We panicked. We complained. We self loathed like a Jew sneaking a pig in a blanket at a Yom Kippur service. Then the Kings told the fans in so many plays to shut the hell up. While the fans may have missed Alexander Frolov tonight, but the Los Angeles Kings did not. The Stars were missing Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen, and Steve Ott. Hefty losses, but the Kings were not about to pull any … [Read more...]
FOR THE SAKE OF PERSPECTIVE
October 19, 2009 By
I know this is old news now, but I read too many scathing remarks about Justin Williams and his apparent sole responsibility in giving up the short handed goal to Rick Nash against the Columbus Blue Jackets the other day. Take a look at this video. Notice that Smyth makes the wrong play along the boards at the first freeze frame, choosing to try and control the puck as well as stop up to … [Read more...]
PREGAME: FROLOV VS. RICHARDS
October 19, 2009 By
While the Los Angeles Kings are taking on the Dallas Stars tonight on the road, Alexander Frolov and Brad Richards will have to play chess together if they want to see some action. Richards is out with a groin injury and Frolov will sit with a bad case of doghouse stink. The turbulent river is flowing freely after Frolov's errant pass to Jason Chimera broke the dam. Murray is upset with … [Read more...]
QUOTES THAT NEVER WERE
October 18, 2009 By
I have a problem. I am all too aware that what players and coaches tell the media may not be respresentative of how they actually feel or handle themselves in the locker room. While it is too much to ask to expect unabated and honest specificity in words from a team, I do believe there is something to read in to themes of speech. Here are some quotes after yesterday's loss to the Columbus Blue … [Read more...]
BLUE JACKETS STING KINGS
October 17, 2009 By
A few days ago Dustin Brown was being hammered for not scoring any goals. Then he finally got one against Detroit. All of a sudden he is the offense. The Los Angeles Kings tested fan loyalty tonight with a sickly 4-1 loss against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Nearly a carbon copy of the effort against the Red Wings, the Kings played a strong first period and then got scared and flat-lined as … [Read more...]
VIDEO – KYLE CLIFFORD LIKES TO PUNCH PEOPLE
October 17, 2009 By
Following up on the tease/goof video I posted the other day of Kyle Clifford's fights, here is a longer, more polished version. This video incorporates more of Clifford's fights from last year. Enjoy! … [Read more...]
LITTLE BIG MAN: MICHAL HANDZUS
October 17, 2009 By
It is very hard to find a little play with a big impact in a game where the Kings could not do the little things right. Even though there is nothing 'little' about him, Michal Handzus is one of the better Kings at making little plays. Handzus makes a play like this nearly every game, and since no one else did much worth writing about against Detroit, I'll give 'Zus this one, even though he … [Read more...]
PREGAME – KINGS BATTLE FLU AND BLUE JACKETS; MOLLER TO THE RESCUE
October 17, 2009 By
Achoo. Excuse me. Or so goes the Los Angeles Kings' locker room. Alexander Frolov, Teddy Purcell, Justin Williams and Brad Richardson apparently shared a toothbrush as they are all sick with some form of the flu. Whether it is a common cold, swine flu, or just a result of flying over New Jersey on their way to New York, we don't know. What we do know is that at least one of them won't … [Read more...]
BEFORE YOU COMPLAIN TOO MUCH ABOUT THE OFFICIATING IN THE KINGS v. WINGS GAME…
October 15, 2009 By
Can you count how many Habs are on the ice? The officials missed this one as well. In fairness, until you reach 6 forwards and 4 defensemen on the ice for one team, it's not really obvious. A special thanks to Tony, moderator at hfboards for the photo. If you're not cheating, you're not trying, eh? … [Read more...]
PASSING OPPORTUNITIES
October 15, 2009 By
Every sport emphasizes its accuracy. In football, poor passing leads to lost downs and interceptions. Good passing means 1st downs and touchdowns. In basketball, quick and accurate passing equals open shots and baskets. Pick a major team sport and you have passing, in one form or another, as the catalyst to offensive and/or defensive success. Anyone who has played hockey or followed … [Read more...]
