Kings-Stars game story
Here's the Associated Press game story:
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DALLAS (AP) -- Another third-period meltdown added to the Dallas Stars' misery.
Lubomir Visnovsky scored the go-ahead goal with 2:06 left after Michal Handzus tied it 55 seconds earlier, and the Los Angeles Kings rallied for a 4-2 victory over the fading Stars on Saturday.
Dallas dropped its fourth in a row, matching its longest losing streak of the season. The Stars have been outscored 11-0 in the third period of their last six games, 8-0 in the final period during the current slide.
Sitting on a late lead hasn't been working for the Stars, who usually are able to protect advantages down the stretch.
"It's a cliche, but it's a 60-minute game," Dallas center Steve Ott said. "Fifty-five minutes isn't good enough, especially against a young, hungry team. For some reason we're not finishing out games."
Dallas had won 13 of 15 before this slump knocked the Stars out of the Pacific Division lead. San Jose and Anaheim have both passed them by.
"We play OK for half the game and the other half, we're looking around, not competing," forward Mike Ribeiro said. "That's unacceptable. It's time for us to react and play as a team."
Handzus added another goal with 1:19 left to give the Kings a two-goal cushion.
Stu Barnes' second-period goal put Dallas ahead 2-1, and the Stars seemed on the verge of snapping their skid. But Handzus stole the puck from defenseman Trevor Daley and scored from the slot at 16:59 to tie it at 2.
Visnovsky then put the Kings in front at 17:54 when his shot from the left point eluded goalie Marty Turco, who was screened.
Handzus scored off a rebound at 18:41 for his seventh goal of the season.
Brenden Morrow added a power-play goal for Dallas.
The Stars had victories in seven straight home games against the Kings and were 11-1-2 overall against them over the past two seasons before Los Angeles halted those streaks.
Rob Blake had a power-play goal for the Kings, who have the fewest points in the NHL.
"Our fate has kind of been written," Blake said. "We're out of the playoffs. We want a little respect and I think we got that today."
The Kings must be content with the spoiler's role while pointing toward next season.
"We look at these games as our playoffs because the games are so meaningful (for opponents)," Kings coach Marc Crawford said. "Dallas wants home ice in the playoffs and we're using the games to help our young players develop."
Dallas opened the scoring when Morrow deflected Matt Niskanen's shot from the point past rookie goalie Erik Ersberg at 13:08 of the opening period. Morrow's 29th goal came with Jeff Giuliano of the Kings off for hooking.
Blake's ninth goal came on a power-play rebound at 5:48 of the second period and tied it at 1.
Barnes gave Dallas a 2-1 advantage at 11:32 of the second period with his 10th goal on a wrist shot from the inside edge of the right circle.<
Notes:@ Ott was back in the lineup after completing a three-game suspension for a hit to the head of Colorado's Jordan Leopold. ... Out for the Kings: LW Kyle Calder (broken finger), LW Ladislav Nagy (neck), G Jason LaBarbera (groin) and D Jack Johnson (foot). ... Ersberg played in his ninth NHL game. ... The Stars played the second in a stretch of eight straight games against division opponents to close out the regular season. They open a four-game road trip Thursday night at San Jose.
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About the bloggers
Rich Hammond has covered the Kings, on a full-time or part-time basis, since the 2000-01 season. He was the beat writer for the entire John Torchetti era and has witnessed Bob Miller singing country music in a Nashville honky-tonk bar. A native of Los Angeles, Rich has worked at the Daily News since 1999 and also serves as the paper's deputy sports editor. E-mail Rich at rich.hammond@dailynews.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews.com.
I like Ersberg.
I like him ALOT.
You can see the rest of the team playing so much comfortably with him in the net.
Its an atmosphere I havn't seen since Felix the Cat.
If he continues this sort of play, why not trade the Berniers or the Quicks for much needed help on the blue line.
I know its not likely. But can you imagine a defensive talent or two we can obtain in exchange for Bernier. Maybe a package deal with Lord Cammi.
Why not pull the trigger. We still have a surplus of goalie talent in the system (Rowat, Zatkoff, Quick, Taylor, ERSBERG, even Barbs).
Come on, pull the trigger.
Prove to us fans you have the balls DL.
As a fan, I do NOT want to see DL's balls. Maybe you do Anthony, but that has nothing to do with hockey. Trading Bernier is someting Taylor would have done. Stupid idea.
Tampa basy just scored to tie the game yahoo!
And yes I know it's a lottery, but dead last gives you 40% chance vrs 20% for second to last.
As a handicapper I'll always rather have the better numbers.
Damn as i was typing this florida retook the lead
Mr. Lombardi.... please DO NOT trade Ersberg in the offseason.. please SIGN him to atleast 1 full NHL season... please PROVE that you have the smarts to know when you've got a good thing in your hands...PLEASE LET HIM PLAY NEXT SEASON
Erik Ersberg = 2008-2009 Calder cup winner?
Anthony, dude. You've spent the ENTIRE season bemoaning our lack of goaltending. Now, (after what, 2 weeks?)you're ready to anoint Ersberg the new Jacques Plante and TRADE Bernier???? I love the way Ersberg has been playing too, but a little perspective will tell you that Dan Cloutier had multiple 30 win seasons and still he's not the answer, so what does 2 weeks really prove?
Nick in 318,
Judging on DL's track record thus far, I wouldn't be surpised if he did just that (not sign Ersberg).
