To Change the World, Start With One Step
NHLHS Los Angeles Kings Correspondent obtained an e-mail interview with LA Kings captain, Dustin Brown. A big thank you to Scott Norton of Norton Sports Management for providing us with this opportunity.
However Small, the First is Hardest of All
-You Might Die Trying- Stand Up- Dave Matthews Band, 2005
Fun Fact: While he listens to all kinds of music and rock on a lot of game days, one of Dustin Brown’s Favorite Bands? Dave Matthews Band
Aint that a Kick In the Head…
Your friendly neighborhood <St. Louis is everyone’s hood> LA Kings’ dork blogger was sitting around recently and one of those Twitter emails pop up… xx is following you. Meh. Begrudgingly I go see what bot it is…but? A sports agency? Huh? really? really? Maybe. Maybe not… I won’t block.. won’t follow. Leave it be. Not 24 hours later my twitter feed is reading like the Kingdom’s fearless leader Dustin Brown has decided to show the world, outside of hockey, what Brown can do for you. <puts head down> Do I have to? Already? Really? Fiiine… <Dunce cap in hand..looking in the corner> going… going…
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, By Teams, Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Pacific, Western Conference Tags: Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings, National Hockey League, NHL
I Can’t Buy What I’ve Done Before. I Want to Open Up Another Door
Dean Lombardi, President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Kings, "And again, I think the players are entitled to their share. Its more the allocation in there. It makes it reasonable for both sides. I think it helps the team, I think it helps the union, and I think it's good for the game." In comparing the current position of the LA Kings with the Chicago Blackhawks, he commended them for building itself correctly, from bottom-to-top. The difference, with the Kings, would lie in the time it takes to get there. The Blackhawks have taken approximately seven-years to build into Western Conference contenders. Lombardi felt that the Kings could match those results, in less time.
Categories: Around the League, Chicago Blackhawks, Cost Efficiency, Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Pacific, Western Conference Tags: 2010 NHL Draft, Anze Kopitar, Brian Campbell, Chicago Blackhawks, Dean Lombardi, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Jack Johnson, JMFJ, Jon Quick, Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings, Marian Hossa, Quick, Sidney Crosby, Stanley Cup Finals, Terror Twins, ThrowtheTwinkie, Tomas Kopecky, Wayne Simmonds, Western Conference
And Now The Pressures On, The Heat Is Rising… Tonight There’s Something In The Air (Black In ST Louis)
I,personally, should have known this game was doomed when I was screaming GET OFF MY GOALTENDER..and realized I was screaming at my own Defense. And then I realized how many mistakes had already been made 1/2 way through the game but none of them by Randy Jones.. Immediately, I started looking at flight prices to Los Angeles, AGAIN. Then I cried.
Categories: Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Pacific, Playoff Coverage, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Anze Kopitar, Arch, Buffalo Sabres, Defense, Dustin Brown, Ersberg, Flight Prices Suck, Head to Desk, Jim Fox, LA, Lack of Defense, Los Angeles Kings, NHL, NHL 2010 Playoffs, playoffs, Quick, Randy Jones, Ryan Smyth, St Louis, Staples Center, TerrorTwins, ThrowtheTwinkie, Twitter, Vancouver Canucks, What Can Brown Do For You
Karma Police… Arrest This Man… This Is What You Get… When You Mess With Us
Next on Sports Psychosis, MD: Sports Paranoia: What to do when your players want to blame inferior play and losses on league conspiracies, inept officiating, flying reptiles, fish and/or men (we're assuming men?) in bright neon costumes that climb the sin bin like spider-man without the power or responsibility. The truth, though no one will admit it or give the LA Kings respect for it, is that they have dominated the Vancouver Canucks in net, special teams (and no the Kings have not been favored in power plays given) and, well heart. So the Vancouver Canucks took to that adage - if you can't beat them, beat the shit out of them. And I suppose that is fine, if you are going to kill off your penalties. But-- um... pssst..... boys.. yeah you... with the Greenmen... you missed a spot...
Categories: Around the League, Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Pacific, Playoff Coverage, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Jack Johnson, Jonathan Quick, Ryan Smyth, Sidney Crosby, Wayne Simmonds
Canucks back at it
With 2 games already in the books and the series tied 1-1 between the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings, here are a few observations.
The Kings youth hasn’t been a liability… yet
Their core of young players have played extremely well under early pressure. Facing the raucous crowd in Vancouver is no easy task, now they have to perform in front of their own crowd. It will be interesting to see if the butterflies show up when they hit the Forum ice tonight. Opening on the road may have been a blessing for the Kings, especially since they made it out of GM Place with the all important split.
