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Two Days of Results and What Record You Need Now

Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown, right, breaks into a zesty Kazachok as Nashville Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis, left, looks on during the second period of their NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 14, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

More photos » Mark J. Terrill - AP

Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown, right, breaks into a zesty Kazachok as Nashville Predators defenseman Dan Hamhuis, left, looks on during the second period of their NHL hockey game, Sunday, March 14, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Good: (Saturday) Hawks lose, Sharks half-lose; (Sunday) Hawks half-lose, Stars lose, Blues lose, Sharks lose, Flames lose.

The Bad: (Saturday) Wings win, Yotes win, Canucks win, Blues win; (Sunday) Kings lose, Preds win, Avs win, Yotes win, Wild wins, Ducks win, Canucks win.

Which means...

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4 comments  |  0 recs |

A Study of Short Term Memory Impairment in Ref Population

Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick uses a simple mind trick to levitate the puck during the third period of their NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Sunday, March 14, 2010, in Los Angeles. The Predators won 3-2.  (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

More photos » Mark J. Terrill - AP

Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick uses a simple mind trick to levitate the puck during the third period of their NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Sunday, March 14, 2010, in Los Angeles. The Predators won 3-2. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Jim Fox and Nick Nickson, calling the game on FSWHD, indicated that the ref behind the net was not the one who saw the interference by Ryan Smyth, but it was pretty clear on the replay that the ref waived it off and then pointed at Smyth, so I don't think it was a call that was fabricated after the fact. Also, not to contradict Fox, who is wise, but the puck was pretty clearly over the line.

No problem, I say. Smyth really did bump Pekka Rinne, so I don't mind the call. AS LONG AS A FEW SECONDS LATER THE SAME EXACT PLAY DOESN'T OCCUR AT THE OTHER END OF THE ICE AND THE VERY SAME REF MAKES THE OPPOSITE CALL. Worse: Smyth barely touched Rinne, while Jonathan Quick was dragged away from a LOOSE PUCK IN THE CREASE. It didn't happen quickly, and it wasn't hidden from anyone's view. In real time it almost felt like the whole thing played out in slow-motion. The refs? Didn't see it.

So here's some common sense. If you're going to wave off a goal as a result of a minute detail observed by you through the net and the goalie while you're supposed to be watching the puck, then you have just lowered the standard in terms of what can be called and what can't be. Knowing that you just waived off the go-ahead goal, there would have to be something mentally wrong with you not to be, from that point forward, hyper-vigilant in keeping an eye out for similar infractions. A normal person would attempt to be impartial, and consistent, by committing to memory the exact circumstances of call "a" so that he can applying the same ruling to call "b", especially where b = a times infinity. But no. Instead you're Mr Short Term Memory

(as an aside, Quick made a comment to Rich Hammond, "I thought that’s why they had video replay." Sadly, no. Per Rule 69.1, goaltender interference is not reviewable. You probably assumed it was, because that would make sense. But apparently the boundary in the sense/nonsense dichotomy is somewhere to the right of "Intent to Blow.")

I have another topic and nowhere to put it. It doesn't deserve its own post, so I'm putting it here (follow link after poll or click on this):

Poll
Quick was

  18 votes | Results

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GAME THREAD: Kings at Nashville

Daylight Savings switch, 12pm PST game, AND the game's on FS Prime Ticket. Too many changes here. I'm like a hockey player; I need my consistency. And speaking of shopping, I already have plans this morning!

If someone can challenge me on why the Tivo isn't the greatest invention known to man, I'd like to hear it.

[Update]: The Kings pocket schedule is wrong. The game is at its normal FSW home.

22 comments  |  0 recs

Mostly Kings News (with bonus shopping links)

My name's not Jonny.

My name's not Jonny.

(Colten Teubert and Jordan Eberle say goodbye to the hometown fans, via www.leaderpost.com)

Or, since the Kings are idle, how about some shopping:

6 comments  |  0 recs |

Jonathan Bernier

Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Bernier (45) deflects a shot by Dallas Stars left wing Loui Eriksson (21), of Sweden, during a shootout in an NHL hockey game, Friday, March 12, 2010, in Dallas. The Kings won 2-1.  (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

More photos » Tony Gutierrez - AP

2 days ago: Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Bernier (45) deflects a shot by Dallas Stars left wing Loui Eriksson (21), of Sweden, during a shootout in an NHL hockey game, Friday, March 12, 2010, in Dallas. The Kings won 2-1. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Watched the Dallas feed tonight, obviously, since that was the only feed available. The Dallas announcers remarked, with admiration, on the Kings' system of bringing the center back down low in the defensive zone, and how much more difficult that made it on on Dallas forwards. They also used the phrase, "when you play the L.A. Kings" more than once, and didn't follow it with "you can take the night off" or something similar. And they were impressed with Jonathan Bernier.

