A King in trouble with the league...

Adam, it looks like your Kings redeemed themselves (sort of) by tying the Sharks last night, after that 5-0 loss the night before. And it was reported on our late night sports that the crowd at Staples was the largest ever for hockey in California, confirming what you mentioned awhile ago about the rivalry between Los Angeles and San Jose.

Marc, as you mentioned, the crowd at Staples last night (pegged at 18,743) was the largest crowd to watch a hockey game in southern California--and we got a good game (though someone in the arena brought a beach ball to toss around--a holdover from Dodger Stadium.) Though my boys and the Sharks ended up in a 4-4 tie, there was a lot of action, good scoring chances, solid defense (amazing in a high-scoring affair) and some good goaltending, especially in the OT, when Cristobal Huet stood on his head to prevent a Vincent Damphouse breakaway goal. That save brought the crowd to its feet and we reamined that way, cheering until the final horn. There was a bit of controversy earlier in the game, when Damphouse's shot early in the 3rd period landed on the goal line & bounced. Referee Jay Sharrers called it a goal, replays proved inconclusive so the league office left the judgment to Sharrers. The goal stood. Eric Belanger later said: "It's obvious that Damphouse's goal wasn't in, but we have to move on." Coach Murray's comment: "Sharrer's a referee who has had some controversy with us in the past. We disagree with the call from somebody who is not supposed to be a part of the game." Murray rarely, if ever, criticizes a referee, so this is extremely strong stuff! Amazingly, no new Kings suffered injuries in the game!

And, to follow up on Joe in Philly's Kip Brennan post, the brawl in San Jose started when Scott Thornton punched King Maxim Kuznetsov in the back of the head. Brennan said: "Thornton blatantly sucker-punched Kuznetsov from behind. Those kind of things should definitely be enforced and there should be a suspension for Thornton. There's been times before when a guy gets hit from behind and he gets knocked out, a concussion or whatnot. It was a dirty play. I really didn't see Thornton as a dirty player. He's a hard-nosed player, but to hit someone from behind like that, it's a cheap play. We were outmanned out there, so I went back on thie ice. I wasn't thinking about any penalty. I was just thinking about the team. It's my job to protect our guys, and unfortunately, it cost me 10 games." After all that, Kuznetsov--in Murray's doghouse for questionable play--was benched Saturday night!

~Adam

[ December 28, 2003, 10:39 AM: Message edited by: Adam ]

On the Jason Allison injury front, there has been a setback in his recuperation:

"Jason Allison hoped to be preparing for a mid-January return, but that seems unlikely given what hapened this weekend. Allison put on his uniform halfway Saturday morning, intending to practice, but felt symptoms from his post-traumatic migraine syndrome and couldn't skate. He also felt bad enough Saturday to cancel a doctor's appointment and skip the Kings' game. That's bad news since, for the past several weeks, Allison has talked of being particularly encouraged because he was able to resume day-to-day activities with his family at home without feeling symptoms. Allison didn't show up to the Kings' practice center Sunday, and coach Andy Murray admitted to a certain level of frustration, not with Allison personally, but with his confusing recovery. Allison was miffed a couple of weeks ago when Murray announced a timetable for Allison to return sometime around Christmas. 'I don't know what Jason's timetable is. I still don't have an understanding of what his injury is, totally. Every time I hear it, it's a different diagnosis. It gets tiresome to talk about, because you start to think that he's getting ready to come back and then something happens,'" said Murray.

In some good news, Ian Laperriere, strong defenseman (and all-around good guy) is improving by leaps and bounds. His concussion symptoms have vanished & doctors have cleared him to begin practicing again. Just two weeks ago, he was wandering around "as if in a cloud," but feels much better now. Over the course of his career, he has suffered five concussions!! One of his closest friends, former King Stu Grissom is quoted in today's LA Daily News as saying Laperriere is going to start skating on Tuesday but that he expects Lappy to retire at season's end.

~Adam

Uh oh. After six weeks of leading the Pacific Division, my boys are now i second place (with 40 points) behind the Sharks and the newly resurgent Stars coming on strong. Some of the Kings' injuries are going to come back to haunt them. Tonight, I'm wearing a King sweater & a Dodger cap--my boys have never lost a game when I wear that combination!

~Adam

Adam, that single win by the Sharks last night also dramatically affected the Kings position in the Western Conference, instantly dropping them from third to seventh because division winners always get ranked 1-2-3 regardless of points. I guess that's not terribly important with the playoffs still months away, but just an observation. And it won't take much to change those rankings. The Adam's Division remains the tightest in the league, with only nine points separating first from last.

