After talking to the ladies in work about hockey this season, and the Kings playing up and down and driving us crazy, I’ve come to a conclusion. Women are much more patient fans then men. Oh, I’m not saying we don’t cuss up a storm and demand everyone’s head after a game loss, but in the long run we tend to be more supportive and stick to the players longer. Marry the players if you will. Is that good or bad? I don’t know. I just came to the conclusion that we are either more forgiving in nature naturally, or we are masochists. Pick one. It’s the same thing when it come to the Kings.
Ok, on to the preview. This is our 3rd of 4 meeting this season and we split the first two. Minnesota is in 13th place in the Western conference to our 10th place. Yes, I said 10. But! Do not despair! All the pacific teams suck so we are really only 5 pts out of 1st in the Pacific and a playoff spot by default. San Jose is only 3 pts in front of us and we can take them. The thing that bothers me is that team – That Team!- you know the one. The Quacks are only 4pts behind us! Oh, that brings out my masculine side and I want to punch something. These two points tonight are critical. We have a good team. We can have a great team.
The Minnesota Wild are playing tough lately. They started the season stong and went on a losing streak only to pick it back up winning the last 3 of 4 games. the Wild made a lot of moves before trade deadline and I don’t really care who they are, only that they are in disarray and that may work for us tonight. Minnesota beat the Sharks Sunday and have had a day of rest before tonight. Unfortunately this is a back-to-back for us and I just hope that the Kings are mad enough to come out physical tonight. We’re going to need that to win.
A Few Notes:
- Bernier will probably start tonight. I say probably because you know Sutter by now and it looks like he either hates Bernier or just a crappy coach when it comes to playing your goalies.
- Clifford and Drewiske are scratched tonight and Brad Richardson and Kevin Westgarth were in warm ups. So Sutter will have to pick one to play tonight.
- Kings have a 26.6% chance to make the playoffs as of 1:00 pst.
- The Kings are 1-3-2 in their last six road games.
- Kings are 8-for-8 on the penalty kill in their last three games.
- Brown has five goals and two assists in his last four games.
Kings Lineup
# 23 Brown– # 11 Kopitar – # 14 Williams
# 74 King– # 10 Richards – # 77 Carter
# 25 Penner – # 28 Stoll – # 22 Lewis
# 15 Richardson– # 24 Fraser – # 71 Nolan
# 7 Scuderi – # 8 Doughty
# 33 Mitchell – # 26 Voynov
# 27 Martinez –# 22 Greene
# 45 Bernier
# 32 Quick
Minnesota Wild
#15 Dany Heatley - #21 Kyle Brodziak - #10 Devin Setoguchi
#22 Cal Clutterbuck - #7 Matt Cullen – #17 Nick Palmieri
#14 Darroll Powe – #26 Erik Christensen – #25 Nick Johnson
#19 Stephane Veilleux - #43 Warren Peters – #41 Jed Ortmeyer
#6 Marco Scandella – #46 Jared Spurgeon
#20 Kurtis Foster – #44 Justin Falk
#39 Nate Prosser – #77 Tom Gilbert
#32 Niklas Backstrom
#37 Josh Harding
Go Kings Go!
hockeyjockey
February 28, 2012
Fitst..now I know..I am a polyigimist ;-0
If that term applies to multiple husbands..
Question..warm ups? Or do you mean morning skate?
Remember when I was confused to see a player in gear out for pre game warm ups( at home where you can go down to the ice and watch..which is much fun) then not see the player play that game?
We mow know it is part for bonding/ chemistry..etc.
We must have a W!
I was not too discouraged last night, we played decent. Thought Quick is again not
directing his saves to a good area ..this is a bad habit he falls into, and hopefully Ranford
(out of room on phone..ahhh so now out of order..forgive)
gets right on that with him.
hockeyjockey
February 28, 2012
and
GO KINGS GO!!!
tracykingslover
February 28, 2012
I often wondered about the who leaves first plays and how that come to be. Basically, the guy left on the ice is not in the lineup. He has to stay and practice more. The player leaving needs to go and get ready for the game. Pretty sure they are having warm ups on the road, not a true practice.
Yes, I’d say a W is imperative.
tracykingslover
February 28, 2012
3-0 Kings, end of 1. Minnesota forgot to show up.
hockeyjockey
February 28, 2012
Shoot Tracy..I am tape delayed..I am Not reading any more texts til end of game!
GO KINGS GO!!!
by great email to see. :+)))
tracykingslover
February 28, 2012
oh NO!!! don’t look then, come in after you watch the game.
tracykingslover
February 28, 2012
4-0 Kings! right on! JC created a chance by himself and almost scored. Almost. Keep it up!
hockeyjockey
February 28, 2012
Just about caught up..4-0
OMG..you just see Nolan put up the dukes?
We had heard he was a good fighter but wow..
There is a new sherrif in town!
And WTF Clutterbuck punches Brownie in the face!
That is a GOON
GO KINGS GO!!!
tracykingslover
February 28, 2012
It was so nice to see Nolan fight. I knew he was a big guy, but I wasn’t sure if he could duke it up! Nice night for him.
Yeah, Brownie got the pp for the Kings on that one. Clutterbuck is just so pissed his team in bad right now. I’d take him in a second on the kings though…
hockeyjockey
February 28, 2012
He is a Goon with skill I will give him that ..We haven’t had one of those in a loooong time..
Said Greener bigger…really..Green is put together well..proportion wise..remember seeing him at a King’s Fest and he did not seem so huge.
GO KINGS GO!!!
hockeyjockey
February 28, 2012
Martinez credited with hosl #4..no longer Nolan.
GO KINGS GO!!!
tracykingslover
February 28, 2012
Yeah, I saw that. I thought for sure it was Nolan, but I’m ok with a-mart!! Actually, I’m ok with the whole damn game tonight! lol
meaganj
February 29, 2012
Yay! We win. I think I am a forgiving masochist
Hoping they bring their offense again on Saturday, we’ve gotta stay in that play-off race. More goals for Brown; I think I finally saw him smile! Hopefully Carter/Richards can bring in a goal or two also since they’ll actually have time to legitimately practice with each other and not just rely on pre-game/on-the-road skates.
tracykingslover
February 29, 2012
I was thinking the same thing. Thank goodness that JC can now have a few days to get settled and have a couple good practices with the team. hard to just be thrown in the middle of a home/and back to back road trip and sink or swim! He did fine – no pts, but I’m not suprised.
I’m willing to give him time to get in the groove of the team and then score. I’m willing to give him all the way until Saturday.
hockeyjockey
March 1, 2012
He did just fine. I liked how candid he was with the Pre-game interview with 0Neal. Said how the few days after the trade were wearing on him. And about all the travel. At least when you are with the team you are under their care..ie rest time..accomondations..team plane.
GO KINGS GO!!!