Can Jeff Carter get five tonight for the LA Kings?

Five seems to be the magic number for the Kings newest forward, Jeff Carter.

In seven games since being traded to Los Angeles, Carter has scored in two of them - and both times he had five shots on goal. The other games saw zero shots on goal (vs. Columbus), one (vs. Nashville, the 3/6 game), two (vs. Minnesota and Nashville) and four (vs. the Blackhawks).

With Carter in the line-up the Kings are 4-3. However, the biggest change has been an overall increase in scoring by the team as a whole. For the first time in a quite a while, LA has two legitimate lines for their opponents to worry about. And guys on the Kings top unit have taken notice of another key element Carter has added to the team's offense.

"He definitely has wheels," said Anze Kopitar. "In the middle of the ice in their zone, that's where he makes the most damage. He gets open in a hurry. Then, he gets rid of that puck in a hurry and that's what makes him such a goal scorer."

It hasn't taken Dustin Brown long to like what he sees as well.

"The biggest thing that stands out is his speed," said the Kings captain, when talking about Carter. "(Against Anaheim), he broke around and had that breakaway after getting the puck in stride, probably a step behind or even with the defenseman from the redline, and separated himself. When you have a guy finding holes...they create a lot. Having those jump-though-hole opportunities is a (direct) result of him being big and fast."

Can he generate at least five shots on goal tonight? That seems to be the magic number for Carter.

Audio: Anze Kopitar post-game, Kings lose 3-1 to Jackets

After the Kings loss to the Blue Jackets in Columbus, here are some of the questions Anze Kopitar was asked in the media scrum. He wasn't offering any excuses for losing to the last place team in the NHL...



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Exclusive: Kopitar responds to criticism, facing crossroads

Anze Kopitar is 24 years old.

Although he's about to complete his sixth full season in the NHL, it's an important fact to remember.

Drafted in the first round by the Kings in 2005 - and signed to a long-term, big money contract after only two years of pro hockey in North America - pressure and expectations come with the territory.

Yet recently, there's been extra heat heaved in Kopitar's direction. First, coach Darryl Sutter called him out last month, saying he wants his big center to be a 'more determined and purposed player.' Then, in an exclusive interview on MayorsManor just last week, Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne - he of 731 goals scored in the NHL - claimed LA's points leader needed 'a wake-up call.'

"Could it be better? Absolutely," replied Kopitar when I asked for his response to the criticisms and a personal evaluation of his game at the moment.

"I always take pride in being better everyday and working on things. Yeah, I do feel I can put a little more into my game. It hasn't been (recently) where it's been at times (in the past). I know I can dominate games and lead the team by example, definitely. It's just a matter of doing it every night. That's a challenge for me."

Yes, consistency has been a big part of the issue.

Marcel Dionne - 'Kopitar needs to make a decision'

Anze Kopitar, LA Kings (photo: Ikiri)

"I told (Anze) Kopitar 'You aren't touching the puck enough. I don't like your breakout.' I think Kopitar can make magic with the puck" - Marcel Dionne on MayorsManor in 2009.

Getting a chance to speak with a legend is always an honor. However, to chat with somebody as open as Dionne, it's always a chance to learn and gain insight from one of the greatest goal scorers of all-time.

He's back in town for the Kings Fantasy Camp this weekend and we spent some time together last night on a variety of topics, which I'll post over several articles.

First up, here are some updated thoughts from Dionne on the Kings highest paid player...

"I think Kopitar's at the point in his career where he has to decide what he wants to do. Does he want to be the guy? If I was him, he should be looking at the situation and what's going with (Evgeni) Malkin. When (Sidney) Crosby was playing, Malkin was happy to be second fiddle. Then, when Crosby went out, Malkin took over. He wins games on his own. Kopi has to do that! You can't wait for wingers. You gotta make it happen. Some nights he's gotta be the guy. And if he's not, now it's getting to the point in his game where it's going to be tough to get up to the level he wants to be. Everbody knows him, everybody knows how he plays.

VIDEO: Dustin Brown's natural hat trick in 4-0 win last night

If you like the horn at Staples Center, you're going to love the video below.

These highlights from last night's Kings game vs. the Blackhawks feature clips of Jeff Carter, Jonathan Quick, Anze Kopitar, Jarret Stoll, Dustin Penner and several others. Yet, the night belonged to Dustin Brown.

