FINAL: Ducks 3, Kings 2 (OT)

The Kings didn't get a point. There were no points awarded.

Thanks for the updates Rich. Much appreciated!

Just like the way this looks:

3 Stars
1. ANA L 14 C.KUNITZ
2. L.A D 80 D.DOUGHTY
3. ANA D 25 C.PRONGER

Would prefer having another King in the 3 but having Doughty mentioned with the big boys is impressive.

Thanks Rich for your continued hard work. Always much appreciated.

I bet there would be no complaints if we can start off the season 3-0-3. That would be awesome.

I just wished that the better team won...

and we were doing so good, with the first three games ... it's a shame to see things haven't changed.

Anyone find a Directv Center-Ice schedule yet? Trying to figure out what channel the Saturday games are on...

Anyone take note as to who's wearing an "A" ???

1. Kopitar
2. Brown
3. ?

Was anyone wearing the "C" ?

Stoll also wearing an A

I was at the game, Doughty definitely looked good, very composed. Purcell also made many nice plays, Simmonds played with obvious heart, JJ was solid as was Armstrong, Boyle & Edberg, hard to really fault him on those goals and he made some good saves particularly towards the end and OT. Don't see Martinez or Piskula(sp?) making it, Moller didn't do much either..

I was at the game last night as well and of course had to make our die hard loyal passionate duck hating presence known. A few notes:
- Doughty (as everyone continues to mention) played extremely well. His patience, vision, skating & puck moving abilities are extremely strong.
- Biggest Impact gone unnoticed goes to Alec Martinez. This kid played amazing. He was extremely solid defensively and moved the puck out of the zone very well. There were a few times the Quacks came down the ice on an odd man rush and Martinez remained composed and broke up the play, often taking his man into the boards. He played physical, smart and showed great confidence. I'm starting to love this kid.
- Our overall play was pretty strong tonight despite the loss. The team really seems to be settling in nicely with TM's system, especially on the PK. The Kings seemed to dictate the play all night. Jack Johnson had a great hit at center ice near the end of the first and Doughty had a crushing hip check in the third. It was great to see the Princeton boys get into a scrap along the boards even if Parros seemed to get the better of Westgarth.
-Ersberg looked pretty good all night making a lot of key saves. I missed the first goal of the night as I got stuck in the Hour and A Half of traffic from my Burbank to Anaheim drive. The overtime goal from Pronger was the result of a defensive breakdown as we were trying to exit the zone and boom the cheap shot artist gets a lucky backhand past Ersberg.
- Lastly, you have to love the OC if only for their flock of Quacker ice girls. We'll have to wait and see how the Kings Ice girls compare, and then the two should definitely have an on ice competition in which our girls would most likely ruin the precious OC princess' manicures.
- Sully, suck it up and sign already. You've played one and half seasons, get over yourself.

"As was Armstrong, Boyle & Edberg"

Awesome! I love Stefan Edberg. Former #1 in the world. 6 grand slams. The 1990 Wimbledon final against Boris Becker was epic...

...wait, he was playing last night? That's weird.

Johnson was also wearing an A

wavesinair, everybody's allowed to make a career change... (Grin!)

If the Kings can tie every game, that'll give them 82 points for the season. I know it won't get them into the playoffs, but I think that 82 points is much better than what the reality will be.

All wearing an "A"

1. Anze Kopitar
2. Dustin Brown
3. Jarrett Stoll
4. Jack "MF" Johnson

Anymore? No "C" Going once, going twice...

So do you think it's safe to speculate that one of these 4 will be the Captain? I'm guessing it's going to be Brown even though I'd rather have Frolov, Zeus, or even Stoll.

K u got me "playswithhair", it was a blatant spelling f-up, it's only the preseason though...;)

Gauthier #21 is also wearing an A

Really? Denis Gauthier Jr. of Torrance, Canada was wearing an "A"? WTF?

Ok then...

1. Anze Kopitar
2. Dustin Brown
3. Jarrett Stoll
4. Jack "MF" Johnson
5. Denis Gauthier

All the above wearing an "A"

Anyone else? No "C" last night?

Urgg, no A for army does not bode well for his survival.

The reason why nobody is wearing a "C" is because Murray hasn't decided who it will be yet. Same thing happened last year for a few preseason games where we saw many "A's" and no "C". It's common with all teams searching for a new captain. Personally I see it going Brown, as he has consistently become more of a "lead-by-example" type. Not to mention that he has been seen more at Toyota Sports Center during the off-season at various functions and training than any other player. In my opinion the "A's" are up in the air, but I expect to see Stoll with one.

There hasn't been a "C" all preseason.
I think both Army and Zeus have worn an "A" in a preseason game as well.

"There hasn't been a "C" all preseason."

I didn't mean to imply there would or should be a C. I'd be very surprised if there was. I was just digging for info since I wasn't there. Who knows, maybe something crazy would happen, like Gauthier wearing an A.

Kings-related cartoon made me laugh.

Good luck finding a center ice schedule. I don't even think they have last years up yet. ;)

I think the Saturday games are on NHL network in the U.S. Sunday games are on Versus in the U.S. and NHL network in Canada.

They did the same thing last year with the London games, except that we got local coverage instead of NHL Network (which wasn't on DTV at the time)

Cannot understand why so many "fans" are obsessed with the captaincy. Leaders lead by example, not because they've been ordained by some higher power.

