News & Views on the Los Angeles Kings and the National Hockey League by Gann Matsuda
February 27, 2013 Leave a comment
Then-Los Angeles Kings left wing Simon Gagne, shown here during practice on February 24, 2013, was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on February 26, 2013.
(click above to view larger image)
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net
February 23, 2013 Leave a comment
LA Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin (foreground), shown
here during practice on February 22, 2013, at the
Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, California.
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Photo: Kasey Spatz/SpatzShots
Prior to February 10, the Kings were struggling badly, earning just a 3-4-2 record after nine games. But after that, they are 4-2-0, with a loss at Detroit, a game in which they arguably played their best hockey this season, and the aforementioned loss at Chicago, in which the Kings were missing in action until the third period, but almost came all the way back from a 3-0 deficit.
Head coach Darryl Sutter pointed out that his team’s progress has been a bit slow.
“I knew, coming [into the season], that opening [day, a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks at Staples Center on January 19] wasn’t going to be about the game,” said Sutter. “It was going to be about the ceremony, and that held true. Then, we went to Colorado, and played pretty well, but made a couple of mistakes in the third period. That set the [tone] for where we are.”
February 14, 2013 Leave a comment
LA Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin
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Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net
In fact, Sutter isn’t even talking about his team’s offensive attack. Instead, he is primarily focused on defense and goaltending, given the fact that veteran blue liners Matt Greene and Willie Mitchell are out of the lineup, and now, Alec Martinez will be out for at least one week.
“It was just an innocent play [on] his second shift,” Sutter said, describing the play in which Martinez was injured. “[It was] nothing, just a real, easy play. He just got banged.”
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