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Mostly Kings News (with bonus shopping links)

My name's not Jonny.

My name's not Jonny.

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(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:

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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

1 day 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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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

1 day 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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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

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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?

  141 votes | Results

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Per Rich Hammond, Jonathan Quick will not be in net tomorrow because his wife is due to deliver their first child. CONGRATS!!

Jonathan Bernier has been called up for the game Friday in Dallas. Who's starting? Erik Ersberg or Bernier?

2 days ago 100_6822_-_copy_tiny Connie Kim 9 comments 0 recs

I Knew It: Blackhawks 3, Kings 2 (OT)

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

More photos » Nam Y. Huh - AP

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

The Los Angeles Kings went into Chicago and faced one of hottest teams in the NHL in the Blackhawks who, after last night, are still sitting at the top of the Central Division with 93 points. It was a hard fought game, but at least the Kings came away with one point. It's amazing how a game can completely turn around with just one pass. Brad Richardson will be kicking himself in the face until puck drop of the next game. The backhanded, no-look pass out into center ice in overtime was a little too fancy. The Kings forwards charging into the offensive zone completely overskated the puck due to it moving two miles per hour and it was all over. There was no way Jonathan Quick was going to stop that puck. Granted Quick has looked great this season, but sometimes you're going to come out on the bottom. Patrick Sharp grabbed up the puck and I simultaneously grabbed the remote because it was over. There has to be a Kings Killer on every team, and for the Blackhawks, it's Patrick Sharp. It seems like this guy scores in every game. A little frustrating, but I can handle it.

As an aside, I wasn't a fan of having the game feed abruptly end (thus no recap of the game) because FSW had to go to some Pac-10 crud. College basketball? Boring. Don't try to tell me that's exciting because I just watched an exciting game of hockey. Two of the hottest teams in the NHL going head-to-head is no match for any other sporting event on TV right now.

Back to the game, I was pretty surprised how many penalties the Kings ended up taking. The 5-on-3 in the first half of the first period was mental. The Blackhawks blasted away and Quick stood on his head when his defenders actually let shots through. A few nailed posts and plenty of blocked shots later, my heart settled down. It's great to see everyone making the sacrifices every game. Teeth? You can get those made for you the next time you visit the dentist. Everything I'm seeing from this team is looking good. Alexander Frolov is hustling, Wayne Simmonds is getting his nose dirty, and Drew Doughty is getting better. How is that possible.

Thank you, Dean Lombardi.

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Tuesday/Wednesday: The Points You Blew, the Record You Need

Chicago Blackhawks' Adam Burish(37) reacts after fighting with Los Angeles Kings' Rich Clune during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Chicago, Wednesday, March 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

More photos » Nam Y. Huh - AP

3 days ago: Chicago Blackhawks' Adam Burish(37) reacts after fighting with Los Angeles Kings' Rich Clune during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Chicago, Wednesday, March 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

The Good: Wings lose, Wild half-lose, Avs lose, Ducks lose, Stars lose, Canucks half-lose.

The Bad: Flames win, Preds win, Canucks win, Kings half-lose, Yotes win (3pt all-rival game grrrrr).

And as a result...

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Colorado Avalanche players Matt Duchene, left, and John-Michael Liles celebrate the goal by  Duchene in the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif.  on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, in Anaheim, Calif. ( AP Photo/Christine Cotter) link

Myers, Howard or Duchene? A Look At The Calder Trophy Race

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Toronto Maple Leafs' Mikhail Grabovski, center right, scores his team's fifth goal against Edmonton Oilers goaltender Jeff Deslauriers (38) as Oilers Theo Peckham, left, Maple Leafs' Luca Caputi, second from left, Oilers' Marc Pouliot, second from right, and Tom Gilbert, right, skate in during second-period action of an NHL hockey game in Toronto on Saturday, March 13, 2010. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Chris Young)

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Pacific Standings

GP W L OTL PT
San Jose 66 43 14 9 95
Phoenix 67 40 22 5 85
Los Angeles 67 40 22 5 85
Dallas 67 29 25 13 71
Anaheim 67 30 29 8 68

(updated 3.13.2010 at 5:06 AM PST)


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