Uh oh, part two. With last night's OT loss (3-2) to the Rangers--congratulations, cattledog--my boys have a streak of 0-1-4-1. They didn't play badly last night, even leading 2-1 heading to the third period, but the defense couldn't hold up for the entire game--damn that Mark Messier! A couple of interesting points: during the second period, when the Rangers had their big (size) guys on the ice, Andy Murray countered with somewhat smaller, finesse types which seemed to throw the Rangers off-stride. They'd be trying to crash the boards while my boys tried to skate around them. And there was a beauty of a save by Christobal Huet on a Messier breakawy. All for just one point. So far this season, my Kings rank 24th on power plays; two seasons back, they were first. Grumble, grumble, grumble. Even my lucky combo--Kings sweater (circa 92/93) and Dodger cap didn't help them any.

This morning's LA Times reports that Jason Allison may not play again this season (gee, I've been saying that for weeks...) He also said he's unhappy with some of the comments made by Andy Murray about Allison's readiness to play. Murray had said Allison had been cleared to play by physicians. From Allison: "That's just something that to me is just wrong. It's not right. Some of that stuff, it's basically a lie. No doctor I saw said I could play. But I don't want to get into that. There's too much going on with the team to be a distraction."

Just got a call from my niece, claiming the extra ticket for 1/20 when the Flames (Marc's team) are in town. That night the Kings are giving away pucks with Ian Laperriere's image on them (the second in a series of five.) Nice to know someone in my extended family enjoys hockey in all its beauty!

~Adam

Let me be the first to announce Sean Avery's upcoming suspension for a pretty gutless cheap shot against a defenseless Mike Sillinger in tonight's Kings/Coyotes game.

Thanks for the 9:00 power play, Avery.

[ December 31, 2003, 10:11 PM: Message edited by: coyoteugly ]

NINE minutes? Wow. How many power play goals occurred in those nine minutes?

The weak Yote offense only managed ONE little goal. The two teams have really developed a pretty hateful rivalry, and there are home/home games coming in February. Should be interesting to see how many games the league suspends Avery for.

Hey....that's what Sean Avery does!!! He leads the league in penalty minutes and reminds long-time Kings fans of the days when pretty much all they did was fight! Here's the breakdown on the penalty; two minutes for fighting, two for instigating, and five for fighting. Oh yeah, Avery was ejected from the game. But it got worse: Ziggy Palffy got a slashing penalty during the nine-minute Avery penalty, giving the Yotes a 5-3 advantage. My boys are now winless in seven games and are close to being overtaken in the Pacific division by the Stars. Yuck.

In other news, coach Murray announced he will no longer discuss Jason Allison or his injuries, referring all such questions to GM Dave Taylor, who is in Finland for the junior championships.

~Adam

And the streak (0-2-5-1) continues, with my boys managing a 2-2 tie against the Dallas Stars at Staples. The Kings earned it as Marty Straka scored (following a beauty of a pass from Eric Belanger) with less than 30 seconds left in the third period. Belanger showed some genuine hustle--something that has been lacking from my boys--getting the puck from behind the Dallas net & maneuvering away from Richard Matvichuk (spelling??) to gently pass it to Straka. With the tie, the Kings stay a point ahead of Dallas in the Pacific Division & if one listens to sports radio here in LA, all the Kings sem perfectly happy with how they played last night. Since Marc mentioned some comical moments from the Flames/Canucks game--love the "sticking the tongue out" gesture--here's one from my game: after Straka scored, Star Sergei Zubov snapped his stick in two over his knee, leading us to cheer as it splintered onto the ice. This week, my boys head all the way down to the Pond (1/7) for a game with Anaheim and then home again for the Canucks (1/8--my birthday) and Columbus (1/10.) Roman Cechmanek, who has missed the last six games and Ian Laperriere plan to play against the Ducks.

~Adam

Hey Adam, I hope for your sake that the Kings don't keep slumping much longer -- I watched San Jose play St. Louis last night, and was VERY impressed with the Sharks. Even when they had a two goal lead, they weren't content to sit back and play a prevent defense -- they kept pushing forward. Yeah, the Sharks have a small lead right now, but the Kings can't let them get TOO far ahead.

