Notes and quotes from the locker room
Jack Johnson said the reason Blake was mad was that Phoenix was taking a couple shots at Aubin, with LaBarbera already out with the injury.
Crawford said he thought Blake should have been given more leeway because of his veteran status.
``Rob’s going to be a hall of famer,’’ Crawford said. ``Rob’s a classy guy and a character guy. I think the only person who heard what he had to say was the referee, and he didn’t get the benefit of the doubt tonight. Usually those guys do.’’
Crawford wasn't exactly ready to give Bryzgalov credit.
``He made some good saves, some lucky saves a lot of the time too,'' Crawford said. ``One went off his mask. A couple of times he was scrambling and got to them and a couple times defenders got to them.''
Crawford thought Phoenix was lucky overall as well.
``They got a couple breaks tonight,'' Crawford said. ``They got a break on the power-play goal that goes off the ref's foot right to their player on the clearing pass. They got a break on the last goal I thought. We made a mistake on the play but it could have went for icing and we ended up giving up the goal. Usually for a hockey team, the breaks will even out over time if you keep working hard.''
The Kings were left wondering how they are 3-1 against San Jose and 0-4 against Phoenix.
``I wish I could give you a good reason but I just can’t,’’ Johnson said. ``They just seem to play really well and match up well against us.’’
``We’ve scored four goals against them in four games and that’s the problem,’’ goalie Jean-Sebastien Aubin said. ``For some reason, they keep us shooting on the outside and we get nothing good. We don’t get the shots in the middle where there’s prime scoring chances.’’
No practice tomorrow.
Just cannot play a north to south game
Sure wish crow knew that right handed shots should be lined up on the left on the pp.
While I don't doubt that Blake is a respected veteran of the NHL, it is a little presumptious to declare Blake a hall of famer. He has borderline stats and credentials to truly even be considered a candidate. It is nice that he decided it was about time to protect our goalies but you have to wonder about how he could have gone about it other than getting thrown out for yelling at the ref...
Sure the first two goals against LA were more or less lucky but it is really no excuse or something to hide behind. Crawford needs to recognize this and not complain over unlucky bounces. He seriously needs to start taking drastic steps now, DL should also have his finger on the trigger if Crawford continues to slide in the next couple of games I think.
Zad,
You have NO idea how many times I've screamed about that to my wife watching the games and bitching about it, along with Armstrong on every PP and even seeing guys like Zeiler and Ivanans on the PP from time to time.
There is no one timer from the point EVER because of the way the point men are lined up on their wing instead of off wing. I remember a day when Blake and Lubo's one timers were the bread and butter of the PP.
All I want for Christmas is a two-game-winning-streak, a two-game-winning-streak, see a two-game-winning-steak...
If the Kings can't win two games in a row, the terrorists win.
Blake needs to consider surrendering his captaincy. A captain is the representative of the team who needs to demonstrate leasdership and sportsmanship.
Blake did neither. As a matter of fact, all he did was put our team in a vulnerable position with his two penalties and poor play.
As long as he continues to wear the "c", we're gonna be a laughing stock this league.
And not only is he a poor representative, but he's also a lousy player. Contributing little or nothing day in and day out.
The fact that our brilliant coach believes that he's a hall of fame material, shows how much knowledge of this game he knows.
Las night MC put out some of the worse line combinations I've ever seen. I also think he should hace allowed Quick to start the game last night.
A goalie makes alot of difference for a hockey team.
Look at the coyotes brfore Byrz arrived and after.
He's made a pitiful coach like Gretzky look better.
There aren't enough great goalies in the league who could do the same for Crawford.
All I want for Christmas is Purcell in a Kings Uniform and Blake, Willsie, Aubin, Nagy and Crawford on another team. None of them bring anything positive, or anything to build on.
Crawford uses excuses when things go bad, has no soidarity to his line up, and is clueless to what a PP is suppose to do. Last night in the last 3 minutes he had Ivanans and Zeiler out there and we were down a goal, someone please tell me the logic behind that.
As for DL
The good = Bernier, Johnson, Brown extension and possibly O'Sullivan
The Bad = Crawford, Cloutier, Blake, Willsie, Nagy MacCauley, Armstrong extension, and the Hickey pick.