Great find Quisp! Almost as funny as that Dan Cloutier cartoon from last year. Cant find the link as I am at work.

Aha! Got it after all.

http://comoxvalleyart.wordpress.com/editorial/

Gotta go all the way down to #26.

Wavesinair are you serious? You'd rather have Zeus be the captain over Brown?! WTF! That's just plain crazy talk!

I haven't seen any of the preseason action yet, but all the comments about Doughty and Simmonds sound great. I haven't heard much about Hickey or Harrold, but what reallly makes me uncomfortable is the lack of comments about Calder, Preissing, and Handzus. How do they look, and should the be benched in favor of some of the youth? Who should play...Moeller or Calder? Boyle or Handzus? Hickey/Martinez or Preissing?

Not having seen the action last night, it sounds as though the winning goal came after the Kings were trying to get out of their own end...is there a concern yet about the lack of skilled defensemen, or are the Johnson and Doughty provinding decent leadership in their own end?

Still rooting for these young Kings players, not AEG...and its not even worth talking about the O'Sullivan debacle...

cheers

Last Nights "A"
Johnson, Handzus, Ivanans

cristo,

I've only seen the one game so far at Frozen Fury, listened to the last two on the radio...

my impressions on the players you mentioned,

Preissing should play over Hickey or Martinez. Saw Hickey at FF and he was damn solid. In that particular game I thought he outplayed Doughty (they were paired even strength, on the PK and often on the PP as well). Hickey is a little more conservative than Doughty, hustles like hell and clearly loves to shoot. Hickey could play at the NHL level, but he'd probably benefit more than Doughty from more experience first, it's a cryin shame he can't go to Manchester, where he belongs. Doughty is more ready to make an impact now, and I think Hickey, while he could hang, is only ready to be steady, not to jump in and turn heads like he definately has potential too if handled properly. He's a lot bigger than you'd think too with all the comments of him being smallish. Hard to tell with Lubo gone, but certainly played bigger than Lubo. As for Martinez, I hear nothing but great things, and I can definately see him getting some games this season, but overall, Preissing needs to play. To me, he looked solid Preissing style. Nothing flashy, nothing horrible. Steady mobile guy. I'd say Doughty and Hickey already have his skill-set, but their experience clearly sets them apart for now (not for long).

Calder, while he didn't play at FF, but from I've read and heard on the radio, sucks as much as ever. Simmonds is awesome and should take his spot in all rationality, but probably won't. I hope he only plays 40-50 games at absolute most, and that's if he's healthy the whole season. At least so far it sounds like Murray is keeping him to the PK and 4th line. As for Moller, I think he's ready, and sans O'Sullivan is a better bet than Purcell right now for the first line, but otherwise he could use to grow a little. He's fiesty and finishes his checks, and he has a nose for the scoring areas and has balls enough to drive to them, but he's a little light weight to be as effective as he clearly will be in his career. This guy has serious mutha fonkin talent.

Handsuz looked good to me. He's not going to score 50 points, that's for damn sure, hell, I'd be happy with 30 from him, but his positional play is superb, and he looked more willing to throw his body around. I think he's certainly played more solid than Boyle, but I think there is space for both on the team, especially if Army shifts to wing.

Finally, I know you didn't mention him, but Moulson looks twice the player he was during his cll-up last year. He does everything, and seemingly nothing. Totally fearless and talented in a Luc kind of way. Nothing flashy, but is just in the right spot more often than not.

Of course, I could have seen a good/bad game, and the Kings have a long list of dissapointing prospects (Bednar anyone?), but I think after all this time, watching guys come up and fade away into oblivion, or go on to other teams and have awesome careers, this is a truly special crop of players like I personally have never seen on the Kings.

Exciting times for the Kings...

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oh yeah, then there's that whole O'Sullivan thing...

forgot one thing that needs to be said with all this evaluation:

Murray's system is clearly miles beyond Crawford's. The team played, dare I say it, team defense. Sure the kids made pleanty of gaffs one on one, few bad decisions here and there, but the whole structure and flow of the team as a whole is vastly improved.

Like I said when we hired the guy, rookies or no rookies, that one man can make all the differene in the world on this team. So far things look really positive in that respect.

JDM - thanks for the scouting report, albeit admittedly with not too much viewing of the guys. I hope Lombardi's drafts start to shine a bit now that its been 3 years. If the later round guys are starting to prove themselves capable, its very encouraging. And again, Crawford seems to have been a horrible fit with the club and as you stated, a new coach with a positive outlook and less baggage could do wonders.

I still worry that the defense is too young and too immoble, that once the season begins and teams narrow the focus down, it could turn into a real problem. But if the youth is worth the investment of time, it will eventually be better than o.k.

Too bad about Calder if he's not going to improve. He just seems too one dimensional without any really exceptional skills.

Cheers

I second that. Nice breakdown JDM. It actually got me revved up for the season. This group of young players is truly the best I've ever seen on the Kings. I expect Calder to do better than the review. I personally like his style. He'll be an UFA next year, so I imagine he will step it up big time as the season gets underway. Heck, he lead the Blackhawks in goals, assists and points not that long ago. Perhaps he's ready to show he can do that again. Or not...