Well, my boys, winless in the laast 9 games, face the high-flying Canucks tonight. Listening to Andy Murray and some of the players, you'd think the Kings are just where they want to be--they all mention how well they've been playing (I must have been watching different games...) and that "if the puck bounced our way" a few more times, the Kings would have won any number of those 9 games. Ah well, hope springs eternal & is a thing with wings, so I'm counting on them to start a long winning streak tonight.

~Adam

GO CANUCKS GO! Hopefully Cookie wipes that smirk of Avery's face tonight. wink

tphutch: Welcome to the boards!! It's always nice to get some new voices here.

And don't pick on Avery--he may be a goon, but he's my goon & remindes me of the times when the Kings were great at fighting--and nothing else!

~Adam

Kings fans out there.. i'm here in Hull and don,t get to see many Kings games How's Visnovsky playing? he's back from Injury i've noticed, but is he getting his PP time?

thanks

Adam, happy birthday (29th again, right? ) and good luck to your team tonight! A Kings' win would be a nice birthday gift, but I think they'll have their work cut out for them. Much as I like Naslund & Co, of course the Canucks are in the same division as a certain other team, so I'll be cheering for the Kings too. I see this is already the third meeting between Los Angeles and Vancouver this season (so far the Kings have a loss and a tie).

Ditto the welcome to tphutch! As far as I know, until now I've been the only Canuck (er...Canadian) Outsporter west of Ontario.

Happy birthday, Adam!!! I hope you celebrate with a Kings win!

Happy Birthday to you Adam!!!

Tphutch!!!! YOU'RE MY HERO!!!!

Happy birthday to Adam (belated as it may be)

Wow - what a nice welcoming board! I should have been here a long time ago!

Sorry if your team lost on your birthday last night and sorry if you're a fan of Avery. Personally I can't stand the little gnat. Much as I am sure every opposition team's fans must hate Matt Cooke and Jarkko Ruutu. I think Avery was smart last night not to let Bertuzzi let that right hander fly. God knows I would hate to be on the receiving end of a Bertuzzi uppercut!

And not sure if there are any Maple Leaf fans lurking around the board, but I was pretty happy to see the results of the Ottawa/Toronto game last night!

Thanks for the birthday greetings, all--much appreciated.

I'm not a true Avery fan, but I am a Kings fan, so....And Avery did get into a couple of close scrums with Todd Bertuzzi.

My boys looked tired beyond belief last night and this morning we found out why: just before the game, they learned that Ziggy Palffy has a separated shoulder--gotten during the Kings/Ducks game Wednesday--and will most likely miss the rest of the season (the injuries just keep coming.) This morning, Luc Robitaille says they learned results of Ziggy's MRI at 5:00 & the Canucks' game started at 7:30. The boys are now winless in their last 10 games (reminding myself that all good teams have rough spells during a season) and, more and more, look to be on the lookout for some trades as the league heads towards the trade deadline.

Of course, it didn't help anything ehen Lubomir Visnovsky (who has been extremely solid for the Kings since coming back from his injury) put the puck into his own net. Let me explain: in the first period, Henrik Sedin made a pass from the behind the net to Magnus Arvedson who shot it towards Cechmanek. To get to the net, the puck had to get by Visnovsky; he swept it past Cechmanek and directly into the net. 1-0 Canucks. The things that happen in a game...

~Adam

Can someone explain to me how Daniel Sedin got all of that time and room for the third goal??

Even up trade on the goal that Visnovsky scored on his own net, the Holland goal for LA was tipped off Ohlund's stick and redirected. Cloutier quipped after the game that if you're going to tip the oppositions shots please try to do it to the middle of the net rather than the top corner.

You have to question the wisdom of telling the team about Palffy before the game. Wait until after!

I was thinking about the injuries that the Kings have suffered vs. the number of injuries the Canucks have had. You have to think that it comes down to training. Not that the Kings don't train a lot but maybe they aren't doing the right kind of training. For the last few years the Canucks have really concentrated on core training. Lots of balancing on balls and things like that, and their injury level has drastically declined. I think they have fewer than 100 man games lost to injury this year vs. LA's 300+ games lost. That can't all be fluke.

[ January 09, 2004, 11:00 AM: Message edited by: tphutch ]

For what it's worth, tp, a lot of the injuries besetting the Kings are concussion-related, so I doubt there's much improved training could do.