Penalties… “too many”
While much has been made of the “too many men on the ice” call that led to the Kings winning power play goal on Sunday, it could be argued that had the Canucks buried some of their chances earlier in the game that call wouldn’t even have happened. The Canucks found themselves in the box 7 times, while the Kings were only penalized 4 times.
The Alberts experiment
Brought in at the trade deadline for some depth on defense, Andrew Alberts was supposed to be a shot-blocking, punishing defenseman that could fill-in as a 5/6 defensemen. Unfortunately that hasn’t been the case as he’s taken way too many penalties, made too many defensive mistakes, and generally been a liability on the back end. Did Canucks fans expect too much or has he just had a hard time adjusting to the Western Conference style of play? No one really knows. Barring another injury or really poor effort by another d-man, he’s probably going to spend the rest of the play-offs in the press box as Aaron Rome is back from injury and going to play in Game 3.
What the Canucks need to do:
- Play physical – they need to get in on the forecheck and bang the Kings players, especially their skill players like Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, and Drew Doughty. It’s not easy to play 20-30 minutes a game at play-off intensity, but it’s much easier if you aren’t being hit.
- Need for speed – the Canucks, who have one of the fastest skaters in the NHL in Mason Raymond, have more team speed than the Kings and need to use it to their advantage.
- Fewer penalties – plain and simple, stay out of the box!
- Net presence – they need to get more bodies in front of Jonathan Quick, he is an excellent netminder and like most will stop any puck he can see. Additionally, the Canucks need to get in his “kitchen” both physically and verbally. See what the kid is made of.
- Score early – survive the first 10 minutes and get some pucks behind Quick to get the crowd out of it.
We’re still picking the Canucks to win the series in 6 games, but they still have plenty of work to do as they are up against a very solid team in the Kings.
What are your thoughts on the series and who do you think is going to win it?
I-5 Canucks
NHLHS Canucks Correspondents
hipcheck44@nhlhotstove.com
Twitter: @Hipcheck44 and @WCE71944
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Aaron Rome, Andrew Alberts, Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Jonathan Quick, Mason Raymond
Follow The Underdog, Hold On His Collar Tight- Kaiser Chiefs, Off With Their Heads!
Follow the underdog, hold on his collar tight
-Kaiser Chiefs- Off With Their Heads (2008)
This is the song of the blog <and part of the next> because I think it is just that fitting.. plus the name of the cd it is from.. HEH. <save the line that ends the blog>
Categories: Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Pacific, Playoff Coverage, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alexander Ovechkin, Anze Kopitar, Christian Ehroff, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Henrik Sedin, Jack Johnson, JMFJ, Jonathan Quick, Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings, Manchester Monarchs, Pittsburgh Pen, Rob Scuderi, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Smyth, Scuds, Vancouver Canucks, Wayne Simmonds
Pros & Cons: Los Angeles Kings vs. Vancouver Canucks
Our newest feature, Pros and Cons, holds a debate between two of our featured writers as they make an argument for each team in the series. We will continue this series throughout the playoffs as we delve deeper into how these two teams will interact.
Categories: Around the League, By Teams, Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Northwest, Pacific, Playoff Coverage, Vancouver Canucks, Western Conference Tags: Alexander Edler, Alexander Frolov, Alexandre Burrows, Anze Kopitar, Christian Erhoff, Daniel Sedin, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Fredrik Modin, Henrik Sedin, Jack Johnson, Jon Quick, Jonathan Bernier, Justin Williams, Kevin Bieksa, Mathieu Schneider, Michal Handzus, Mikael Samuelsson, Pavol Demitra, Rob Scuderi, Roberto Luongo, Ryan Kesler, Ryan Smyth, Sean O'Donnell, Shane O’Brien, Willie Mitchell
Dark Horse Theory: Western Conference
NHLHS writer Anthony Curatolo takes a look at a team considered to be a Dark Horse in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Kings.
If there is one team in the Western Conference to fear heading into the NHLs post-season the Los Angeles Kings fit just that mold.
A team that many say are too young or too inexperienced need to look deeper into the foundation of the Kings roster.
Let’s start with the veterans. Michal Handzus, Ryan Smyth, Rob Scuderi, Sean O’Donnell, Justin Williams, Fredrik Modin and Randy Jones all know what it is like to take part in the post season of the NHL.
Categories: 30 Team Series, Around the League, By Teams, Los Angeles Kings, NHLHS Features, Pacific, Western Conference Tags: Alex Frolov, Anze Kopitar, Brad Richardson, Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Fredrik Modin, Jack Johnson, Jonathan Quick, Justin Williams, Michal Handzus, Randy Jones, Rob Scuderi, Ryan Smyth, San Jose Sharks, Scott Parse, Sean O'Donnell