After the game, I asked him which of the three goals were his favorite - "The first one. Stolly probably made the play happen. He skated all the way up the ice, drove the 'D' back. That gave me a little bit of room to cut to the middle and I just found a way to score."

On Friday, Brown sat down for a one-on-one interview with us where he opened up about how he was dealing with recent trade rumors. If you missed it, be sure to give it a read here.

On Saturday, he made the ultimate 'actions speak louder than words' statement.

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Does Kopitar even know his left wing? Does it matter?

Anze Kopitar (photo: D. Sheehan)

Anze Kopitar may not talk about it, but this road has a familiar feel to it. Over the last few seasons, the Kings' highest paid player has spent time on a line with Wayne Simmonds, Brad Richardson and Trent Hunter, just to name a few. And with all due respect, none of them were top-six caliber forwards at the time, but placed on his wing out of necessity.

Even if there was some initial success, all experiments ended the same - with said player being returned to a more 'natural' role.

LA's omnipresent lack of scoring led to a line shuffling today, which netted rookie Jordan Nolan - with all of four NHL career games and a former seventh round draft pick - as Kopitar's new left wing.

"I saw him a little in training camp," said Kopitar, when asked how familiar he even was with Nolan. "If I'm not mistaken, we were on the same team that went to Phoenix for the pre-season game (during a split-squad series with the Coyotes). So, I knew the guy a little bit."

Nope, Nolan didn't make that trip. He stayed behind and played in the game at Staples Center.  Fortunately for the 22-year old newbie, he's made a little more of a distinct impression over the last 10 days.

"(Nolan's) been really good for us since he was called up," Kopitar remarked. "He's had some strong games and he scored a goal too. So, all he needs to do is continue doing what he's been doing. Willie (Justin Williams) and I need to pick it up."

That's exactly what Darryl Sutter is looking for. As reported earlier today, the Kings coach has heard enough about team - he wants to hear more about what Kopitar and Dustin Brown are going to do individually.

Kings captain Dustin Brown may have found the 'I' in team

Dustin Brown at practice (photo: D. Sheehan)

We've all heard there's no 'I' in team. Or is there?

Earlier today, Kings coach Darryl Sutter called out two of his star players - Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown - actually saying they 'talk too much about the team' and 'should talk more about themselves, what they bring to the table.'

Perhaps his public words were something he privately shared with each player beforehand because when speaking to Brown right before that, he was taking as much about taking personal responsibility as he was the entire team.

"I have to score more goals," stated Brown. "We have guys in here who are used to scoring more goals and they need to step up and score some goals. That's probably our biggest problem right now. I think the last time I scored a goal was against Calgary at home."

Yes, that game with the Flames was back on January 19th. So, with an 11-game drought since then, it was time for a chance.  For tomorrow night's game in Phoenix, Sutter is moving Brown from the top-line left wing position back to his more natural right side - but, dropping him down a line to play with Mike Richards. Does he think that will help?

Will the real Darryl Sutter please stand up?

...or is that what just happened?

When the LA Kings were first rumored to be interested in hiring Darryl Sutter as the coach to replace Terry Murray, many scoffed at the idea. He was labeled a yeller, bombastic, hard-nosed, fiery, volatile, abrasive and several other less than flattering adjectives.

Then, at the team's press conference to announce his hiring, Dean Lombardi warned anybody who would listen - don't believe what you hear, Sutter is more than just a screamer.

The GM appeared to know exactly what he was talking about, as the new coach was as personable as can be for the first two months. Players would gush when talking about him and TV cameras often caught him giving words of encouragement to individuals on the bench during games.

"Kopitar and Brown (need) to get going. Neither one has done much for six weeks," Sutter said, when kicking off his post-practice press conference today. "These guys talk too much about the team. They should talk more about themselves, what they bring to the table."

And with that, the gloves were off.

Murray had rarely, if ever, criticized his players while leading the Kings. Sure, there was the occasional poke at somebody like Alexei Ponikarovsky. Yet, he never called out his star players.

Sutter? It appears he's seen enough.

Following Saturday night's 1-0 loss - the team's second in a row - he spoke with the players and then went to an adjacent room to meet with media.   As he walked in with a lozenge in his mouth, the real surprise may have been that he wasn't on crutches after injuring his foot while firmly putting it up the...well, you get the idea.