He also lost us Demetra, and Gleason in obtaining Johnson and O'Sullivan so they can't be classed as tru steals. Drafting Bernier with that mid 1st rounder is common sense and blowing the #4 pick on another small defenseman was down right stupid (hopefully I eat my words on that).
He has failed in 2 years to address our top 3 needs from when he tookk over.
1. Goaltending - arguement Bernier - he is 3 - 4 years away from time of draft, thats not addressing it.
2. 2nd line Center - arguement - Armstrong? Handzus? (wrong)
3. Defence - arguement - an old Blake, a soft Preissing, a up and down Stuart, retread Modry, Minor league Klemm, oh ya and locking up a 30 year old 1 dimentional, small dman for 5 years for huge coin.
-oh well, at least he put in an honest effort on defence.
We as fans are doomed for a few years yet. A true #1 goaltender may start this thing rolling forward as long as that gut has a new defense in front of him.
Brutal game by the ref O'halleran. I believe it was the game winning goal that hit his skate and angled directly to the front of the net.
As for the Blake incident, I'm sure a lot of it was frustration, but he was protecting his goalie and shouldn't be condemned. We were all pissed when no one came to LaBarbara's defense. Blake had every right to be pissed when he got cross checked and no call was made. The ref has to show a little restraint at the end of the period.
Sully was MIA last night.
Good to see the newly healed Thornton making a tremendous impact on our fortunes.
At least Lewis and Moulsson went supermam last night in Manchester.
Crows right! Blake deserved a lot more respect (especially considering the circumstances: seconds earlier being completely interfered with in the O zone, waiting till the end of the period to discuss it with the ref & being the captain) & Phoenix didn't even deserve to be in that game, let alone win it. All 3 of their goals were just flat out flukey. But we've got to learn how to win those games, no doubt! It's always darkest before the dawn
Kings fans--
A couple of thoughts on all these previous rants:
Purcell is too small (175 lbs and as skinny as a rail; about 20 of those pounds were put on just this past year) to play in this man's NHL; he'll get flattened, no matter how much talent he has, until he gains bulk with muscle.
And Blake is in the Hall of Fame, eventually. Not that I like that he's still playing and dragging the team down, but with his numbers, and the fact that he was one of the most-feared defensemen for many years, he'll be there some day.
Hey nykingfan,
ever pay attention as to who were Sully's linemates last night.
Well it varried according to Crawford brlliance:
armstrong
wilsie
ivanans
zeiler
try playing them with Brown or Cami and see how those two start performing.
Maybe some research is helpful first. Would you not agree.
I definately agree with NYKing and John. And any little bit of respect I had for anthony went completely out the window (it wasn't much anyways). Thats a funny statement to question Blake's leadership. Blake was being a leader, maybe going about it in the wrong way, but a leader none the less. He stood up for his goalie and his team, exactly what a captain SHOULD do! The ref just overeacted like a lil....But Crow is right, Blakey should have gotten a lil bit of leeway - a 10 min misconduct would have been sufficient. And if you think he has no impact on this team than you are crazy!
"He's a big minute guy and our captain,". Not only did we lose him on the ice, but the presence he brings can really help the team." - Dustin Brown
"He's a big part of our power play. We definitely missed him out there." - Anze Kopitar
I think I'll take these guys opinions over anyone else on this board, maybe with the exception of Rich. You also cant tell me he hasnt had a positive influence over Jack Johnson. I'm not saying Blake is a heart and soul player, he never will be confused with one, but he is not the worst player in the league as some of you make him out to be, either.
For those complaining about goaltending, no goaltender would want to come to LA; Not to mention LaBarbera has flat out carried the team and has been the only factor keeping nearly every game this season from being 5-1 losses. Defense is practically non-existant and everyone beyond the first offensive line(save for O'Sullivan and Frolov) look like they just don't care.
The problem starts with the top. Crawford needs to go. Most of the players cannot stand him. He juggles lines way to much and he doesn't motivate the players. Everyone should leave Blake alone. If the team was winning he'd be a god. I bet know one knows Blake had an argument with Crawford because he is holding back Jack Johnson. Anyone else notice the difference in JJ's 5 games at the end of last year and this year? Ok enough ranting. Replace Crawford with Dave Lewis or even Nelson Emerson and you'll see an immediate upgrade
yo supersonic,
what do you expect blake's teammates and coach to say about him - that he's worthless and no longer talented.
go get a brain you and use it for once.
