From the Kings locker room
KINGS FORWARD PATRICK O'SULLIVAN:
(Re: his goal) "Obviously to get a goal there was a little bit of a relief and our team played a solid game against a real good team so that's important too."
(Re: his return to the top line) "We're good buddies off the ice and I think you can see out there, watching our line play, that if we are responsible defensively we're going to create some chances going the other way. I know we went head-to-head with Ovechkin's line and we did a pretty good job, so I think that's something we can build on and continue to get better."
(Re: adding him to the top line) "I think it adds something else that the other team has to worry about. Obviously Kopitar and Brown are the top guys on our team and adding me, I'm going to shoot the puck when I can and try to open up so space for those guys to get in the on the fore-check. Like I said, we all bring something different and a little bit of a different style and I think we compliment each other pretty good."
KINGS FORWARD DUSTIN BROWN:
(Re: Ovechkin's hit) "I was coming back to the net and I'm not sure what he was thinking. We were battling all night. I haven't seen it yet but, he kind of came in and caught me when I wasn't looking without the puck and then we ended up capitalizing and that was the game."
(Re: being at .500) "It's a good feeling. Obviously we need to push forward here. We've been playing pretty good hockey for the most part and if we continue to do that...we've got to enjoy this one tonight and then focus in on tomorrow and Colorado."
(Re: controlling Ovechkin) "He had a few good chances but nothing. We kept him in check for most of the night and I thought we were pretty good physically with him. I had a few hits on him and some other guys put hits on him. I think he's one of those players, he likes giving the hits out and if you can slow him down offensively and be physical with him he gets a little frustrated out there."
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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.
Heidi should have asked Larionov is ice is actually frozen in Russia.
Terrfic game by the Kings.
They played well offensively and defensively. Ersberg was strong as usual.
They clamped down all night on Ovechkin. Doughty seemed to be on the ice against him often and did a great job.
It was great to see Sully finally get a goal. Strong game by the top line.
I thought Zeiler played a strong game. He was throwing his body all night and played with energy. For those who think he's a waste out there, he did exactly what the Kings wanted him to do and that was take the body and work hard. There are going to be nights when the Kings are flat..that's when Zeiler's energy will be most needed.
Leave the lines as they are ,maybe bring in Richardson for anyone injured.STOP putting Calder out on the PP.Play Ersberg till he fails or needs a rest(back to back).DON'T PLAY THE 4TH LINE SO MUCH.Ivanan must fight or put in Westgrath.
"that if we are responsible defensively we're going to create some chances going the other way..."
I think Patrick is starting to get the key to staying on this line. Even as a scoring line, it's defensive responsibility all the time.
Brown really got under Ovechkin's skin with that check that sent him sliding into the boards. Ovechkin's got a nasty temper, I'm surprised more teams don't rile him up and make him take bad penalties.
I have to agree about Zeiler. I was in no hurry to see him back but he didn't hurt us and played pretty well defensively. He threw a couple really nice checks (and hit player, not glass).
nykf - I agree, good point.
Zeiler had a very solid game. Murray has him doing exactly what he was trying to get Sully to do in previous games. Zeiler is more natural in the scrappy/energy role & Sully is more natural up front.
POS saying that he is going to shoot the puck when he can has got to be one of the biggest understatements in Kings history