LOS ANGELES KINGS FALL TO STRUGGLING RED WINGS 5-2
October 15, 2009 By
The loss last night to the New York Rangers can be explained with "you can't win them all." Tonight's game doesn't have that luxury. Reminiscent of game one against Phoenix, the Kings showed holes in nearly every aspect of their game - turnovers, undisciplined penalties, an anemic powerplay, an ineffective penalty kill and poor goaltending. While the officiating of Dan Marouelli and Dean Morton … [Read more...]
LITTLE BIG MAN: DAVIS DREWISKE
October 15, 2009 By
There were not many plays that jumped out at me last night. Williams' made a nice clearing effort to get the puck over the red line at the end of the first. Frolov made some nice plays as well. I almost gave it to Johnson. Ultimately I thought this was a really good effort and gave it to Davis Drewiske. He pinched after an offensive zone face-off and almost got caught up ice. He … [Read more...]
PREGAME – KINGS TAKE ON DATSYUK-LESS WINGS
October 15, 2009 By
Tonight will be a good test for the Kings. They will have their number 1 goalie, Jonathan Quick in net, but they will also be very tired. Having just played a disheartening game against the New York Rangers last night, this will be the Kings' first test of the season in the 2nd game of a back-to-game scenario. Luckily for the Kings, the Wings will be without star center Pavel Datsyuk, who … [Read more...]
ENVER LISIN GIVES PETER HARROLD A BRIEF BOBBY RYAN FLASHBACK
October 15, 2009 By
Just had to post this video, because it is such a sweet little move. I'm sure you all noticed it during the telecast, but I thought it deserved some special recognition. … [Read more...]
OFFSIDE VIDEO REVIEW – WHAT IS CONTROL?
October 15, 2009 By
To confuse things further, here is a slowed down video of the Gaborik goal. Wavesinair was kind enough to look up the NHL definition of "control of the puck" to go along with the addendum to the offsides rule Bobby Scribe posted below. SECTION 7 – RESTRAINING FOULS 57.3 Penalty Shot 3rd Paragraph “Control of the puck” means the act of propelling the puck with the stick, hand or … [Read more...]
IT’S NOT OFFSIDES? REALLY?
October 14, 2009 By
So, I first wrote this post thinking the play was offsides. Guess what, I was wrong. Here is the rule: 83.1 Off-side: "...However, a player actually controlling the puck who shall cross the line ahead of the puck shall not be considered “off-side,” provided he had possession and control of the puck prior to his skates crossing the blue line." It seems that Gaborik had … [Read more...]
LOS ANGELES KINGS FALL TO NEW YORK RANGERS 4-2 DESPITE OUTSHOOTING THEM 36-21
October 14, 2009 By
The Kings came into tonight's game on a roll. Four straight wins. A first line that is one of the hottest in the league. Hard work from all four lines, a defense that has gelled and solid goaltending. Playing "their" game meant more of the same, especially a relentless forecheck, traffic in front of the net and good crisp passing from the defensive zone to the forwards. The Kings met a hot … [Read more...]
PREGAME – KINGS AT RANGERS – THE BATTLE OF WOUNDED GROIN
October 14, 2009 By
By Surly Jacob. Tonight at Madison Square Garden two big talents with two sensitive groin muscles square off as Alexander Frolov and the Los Angeles Kings take on Marian Gaborik's New York Rangers. Frolov, who historically has had at least one juicy groin injury per year hopes to pick up his scoring against the best offense in the league. Gaborik leads the Rangers with 5 goals and 4 … [Read more...]
THE BIGGER THEY ARE, THE HARDER THEY HIT – A LOOK AT RAITIS IVANANS
October 13, 2009 By
I have never heard Raitis Ivanans speak a word. I have never read a single interview with him. I am not certain he actually talks. Nearly every photograph of him displays an angry scowl or mid fight action in which he has his fist in someone else's face and, as my co-writer Surly Jacob aptly pointed out, Raitis isn't just angry during the game, he wears that same look of terror during the … [Read more...]
THE WAITING IS THE HARDEST PART
October 13, 2009 By
By Surly Jacob. Those of us irrationally obsessed with the Los Angeles Kings often track prospects, usually building images in our minds that are typically far beyond who a player is likely to become. We know it. It can get a little out of hand. We do it anyway. But once in a while, a prospect comes along that makes our mouths water. This year, Kyle Clifford is that prospect and … [Read more...]
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