Kings Quick-ly snap Ducks back to reality
Gary Bettman and the NHL is finally breathing a sigh of relief. For once, their vision of a true crosstown rivalry in Southern California may be coming into focus.
The Kings snapped their three-game slide by snapping the Ducks 5-game win streak Thursday night. But as evidenced by the 87 combined minutes of penalties, the Kings and Ducks do not like each other. And that makes Buttman smile.
I've even started to notice some lines being drawn in the sand among fans, moreso this season. In the past, the teams have never matched up so late in the season, and the fans' taunts mainly consists of raspberries and scoreboard taunts. But this season, with bother teams so close in the standings late in the season, things are getting punchy.
I was actually driving through the streets of Strong Beach, when a green truck slid next to me with the driver motioning wildly. As I casually glanced over (this is Long Beach, you know. You can't be whipping your head around here), I saw him giving me a thumbs down and pulling on his Ducks Stanley Cup t-shirt. I rolled down my window and we had a polite exchange about the game, waiting for the light to turn. I wished his team luck as he drove off, then yelled "You'll need it!!!" when he was far enough ahead not to respond. Heh, I showed him.
The Kings had Jonny Quick back in goal, after taking four days off. And right out of the gate, the Ducks tested him early. He looked back to normal, making solid saves and providing the usual steadying influence between the pipes. With Quick on his game, the Kings proceeded to break down the Ducks.
It was Michal Handzus who started off the scoring, deflecting a Johnson wrister to make it 1-0. Then a weird thing happened. Ryan Smyth was in the box already for interference. He got whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct. Not sure what happened, but the KIngs were able to kill off that penalty.
In fact, the Kings killed off all 11 penalties, improving their recent PK performance. They have killed off 35 of their last 37 penalties, which is a 92% clip. They are now 18th in the league, and slowly rising, after their early season missteps down a man.
The Kings scored two more times in the second period, with tallies from Scott Parse and Dustin Brown, who scored his 100th NHL goal, all as a King. Things started getting chippy after Brown's goal, which chased Jonas Hiller from the net. But it wasn't until three second left in the period, when the Kings actually won a goal review, when it was decided that Wayne Simmonds' shot on J.S. Giguere slid under his pad, then over the line. That was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Many fans over at LetsGoKings, who were following their game during a lively game chat, knew all too well what was coming next. The third period was fight-marred, with little highlights. But plenty of lowlights, like Bobby Ryan's nasty (but clean) check on Oscar Moller with eight second left in the period.
It was a gutless cheap shot by Ryan that put an exclamation point on the game, perhaps an effort to drive the point home. Perhaps saying "Oh, this is far from over." These clubs will meet four more times this season, the next one on February 4 at Staples, then alternating venues the rest of the way.
As for the Kings, they can now shrug off this bad stretch of games and start focusing on making a run for the playoffs. Saturday brings Drew Doughty's, Quick's and Brown's U.S. Olympic teammate Tim Thomas and the Boston Bruins. Why am I pointing this out? Because it will also be the first game I am bringing my 16-month-old son to. Good times.
• AP: Quick stars as Kings muscle to 4-0 win over Ducks
The third period’s fisticuffs and fireworks ended with U.S. Olympian Bobby Ryan taking a dangerous run at Oscar Moller, but Quick and his teammates dominated Anaheim to end a three-game skid. The clubs combined for 69 penalty minutes in the third, including 47 for the Ducks, long known for their bruising, penalty-box-filling style.• LATimes.com: Kings ends Ducks' winning streak, 4-0
Once again veering off in opposite directions, the Kings and Ducks reversed course Thursday in a game that could have significant playoff implications.• LAKings.com: Quick beats Quacks
The Kings and Ducks have had a rivalry since the Ducks entered the NHL in 1993. Perhaps now, for one of the few times in the series’ history, there’s a feud.They said it
“It’s definitely one of the more physical games, when it comes to the type of third period it was out there. There’s two types of games that I think about when it comes to playing Anaheim. One is like that and the other is maybe that without the penalties and it’s a 3-2 game.” – Dustin Brown, on whether this was one of the most intense Kings-Ducks game.
“It is a division rivalry, and you are going to get a real intense game like that. It is physical and things happen. It is hockey. I think he (Getzlaf) was kind of upset. They were losing 3-0, and he asked me to go and I obliged.” – Wayne Simmonds, on the fights, including his with Ryan Getzlaf.
“It’s the old Gordie Howe Hat Trick. He’s missing something there. You know, when he played with Kopi and Smytty earlier this year, he showed the ability to do it. He showed grit, determination and the finesse around the net to score goals. Again tonight, he does the same thing. I loved his attitude here tonight. Very involved, very competitive and looked like he fit on that line.” – Terry Murray, on Wayne Simmonds’ game.
• The Royal Half: Freeway Shooting
I love Wayne Simmonds on the first line. It just fits right. He was a big hit on the first line earlier in the season and I just love having a guy on the first line with Anze Kopitar and Ryan Smyth who isn't afraid to drop his gloves and fight. The Kings knew they hadn't been playing to their potential during the first 3 games of this 7 game homestand and Wayne Simmonds came flying out of the gate to start.• MayorsManor: Kings out-snookie the Ducks
The Shore kids also like to "beat-up-the-beat" with their fist pumping dancing. On the ice the Kings were beating up the Ducks left and right. Not only with goals, but with their own fists. Wayne Simmonds led the Kings with 12 penalty minutes.• HockeyBuzz's Matthew Barry: Kings Hand Ducks Goose Egg 4-0
The Kings are not Stanley Cup contenders. Yet. Sure, they may surprise a few teams in the playoffs (they do have to get there first), but to start trading young players and high draft picks for “rentals” is not Lombardi’s style.• Deep Inside The Kings: Laying It On The Line, Moller Style
It will forever be known as “the hit” by sucks fans, but for me it will be known as “The Pass.” Dedicated to Oscar Moller, who has proven without a doubt, he will give up his body to make a play. He sees the hit coming, forgets about life and limb, then looks back at the puck and makes the pass. My hat’s off Moller. You’re one bad-ass MuthaFucka.• LAKingsNews.com: Hey Anaheim fans...
First of all, YOU SUCK! Second of all, some of you Kings fans do as well.Across the aisle, the Anaheim viewpoint
(Ed. note: This is a good piece by SurlyJacob, who observed some dumb exchanges between Kings and Ducks fans. His reminder is golden: Disrespect the opposing team, not their fans. Kudos, Jake...)
• Orange County Register: Kings end Ducks' winning streak
All the histrionics seem to do was set up another contentious battle on Feb. 4 back at Staples Center. The two teams have four more meetings down the stretch.• Ducks Blog: Back to earth: Ducks by the numbers
4-0, 2.25: Career record and goals-against average of Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick against the Ducks.• Anaheim Calling: Open Gameday Recap Thread Ducks @ Kings
This setback will leave the Ducks with more questions than answers. Can Hiller really handle the workload of a number 1 netminder? Can someone center the second line efficiently if Koivu misses major time? Will the teams ahead of them lose enough for them to sneak into the playoffs? Nothing is known for sure, but all those questions will be answered in one way or another as the Ducks toil through the rest of the season.Peeping the dailies
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