2010-11 Los Angeles Kings Were Reminiscent Of A Roller Coaster Ride

May 11, 2011 7 Comments

2010-11 YEAR IN REVIEW: The Los Angeles Kings took their fans, media, and anyone else paying attention, on a wild, bumpy ride this season.

LOS ANGELES — The Stanley Cup Conference semi-finals are almost over, with three of the four conference finalists decided, and with the San Jose Sharks and Detroit Red Wings heading into a seventh and deciding game at San Jose on May 12.

The Los Angeles Kings season ended on April 25, 2011, when the San Jose Sharks defeated the Kings, 4-3, in Game 6 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal playoff series, sending the Kings off to another long summer.
Photo: Harry How/Getty Images and the Los Angeles Kings

It has been a little over two weeks since the Los Angeles Kings were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs in six games by the Sharks, and Frozen Royalty has been taking a break, catching its breath, so to speak, and taking some time to do other things.

But the time has come to look back on the 2010-11 season for the Kings, one that is filled with highs and lows, some expected, others not.

Those highs and lows typified their season, taking everyone on a season-long roller coaster ride. Read more of this post

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Los Angeles Kings Let It All Skate Away Against San Jose

April 29, 2011 1 Comment

LOS ANGELES — Four days after the Los Angeles Kings were eliminated in six games from the first round of 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the San Jose Sharks, the Kings dressing room at Staples Center has probably been cleaned out, not to be used (at least, not by the Kings), until next season.

Despite losing in six games, the Kings came close to, not just extending the series to a seventh game, but to advancing to the second round. Indeed, when they were on top of their game, their forecheck, defensive zone coverage and goaltending gave the Sharks fits.

“We had opportunities to win this series,” Kings right wing and team captain Dustin Brown lamented. “We had a 4-0 lead at home in Game 3, and two other overtime games. We were right there.” Read more of this post

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New On KingsCast: Episode 106 – Kings/Sharks Game 6

April 29, 2011 Leave a Comment

KingsCast looks back at Game 6 of the Los Angeles Kings’ first round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks, in Episode 106 – Kings/Sharks Game 6. Read more of this post

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Los Angeles Kings Getting Offense From Surprising Source

April 25, 2011 Leave a Comment

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Going into the Los Angeles Kings’ first round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks, if someone predicted that their third line of Kyle Clifford, Brad Richardson and Wayne Simmonds would account for six goals and seven assists for 13 points after five games, they would be quickly dismissed as being insane.

Kyle Clifford (left), Brad Richardson (right), and Wayne Simmonds
(center, facing away) are the unexpected leaders of the Los Angeles Kings’
offensive attack in their first round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks.
Photo: David Sheehan

Further, if anyone predicted that Clifford, a wet-behind-the-ears, twenty-year-old rookie who is known for more for throwing his weight around, would lead the team in playoff scoring with three goals and two assists for five points, they would probably be laughed at.

But those nutty predictions have proven to be prescient, as Clifford, Richardson and Simmonds have been the Kings’ top line, not their third line that is only expected to be an energy line, a checking line. Indeed, they have led the way offensively for the heavily defensive-oriented Kings, who trail the Sharks in the series, 3-2, with Game 6 scheduled for tonight at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Read more of this post

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KingsCast Looks Back At Games 3-5: LA Kings vs. San Jose Sharks

April 24, 2011 Leave a Comment

KingsCast has been taking a close look at the Los Angeles Kings’ first round playoff series against the San Jose Sharks, releasing a new episode following each game. Read more of this post

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Time For The Los Angeles Kings To Be Patient With Dustin Penner Is Up

April 21, 2011 13 Comments

EL SEGUNDO, CA — To anyone who has watched the Los Angeles Kings fairly regularly over the last seven weeks, left wing Dustin Penner has been very, very noticeable…

…for all the wrong reasons.

Veteran left wing Dustin Penner has been a non-factor for the
Los Angeles Kings since his arrival in Los Angeles Will he ever
figure it all out and get his game in gear?
Photo: David Sheehan

Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi acquired Penner in a trade deadline day deal on February 28, 2011, in a deal that sent defenseman prospect Colten Teubert to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange, along with a first round selection in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft, and a conditional third round pick in the 2012 draft that will become a second round selection should the Kings win the Stanley Cup this season.

Penner was acquired to score goals and create space for center Anze Kopitar. But with Kopitar out until next season with a broken ankle and torn ligaments, Penner, who is one of the most skilled forwards on the team, was expected to step up and give the Kings a lift.

But Penner ended the regular season scoring just two goals and adding four assists for six points in 19 games with the Kings. Even worse, he ended the regular season without a point in the final twelve games, and he last scored a goal on March 13 at Dallas.

That was 16 games (including playoffs and regular season) ago. Read more of this post

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