BlogNation: Blues bonked by Kings
Game 13: Kings 5, Blues 3That's two in a row for the Kings, behind the goaltending of Erik Ersberg. However, I'm not convinced that Ersberg is much better than LaBarbera. Five points in three games speaks for itself, but he let in some real crappy goals late in the game.
However, I'm not totally Debbie Downer here. Kopitar finally potted a goal after going 0-for-forever since his last goal. And how about Boyle finally making a splash on the line with O'Sullivan and Harrold?
• AP: Kings power play connects 3 times against Blues
• LA Times: For now, fans will show this goaltender mercy
"He's not the biggest guy in the net, so there are times where he may go down a little early and gets exposed upstairs," said Bill Ranford, the Kings' goaltending coach. "But I think with his game -- he is a stand-up goal and a butterfly goalie -- he does a pretty good job of not letting his size be an issue too much."
• Daily News: Kings like being home bodies in win over Blues
"Tonight we really came through," Kings center Anze Kopitar said. "I'm personally pretty happy and I'm sure the other guys are pretty happy, so hopefully we can keep on going."
Looking through purple-hued glasses
• The Throne Room: Kings put together second straight win
The defense in general did a good job again BUT…Terry Murray needs to insert some sort of electro shock device in their equipment that shocks them any time they try to pass up the middle. This happened a couple of times tonight and luckily neither ended up in the back of the net.
• The Royal Half: A game of chicken
I've always liked Harrold since he first showed up a few years ago, not so much for his play as a defenseman but for his offensive potential. He's always shown good offensive instincts as a defenseman. But the move to forward, may be the right one. I'd would much rather see what he can do up front than bring Derek Armstrong or Brad Richardson back into the lineup. Although after the beatings he received last night, Harrold may want to go back to defense.
• A Queen Among Kings: You're My Boy, Drew; Kings 5, Blues 3
This was definitely a more exciting game than the last one against the Florida Panthers. The Blues were able to get on the board with 3 goals of their own, but we clinched the game with an empty-netter with less than 2 minutes to go.
It was nice to see Sean O'Donnell sticking up for his teammates in the middle of the third period. Peter Harrold had gotten his second hit to his head of the game and O'Donnell wasn't going to let the Blues goes quietly into the night.
It was nice to see Sean O'Donnell sticking up for his teammates in the middle of the third period. Peter Harrold had gotten his second hit to his head of the game and O'Donnell wasn't going to let the Blues goes quietly into the night.
• Inside Hockey: Kings wake up the crowd
Part of the Kings’ success in the period was due to strong goaltending, notably on the power play when Kyle Calder was off with about eight minutes left to go. The Blues got their short passing game going, and near the end of the power play, they fired in on net with guys collapsing down. Erik Ersberg moved from his left to his right and got down low to block a shot along the ice. His play was not without notice, with his coach saying after, “I thought Ersberg was good; he was very good in the second period, particularly on a couple of power play opportunities. He came up big for us.”
• Frozen Royalty: Kopitar leads Kings to rare winning streak
After getting off to a slow start in training camp due to illness, Ersberg’s fortunes may have turned. His strong play may soon force Murray to reconsider his goaltending hierarchy which has Jason LaBarbera as the number one goaltender…for now.
“We’ll go back to work on Monday at 10:00 AM and we’ll have an opportunity to evaluate things, take a look at everything,” Murray said about deciding who will start in goal on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars. “But I sure like what he’s done for us. He’s winning and that’s the most important thing for us right now. We’re trying to put together a lineup on a game-to-game basis that will allow us to do that and he’s been a big part of [that].”
“We’ll go back to work on Monday at 10:00 AM and we’ll have an opportunity to evaluate things, take a look at everything,” Murray said about deciding who will start in goal on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars. “But I sure like what he’s done for us. He’s winning and that’s the most important thing for us right now. We’re trying to put together a lineup on a game-to-game basis that will allow us to do that and he’s been a big part of [that].”
• Lets Go Kings' Carla Muller: The Battle of Two Murrays
Yes; the Kings won the game and their second game in a row. Tuesday’s
game against Dallas will prove far more difficult. Dallas is playing
nothing like the team that made it to the Western Conference Final.
They have four years of Avery to endure, a struggling Turco and rumors
of turmoil in their room. The challenge? The Stars are far more
talented on paper than the Panthers and the Blues. It is time to start
playing every period from the start. Ya think….??!!
From the other side of the ice, the St. Louis view
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Blues fall short again on West Coast swing
Unlike that inspired effort in which they played the NHL-leading Sharks
on even terms and had a third-period lead with 90 seconds remaining,
the Blues didn't display the same willingness to battle with a young,
rebuilding Kings team that looks very much like them.
Kings-related news
• Kings' power rankings
Yahoo: Down one to 27
The Hockey News: Fall three spots to 28
TSN: Huge drop to 28
• Daily News: These Misfits are perfect fit for Kings
There's gentle giant Brian Boyle, the 6-foot-7 center whom the Kings have been imploring to play a more physical game. There's Patrick O'Sullivan, the former first-line winger who has fallen from grace because of uneven play. There's Peter Harrold, a defenseman who had never taken a shift at forward before last week.
• Inside the Kings: Ranford's thoughts on goalie prospects
HAMMOND: Obviously you haven't seen them live yet, but any impressions of the Manchester guys?
RANFORD: "I think it's been a little bit of a struggle from a team standpoint there. They're not winning a lot of hockey games. Quick got off to a slow start and has played much better in his last couple starts. He's got one and almost stole a second one. Bernier had a good first game, struggled for a couple and has been strong lately. I think it's a little bit of an adjustment for both guys. They both wanted to be here and they're not happy about being in Manchester, and they both want to play. That's the tough part too. They're kind of splitting right now and they're both frustrated that they're not playing a lot."
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