Guest writer, J.T. Dutch brings us his view on Terry Murray and the "system" of which I often write. J.T., in many respects, disagrees with me and I look forward to engaging him in dialogue on the subject as I hope you do as well. At some point, enough is enough. I've heard so many complaints and so many grievances about the Kings' lack of offense in the recently completed season, and the men … [Read more...]
THE ROYAL REPORT CARD, PART I – THE GOALIES AND DEFENSE
May 2, 2011 By
Harry Halkidis is a knowledgeable LA Kings' and hockey fan, an excellent writer and an all around good guy. I have been courting him for nearly a year to join us at Surly & Scribe and he finally honored us with his puck wisdom and written words. Surly thinks of Harry as S&S's third jersey and we hope to see much more of him going forward. Here is part I of his Royal Report Card. First up, … [Read more...]
SEVEN QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LA KINGS
March 8, 2011 By
1. Name the last Stanley Cup winning team with a poor and inconsistent power play and 5 on 3. 2. Name a post lockout Stanley Cup winning team that relied on a cycle along the boards - to the point as its offensive system. 3. Are Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams, Dustin Brown, Jarret Stoll, Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson excellent skaters? If yes, is speed really lacking in our top 6 forwards or … [Read more...]
VANCOUVER’S PROVINCE DOES Q&A WITH US ABOUT THE LA KINGS
March 4, 2011 By
Thought you would enjoy this. The boys at the Province's Kurtenblog did a Q&A with me about the LA Kings. Topics included the Penner trade, Dustin Brown, Quick v. Bernier, Willie Mitchell's performance, the playoffs and more. The link is here: Surly & Scribe talk puck with Kurtenblog … [Read more...]
L.A. PLAYS LIKE KINGS, SHUTS OUT BOSTON BRUINS 2-0
January 24, 2011 By
I've seen this team before. A suffocating defense. An offense not built on the perimeter. Rage against the machine that tries to suck the creativity from your game. Players holding the puck until they have lanes before they shoot and when they shoot, they do so without hesitation. Smyth parked in front of the net. Handzus playing intelligent defense. A team that plays on both ends of the ice as a … [Read more...]
WHY DOUGHTY AND JOHNSON ARE TERRIBLE… AS A PAIRING
January 18, 2011 By
I was flabbergasted to see Doughty and Johnson paired together throughout the game against Dallas last night. One would have thought that the stretches they played together so far would have put to rest any ambition of these two young guns being able to play well together at this stage of their careers. It's an ambition we all share. I do not blame Murray for feeling the urge to play these … [Read more...]
THE TURNAROUND STARTS TOMORROW
January 12, 2011 By
Call me optimistic...or crazy...but my instincts tell me tomorrow night against the St. Louis Blues, our season turns around. What? Why? Come on. I know, I can hear you. Hear me. Willie Mitchell is still getting his legs underneath him. He now has had two starts and several days of rest including the last two. A healthy Mitchell in the defensive fold is the glue that keeps our top four playing … [Read more...]
I AM JACK’S BEAMING SMIRK
January 9, 2011 By
7 years. Cap hit of $4.3 million per season. Jack will earn $3.5 million for the first three years commencing the 2011-2012 season and $5 million in the final four. I am Jack's heavy wallet. Jack Johnson has committed to staying a King for the remainder of his 20's. He has made this writer happier than a perpetual elbow to Corey Perry's face. He entered the league in the 2008-2009 … [Read more...]
MITCHELL AND PONIKAROVSKY…ARE BACK?
January 7, 2011 By
I was down right shocked when I read that Willie Mitchell and Alexei Ponikarovsky will play in the game against the Blue Jackets Saturday night. Did we not learn that Ponikarovsky just started practicing in non contact drills with the team, that Willie Mitchell wasn't even there yet and the latter wasn't close? That was a rhetorical question. At first, I was concerned. Very concerned that … [Read more...]
THE CLOAK AND DAGGER INJURY DESIGNATIONS NEED TO STOP
January 6, 2011 By
Upper body injury. Lower body injury. Enough. It used to be that such nonsense was limited to playoff games. Made sense then. You are in a series of games against the same team, the stakes are very high and most of the players are playing banged up or hurt so you don't want the other team taking advantage of it. But why do it during the regular season? Same reason? Let's follow this … [Read more...]
I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING…
January 3, 2011 By
...and I feel your pain. But take a moment and reflect. The team before you is the same core as last season. It still lacks a sniper. Sturm? Come on. How many shots sailed high and over the net? How many went wide? It still misses a top four defenseman. It continues to struggle with inconsistent top two lines. It still misses the consistent necessary component on the left wing of the third. … [Read more...]
WHERE IS OUR INJURY UPDATE ON MATT GREENE?
December 22, 2010 By
I've admittedly been a little out of the loop lately. I've had to speed through recordings of the last three games. I've barely been able to write a quick thought on the games, and my reading time has been drastically cut with what has become a much more busy than usual holiday season. So if my somewhat hostile query is moot, yell at me and then forgive me. What the hell is going on with … [Read more...]
CHANNELING RAGE – KINGS v. PREDATORS PREVIEW
December 18, 2010 By
Every smug face at the gym today looked like Steen...and forced me to turn away or risk imminent assault. At the gas station, a fifty something year old man with a St. Louis Rams hat walked to his truck...I suppressed the temptation of spraying him with the gas pump and launching a match. I must manage this anger at the 6-4 loss Thursday night. Medicine lies in tonight's game. The Predators. … [Read more...]
THE KINGS WITHOUT MICHELL…
December 16, 2010 By
...Are too young. Too stupid. Too small. Too last year. The Kings without Willie Mitchell lack breakout skills. Lack calm. Lack positioning. Lack reach. The Kings without Willie Michell need more than Matt Greene. The Kings without Matt Greene need more than Davis Drewiske and Peter Harrold. The Kings need to not let injuries change their game. Or their system. Or composure. The Kings will be … [Read more...]
KINGS VS RED WINGS GAME PREVIEW – THE RETURN OF WILLIE MITCHELL
December 13, 2010 By
These guys again? They are supposed to be good or something, right? So goes the word on the street. Word in Los Angeles is that we kicked these shmos out of our town last week. Silly of them to invite us over to their place, they must be gluttons for punishment. Some say its a symptom of winning so much, like an unbeaten fighter who secretly pains to be KO'ed, just to get the … [Read more...]
WHAT DO WE DO WITH ALEC?
December 6, 2010 By
Not the Baldwin. Martinez. He has been a hockey godsend. Willie will be back in about a week. Our top 4 will stabilize. That leaves Greene, Martinez, Whiskey and Harrold + a potential Muzzin but not likely with the already existing log jam for 5 and 6. Assuming Whiskey doesn't become a fixture as a fourth line left wing (I am only partially kidding because we all know there are no fixtures to … [Read more...]
I WANT A PONI
December 6, 2010 By
For a month, we have been asking for our Poni back. Well, we got him. Ponikarovsky is expected back this Thursday. Let's all collectively give him a break and not expect him to play like he hasn't missed a game. It may take a couple or more. While Clifford has filled that role admirably, that beautiful shut down chemistry between he, Handzus and Simmonds was sorely missed. Willie Mitchell is still … [Read more...]
LESSONS FROM A 2-1 LOSS
November 28, 2010 By
Per Rich Hammond, the players were locked into some grueling video sessions and critique of their game. There isn't one on the squad who didn't deserve it. Last night's game against the Blackhawks showed this writer a team that was out of sync for all but 10 minutes of the third. When you consider how many posts the Blackhawks hit, we could have easily lost this one 4 or 5 to 1. The only positives … [Read more...]
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