Monthly Archives: February 2016

LA Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi isn’t surprised by the growth of teammate Drew Doughty

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Here’s what Rob Scuderi said Saturday about the growth and progress of fellow Kings defenseman Drew Doughty in the four years since they were teammates on the 2012 Stanley Cup championship team: “You know it’s there and you know it’s going to happen when you see him in his younger years. It’s nice to see, but it hasn’t been a surprise. You can see his heart and his head were always in the right place even when he was 19 and 20 and that he would eventually develop into a good leader for this team. It’s great to see, but it’s also not a surprise.”

Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi talks about being the happiest man in Cleveland after trade from Chicago

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Here’s some of what Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi said Saturday about Friday’s trade from the Chicago Blackhawks: “It’s pretty special for me. It’s been kind of a long 10 weeks since my first trade out of Pittsburgh and getting bumped around a little bit, so it’s nice to come back to some familiar faces and a familiar environment where I had some success and I’d like to have some more.

“I was in Cleveland with Rockford (Ill., of the American Hockey League) and we were going to play Lake Erie for a couple of games. They called in the afternoon. I guess there was a pretty good chance it was going to happen and I was nervous. Is it going to happen? Is is not going to happen?

“Then I got a call about an hour later that it was pretty much official, that I should pack my stuff and start to go. I was definitely the happiest guy in Cleveland, that was for sure. I was hoping for an opportunity anywhere in the NHL, but to come back to a place that I know people, respect people, have a chance to regain success was very, very special for me.”

Ducks stats of the night

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The Ducks extended their winning streak to seven consecutive games with a 2-1 overtime victory Friday over the Edmonton Oilers at the Honda Center. They also have points in nine consecutive games (8-0-1). Their last seven-game winning streak was Dec. 1-13, 2014. Their last nine-game point streak is their longest since a 13-game streak Nov. 29-Dec. 28, 2013 (11-0-2).

Game report: Ducks 2, Oilers 1 (OT)

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Key play: Rickard Rakell scored 1:24 into overtime to give the Ducks a 2-1 victory Friday over the Edmonton Oilers at the Honda Center, extending their winning streak to seven games. Rakell faked the Oilers’ Leon Draisaitl out of position and then lifted a backhanded shot over goalie Cam Talbot.

Pivotal performer: Team captain Ryan Getzlaf extended his point streak to 10 consecutive games with a third-period power-play goal that gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead. Getzlaf has five goals and 15 points during his streak, the longest active one in the NHL.

Quote, unquote: “It was a good feeling,” Rakell said of scoring his 16th goal of the season. “I didn’t think too much. I just kind of reacted. I saw they had the forward and the defenseman there. Three-on-three, everything can happen, so I just tried to do something.”

Status quo: Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau stayed with the same 18 skaters for the seventh consecutive game, or since left wing Chris Stewart suffered a fractured jaw during a 4-3 overtime loss Feb. 11 to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Between the pipes: Frederik Andersen started for the second consecutive game for the Ducks and made 17 saves. Talbot started for the second consecutive night for the Oilers and made 32 saves, after he was in goal for a 2-1 loss Thursday to the Kings at Staples Center.

It’s official: Kings re-acquire defenseman Rob Scuderi

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The deal is done. The Kings swapped defensemen with the Chicago Blackhawks, acquiring Rob Scuderi and parting with Christian Ehrhoff. Scuderi helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup championship in 2012. He has been playing with Rockford of the AHL. Ehrhoff has been with Ontario of the AHL. Scuderi is 37. Ehrhoff is 33. Scuderi was scoreless in 17 games with the Blackhawks. Ehrhoff had two goals and 10 points in 40 games for the Kings. Scuderi can be an unrestricted free agent after next season. Ehrhoff can be a UFA after this one.

The Kings sent defenseman Kevin Gravel to Ontario to make room for Scuderi on their roster.

Report: LA Kings close to re-acquiring defenseman Rob Scuderi

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According to TSN:

The Kings are finalizing a deal to re-acquire defenseman Rob Scuderi from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Christian Ehrhoff. Scuderi no longer plays for the Blackhawks, but has been with Rockford (Ill.) of the AHL for three games. Ehrhoff no longer plays for the Kings, but has been with Ontario of the AHL for five games. Scuderi, 37, is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent after next season. Ehrhoff, 33, can become a UFA after this season.

Scuderi was a member of the KIngs’ 2012 Stanley Cup championship team.

Check back for updates.

Oilers coach Todd McLellan talks about the Kings

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Here’s what Oilers coach Todd McLellan had to say about the Kings, a longtime rival while he coached the San Jose Sharks: “They’re a tough opponent. They’re strong. They’re experienced. They don’t panic at all. Their goaltender makes great saves. We competitively pushed this team to the brink, but at the end of the day, it’s still a loss.”

LA Kings stat of the night

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Left wing Dwight King won his first faceoff of the season, setting up Jeff Carter’s tying goal in the Kings’ 2-1 victory Thursday over the Edmonton Oilers at Staples Center. Of course, King was in the circle only because Carter had been tossed for an infraction. It was only King’s 10 career faceoff win against 13 losses. He was 0 for 3 on draws going into the game.

Here’s the link to King’s career statistics at hockey-reference.com: :http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/k/kingdw01.html

Game report: Kings 2, Oilers 1

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Key play: Dwight King scored the go-ahead goal after setting up Jeff Carter’s tying strike in the third period as the Kings rallied for a 2-1 victory Thursday over the Edmonton Oilers at Staples Center. King redirected Carter’s perimeter shot for the tiebreaking goal at 14:10 of the final period.

Pivotal performer: Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick kept it close through two periods, bailing out his teammates repeatedly. Quick stopped Oilers rookie Connor McDavid on a pair of point-blank scoring chances in the second period, for example.

Quote, unquote: “He definitely won us the game tonight,” Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin said of Quick, who made 26 saves. “Especially early on, in the first period, he made some big saves and continued to make big saves. We have to prepare a little better in these games, so we won’t have to force him to make big saves like he did.”

L.A. premiere: McDavid made his Staples Center debut after missing the first game in Los Angeles between the teams Nov. 14 because of a clavicle injury. He was among the Oilers’ best and most effective players, generating several scoring chances.

Injury update: Kings forward Jordan Nolan sat out for the third consecutive game because of an undisclosed injury. He didn’t participate in the morning skate and coach Darryl Sutter said Nolan had a “therapy day or treatment day. Whatever you want to call it.”

Ducks game-plan to stop Sabres rookie Jack Eichel wasn’t exactly rocket science

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Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau didn’t exactly reach into his bag of tricks to find a way to keep Buffalo Sabres rookie Jack Eichel off the scoresheet in a 1-0 victory Wednesday at the Honda Center.

“I just put Kesler on him,” Boudreau said, referring to checking-line center Ryan Kesler, who shadowed Eichel. “He seems to do the job against everybody. He makes it tough for those guys to play. He’s so good at reading the game. He’s got a tremendously high hockey IQ. He’s big and can skate and is physical. He’s been playing against everybody’s top line and he’s been doing a good job.

“He gets McDavid on Friday and then he gets Kopitar on Sunday.”

The Ducks face Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Friday and then Anze Kopitar and the Kings on Sunday, as Kesler’s workload won’t ease in the least.