Joe Pavelski « Frozen Royalty

2010-11 Los Angeles Kings Year-In-Review: Evaluating The Forwards

May 14, 2011 by Gann Matsuda 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

Filed under Exclusives, News Tagged with Alexei Ponikarovsky, Andrei Loktionov, Anze Kopitar, Brad Richardson, Brayden Schenn, Dean Lombardi, Detroit Red Wings, Dustin Brown, Dustin Penner, Dwight King, Edmonton Oilers, hockey, Jarret Stoll, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, John Zeiler, Justin Williams, Kevin Westgarth, Kyle Clifford, LA Kings, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Kings, Marco Sturm, Michal Handzus, National Hockey League, NHL, Oscar Moller, Pavel Datsyuk, Ryan Smyth, San Jose Sharks, Scott Parse, Terry Murray, Trevor Lewis, Wayne Simmonds

2008-09 NHL Playoffs – Joe Thornton: Too Little, Too Late…Again

April 29, 2009 by Gann Matsuda 1 Comment

San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton (right) drops the gloves with Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf two seconds
into game 6 of their playoff series on April 27, 2009.
Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — When San Jose Sharks superstar center Joe Thornton dropped the gloves with Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf just two seconds into Game 6 of their Western Conference quarterfinal playoff series, it was too little, too late.

Thornton, who scored just one goal and contributed four assists in the six-game series, failed to show any fight in his game until it was too late, helping lead his team down the drain, losing the series in six games.

The Sharks have a reputation of being playoff busts, failing to get out of the second round in four straight seasons. This is also a team that reached the Western Conference Finals in 2003-04 and has been among the elite teams in the conference since then. Read more of this post

Filed under Exclusives, NHL Tagged with Anaheim Ducks, Devin Setoguchi, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, LA Kings, Milan Michalek, National Hockey League, NHL, Patrick Marleau, Ryan Getzlaf, San Jose Sharks

Youthful Kings Outclassed At Shark Tank

October 11, 2008 by Gann Matsuda

Alexander Frolov scored on the power play at 6:34 of the first period, but that would be the last time anyone would hear from the Los Angeles Kings the rest of the way, as the San Jose Sharks dominated from that point on and had an easy time handing the Kings a 3-1 loss in front of 17,496 fans at HP Pavilion in San Jose on Saturday night in the Kings’ 2008-09 opener. Read more of this post

Filed under News, Post-Game Tagged with Alexander Frolov, Devin Setoguchi, Evgeni Nabokov, hockey, Jason LaBarbera, Joe Pavelski, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, National Hockey League, NHL, San Jose Sharks, Tomas Plihal

Kings Finish Pre-Season With 3-2-3 Record

October 6, 2008 by Gann Matsuda

Joe Pavelski, Brad Lukowich and Patrick Marleau scored goals and Evgeni Nabokov stopped 25 shots to lead the San Jose Sharks to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in pre-season action at the E Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on Sunday night.

Kyle Calder scored the lone goal for the Kings.

Jason LaBarbera started in goal for the Kings, allowed three goals on 28 shots.

The Kings ended the exhibition season with a 3-2-3 record.

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Filed under News, Post-Game Tagged with Evgeni Nabokov, hockey, Jason LaBarbera, Joe Pavelski, Kyle Calder, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, National Hockey League, NHL, Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks

Kings Stop Streaking Sharks

April 5, 2008 by Gann Matsuda

LOS ANGELES — Going into Thursday night’s action, the San Jose Sharks had not lost in regulation play in twenty games, having gone 18-0-2 over that stretch.

Indeed, the Sharks are smoking hot and have been virtually unbeatable since they acquired defenseman Brian Campbell at the trade deadline. Add to that the Vezina Trophy candidate play that Evgeni Nabokov is giving the Sharks in goal in just about every game and it is easy to see why the Sharks have locked up first place in the Pacific Division.

But all streaks come to an end. But what was almost unbelievable was who ended it…none other than the lowly Los Angeles Kings the worst team in the National Hockey League going into Thursday’s action.

Anze Kopitar scored two goals, Brian Willsie and Raitis Ivanans added a goal each and Erik Ersberg made 32 saves to lead the Kings to a 4-2 win over the Sharks in front of 17,759 fans at Staples Center on Thursday night. Read more of this post

Filed under News, Post-Game Tagged with Anze Kopitar, Brian Willsie, Dustin Brown, Erik Ersberg, Evgeni Nabokov, hockey, Joe Pavelski, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, National Hockey League, NHL, Raitis Ivanans, San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings: In-Game Updates

April 4, 2008 by Gann Matsuda

LOS ANGELES — Greetings once again from the Bob Miller Press Box at Staples Center, where the Los Angeles Kings will host the San Jose Sharks at 7:30 PM PDT (televised in the Los Angeles area on FSN West). Read more of this post

Filed under News Tagged with Anze Kopitar, Brian Willsie, Erik Ersberg, Evgeni Nabokov, hockey, Joe Pavelski, LA Kings, Los Angeles Kings, National Hockey League, NHL, Raitis Ivanans, San Jose Sharks