parse leads the Manchester Monarchs in scoring with 2 goals and 9 assists in 7 games, also good for second in overall AHL scoring. Trevor Lewis will be a healthy scratch for the sixth time this season.

The puck drops at the Jobing.com arena at 6pm PST.

IS A KING BUT A KING OFF THE ICE?

October 23, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news 1 Comment

A question for our readers.

If an event in a player’s personal life may be affecting that player’s performance on the ice, should the fans know about it?  I do not refer to the obvious situations such as the recent incident with Patrick Kane’s arrest. That goes without saying. My inquiry relates to a less public incident.

Before you answer yes or no, ask yourself what conditions, if any, do you believe are attached to such an event becoming appropriate for reporting? There is no way to know for certain the impact, if any, on the player’s production. Further, is a consideration the degree of arguable privacy, if any, that attaches to the issue?

Do not speculate as to what I may or may not be referring to and kindly do not report assumptions or speculations on any player. This is an academic discussion. The question I pose is intended to elicit what you believe to be the responsibility of news organizations, blogs, or even the team’s own reporting mechanisms in such circumstances.  You may post your thoughts in our comment section at the bottom of this post.

A $1.8 MILLION DOLLAR WHISKEY SIGNING

October 23, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , ,

Davis Drewiske (hereinafter “Whiskey”) has signed for 3 years, $600,000.00 per.  Why is that an excellent signing? Timing.

Dean Lombardi has recognized that last season and, thus far, this one, Whiskey has shown himself as an intelligent and hard working defenseman. Nothing about him stands out but nothing has to.  This 6’2″, 222 pound, 24 year old has a big frame, skates well, is able to find the seams on the breakouts from our own zone and has shown a calm demeanor and smart reaction under pressure situations, a valued rarity among young defensemen.  He is not a hard hitting defenseman though he has proven he can take a hit.

So, if he establishes himself as a solid NHL 3-4 guy, we have exactly that for only $600,000.00 per year, in all respects a bargain. If he does not, he remains well within the budget.

I admit I am higher on Whiskey that some but, then again, I am just so happy to see a number 44 on the Kings that doesn’t drive me to drink.

ANZE KOPITAR’S HAT TRICK SHINES BRIGHTEST OVER STARS

October 22, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , , , 2 Comments

In his rookie year, Anze Kopitar’s play started a hockey religion. A zealous fan gathered “disciples” and began the Kopitarian following. Number 11 stormed the league. His faithful did all but graffiti his image throughout Los Angeles…or did they?

Tonight, Anze Kopitar, in his role as a hockey god, was resurrected.  He scored not one, not two but a hat trick.

His first took Stephane Robidas to school. Kopitar blew past the Stars’ defender, cut across and with two defensemen giving chase, patiently forced Dallas Stars goaltender Alex Auld across and tucked the puck in about a four inch opening by the left post.  The second, while the Kings led 2-1 after a beautiful saucer pass by Frolov that was put into the net by Simmonds, came after Kopitar took the puck from the low corner, cut to the front of the net and beat Auld with a backhand.  Kopitar’s third was also a backhand on what was almost a broken play until Kopitar cut across the ice, through the slot and floated a rising puck over the Star’ exacerbated netminder.  Just like that, the Kings led 4-1 at the 9:55 mark of the second period.

That is the good news.

Here is the bad.

Jonathan Quick transformed into Jason La Barbara (spelling mistaken intended) in the third period.  Karlis Skrastins beat Quick on a high shot through some traffic.  A minute and a half later, Mark Fistric bowled a weak slap shot from near the blue line and beat the Kings’ goalie who looked completely unprepared and out of position. The fourth goal by James Neal was a rocket from above the slot but without any traffic in front of Quick. Everybody but the referee knew it was a goal, which required a review.

The game went into overtime and I am sure Kings fans were wondering if they were going to see the reversal of the November 10, 2007 “Royal Rebound” whereat the Kings came back and beat Dallas after trailing 4-0 with less than 8 minutes left in the game. Some of us half expected a center ice shot to beat Jonathan but fortunately Michal Handzus scored only 55 seconds into the extra session to give the Kings an emotional and, like the Kings season, roller coaster victory.

Alexander Frolov, a healthy scratch last game, played well in the first and second and was rewarded with two assists. He also had a fire under him in overtime. Wayne Simmonds was given the right wing position on the 1st line in place of the injured Justin Williams after a suggestion by Dean Lombardi to Kings coach Terry Murray. He played an excellent game. In addition to his goal, he was strong on the puck all game, hit well, absorbed hits and looked very natural in his role.

When everything was said and done, the Kings got two points and gave a charitable one to the Stars. There you go Dallas. Don’t say we never did anything for you.  Now, let’s focus, get our game in gear and hand the upcoming Coyotes their butts.

photo credit: John Lazar / Associated Press

Little Big Man: Jarret Stoll

October 22, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news 1 Comment

Ok, ok, so I missed posting one of these for the Columbus game.  Think about it this way, had there been a worthy play that game, I would have posted it!

There were, however, plenty of worthy plays against the Dallas Stars on Monday.

