In and Out

by Anne

The Sabres shipped Paetsch to Columbus for Torres and Grizz to Atlanta. There are picks involved but who the eff cares about picks unless it's the Toronto/ Boston Kessel trade. I'm not losing sleep over a 2nd round pick, no one should. We don't know who those picks will turn into or if we will even keep those picks.

The Kings shipped out Teddy Purcell (WOO!) and brought in Jeff Halpern and Fredrik Modin(errr...) well, regardless, Halpern will definitely improve the bottom six for the Kings and Modin can sit in the press box chair Teddy had previously been keeping warm.

For Sabres fans, here's everything you will need to know about Raffi Torres:

I figured out why embedding won't work and fixed it. Sweet.

For the record, this was the first video I watched featuring Greener and it cracked me up, thus leading to my deep running love for that maniac.

I didn't watch the subsequent Washington game because I was in class but I can see I missed out on quite a defensive outpouring being outshot almost 2-1.

In other news, Torres skated today with Pommer and Royzie and will wear #17. The "Should" line skated together today as well. If Torres wants to win over Buffalonians (which we might not, who cares really, he's likely a rental) he will do well to score tomorrow night against the Flyers.

Hrmph

by Anne

I am entirely NOT pleased with last night's Kings' game. They played a decent first period (as per usual) a craptacular 2nd (also typical) and a great 3rd (mostly) then Scott Parse, eager to prove himself in his call-up, scored in a comeback to tie the game at 3! Woo! Happy dance! Go Scooter! Hooray!

Then, they friggin' let Eric friggin' Belanger score TWELVE seconds later to give the Wild back the lead and THAT'S how the game ended. Repulsive.

Jack Johnson, Dustin Brown, Michal Handzus, Alexander Frolov, and Drew Doughty are all fired for allowing that to happen. 

Ok, well Dewey's not fired, because he scored, so he'll just be on probation. Although his goal was the definition of messy:

He scored a goal like that.

I love Jack Johnson immensely but he's still fired. Same goes for Brownie. Frolov was actually fired on the Wild's 2nd goal when he made the ill-advised decision to leave the PK to get a new stick as he floated through the neutral zone. Fool.

Also, please go away:

For non-Kings fans who read this blog, the Kings' most productive line of the season has been Anze Kopitar centering Justin Williams and Ryan Smyth. Smyttie was out for a while and came back last game and then Willy broke his leg/ankle and now they need to slot in yet another new winger. They chose Teddy Purcell. NO. If Wayne Simmonds isn't the other winger on the top line the next game, I'm going to hold my breath until he is. You're on notice, Terry Murray.

Quick reference guide, Wayne Simmonds is the Kings' winger equivalent of Paul Gaustad. Young, plays hard every shift, never quits, stands up for his teammates, solid in both zones, not afraid to mix it up and go into the corners. Aka, I love him and I'm biased.

Next game is Wednesday in Calgary. I'm watching you, Murray...

So let me get this straight

by Anne

• Teddy Purcell who has spent time on all four lines and in the press box this season and has been accused of having no identity gets slated into the top line with Smyth and Kopitar? I'm all for attempting to re-ignite his game but from press box to top line in one day seems like a strange turnaround. Simmonds for Willy's spot!
  

• Tonight the Kings play the Wild for the 2nd time this season. The last time they played them was October 8th when the Wild were struggling mightily. They've since righted that ship and have played much better since then.
  

• The Caps traded their Captain and Milan Jurcina to the Blue Jackets for Jason Chimera. Now begins the "Who gets the C?" rigamarole. The two nominees on Twitter were Ovechking (hurl) and Laich (yes, please) with a few nods to Mike Knuble.
  

• The Caps are teetering on the edge of falling into the "ubearable" category currently only occupied by the Chicago Blackhawks. If they pick Ovechkin, they'll be firmly entrenched and probably more unbearable than ever before, far more so than the Blackhawks.  

• But let's be honest, I can never hate the Caps. I still like them. I can talk a big game but they are fun to watch.
  

• Staffy is back playing on a line in practice. Hopefully the message was sent that he needs to step up his game and play the way he's shown he can in the past. Festivus or no Festivus.
  

• Only 92 days til the Nashville game :) :) :) :) :)
  

Oh Snap.... those interminable goalless droughts

by Anne

Wa-hoo! The Kings picked up where the Sabres left off and decided to keep body and soul together and beat the San Jose Sharks 5-4 in OT.

Erik Ersberg is still an AHL caliber goaltender but his teammates scored enough so that didn't matter.

Teddy Purcell, Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown all snapped lengthy (10+) streaks of games without a goal and helped the Kings win it. Wooo! Drew Doughty had two points (1+1) and Jarret Stoll also scored and was a +3. Hot.

Brownie scored the game-winner in OT and the Kings improve to 13-0-0 when leading after two periods.

Um, Jack? Anze?

Maybe don't crash into each other.

Yer doin' it wrong!

Greener v. Thornton.

One of Anne's favorites v. One of S(h)ara's

In most ways Thornton>Greene

However, Greene's "A" >>>> Thornton's

Small victories, people.

What a lovely evening, even if I could only listen to the Kings game.

Booo.