Kings conquer Islanders, forge ahead to Big Apple
Game 5: Kings 2, Islanders 1A rare day game finds me at home with a sleeping boy, a cup of lukewarm coffee and some extra time on my hands.
Facing off against the Islanders on Columbus Day, the Kings continued their winning ways with a 2-1 win, which left the Nassau Coliseum quiet. Of course, things might get worse, if owner Charles Wang doesn't get the funding necessary to build his master plan, called the Lighthouse Project. It all seems eeriely reminiscent of what happened in L.A.
Remember when AEG planned on building a huge entertainment complex in the middle of Los Angeles, next to the L.A. Convention Center right off the 110 and the 5? The first part was Staples Center, which was built in a year. AEG then started slowly developing the area around Staples. In 2005, they broke ground for L.A. Live, which is right across the street. Two years later, they opened up Nokia Center, and Nokia Plaza.
As they were building it, I never thought they would actually succeed. yet, here we are ten years later, with Staples Center and LA Live completely built and slowly gaining acceptance by SoCal residents to finally brave downtown.
Now go back ten years, and that's where the folks in Uniondale, N.Y. are now. Except the economy is crap, and the project is much larger in scope. In addition to building a new stadium for the Islanders, there would be hotels, office space, restaurants and condos.
At first blush, it sounds like the city of Seahaven from the movie The Truman Show, with the character of Christof being played by Wang. It just seems so grand in scale, that it's destined to fail. Then again, look at L.A. Live as an example of development done right.
But I digress. The Kings are now heading up to play the Rangers on Wednesday, followed the next night in Detroit. These next two games will be a true test for the club.
• AP: Quick stops 28 shots in 2-1 win over Islanders
“We were put together right off the bat in training camp,” Anze Kopitar said. “Ryan is experienced enough and Justin is experienced enough that they know what it takes to get the chemistry going.• LAKings.com: Kings beat Islanders 2-1
The Kings improved to 4-1, their best start to a season since the Stanley Cup Finals year of 1992-93. The season-long six-game road trip continues Wednesday against the New York Rangers.They said it
"Doughty, to me, is a real hockey player. There was no way he was goingto miss any time. He’s always, `I’m fine, I’m good, I’m ready to go,’with that attitude all the time, and he ends up playing a good game andscoring what ends up being the game-winning goal. Just a great effortby a young guy." - Kings coach Terry Murray, on Drew Doughty playing two days after taking a puck in the mouthAround the Kingdom
• MayorsManor: Streaking Through New York
On the day set aside to honor the achievements of Columbus, the Kings discovered how to keep several streaks alive. Kopitar scored the first goal of the game after being set up by Ryan Smyth. This kept a streak alive for both of them, having tallied points in five straight - or every game this season if you prefer to look at that way. The PK unit shut down the Islanders on all three attempts, running the Kings streak to 10 straight kills.• Kings Kool Aid: How Often and Does It Matter 2.0
Incidentally — and I declare this a jinx-free comment — the Kings only reached 5-1 twice, in ‘80 and ‘92, and they’ve managed 6-1 never. The best start in franchise history is 10-1-1 in ‘80. As of today, we can call it the third best start in franchise history.• LAKingsnews.com: Tavares ain't got nothin' on the Kings
The Kings were perfect on the penalty kill for the second straight game, killing off three shorthanded chances. They also extinguished the only positive statistical torch the Islanders had lit in the early season, as center Anze Kopitar’s power play goal in the second period was the only one its kind the blue and orange have given up this season.• A Queen Among Kings: Starting The Road Trip Off on a Great Foot!
Every game brings me closer to saying, "I'm cool with Ryan Smyth." I can't deny he does what the Kings have needed for a long time, get a body in front of the freaking net, and I can comfortably say I like Smyth better than Justin Williams.• The Throne Room: Quick Instrumental Again as Kings beat Islanders
The Kings backline corp put on a defensive clinic for most of the game but Jack Johnson should take Jon Quick out to dinner tonight - on the Islanders lone goal, Johnson sat in front of the net and watched the puck rather than clearing it, allowing former King Matt Moulson - with his newfound glorious mullet - to slip the puck past his screened goaltender.• Caligiuri's Corner: And the band plays on
As “Take it Easy” by the Eagles played on the radio during our bus ride to Manhattan, players and staff alike – joined in the foot tapping, thigh slapping, head bobbing beat that the infamous song demanded of it’s listeners.From across the aisle, the New Yawk viewpoint
• Lighthouse Hockey: Honk if you hate day games
The Islanders became the final team to concede a powerplay goal this season -- the 100% PK streak is over. But the Kings' powerplay goal was exactly what you're supposed to do with the extra man. Anze Kopitar took advantage of a scramble around the goal, drew Josh Bailey away with a pass out to the low point to Justin Williams, then took Williams' return pass and calmly sniped it past a very screened Martin Biron.• NYI Point Blank: Los Angeles 2, Islanders 1
PLUS: Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty, thanks for stopping by for your one game this year. Good stuff.• Islanders360: Columbus Day Matinee
A terrible non-call against the Kings moments before the put it past Biron to make it 1-0. It irks me irrationally when the refs directly influence the outcome of a game. I'd rather lose 7-1 then lose 1-0 when that one goal comes after a bad non-call. End of second, 1-0 Kings.• The View From 317: If we can only put parts of games together…
The Islanders looked at time – sluggish and saw a strong and rejuvanted Kings defense manhandle the team – even though the Isles severly outhit the Kings.• HFBoards: GDT #4 | Los Angeles Kings vs. New York Islanders
King Henry I: Doughty's goal was probably stoppable but it was a perfect shot...which he was able to get because of the Isles lazy and disorganized play, by the way. I'm not going to put much of the blame for today's game on Biron's shoulders--he was given very little support out there all day.Peeping the dailies
blitzkriegs: It is what it is. NYI are where the Kings were on the ice three seasons ago.
Richie Daggers Crime: I recorded this game on my DVR. Should I bother watching it?
Twine Seeking Missle: Smashing your junk with a hammer would be MUCH more joyful. Crazy-glue some nails onto the head of the hammer and it would STILL be less painful.
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