BlogNation: Kings pounce on Panthers
Game 12: Kings 3, Panthers 2An awesome game, and one that the Kings desperately needed. It was nice to see the line of Boyle, O'Sullivan and Harrold click, but I'm still a bit worried about the top line. And what more needs to be said about Doughty and Moller?
• AP: Kings snap skid with 3-2 win over Panthers
“I liked the defensive work, but that was a result of what the forwards
were doing with their hard work. That’s a big part of playing defense,” Murray
said. “There were a lot of good things in the offensive zone.”
• LA Times' Helene Elliott: Kings needed this victory
"We had a great game," rookie defenseman Drew Doughty said after earning the first two assists of his NHL career.
"We've been frustrated by some of those losses, so we came out aggressive. Some of those losses were heartbreakers that we lost in the last minute. Hopefully this will get us rolling."
"We've been frustrated by some of those losses, so we came out aggressive. Some of those losses were heartbreakers that we lost in the last minute. Hopefully this will get us rolling."
• Daily News: Kings beat their match
The Kings scored a pair of early goals - which equaled the number of goals they'd scored in the previous three games - and never trailed in a 3-2 victory over Florida on Thursday at Staples Center.
But if only seemingly half the arena was filled to see the goals, do they still count?
The Kings announced a crowd of 11,267. Staples Center was more like a ghost town when the puck dropped.
But if only seemingly half the arena was filled to see the goals, do they still count?
The Kings announced a crowd of 11,267. Staples Center was more like a ghost town when the puck dropped.
• Inside Hockey: Not exactly a stunner
But whatever it looked like to Murray, from up top, it didn’t seem like the Kings played nearly as well as they did, for instance, in losing to Calgary and Detroit in the last ten days. To put it simply, aside from pouring a fair number of shots on Vokoun, the Kings sank to the level of their competition, or dragged the Panthers down to their level. Nobody played inspired hockey and no one play stood out. It’s too bad, because on a night like this, with an opponent like the Panthers, they might have really racked up some numbers, and maybe sent a message to the city that the hockey team is still kicking.
Looking through purple-hued glasses
• The Royal Half: Something's gotta give
They didn't dominate, but it doesn't matter as long as you get those 2 points. Dustin Brown's goal was a pure goal-scorers goal... using the defenseman as a screen to fire off a quick snap shot. And I don't care if Anze Kopitar doesn't score as much as he did last year... as long as he keeps making amazing passes on the Power Play. Both those players were asked by Coach Murray to step it up and they came through. 18 year Drew Doughty continues to get better and better each game.
• A Queen Among Kings: The Panthers are just plain awful
I'm really glad that Brian Boyle finally got his first goal of the season. I was starting to wonder if he'd ever get his first point, but his line with Patrick O'Sullivan and Peter Harrold was definitely a noticeable one. Sully continues to be his scrappy self and Harrold... isn't falling down as much anymore.
• The Battle For California: Drew Doughty is my hero
What impresses me the most about Doughty is how he can just control the game. It doesn't matter who's coming after him, Doughty is always in control and doesn't ever rush the play. When you contrast him with someone like Denis Gauthier (who looks like Sonic the Hedgehog when you hold the button so he stays still) or Peter Harrold the difference is stark. When Doughty does go full-speed it is a surprise because he usually looks so smooth you forget what he can actually do.
On the other side of the ice: the Florida view
• On Frozen Pond: From Hollywood, it's Late night with the Cats
As a beat writer for the Panthers, I know a little something about bad crowds. This one has a chance to be one of the worst I have ever seen.
• Cat Scratch: Panthers 2 - Kings 3: Ugly
Just ugly tonight, plain and simple. 3 total shots in the 1st period. 3
total shots in the 2nd period. I have plenty of quotes from guys
talking about bringing their A-game every night, they have to be the
hardest working team in the NHL, blah blah blah. Show it.
Kings-related news
• Press-Enterprise's Pro Sports Blog: What's wrong with Anze Kopitar?
The Kings' franchise center, Anze Kopitar, hasn't played like one early
this season. Kopitar, who signed a seven-year contract extension the
day of the season opener, has one goal, seven points and a minus-3 in
the team's first 11 games, and hasn't had a point in the last three.
• LA Times: Brian Boyle continues to evolve for Kings
That was Brian's best game [Thursday] night," Coach Terry Murray said. "I thought for 60 minutes he was involved. He had an attitude again to use his physical attributes."
The L.A. Times All-World hockey writer Helene Elliott had a sit-down with Kings governor Tim Leiweke, and delivers an awesome 2-part interview. If you knew Helene, you can almost hear see Lieweke cringe in his seat as she needles him and poses the tough questions. She cut right to the chase and asked him about the Kings' financial status.
• Tim Leiweke says Kings are 'headed in the right direction'
Will this team lose money this year?
Yes. Not even close. We're much better this year. And I'm not crying, I'm not bitching, I'm not moaning. I'm not complaining. I'm not renegotiating, spinning. I'm not doing any of this. I'm just acknowledging the fact we are going to lose money. We're OK with that because quite frankly we're going to lose a lot less money this year than we did last year. We're headed in the right direction and most of all we have a team that you say, 'These guys are fun to watch and we're headed in the right direction.' There's optimism here.
Yes. Not even close. We're much better this year. And I'm not crying, I'm not bitching, I'm not moaning. I'm not complaining. I'm not renegotiating, spinning. I'm not doing any of this. I'm just acknowledging the fact we are going to lose money. We're OK with that because quite frankly we're going to lose a lot less money this year than we did last year. We're headed in the right direction and most of all we have a team that you say, 'These guys are fun to watch and we're headed in the right direction.' There's optimism here.
• Kings governor Leiweke: ' . . . Believe me, the fans' opinion matters to me'
You say you "want fans to love us," but you've seen a lot of empty
seats this season. There are empty seats in Anaheim too, and everywhere
around the league, but I get the sense from fans here that the price
increase . . . there's a lot of hatred on that one.
Well, we're in a tough spot on that one. I wouldn't say hatred. Anger.
OK, anger.
We're in a tough spot on that one because we're in the bottom third of the league on average ticket price and the second-most-expensive market in the league.
But you're in the bottom third of the league in performance.
No question about that. But at the same time, fans should judge us based on how much money we just spent, not on what our current payroll is. If our approval process with Dean is to give him the right to tie all the young kids up and spend $90 [million] or $100 million, I would think they'd look at us and say, "Give them credit. They are spending money. They are doing the right thing. And they are justifying the price increase."
Well, we're in a tough spot on that one. I wouldn't say hatred. Anger.
OK, anger.
We're in a tough spot on that one because we're in the bottom third of the league on average ticket price and the second-most-expensive market in the league.
But you're in the bottom third of the league in performance.
No question about that. But at the same time, fans should judge us based on how much money we just spent, not on what our current payroll is. If our approval process with Dean is to give him the right to tie all the young kids up and spend $90 [million] or $100 million, I would think they'd look at us and say, "Give them credit. They are spending money. They are doing the right thing. And they are justifying the price increase."
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