alt="LA Kings Insider with Rich Hammond" />Terry Murray’s postgame thoughts…
(on the win…)
MURRAY: “It was a win. It was a very important win. It’s a win that is very hard to come by tonight, because this is a game you’re supposed to win as a team, and those are the hardest kinds of games to win. But it’s two points. Everybody keeps winning in this conference. I’ve been saying this right from the start of the year, that it’s going to be a race right down to the very end. We’re going to get into the final six games of April and they’re all going to have great meaning in this conference.”
(on a better effort from the Kings…)
MURRAY: “Chemistry and flow and the compete attitude here tonight, the desperation that was shown from the beginning, was good. I liked what was going on with the four lines, to get some flow and everybody digging in to do their part. We’re not out of the woods, but there is some light out there. We need to get back at it tomorrow with a good practice and get ready for the next game.”
(on Richardson’s improvement this season…)
MURRAY: “This is a player that is backing up what he told me he could do in the exit meeting last year. He was the one player that was upset about what happened with the scratches, with the injury, with the disappointment of not being able to contribute to the team. He voiced his displeasure to me and said he could do much more for the hockey club and he is now stepping up and doing it. I’m really happy for him. He started on the fourth line at the beginning. He has moved up into a very important role right now. He’s been flexible with lines and positioning. He’s an important kind of player to have.”
(on Richardson’s biggest areas of improvement…)
MURRAY: “Just overall confidence. I didn’t know him from the past. He told me about his stuff that happened through his junior career, and the offensive part of the game where he could contribute, and how. I think it’s just the overall personal confidence now, in handling the puck and making plays, and the responsibility that he’s being handed in the checking part of the game. He’s been very good, very responsible. Now he’s being a little vocal also, so that’s a nice touch to his game.”
(on Quick’s bounce-back game…)
MURRAY: “It was a great effort by Quick. He made a save at the end of the game, with about 10 seconds left, on a little pass from behind the net, to Okposo, I think it was. He gave us a good game. We had four penalty kills. They had a lot of time in our zone. The penalty killing is largely due to the success of the goaltender, and he was very alert, sharp. A good bounce-back game.”
Is Rich part of the media that picks 3 stars?
I agree with you TM! Attitude was the biggest thing needed changing, and I saw it tonight. Good job! Glad to see we were able to get a W. Hopefully, you helped the attitude to carry on for the next few games and these line changes will work from here on out!
@Dayman, I seem to recall that he isn’t.
Much better effort tonight, still have some work to do before we can breathe easier….
@Guillermo,
the next 2 versus colorado are important games
@AK47,
Yep, for the points. Had the Kings remained contending for 4th the games would have had even more meaning.
I couldn’t agree any less. Now that they’re contending for the playoffs themselves the games have considerably more meaning. 4th place over 5th amounts to one home game instead of a road game in the first round. The Kings have showed they win as well on the road.
@Guillermo, if the Kings hold on to 5th as it now stands they play Phoenix. I for one hope the yotes overtake SJ. We can beat them easier I think.
We got two last night, but I was holding my breath the entire time. Not because the Kings were playing poorly, but the game was not put away, and we all know how easy it is to get a “bad-bounce–lucky goal”
@Old Codger,
I think that’s where alot of Kingsfans are getting confused.
It wasn’t poor play,it was that we didn’t kill them when we had the chance.
@AK47,
Yup….our penalty kill is looking really good as of late, but our power play needs allot of work, why are these guys afraid to shoot the dam puck, its the same story, they hesitate when they have a clear lane, and when they finally do shoot is usually always blocked, we need to get more shots and give our guys in front of the net a chance to score off a rebound.
@Old Codger,
Agreed, the way phoenix is playing right now, they will enter the playoff with allot of confidence, the sharks on the other hand are looking a bit shaky as f late, I have a feeling Phoenix finishes 1st and SJ finishes second(in our devision of course).
@Dominick,
Thats the problem thou, good defense will only go so far if the offense isn’t working, we’re still in a scoring drought, if we can’t score more then one goal against Colorado we’re in big trouble.