O'Sullivan's best game?

LOL... I guess the fact that he was on the ice for both St. Louis goals was a non-factor in determining that it was his BEST game...

(shrug)

Way to go Brownie! It's been a long time coming but maybe this will be the start of many more. I really liked the line choices because they seemed more evenly balanced. It also gave the Big Three the opportunity to really open up their game and play without stepping on toes. Great job.

Marc Nathan-

The final score of the game wasn't 6-2 to begin with, it was 6-1. That first (non)goal was one of the worst video reviewed calls I've ever seen so you can't count that against POS, EE, or anyone else who was on the ice. Clearly, that puck was knocked out of the air with a stick above the shoulders, if not the head!...Just an absolute blown call. With that said, just because POS was on the ice for the one legitimate goal the Blues did score is not necessarily an indication that he didn't have his best game. Teams are going to score goals no matter what and that's why the whole plus/minus rating can be very misleading. You have to look at the ENTIRE game and not just the parts when a team scores to know that POS did have a great game overall. If you DVR'd it, I suggest you watch it again.

I guess all the people bitching about line changes were pretty happy with a very strong effort that resulted in a big win last night.

Did you guys see Doughty's save? (and I call it a save instead of a blocked shot) ... Simply an amazing play. It wasn't covered well on LA TV, but if you check the Blue's coverage in the highlights on the Kings website, they have some good slow mo from behind the net. He just seems to get better and better.

good lines... stick w/ em.

the 1st StL goal was obviously a fluke / gift from refs. technically, 2nd was a d-man out of position that created a 2-on-1 in front. Sully chased him backdoor but it wasn't enough

bottom line, +/- is occassionally useful, but generally overrated

actually, I would differ as well. Sully was covering the guy who put in the second goal (?) and was a step behind him and on his back side as he charged the goal. Sully did have a good game but the play in the crease is still a little shaky. We can't allow those point blank shots. We need to clean those guys out and tie up those sticks in the crease. Smyth's and McCloud's goals the other night were the same thing.

So, people are bitching about those who were bitching to begin with? The irony of it all.

At any rate, it was indeed O'sullys best game thus far.

Psycho...O'Sullivan was covering him because the d-man was caught out of position...yes, he was covering him...he was also playing catchup for another teammate.

How would you of liked to be Moller last night going out for shifts with those gems?LOL What a friggin nightmare.

by starting with "LOL" I was clearly putting my tongue in cheek because Terry Murray has (a) been very critical of O'Sullivan over the first part of the season and (b) seems to punish certain players for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. To call this Sully's "best" game defensively seems to me to be a stretch, but any praise the kid can get from the coach is good with me... hence my ending with the "shrug."

and yes, the score was 6-2... LOL.

mrbrett ... I just looked at the replay. you are right. I apologize. Sully was covering up for a D-man. Which makes me question why O'Donnell and Harrold have been matched up since those two seem to be giving up the most in our end - I can see why they are together to try and get an extra offensive boost from Harrold while O'Donnell is the stay at home, but it should not be at the price of defense.

I just can't seem recall a better game for O'sully this season-offensively or defensively. It's about what he did do, and not what he didn't. What he didn't do, didn't cost them the game. What he did do, helped them win it.

Psycho - Why criticize Harrold? He wasn't on the ice for any goals against. The 2nd goal was O'D and Greene's shift, plus Harrold give us something going forward.

Mrbrett - O'Sullivan wastn't covering for a defenseman, he was covering a defenseman. Colaiacovo comes from the point and is the center or winger's responsibility. He could have played it stronger but it was a nice play by St. Louis.

Crybaby/wavesinair - It was a very strong game by the Kings and Moller was good on the 4th line providing speed and control, but this was a Bllues team that is going to struggle even with Kariya and McDonald in the lineup. A necessary 2 points but hardly anything to gauge the club by.

eat the rich ... I guess I should spend more time writing so I can be more clear. I'm not criticizing Harrold, I've been impressed with him this season a great deal. He's very versatile and gives us a flexible player that will be invaluable down the stretch. the problem I had was with matching him with O'Donnell who seems to be having a problem of late. Also, Harrold did commit the cardinal sin of defencemen - leaving the front of the net to pursue a forward behind the net on the Smyth goal the other night, leaving him wide open for a one-timer on Labs. Despite that he's done a good job. I was just questioning his match-up with O'Donnell - it does make sense but Sean seems to be struggling a bit lately.