But, with last night's 2-2 game against the Blue Jackets, my boys now have an 11-game winless streak (0-3-7-1)--their longest drought since '81/'82 (a 16-game streak that sesaon.) And, yes, another injury--this time to Martin Straka who spained his left knee approximately midway through the second period. He was helped off the ice by Kerry Fraser (of the way-too-much-hairspray coiffure) and is listed as day-to-day. Roman Cechmanek looked very good in net, the strongest he's looked since coming back from his hip injury. What really killed my boys was a rotten second period in which they were outshot 14-3 (but looked more like 40-1.) Now they head out on the road for a bit, starting with the Preds this Tuesday. Maybe a change of scenery will be just what the boys need.

~Adam

A road trip might just be what's needed. The rumour floating around up here is that the Kings might pick up Zhamnov from Chicago. That'd be a great pick up for you guys. With Palffy's contract now being paid by insurance, and Zhamnov an unrestricted free agent after this year (I believe) then it's an ideal situation!

I've heard the Zhamnov rumors as well. However, Tim Leiwicke (team president) and Dave Taylor (team g.m.) say be patient & there will be no deals until after the All-Star break. I'm taking their comments with more than a grain of salt.

On another point, I received an invitation to a meeting with team officials to discuss ways of "making the season's second half a success." It's to take place over the All-Star break, with "select" season-ticket holders. Favorite parts of the invite:

--We will listen to your concerns and try to address all your questions.

--Refreshments will be served and parking validations will be made available.

Refreshments & free parking!! I'm there!!!

~Adam

Would it be wrong to say that you should try and pass this advice on to them subliminally: "full-frontal nudity"?

a copy of the Dustin Brown "accidental" nudity scene would be great.

Accidental nudity? What's the story there?

from Joe in Philly:

Would it be wrong to say that you should try to pass this advise to them subliminally: "full-frontal nudity"?

I usually attend these types of meetings nude...just to give them the hint. How much more subliminal can I be?? wink Oddly, on a different site, whenever the question of ways to improve hockey's popularity is raised, I always suggest a shirts & skins game!

~Adam

And the streak (0-3-8-1) continues--the longest winless streak my boys have endured since '81/'82. Last night's tie, 0-0 in Nashville, caused the Kings to fall behind the Stars in the Pacific Division and, if the playoffs were to begin today, my boys would miss them. On a positive note, Roman Cechmanek got the 25th shutout of his career, becoming "the fastest active goaltender to record 25 shutouts, needing just 185 starts." On to Minnesota.

~Adam

Suddenly both LA area teams are struggling Adam. I was reading an article about the Mighty Ducks woes in my Sunday paper last week. Alot of quotes from Babcock. He said among other things, then need to play 60 minutes of hockey and try to regain their fire. It was at about the same time last year they started their playoff run. But for some reason I just don't see them doing the same thing this year. frown

It's amazing how many 0-0 games there are this year - as well as Shut outs in general! Was it at least a good game or a dreadful bore? I have seen exciting 1-0 games, but when it's 0-0 I would imagine that there's a lot of defensive minded playing, just not wanting to take a chance and end up down 1-0 in the 3rd.

puckman, in the couple of Ducks game I've gone to see down in Anaheim--both of which the Ducks lost--it seems the team is playing well but that opponents have solved Jiggy. It's like they all studied him during last year's Stanley Cup run and learned how to score on him--shoot high. And he's not getting much help in front of the net from the Ducks' defense. Interesting how many goalies follow a wonderful season with a down one (think Jose Theodore and Jiggy.) Maybe the focus and intensity level necessary to put together back-to-back seasons like that is just too great for some players. Makes Brodeur, Turco, Hasek, and (the retired) Roy all the more impressive.

~Adam

Originally posted by tphutch:

It's amazing how many 0-0 games there are this year - as well as Shut outs in general!

I thought the same as you, and in fact this subject came up late in tonight's Flames vs Capitals game when it was still scoreless (which soon changed dramatically). There have been four 0-0 games this season, including the Los Angeles-Nashville game discussed above. They didn't say how that compares to other years, but I know it's higher than normal. As for total shut-out games, there were 174 last season (not sure if that included playoffs) and this season we are "on pace" for 214 shut-outs.

Adam, I see your Kings tied the Wild 2-2 tonight. It was mentioned that Scott Barney, who apparently hasn't played hockey for three years, scored one of LA's goals. The witty announcer said it was quite appropriate that a guy named Barney should be dressed in purple.

I saw those highlights - what a serious drag for Calgary. Less than a second to go??? That just sucks.