Pokey,
It's not always about the line you play with. Individual effort goes a long way. He wasn't playing physical at all and certainly didn't create any scoring chances for himself. I like Sully and he's been one of their better forwards this year, but not last night.
I'm sure everyone would like to play with Kopitar/Cammy/Brown How about contributing a little with secondary scoring????????
Lososaurus & kingsfan48, all I ask is that you watch one of these up coming games and focus on Blake whenever he comes onto the ice. I know that you will notice that he stands around (especially on the PK) cheats in at the wrong times (on offense) giving a 2 on 1 break the other way, and takes slapshots from the point that go so wide or high that they do more damage the our own players than to the well padded goalie that he is supposed to be shooting at(anyone remember the Ivanans incident?)Blake hurts this team more than he helps! And, by the way, I don't think that anyone on this blog every said that Blake is the worst player in the NHL, but he is most definitely the worst player in the NHL to be making $6 million per season!
Kings fans - ease up on Blake. Yes, he is old. Yes, he is not the same guy we grew to love in the 90's. But you really need to get a grip on the marketing aspect of Rob Blake. We have plenty of other guys on the team who can win games. Blake does not lose games for the Kings. If the rest of the team did their jobs Blake's short cominngs would not be so glaring. So, get over it.
Funky - I will agree with you on the DL call. He has made some great moves and a lot of really bad moves. Although I do have a feeling that guys like Willsie, Thornton, et al were sloppy seconds, not guys that the Kings originally targeted as the guys that will help them become contenders. DL pretty much conceded that fact when talking about recruiting Drury and Briere. They had good offers from the Kings but choose to play elsewhere.
I actually approved of the Handzus signing because they really needed a solid, technically sound, 2-way forward. I think he will prove to be the right choice over the term of his contract. He is still recovering from his surgery.
All those who think Purcell needs to play on the Kings now are either crazy or uninformed. I love his game but he needs one season in the 'A' first and secondly, he needs to gain 20 MORE LBS. Moulson should be playing with the Kings. So should Petiot.
I know that other teams in the past have over-come larger deficits than the Kings are currently facing but I would suggest that the Kings throw in the towel on the '07-'08 season now. They have a great pool of young talent that needs to start playing together. Start selling off the vets for prospects and draft picks for '08 and '09 (Sweden's second Golden Age.) Wishful thinking, I know, but what about a team with Stamkos, Tavares and Tedenby?
The Kings have scored more goals (80), more power play goals (29), allowed less power play goals against (23)and have committed over 200 LESS penalty minutes than the division leading Canucks. They have also surrendered 28 more goals than Vancouver...Defense and goaltending Lombardi???
The saddest part to me is that when DL took the GM position he himself stressed that goaltending and defense are the core to a championship team. Deano, wake up!
Kings problem
From LAtimes.com
The Los Angeles Kings are doing a pretty decent job of scoring goals--it's stopping that has been a problem. Their 82 goals for were good for 11th in the league heading into Sunday, but their 95 goals allowed was third-worst. The issue is not necessarily strictly between the pipes, either. Looking at one particular stat gives another perspective.
Giveaways.
The league has tracked this statistic for several years now and the current leader this season is Kings' defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky with 44. Second in the league is another King, freshman Anze Kopitar with 38.
In fact, six of the top (or should we say "bottom"?) 22 players in this dubious statistic wear a Los Angeles uniform: Alexander Frolov (eighth with 31), Dustin Brown (12th with 29), Mike Cammalleri and Jack Johnson (tied for 16th with 28), and defenseman Brad Stuart (22nd with 27).
Perhaps, with this in mind, fans will have a whole new respect for beleaguered Los Angeles netminders J-S Aubin and Jason Labarbera.
Tell me was Gretz a 225 pounder that drug his wrists on the ice???? With some of the talentless guys I've seen skating here in the NHL, Purcell is a diamond and have you seen him play yet??