Game 9: Kings 4, Stars 1

Monday night finds the slumping Kings heading deep in the heart of Texas to face off against Tenacious D, the Dallas Stars. The Kings and the Stars have been evenly matched the past three seasons (L.A. is 8-8-6 against Dallas in 2005-06, 2007-08, and 2008-09). A game against the Stars is always interesting.

Then the news that Terry Murray scratched the Russian Enigma, Alexander Frolov, for the game hit the Internet. Then the rumors started... Rich Hammond posted two interviews, back-to-back, with coach Murray and general manager Dean Lombardi, and the rumors continued to grow.

All I can say is the Internet sucks.

Now, I understand that I write a blog online, and that seems a tad hypocritical. And I understand this business with Frolov has been simmering for quite some time. And I commend the Kings on hiring a full-time writer to cover the team on the road.

But what was a simple benching of a player by a coach frustrated by his lack of production evolved into the Kings throwing in the towel for the season. Buoyed by Rich's blog posts, fans took the news as geniune fact, and had already drawn the conclusion that L.A. was trying to trade one of their most productive players. For being benched one game.

This environment of instant gratification news is maddening to me, with this stream of consciousness information from so many different sources. It can be deafening at times. It replaces good old fashioned journalism with allowing the readers to write their own ending, oftentimes leading to a completely illogical conclusion. And I'm not faulting Hammond in this, he's doing the job he's being paid for.

Frolov has been a steady contributor, and even though he's been shunted to the "third line," he still plays up on the power play AND the penalty kill. Sure, his time on the ice is down from last season (18:26 so far this season compared to 19:55 last season), but his line has still been effective.

The benching of Frolov was meant as a wake-up call, something that is done in all sports. The fact that the Kings were under a three-game losing streak intensified the move's importance. But I seriously doubt that Lombardi is already packing Fro's bags. A player like Frolov, who can't be reached through conventional methods, like say through a normal conversation, can be made to see the light through sitting out a game and get his head together.

Not only do I think Frolov will be on the ice Thursday when these two teams play again, I think he'll register a multi-point game. Do I want Frolov traded? If we get enough in return, I'd trade ANY player on the Kings, if it makes the team better. But unless we get a Top 6 player AND a prospect, no dice.

With his second period power play goal, Ryan Smyth is tied for the league lead in power play goals with 4. The top line is playing well, 'nuff said.

• AP: Smyth, Williams lead Kings past Stars

“I thought we started out on a really good road trip, then we went into a little funk,” said Smyth, one of the players who experienced flu-like symptoms. “To end it off like this gives us some confidence going back home.”

• TSN: Kings' Murray rips Frolov, makes him a healthy scratch

    Los Angeles Kings head coach Terry Murray has not been pleased with the play of forward Alexander Frolov and he let the enigmatic Russian know in no uncertain terms as he will be a healthy scratch tonight when the Kings face the Dallas Stars.

• LA Kings Insider: Frolov interview

    Question: He had said that you didn’t really have a response at all. Is that so? Do you feel comfortable talking to him in those situations?
    FROLOV: “I don’t know. It was just his decision for tonight. I think we’re going to talk more later on, tomorrow or later.’’

• LAKings.com: Kings beat Stars 4-1

    The Kings, in almost every way, looked like a different team in the second period, as they outshot the Stars 18-5 and scored three consecutive goals.

• Yahoo: Team report

They said it

    "We can’t take days off and we can’t take our skill for granted, that we’re just going to score goals every night. It doesn’t work that way." – Justin Williams, Kings forwared, on the top line's play

Around the Kingdom

• My Views From Section 310: Say It Ain't So Fro!...

    He may frustrate the coaching staff with his care-free attitude but he's still one of the most talented players on our roster and a big part of our lineup. I don't see how they can overlook that. Team's still need talented players to go along with heart & soul guys. If the Kings lose Williams or Smyth to injury (knock on wood); Frolov is one of the few players capable of stepping onto the first-line.

• LAKingsNews: Kings fly high back to Staples with victory

    Not only does this win snap a three game losing streak, but this is the first come from behind victory of the season for the Kings.  If the Kings take anything away from this game, it should be that when they make short passes to get out of their zone and refrain from chipping the puck off the boards at every turn, they can compete with any team. 

• A Queen Among Kings: A Little More Up And Down Action

    I personally believe if he doesn't shape up and sign a contract Lombardi-esque, he's going to be sent off to wear a stranger's crest. I will subsequently be heart-broken, but that's only if nothing else negative comes out of this situation.

• The Royal Half: Stay On Your Feet

    Referring to Marc Crawford as the"former coach of the Kings" is like calling Mark Parrish "former Kings All-Star". It boils my blood each time I hear it.

• LAKingsNews: Scratching the Frolov Itch

    So should we.  Our Russian left winger has been, at one time or another, in the doghouse of just about every Kings coach since he was drafted.  Murray scratched him and regularly asked for “more.”  Crawford was on him about his lack of consistency and he wanted “more.” During the offseason, Kings General Manager and President, Dean Lombardi made it clear that he believes Frolov is capable of so much “more.”

From across the aisle, the Dallas viewpoint

• Dallas News: Kings dominate second period in 4-1 win

     "They came in and got a good chance on a power play, and they capitalized on it," Ribeiro said. "We were shut out on the power play for the third game in a row. That can change a game right there. It gave them energy, and I think we were frustrated because of it."

• Defending Big D: Texas Stars...Err...Dallas Stars Lose to Kings in Exhibition Game

    Sooner or later, that's got to pay off for them. And to that end, I think they supplemented that young talent very well by acquiring Justin Williams from the Carolina Hurricanes last year and Ryan Smyth this year. Andy Murray instituted a strong defensive game in this unit and those aforementioned trades should make them a stronger offensive team.

• HF Boards: Game 8: vs Los Angeles, 10/19

    starsfan4ever: Kings fans sure hold their head up high.. I'm sure if the Stars tankedfor a decade we would be sitting pretty with more elite players than wealready have.
    Duck Soup: I think the issue at this point is just a crazy weak defense, non-existent offense. It's not like the King's offense is doing great, it's just that were doing bad.
    DoesURchickenFLY: I think I will call the Kings the jump starts from now on, that crown is like a splinter now I just can't leave it alone.

Peeping the dailies



<br/><a href="http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=foxsports&vid=d17f3183-e450-4e39-9365-f7e6c3de97a8" target="_new" title="Kings sink Stars">Video: Kings sink Stars</a>

<br/><a href="http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=foxsports&vid=dd93b2e0-ea18-478b-b66b-761796a3a230" target="_new" title="Kings Report: Offensive outburst">Video: Kings Report: Offensive outburst</a>