O'D may be a little gimpy. He took a shot from Souray on the foot last week and was hobbled for a while. It may still be affecting him.
I know the Harrold play you're talking about, but don't look too closely on that one. Sure he didn't disrupt the pass, but only Gretzky was a guy you don't want to pressure behind the net. Compare that play to the one Frolov got benched for in Phoenix. If you remember, Doughty left his man in front of the net to move towards the passer and got neither. Defensemen sometimes make split-second wrong moves, but it's nothing to condemn them for. Harrold's been skating better of late and as long as he's better than Preissing going forward while not TOO much of a liabililty at the back, he's ok with me.
I'm also fond of Gauthier, though I seem to be one of few supporters. I like what he's done and think he's outplayed Greene. but that's my opinion.

...and in only 10 posts we have found away to somehow find the negatives in a 6-2 win. Epic.

I think Saturday's game against the Wild will be a big test for us to start stringing some wins together against high quality team.

While covering the D is Harrold's responsibility, it is not a forwards job to keep the front of the net clear. Had that shot come from the high slot and Sully left him unchecked I would be more critical, but there should have been a Dman covering the front of the crease.

EAT - totally on board with you about Gauthier. So many seem to think he's so useless, but the few games he was out were our absolute worst PK games by far. That's no coincidence. His toughness, overall positioning, blocked shots and ability to clear while being paitent with the puck that 500 games of NHL experience garners a player are invaluable to the PK. Harrold and Preissing in the lineup together is stupid. Gauthier is critical to our PK success, because if one of OD, Doughty, Quincey or Greene goes to the box, we are short a good defensive dman to play the PK, forcing either Harrold or Preissing out there, which we never, ever ever want.

JDM - I think you were referring to what I said about O'Sull on that St. Louis goal. If so, it absolutely is the job of a forward to stick with a pinching d-man. The play was Perron (who I was impressed by) to Colaiavoco - both defensemen. I wasn't "doghousing" Sulli for that, though, just saying he could possibly have been stronger on that backcheck.

On Gaut - Have you noticed how good with his hands Goat is. After Doughty I actually think he's one of the smarter d-men out there. He doesn't get beaten by his lack of pace and he's at least cleared a dozen pucks with his hand, often on PK's or 5 on 3's. The Detroit flub was a bad one but in that game he was fantastic defensively and was a big reason we were in the position to lead that game late.

Preissing is out...
Good Day, Sir.

Eat the Rich:

My point is that it seems that a good portion of the time people on this site complain and say all of the things they would do differently, when in fact, the Kings are playing way better than expected. There have been only a couple of times this season that the Kings have not shown up and put in a solid effort. Each time there was a lack of effort they came back and played a real strong game. This organization is finally building a team that can be successful for years to come. Terry Murray for the most part is doing a great job and it bugs me out to see every move criticized by people far removed from the daily operations of this team. Mistakes will be made at all levels, from on the ice to the front office but look at the big picture. Rome was not built in a day.

Yeah whoops, meant to write Sully, not Harrold. I need to take another look at the replay to see how it developed I guess. It could be one of those situations where there should have been a D in front and a F backchecking. Makes sense, most GAA's are the result of not one, but two mistakes, the goalie notwithstanding.

Cry Baby - I think its just as negative a mind set to settle for mediocrity or worse. How is it any different to a) say the coach isn't figuring out how to get the best out of the team; than it is to say b) we're doing great because we just beat St. Louis who is coming of a game the previous night and has injuries in net, at forward, at defense, and is rebuilding?
None of your statements are backed by the reality of the situation.
Many of the negative comments after Colo. were simply stating that Murray isn't getting it right and he needs to figure out his lines. Many of the s0-called negative people feel this team should be doing better with the players we have.

YOu know, we did record over 70 points last season. I don't know how the unjustified claim that "we're better than last year" is a valid point, especially after the past 2 weeks.
Secondly, if you know we're headed in the right direction, give the tangibles, not vague and unfounded statements of triumph. It's part of the reason I suspect people like you may work for AEG. Lombardi has begun the bold statements without merit, and it seems like some fans like to parrot those sentiments. To me, it's analogous to coming into town pistols blazing...someone is going to take up the challenge...Why alert others to your presence? I find that hyperbole as embarrassing and as cringeful" as those who say our sniping about results is embarrassing.
There's an old saying, "act like you've been there before." I'd prefer to tone down the rhetoric and focus on us becoming better and earning the respect. I'd also like to be comfortable that the coach knows how to get the most out of his players. I think we've yet to see the best, most balanced Kings these players could be.

You guys are impossible