News & Views on the Los Angeles Kings and the National Hockey League by Gann Matsuda
May 7, 2012 Leave a comment
Immediately following post-game interviews after the Los Angeles Kings’ 3-1 victory in Game 4 of their Western Conference Semifinal series against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday, May 6, giving the Kings a four-game sweep in the series, yours truly appeared on Inside Sports’ From The Arena post-game show hosted by Charles E. Smith, Jr. Read more of this post
May 6, 2012 1 Comment
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty has grown up considerably
this season, and that is starting to show on the ice during the playoffs.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net
As one of the many clichés about playoff hockey goes, a team’s best players must be just that if that team expects to be successful in post-season play, and for the Kings, that has been exactly the case.
Indeed, the Kings’ top players, including Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards Read more of this post
May 3, 2012 1 Comment
Los Angeles Kings left wing Dustin Penner has improved his play so much during the playoffs, that he bears little resemblance to the player he was during the regular season.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net
…who’s wearing number 25, and what did he do with Dustin Penner?
All kidding aside, Penner, who has been the target of so many for his poor play throughout much of the season, has looked nothing like the player who raised the ire of fans, game after game.
In fact, Penner began to raise the level of his play over the last few weeks of the regular season, and it continued to improve in the first round of the playoffs. He scored the game-winning goal in Game 1 of the Kings’ first round series against the Canucks, and tallied an assist in Game 2 of that series, but was held off the scoresheet in the last three games.
But do not let those numbers, or the lack thereof, fool you, as he continued to improve as the series wore on, so much so, that Kings head coach Darryl Sutter moved him up to the second line, with right wing Jeff Carter and center Mike Richards. Read more of this post
May 2, 2012 Leave a comment
Although he has not played poorly overall, Los Angeles Kings rookie defenseman Slava Voynov’s inexperience has been
exploited by opposing teams in the playoffs.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net
“That was probably one of the worst periods they’ve had in their season, so far,” center Anze Kopitar said of the Blues’ play in the first period of Game 2.
Indeed, the Blues came out flat to start the game, totally abandoning the solid defense that was so successful for them this season. In fact, their defense was non-existent in the first period, allowing the Kings to drive through the middle of the ice, directly to the front of the net, totally uncontested. Read more of this post
April 27, 2012 Leave a comment
Los Angeles Kings rookie right wing Jordan Nolan (foreground)
has not looked out of place so far in post-season play.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net
There was also a series-winning overtime goal scored by center Jarret Stoll, which, by itself, is significant. But that goal has even greater significance when you look below the surface.
“If you look at the series we just finished, if you think about it, you want to handle the three big guys on their team, even though [center] Ryan Kesler didn’t have as a big a year, numbers-wise,” said Kings head coach Darryl Sutter. “Even strength goals—they didn’t score one, the Sedins and [Kesler]. From our side of it, we got five goals from Jarret Stoll, Dustin Penner, Trevor Lewis, and Brad Richardson, so it’s not always about stars. In fact, we just showed that it wasn’t.” Read more of this post
April 22, 2012 1 Comment
LA Kings forward Jeff Carter skates during a recent practice session.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net
EL SEGUNDO, CA — With Game 5 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks coming up tonight at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, the Los Angeles Kings have a stranglehold on the series with a 3-1 lead.
But the Canucks won Game 4 easily, with star forward Daniel Sedin making his triumphant return after missing twelve games due to a concussion. He looked like he had not missed any time at all, working that same magic with his brother, Henrik. Read more of this post
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