Ah, yes, another tie, this time 2-2 against the Wild. But everyone is upbeat and cheery about the effort my boys put forth. The Kings outshot the Wild 46-23 (in the fist period, they outshot the Wild 19-6) and skated far better & with more energy than the Wild. The only thing they didn't do was score more goals. Maybe if Andy Murray didn't sit Luc Robitaille all game. Murray said Luc was being rested and, though Luc went along with the decision, he didn't like it.

As for Scott Barney, who took Robitaille's place in the game, you are absolutely right, Marc, this is his first NHL goal. He was drafted in '97, but missed three seasons with back problems--even had three surgeries. Nest game is Friday in Columbus.


And Marc, how odd your Flames game must have been with six goals in the space of about 5 minutes. Bizarre!

~Adam

[ January 15, 2004, 09:38 AM: Message edited by: Adam ]

Back in October there were two 0-0 ties in one night: Flyers-Sharks and Thrashers-Rangers.

The first page of the Los Angeles Daily News features a story headlined "Trying to put a charge in hockey: Kings are proof NHL needs ways to punch up games." After picking my jaw off the floor after seeing a hockey story on page one of an LA paper, I read the article which offered arguments for ways to increase scoring & eliminating ties, seen as the best way to grow the game for TV audiences who love offense. Shootouts, bigger nets, smaller goalie pads, adding more ice, and eliminating the red line are the main ideas put forth. Kings GM Dave Taylor, who has been involved in meetings on rules changes, says he doubts shootouts to end tie games will come to the NHL (even though he admits it's popular with the fans) but thinks the idea of widening the rink to increase the neutral zone is gaining favor within the NHL.

~Adam

That would be of interest to me Adam, make the rinks Olympic size. I could agree with this one.

It's a good idea, but it's almost impossible to conceive that a league so dependent on ticket revenue would increase the ice size and lose the seats closest to the rink, which (outside of luxury and club boxes) are the highest-priced seats they have.

With about ten minutes left in the game, my Kings are tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets, 2-2. My Alex Frolov just scored the tying goal, just a minute after being shoved out of the crease & knocked to the ice by Luke Richardson. Next time the Blue Jackets are in LA, he'll wake up with a horsehead in his bed! wink The Jackets have been skating brilliantly--fast & furious--and my kings defense has been spotty at best, often leaving lots of open space for Columbus. Roman Cechmanek has been strong in net; in fact, since he came back from hip surgery he has been all the Kings could hope for, and (pleasing to Coach Murray) has been more tethered to the net. Now if we can just get another goal & finally end this winless streak. About 6 minutes left to play, and still 2-2.


AAAAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!! In overtime, Rick Nash scored his second goal of the game and the Blue Jackets win, 3-2. My Kings' streak continues....on to Chicago.

~Adam

[ January 16, 2004, 06:37 PM: Message edited by: Adam ]

OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS OVER!!!!! My boys defeated the (less than) mighty Chicago Blackhawks, 2-1, and the winning goal was scored by.....Alex Frolov! They're coming home on a victory high and will face Marc's Flames on Tuesday. For you, Marc, I'll even cheer if & when the Flames score--though a little less loudly than when my boys do. What's the word on Iginla's leg??

~Adam

Congratulations to your Kings win over the Black Hawks, Adam! I think I'm as relieved as you are. Knowing that a winless drought for any team has to end sooner or later, I was getting nervous that Los Angeles might choose Tuesday to make that happen. Of course, the Kings could still beat the Flames, who have been rather mediocre lately, that is until they won handily tonight over those Ducks (more on that game and the Iggy story on the Flames thread, after I finish here). I wonder if my lads will be flying to Staples Coliseum tomorrow...doesn't it take something like five hours by freeway to get there from Anaheim? By the way does 'Staples' refer to the big chain of office-supply stores...in this age of businesses lending their names to so many sports venues, I suspect that is the case, but it also sounds like it could be the last name of some local famous person.

Despite the Kings' recent misfortunes, I see they presently hold the final playoff spot in the West, not far behind the Flames. Unfortunately for me, Adam, the game isn't televised here :mad: (although tonight's game at the Pond was on the tube), so I will have to rely on your unbiased, first-hand analysis. wink Enjoy the game, and you have my blessing to cheer as loud as you like for the Kings, but I applaud your sportsmanlike conduct!

[ January 19, 2004, 09:14 PM: Message edited by: Marc ]

It's the corporate sponsor. These days, any new building will have one.