Me, I was nervous. Like, playoff game nervous. Jack Johnson's first game in '07 nervous. Bernier admitted he was nervous, too. Terry Murray couldn't tell.

As for the game itself, I expect someone will say it had a "playoff atmosphere." The Kings looked back on their heels to me. Stats show that they did a lot of things right (few giveaways, more hits, decisive face-off advantage), but I don't think I can remember a single Kings scoring chance after their first period goal. Dallas seemed on the verge of scoring for most of the last forty minutes, and probably deserved a better fate. But instead the Kings managed to turn a one-goal performance into a win.

You'd think this was one of those "goalie steals one for the team" games, but where are the highlight reel saves? Where's the clip of impossible recoveries and the Stars peppering him with shots and getting turned away as the breathless announcers ratchet up their play-by-play freak-out (e.g. "e-NOR-mous SAVE!" "I don't believe what I just saw!" etc.)? There wasn't any of that. All there was, was:

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12 comments  |  0 recs |

Thursday/Friday: The Points You've Blown, The Record You Need

Los Angeles Kings center Jarret Stoll, left, scores a shootout goal against Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco (35) during an NHL hockey game, Friday, March 12, 2010, in Dallas. The Kings won 2-1. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

More photos » Tony Gutierrez - AP

2 days ago: Los Angeles Kings center Jarret Stoll, left, scores a shootout goal against Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco (35) during an NHL hockey game, Friday, March 12, 2010, in Dallas. The Kings won 2-1. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

The Good: (Thursday) Wild lose, Preds lose; (Friday) Kings win, Stars lose, Ducks lose.

The Bad: (Thursday) Wings win, Flames win, Blues win; (Friday) Wild win, Preds win, Avs win.

Which means...

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4 comments  |  0 recs |

GAME THREAD: Kings at Stars

Here we go again! 5:30pm PST?! Crap! I'm watching the game after the fact.

Lines per LA Kings Insider. We'll see how long before Terry Murray starts tinkering:

Smyth - Kopitar - Williams
Frolov - Stoll - Brown
Modin - Handzus - Simmonds
Richardson - Halpern - Clune

0 comments  |  0 recs |

Bernier or Ersberg?

Jonathan Quick is taking a few days to experience the miracle of childbirth. Jonathan Bernier, the Kings' 2006 1st round pick (and literally the first pick Dean Lombardi made upon his arrival in LA), the so-called "future of the franchise," and the best goalie in the AHL this season, has been called up and, by now, has arrived Dallas. Terry Murray says he hasn't decided who to start. Helene Elliott says Bernier is likely to and expected to start. The poll on LAKingsInsider is 2:1 in favor of Bernier, but that's not a ringing endorsement, as the comments section bears out. The argument that Erik Ersberg should get the start is, variously (from the above-linked comments): that he's earned it, that he has more NHL experience, that he needs to get in a start or two to shake off the rust in case he's needed in the playoffs, and even (my favorite) that if Bernier does well, Quick's confidence will be shaken. Because, you know, Quick is twelve. There also seems to be a consensus (among the comments) that if even if Bernier stands on his head and does the best Ken Dryden impression since, well, Ken Dryden, Bernier will be on the next plane back to Manchester.

[click here for the story of how Dryden, AHL goalie, was called up at the end of the 1971 season to give starting goalie Rogie Vachon a couple of games rest before the playoffs]

Three or four months ago, I argued in favor of bringing up Bernier for 10-15 games, even if it meant zipping him back and forth to/from Manchester a dozen times. [THIS POST CONTINUES AFTER THE JUMP, LINK AFTER THE POLL; POLL IS RUDE AND PUSHY.]

Poll
IN THE PLAYOFFS, if Quick is inj**ed, who should start?

  148 votes | Results

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13 comments  |  0 recs |

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Pacific Standings

GP W L OTL PT
San Jose 68 43 15 10 96
Phoenix 69 42 22 5 89
Los Angeles 68 40 23 5 85
Dallas 68 29 26 13 71
Anaheim 68 31 29 8 70

(updated 3.15.2010 at 1:25 AM PDT)


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