News & Views on the Los Angeles Kings and the National Hockey League by Gann Matsuda
June 23, 2011 2 Comments
Keith Korneluk and Chris Kaliszewski are back with with a look at the Los Angeles Kings and the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, at Ryan Smyth and his rumored request to be traded, and they bid left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky a “fond” farewell. Read more of this post
May 25, 2011 6 Comments
2010-11 YEAR IN REVIEW: Part 3 of a series.
LOS ANGELES — Despite earning a 46-30-6 (98 points, seventh place in the Western Conference) record this season, just three points less than their 46-27-9 (101 points, sixth place in the Western Conference) record in 2009-10, the Los Angeles Kings, along with just about everyone who follows them and the rest of the National Hockey League, expected the team to not only make the playoffs this season, but to at least advance to the second round.
Los Angeles Kings head coach Terry Murray certainly isn’ the next coming of legendary coaches Toe Blake or Scotty Bowman, but his achievements
with the Kings outweigh his failures and weaknesses.
Photo: Victor Decolongon/Getty Images via the Los Angeles Kings
But even without Kopitar, and with Williams playing with a separated right shoulder, the Kings exposed the Sharks’ weaknesses and could have won the series if they adhered to their system and structure. But they failed miserably in that regard, dropping the series in six games. Read more of this post
May 14, 2011 11 Comments
2010-11 YEAR IN REVIEW: Part 1 of a series.
Anze Kopitar (right) and Justin Williams (left) led the way among Los Angeles Kings’ forwards this season.
Photo: David Sheehan
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Kings suffered an earlier than desired exit from the 2010-11 season, when they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the San Jose Sharks, who won the series 4-2.
To be sure, another first round exit from the post-season party was not what the Kings had in mind this year, as expectations, both their own and just about everyone else’s, was for them to at least advance to the second round.
Although they faced extenuating circumstances that affected their ability to enjoy post-season success, namely, the loss of leading scorer and top defensive forward Anze Kopitar to a devastating ankle injury in late March, the Kings showed that if they had the discipline to adhere to their system and structure, they could have won that series, advancing to the Western Conference Semi Finals. Given that, it doesn’t matter how you slice it. The fact remains that the Kings did not meet expectations for the 2010-11 season. Read more of this post
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
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
April 19, 2011 Leave a comment
EL SEGUNDO, CA — The Los Angeles Kings had an optional morning skate prior to Game 3 of their Western Conferenece Quarterfinal series game against the San Jose Sharks tonight at Staples Center in Los Angeles (7:30 PM PDT). Read more of this post
March 24, 2011 1 Comment
LOS ANGELES — Those who are old enough to remember the CBS television show from the late 1960’s, The Wild Wild West, starring Robert Conrad and Ross Martin, should be able to relate very easily to what’s been going on in the National Hockey League’s Western Conference this season.
Indeed, the The Wild Wild West would be more than an accurate description of how tight the Western Conference standings have been from day one of the 2010-11 season to now, and it is likely that the West will remain as wild as ever right up to the final day of the regular season.
The Los Angeles Kings will have to do without right wing Justin Williams
for at least the next 3-4 weeks...maybe longer.
Photo: David Sheehan
But what makes the West so wild is that five teams are behind the fifth-place Chicago Blackhawks (also with 88 points), and just three points separates the fifth place team from the out-of-the-playoffs tenth place club, the Calgary Flames. Read more of this post
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