Marc, the trip from Anaheim (the site of the Pond) and downtown Los Angeles (Staples Center--indeed named for the office-supply store) is only 60 minutes, off-rush hour traffic. Even I make the trek to the Pond a few times a season after putting in a long day at a downtown office (granted, on those occasions, I usually miss the first half of the first period...) The Flames stayed in a hotel near Staples Center and took a bus to the Pond rather than book a place in Anaheim and have to relocate today. Of course, I have offered my house as accomodations for specific players, breakfast included. wink

I can't believe the Flames aren't being broadcast to you in Calgary!! If you want to catch a flight to LA, you're welcome to join me at the game & the accomodations offer is included..

~Adam

[ January 20, 2004, 09:24 AM: Message edited by: Adam ]

Thanks for the invitation, Adam, but my Lear jet is in the shop today. The Flames' games are always on the radio, and many of them (including some home games) are also televised, but unfortunately not the Kings' game. The only NHL offering on TV tonight is Dallas @ Edmonton. I hope some of the three other Flames-Kings games this season will be on the tube here.

Originally posted by Joe in Philly:

It's the corporate sponsor. These days, any new building will have one.

Even some of the 'old' buildings have acquired corporate names. When our facility in Calgary opened in the mid-80s, it was called the Olympic Saddledome (for the Winter Games) which I quite liked. It later became the Canadian Airlines Saddledome, but when that airline went out of business it was renamed Pengrowth Saddledome. Of course, nobody ever calls it that locally, it's just known as the Dome. Similarly in Edmonton, Northlands Coliseum morphed into Skyreach and eventually Rexall Place, although it's the same building. Somehow, I can't see a corporate name taking over Madison Square Gardens, however.

Adam, let me be the first to congratulate your Kings on their 4-1 win tonight. I was just on my way home from work at the first intermission, turned on the radio, and my car nearly went off the road when I heard the Flames were already trailing 3-0! My hopes soared a little when Dean McAmmond scored short-handed early in the second, but that turned out to be Calgary's only goal. It sounds like there was a load of penalties handed out, especially against the Flames. Interesting that two 'Romans' faced each other tonight. Apparently our Roman (Turek) was pulled briefly in the first period to let Jamie McLennan play, but was then re-inserted by Darryl Sutter. I was surprised to hear that Jarome Iginla did play after all, but it sounds like he wasn't a big factor in the game.

I heard it was a sellout tonight at Staples, apparently the 13th of the season! It's good to see hockey is alive and well in L.A., unlike some other cities in the U.S. I trust the Flames players who took your offer of 'bed and breakfast' behaved like perfect gentlemen. wink

Marc, thank you for the congratulations. It was a fun game for Kings fans & I scored major "uncle points" by taking my niece on the night when the Kings gave away Ian Laperriere photo-pucks--- and Lappy scored his first two goals of the season! As I've posted earlier, he is her major lust object, though she is really too young to have a lust object. That first period was about as good as I've seen my boys play all year; they were swarming all over the Flames on defense and flying down the ice on offense. In the first eight minutes of the game, the Kings already had 10 solid shots on goal, and had gotten two goals out of that flurry. You're right (as usual) about penalties--it seemed the Kings were always on a power play during the second period and though they weren't able to convert on any of them, the Flames penalty-killers seemed really spent by the end of the period. The game did feature a whole bunch of grabbing and holding, a lot of which were evident to the crowd--even heard calls for penalties to be called against the Kings--even if they didn't get called on the ice. A couple of odd things: Luc Robitaille, usually as sure a shooter as there is in the game, fanned on at least four shots on goal in the second period--maybe Andy Murray saw something amiss when he sat Luc for a couple of games. Scott Barney--the recent call-up, has become something of a hero in LA; whenever he touched the puck or threw a hipcheck, there were chants of "BARNEY! BARNEY" Not as loud or long as the "LUUUUUUUUCCCCC!!!" that is our tradition but nice to hear, nonetheless. When Lappy scored his second goal--an open-netter toward the end of the game--he and Corvo kissed & (yes) it showed up imediately on Staples Center "Kiss Cam." My Alexander Frolov got called for a holding penalty, a rare event--so rare, in fact, he headed for the wrong penalty box!

And Marc, I must respond to your assertion in the Calgary Flames thread that I made use of a voodoo doll to make the Flames lose....Are there photos of this? If not, I didn;t use the doll and if such photos exist, they've been altered or taken all out of context!

~Adam