Murray, on the line changes

Wow, I don't think TM"s frustration with Stoll is a new thing, but he better look to it as a wake up call.

As of now, Stoll is playing 4th line mins & is going to have to work his ass of to get back into the good books with TM.

I thought Stoll's clear out of the defensive zone was tipped and was a bad call. One ref signaled tip, the other overruled him.

I agree with TM's decison to bench Stoll for that stupid penalty.
But what about Ivanans.
Rita takes more minor penalties than any other enforcer I've seen.
With her stupid penalties, she gives the opponents alot power plays. I don't understand what TM sees in her. After Zeiler and Calder, he'd be the first I like to see go.
She must have TM wrapped around her finger.
Something is going on there.

But I did like the other line combinations.
I think the POS-Boyle-Purcell line has a lot of potential. Boyle is finally getting a chance to play with some descent players. I hope this 58 year old leaves them alone for more than a couple of periods.

Tony, I'd love to see you call Ivan, "Rita" or refer to him as a "she" in-person.

That would give the definition of a "swirly" a whole new meaning.

I liked the Purcell/Boyle/Sully combo quite a bit. Maybe played with those two will re-grow Sully's hair pair.

Anyway...I understand the reason why Ivanes is in the lineup, as with most teams we play, you need an enforecer type to watch your players backs, but Anthony is right that he takes SOOO many stupid penalties, and his penalty was far worse than Stoll's.

In my opinion, Stoll's clear over the glass wasn't even close to being tipped. It was an obvious mistake by Stoll, but that alone didn't warrant the benching. His play the rest of the night did, but not that play.

Yeah anonymous,
Sully is in another slump.
Poor guy always has a stick in his face and can't get open to unleash his deadly shot.
What needs to be done to get him started?
I originally thought he was going to have a career year.

I liked the 3 line rotation that tm had going in the third, with the exception of Ivan.

Toss stoll on the line with Zus and Simmonds. have Stoll set up in the high slot, Zus in front of the net, and simmonds grinding it out in the corners.

Ersberg Author Profile Page said:

Tony, I'd love to see you call Ivan, "Rita" or refer to him as a "she" in-person.

That would give the definition of a "swirly" a whole new meaning.

===================================================

I was just thinking the same thing. Anthony would turtle like Avery did versus Hordichuk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU5-HJ9IDOE

and while I'm talking about Avery....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B53W-7tk4Uw&feature=related

Oops...that was me...guess I wasn't signed in.

Anyway...For Sully, it's simple. When he's playing well, he's driving to the net. When was the last time anyone saw him do that?

Some of it could be attributed to him constantly being bounced around from line to line, but it's time for him to quit being a baby and act like a professional. He has too much talent to be playing on the perimeter like he is.

I'd like to see what O'S can do on the PP if set up for one-timers a la Hull/Selanne.
Maybe he needs to back out to a better position.
Anthony, I like the nickname RITA, but I'd also like to see you say it to Rita's face and then call him "her." Who knows, maybe you can handle yourself in a tangle, but seeing the look on Rita's face would be priceless.

I think Rita has been playing pretty darn well for a big man. I think Murray really wants him to become a complete player. I don't know if he can but I think he's beeen doing every thing better, starting with his hitting.

Plus, Carter fell like a leaf in the fall on that "penalty." All part of the Ducks game plan once they're trailing.

Great composure by the Kings to win that game after "going down" 3-3 after being up 3-0.

Eat,
I agree with you with your idea about POS being set for one timers on the power play.
He has a deadly shot and I don't understand why he isn't being used in the slot area.
Do You?
It seems to me that he's being stationed at the goal line trying to set up Brown for a shot.
And thats a waste of POS's talent.
I don't know why TM doesn't use him more in the slot area.
Maybe you do.

As far as Rita is concerned, I wouldn't worry about us shooting it out. Without the skates on, he's a complete gentleman and a bit of a pussy cat.

In my opinion, it seems like Patrick is really trying to push the tempo of the game so high, that he is slightly out of control. I'd rather have him play the game at 90% speed and still be faster than most NHL players, but be easier to read and play along with his teammates.

His efforts this year seem so strained and fast that no one can figure out what he is trying to do or can catch up to him and be another dangerous attacker. Most of Patrick's chances seem like he is the one one in the zone and has no one to pass to or no angle because he ends up behind the net.

Maybe I'm wrong. Does anyone feel this way?

Brent -

That hadn't occurred to me, but now that you mention it, it makes sense. That's also, interestingly, a frequent rookie mistake, playing your whole game at top speed when really you need to learn to vary what you show the other team; not going half-assed, but having several different gears -- like what Brown did on the first goal last night. POS is not a rookie, clearly. He knows this. But maybe he's pushing a little extra, consciously or unconsciously, and that's what's happening as a result. (off the topic of POS:) Skaters called up for the first time to the NHL have heard so much about the speed, the speed, the speed, that they lose track of the nuances of speed. Yes, everything is turned up a notch. Everyone is faster, bigger, stronger, etc., but they are also smarter, wilier, wiser. Doughty, as a counter-example, seems to have several gears he keeps in reserve, and seems to know intuitively when to shift.

Ant'ny,

Funny that you ask why and then Brent makes a good point about how O'S is playing.
He's very up-tempo, and like Brent said, maybe too up-tempo.
That is why I favor bringing a Shanahan like guy in. It doesn't necessarily have to be a Shanahan, but a guy for these kids to look to and see calm in face of a storm. Experienced players know economy of movement. They don't run around burning energy, they use balance on their skates for their strength. I think these are assets that both Frolov and Kopitar have naturally. Kopitar is literally amazing the way he can be so strong on the puck. But O'S should really be a guy who becomes stronger off the puck pretty soon. I think he's still filling out and even if he doesn't get a veteran to learn from, he'll eventually settle and I see 50 goals as a distinct possibility. I can't wait until he and Simmonds are full size. They're going to be like our Getzlaf and Perry in a sense, but I hope for even better. I don't know if Simmonds will always struggle to put on pounds, but he looks like the type who'll finally fill out in about 3 or 4 years. He's gotta work out a lot, too. That's where you want your pounds - in muscle.
That's why I want to know if these guys get on the stationary bikes after the games. With strength and stamina in your legs, you're capable of anything. Look at where Bure's strength was. His legs were huge.

Anyway, antonio, I'm glad you're tight with Rita and that he's a teddy bear off the ice. Aren't the wise-guys in the league always such friendly people? McSorley, Grimson, Parros, etc...

Oh, by the way,
what did you think of my Dany Heatley for LA sniper idea?