Los Angeles Kings/Phoenix Coyotes: 2012 Western Conference Finals Preview

May 13, 2012 by Leave a comment

The NHL’s 2012 Western Conference Finals may boil down to a goaltender’s duel between Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick (shown here at a
recent practice session), and Phoenix Coyotes netminder Mike Smith.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Despite what the players and coaches have been saying over the past week, the National Hockey League’s 2012 Western Conference Finals (Game 1 is scheduled for tonight, 5:00 PM PDT, Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona) features two teams that are very, very similar.

Whether it is a hard, aggressive forecheck, solid play in the defensive end, stand-on-your-head goaltending, both teams making strong runs at the end of the season to make the playoffs, and peaking at just the right time, the Los Angeles Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes, both Pacific Division rivals, would not be easy to differentiate if they wore the same jerseys. Read more of this post

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Los Angeles Kings: Not Easy For Black Aces To Stay Focused, Ready

May 11, 2012 by 7 Comments

Los Angeles Kings backup goalie Jonathan Bernier sprawls to make
a save during a recent practice session.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Every team in the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup Playoffs has them, but they are usually unseen, or keep to themselves, staying out of the limelight, patiently waiting for their chance to crack the lineup, often a fleeting opportunity, at best.

These are the Black Aces, the extra skaters and goaltenders who rarely get the chance to play in the post-season, if at all, during a team’s run through the playoffs.

But wait a minute…where on Earth did the term, Black Aces come from, anyway?

As it turns out, the term was derived from the “Dead Man’s Hand” in poker, consisting of a pair of eights, the Ace of Spades, and the Ace of Clubs. Read more of this post

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From Murray To Sutter: What’s Changed For The Los Angeles Kings?

May 8, 2012 by 18 Comments

Los Angeles Kings head coach Darryl Sutter (right), shown here with defenseman Drew Doughty (left), during a recent practice session.
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

EL SEGUNDO, CA — With the Los Angeles Kings set to face their Pacific Division rival, the Phoenix Coyotes, in the 2012 Western Conference Finals—just the second time in the Kings’ 44-year history that they have reached the conference finals—many are still shaking their heads, blown away at the dominance the Kings have displayed in dispatching the Vancouver Canucks in five games, followed by a four-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues in the second round.

The Kings have accomplished all that by getting solid contributions from throughout their lineup, as 15 players have scored goals in the post-season, and their top players have outplayed their counterparts by a wide margin.

As much as the focus has been on the stellar performances of right wing Dustin Brown, center Anze Kopitar, and goaltender Jonathan Quick, Darryl Sutter has had a tremendous impact Read more of this post

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Los Angeles Kings: Doughty’s Maturity Starting To Show In Post-Season

May 6, 2012 by 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

EL SEGUNDO, CA — After making quick work of the Vancouver Canucks, sending them off to an early summer vacation after just five, first round playoff games, the Los Angeles Kings have a commanding 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven, second round series against the St. Louis Blues, with Game 4 coming up today, at noon PDT (Staples Center in Los Angeles).

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

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Los Angeles Kings Will Need Repeat Performance From Third and Fourth Lines Against St. Louis Blues

April 27, 2012 by 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

EL SEGUNDO, CA — Looking back at the Los Angeles Kings’ first round playoff series win over the Vancouver Canucks, the first things that come to mind are the play of right wing Dustin Brown, and goaltender Jonathan Quick.

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

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Los Angeles Kings Are All Singing The Same Tune After Game 4 Loss To Vancouver Canucks

April 20, 2012 by 1 Comment

Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin, shown here being mobbed by the media
after practice on April 17, one day before he led his team to a Game 4 victory
over the Los Angeles Kings in their first round playoff series
(click to view a larger image).
Photo: David Sheehan/FrozenRoyalty.net

LOS ANGELES AND EL SEGUNDO, CA — After blowing their chance to sweep the Vancouver Canucks out of the first round of the National Hockey League playoffs after a 3-1 loss in Game 4 on April 18, the Los Angeles Kings were singing the same tune, so to speak, after watching brothers Daniel and Henrik Sedin skate circles around them in the second and third periods.

“We had chances to finish, but I don’t think we finished as many checks as we should have on those two, in particular,” said right wing and team captain Dustin Brown. “Both of them were good. They’re pretty dynamic when they’re together. We have to take their time and space away, and be physical with them if we want to nullify them in Game 5.” Read more of this post

Filed under Audio/Video, News, NHL, Stanley Cup Playoffs Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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