Jarret Stoll, who has been mostly underwhelming thus far, played one of his best games of the season against the Stars, and helped to keep the game scoreless during the Kings first penalty kill.  Now although the Kings still went down 1-0 by the end of the first period, Stoll’s little big play came before the Stars were able to settle their power play down and helped to break up their momentum.  Might have been a different game if the Stars were allowed to thrive on the power play.  I imagine giving up a power play goal would have been far more detrimental to the Kings’ psyche than the goal they eventually gave up to Jamie Benn.

Here is the play:

PREGAME: STARS ALIGN FOR ANOTHER WHOOPING

October 22, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Los Angeles Kings have not played since embarrassing the Dallas Stars in front of their home crowd on Monday.  Tonight they take on the Stars again, this time at home, in an effort to get their second winning streak of the season underway.

The Stars will be playing their 3rd game in 4 nights.  After losing to the Kings, the Stars beat the Anaheim Ducks by a score of 4-2 last night as pain-in-the-ass -winger Steve Ott returned to their lineup.

Marty Turco, too decrepit to play back-to-back games, will sit tonight in favor of backup Alex Auld.  Alexander Frolov will return for the Kings, although Rich Hammond reported this morning that Justin Williams is unlikely to play as he left practice with a “lower-body injury”.  In the tradition of amusing guesses, I’m going with a severe case of chafed thighs.

Though Williams may be out, between Frolov having something to prove (you know, his roster spot), Jonathan Quick on a roll and the bruised, battered and tired Stars (still without Jere Lehtinen and Mike Modano who were placed on IR Tuesday) playing their backup goalie in their 2nd game in as many nights, it will take a collapse of fundamentals for the Kings to lose this game.

It is likely that one of Frolov, Dustin Brown or Teddy Purcell will assume Williams’ right wing spot alongside Anze Kopitar and Ryan Smyth.  Though many will miss the speedy, crafty play Williams has brought to the first line, his absence will be interesting.  Several fans have contended that the 1st line’s dominance has been solely because of the play of Kopitar and Smyth, while Williams has just been on their bandwagon (probably the same wagon on which those who can’t see Williams’ worth are riding).  With someone else on the line, the theory of Williams’ contributions will be put to the ultimate test.

I will be at the game tonight, but in the interest of serving you rabid fans as quickly as possibly, Bobby Scribe will give you the full (and fun) post game report after the Kings have chewed up and spit out the Stars.

Go Kings Go!

KINGS COACH TERRY MURRAY TINKERS WITH A PINCH OF THIS AND DASH OF THAT

October 22, 2009 By in Los Angeles Kings hockey blog, Los Angeles Kings hockey news Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

We fans know what we are talking about…sometimes.

So, a few of us have wondered why Williams (who most of us like) plays the point on the powerplay. It exposed us defensively and we weren’t sure about his shot from the point.  Today, we find out that Terry is moving Williams off the point. His concern? Defense. On the powerplay? Yes. An aggressive penalty kill, like that of the Blue Jackets, exposed and continues to expose the Kings to a counter attack when the point man isn’t a defenseman.  Terry realizes he needs a defenseman there.

Murray has also, looking for secondary scoring, moved Captain Dustin Brown to the third line (or moved Michal Handzus and Alexander Frolov to the second line, depending on your perspective) and repositioned Wayne Simmonds alongside Ted Purcell and Jared Stoll.  This one required a little thought process from yours truly but it may make sense. The two players that the Kings need the secondary scoring from the most are Frolov and Brown. This puts them together with a smart center like Michal Handzus. My only concern is that it creates a line of two players who have been known to go cold for a series of games, the very two from whom we need more scoring.

The last adjustment – looks like we don’t have a number 2 goaltender for now. The choices are Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Quick. Here is what coach Murray had to say to Hammond:

MURRAY: “I was wishing I had just stayed with a player, Quicker, who was starting to get his game and playing well.”

Question: What does that mean for the next few games?

MURRAY: “It means I’m playing Quick right now. I had a plan that was penciled in, and I erased it.”

Question: Do you still have faith in Ersberg?

MURRAY: “I need him to be looking really, really good in practice. He’s got to be right on top of things right now. It’s been a long time since there’s been a win for him, going back to the middle of December last year, and I really need to see `A’ game in practice. You know, he’s battling the flu right now himself, so there’s just no way that he’s going to go in until he gets himself back to full strength and then builds from that point, and then we’ll decide.”

Question: Any thought, on your part, of bringing up Bernier?

MURRAY: “On my part? Me, specifically?”

Question: You and Dean…

MURRAY: “No, there’s not. No. Bernier is, from what I’m reading, is doing great. He’s playing, he’s winning, the team is winning, they’re in first place down there, and that was part of the decision coming out of the training camp. This is what he needs to do, Bernier, is to go play. I’ve got confidence that Quick is going to do the job for us.”

Question: You’ll keep playing him until he gives you a reason not to?

MURRAY: “The more he played… You know, he was getting on a roll and he was starting to play a real solid game when we got into New York. The only reason I made the change was because of my plan. Right now, I’m just going to play Quick.”

The Kings take on the Dallas Stars tomorrow night at home.  Pucks drops at 7:30pm.