He'd probably go after Alexander Mogilny and sign him to contract for $6 Million Per. With a No Trade Clause too.
Florida just took a 2 goal lead!!!!!
:(
TB just lost that ties us for last but Tb has two games at hand
LOL Mogilny at 6mil per and no trade....ROFL...but then again considering whats happen so far i wouldn't be surprised to see Modry back wil us AGAIN next year and Clouts sign to yet another extention, while we let Garon walk for nothing which i think was a mistake
Chazz- The Kings have closer to a 50% chance of retaining 1st overall- 48.2% to be exact. I'd take those odds over second (18.8%) anyday as well.
Nick in 318- Ersberg will be 26 next season, to0 old to be eligble for the Calder.
the Frolov-Handzus-Ivanans line is unstoppable!
Lubo looks like he's already campaigning for next year's votes. cookies or no cookies
What the Kings should do is grab Stamkos with the No. 1 pick and trade excess offense for defense. Cammy could bring a nice return in a deal with a team looking for a sniper, and the Kings have plenty of young scoring in Manchester, just waiting for a full-time opportunity to play next season. And JMFJ will be a huge force next year, just watch and see.
I am a supporter of the Cammy for defense scheme. Its just....I just can't see who wants a Cammy-type sniper right now in exchange for useful defensive options. I'd love some of you guys to gimme a few teams that would be interested. Cause I'm stumped, and slightly worried.
i could see a team like detroit going for him (but i don't know what they have to give up). there are always teams the have been considered "on the verge" but due to a lack of offense haven't quite made it (like say...florida) yet. you're looking at teams who lack a lot of secondary scoring (sharks, wings) or teams that lack scoring period (panthers, canucks).
canucks are a good fit i think. they have a lot of young defensive talent. i wonder what they'd be willing to give up.
Anonymous:
Vancouver for one...I seen Kevin Bieksa's name floated around other forums. And I think Trashville would be another possibility. They've got some decent secondary forwards, but those guys are very limited offensively (Tootoo, Fiddler, Nichol, Smithson...)
if Kariya has value Cammy has value. not to mention the youth factor, a lot more years left, and he's cheaper. that said, watchin the "flamingo" last night was rough. it's driving me crazy. at least he got an assist
I like that Brainguy.
Lord Flamingo. But at least a Flamingo is pretty to look at.
Wow that is just brilliant. Ok, lets trade Bernier and keep Ersberg. Dont let them battle each other in training camp. Why not, I mean the Kings haven't drafted or developed a #1 goaltender in their entire 41 year existence. So now we maybe have 2 pontential # 1 goalies, lets hurry up and trade one away for what will probably amount to nothing. It is the Kings way after all. I dont think its DL way, so thats why I never see this happening, so hopefully, just hopefully its not the Kings way anymore either.
I cant believe anythony is the one always saying how dumb DL is, but comes up with craptacular ideas like this. It would be quite funny, if it wasnt so sad.
Also Cammy will have high value by draft time, an outstanding time to pull the trigger on a big deal. Especially if were not likely to pick up a big rangy Dman FA. Norstrom would be great to have back. I'd prefer Redden, Commodore or maybe steal Gilbert from the Oilers, that would be pretty sweet too.
How about that Robb Stauber style poke check Ersberg did! that was friggn great! High risk but it worked out.
Trading Cammy will prove to be a huge mistake for this organization. He is the best shooter on the team. If the Kings trade Cammy he is guaranteed to have an amazing career ie Jokinen, Murray, Garon, etc.
I agree that we shouldn't trade bernier but I also think we have to take stamkos if we can trading down would be a mistake. Let's use other forwards as trading chips (like cammy) I've been watching just about every game on center ice this year, and from what I've seen the Kings could use a D man simular to the style of Chara from Boston. Too bad they'd never be interested in a deal.
I was in Dallas Sat.and saw the game.Zieler went out with a injury. If anyone knows what happened,please let me know. Thank You! By the way those Texans arn`t so friendly when they loose.
"Trading Cammy will prove to be a huge mistake for this organization. He is the best shooter on the team. If the Kings trade Cammy he is guaranteed to have an amazing career ie Jokinen, Murray, Garon, etc."
No, a huge mistake would be letting Cammy walk at the end of next year with nothing to show for it. I say trade him when his value is at its highest, which would be during the summer, at that point he would be more than a rental player for an interested team.
Also, Jokinen was rushed by the previous regime and didnt come close to playing up to his potential in LA. Garon had numerous chances to take the # 1 goalie job and either got injured or played sub-par. Glen Murray....well I miss Glen Murray, congrats on 1,000 games Muzz.
Ersberg vs. Bernier
Who to start next year? I'm looking at Montreal, who's a perennial winner, and they're riding the back of a 20 year old goalie after trading away their veteran. Take a look at their defense. In fact, take a look at their whole team. Is it that fantastic? Or is it goaltending? How are they number one in the east? Amazing in all respects. My vote at the beginning of this year was for Bernier to start and definitely next year! Thoughts?
haha too funny oldman. sorry to hear about the abuse. if you watch the highlights of this game on Yahoo! sports or youtube you'll probably see two guys near the glass high fiving a few times on the video after the 3rd or 4th goal. that's dedication...
I hope we beat Anaheim and somehow retain position as the #1 lottery team. I know that's a paradox right now, but nothing like ending the season on a high note against the Ducks.