"Kopi and Brownie have been stale, from my standpoint, for a little while together," he continued this morning. “(Kopitar) has to bring more energy and more purpose when he has the puck. It’s not that he’s playing poorly. If you didn’t look at him as a high-end offensive player, he’s playing well enough in the three zones,  But, when he’s got the puck in the offensive zone, he’s got to be a lot more determined, purposed player when he has it in the offensive zone. He does a really good job of getting there with it and helping everybody else get there, but he’s got to do a better job once he has it there, because he’s capable."

The Wizard plays the ultimate game of 'Where's Whitney?'

Where's Whitney...going? (photo: D. Sheehan)

This season, #WheresWhitney has become a popular hashtag on twitter among Coyotes fans, as they keep an eye on popular winger Ray Whitney. With the trade deadline approaching though, it's getting harder and harder to figure out where he just might be next.

"I haven't been rumored to go to some of the teams at the bottom of the league yet, like Edmonton." he said, when asked if there was a team out there he hasn't seen his name attached to. "It's been like that the last couple of years now - including my last season in Carolina and then with the rumors again this year."

Talks have cooled of late though, as the Coyotes have gone 5-0-1 in their last six games and enter tonight in the eighth playoff spot.

"Certainly if we would have kept going the way we were going, spiraling, it probably would have happened by now or the talks would have been even more. But, us being in a playoff spot changes that. As long as we're in it by the deadline, it will make things a little more interesting. in terms of what they're going to do. If somebody gives (Coyotes management) a good deal, you still have to think about life beyond this year. If there's a right deal, I'm sure they would do it."

Uprooting and moving his family was a major concern the last time he entered the trade deadline as a pending free agent (2010). And while his wife and three children are still a high priority, if he changes teams again, he has a plan this time around - at least for the short term.

"They'll stay in Phoenix, regardless of what happens, and that would be the tough part. If I do get traded, right to the end would be the best time to do it, on the last day. That would minimize the amount of time I have to be away. It would be hard on my wife and kids, but they also realize there's a looming lockout next year. If there is one, that would probably be the end of my career. So, I realize this could be the last chance for me to go get one."

Nicknamed the Wizard, for the amazing things he can do on the ice, Whitney says he'll eventually end up living back in Carolina once his playing days are over. But, he's far from being ready to become a homebody just yet.

In fact, Whitney would be so perfect for LA, it's probably too good to be true. He plays left wing - the position they need the most help with. His 16 goals so far this season would place him second on the Kings, one behind Anze Kopitar. And his 51 points would have him leading the team.

Oh, and how's this - what was he doing last night?

"I (met) my good friend Justin Williams and his beautiful wife for dinner in Manhattan Beach to shoot the bull a little bit and reminisce about the old days."

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves with a Whitney and Williams reunion though, there's still a game to be played tonight.

"It's a 'muck fest' when the two teams get together," he joked. "We're both defensive oriented teams. However, we realize they have the potential to be a big offensive team. For some reason, it just hasn't clicked this year."

No, it hasn't. But, a scoring left wing sure would go a long way towards solving some of the Kings' problems.

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RELATED ARTICLES:

Coyotes coach Dave Tippett on memories in LA, Doan vs. Brown, etc.

Ryan Smyth on the 'almost King' Ray Whitney

Kings players talk Doan, Whitney and Yandle

Jonathan Quick not getting much support, even on off day

While Canadians proudly proclaim hockey is their sport, few things are as American as the Super Bowl. Whether you're gathering with friends today to watch the game, the commercials or just eat a bunch of food, the game has nearly turned into a national holiday. Football fan or not, it's hard to escape the hype surrounding the biggest sporting event of the year. So, who are the Kings favoring today...

Jonathan Quick - "27-24 Giants!"

Drew Doughty - "I want the Pats to win. I kind of have a few things going with some of the guys on the team. Quickie is a big Giants fan. So, I have to make sure I'm able to rub that in."

Jack Johnson - "Patriots. I think Eli (Manning) is great, I like him. Yet, when push comes to shove, I have a hard time betting against Tom Brady. I hope it's not a low scoring game though. I'd like to see a little bit of a shootout, that makes things more interesting."

Matt Greene - "Patriots. The total points in the game will be 67."

Rob Scuderi thinks it going to be a high scoring game too - "I'll take the Patriots. I don't care about the score, as long as it ends up to 57 (total points) or over."

So, three guys from one of the stingiest defenses in the National Hockey League are looking for an offensive explosion in the Super Bowl?

Fine, how about the forwards - what do they think?

Pregame comments from the Kings, plus tonight's ticket contest

Last hour we heard from Dustin Brown in advance of tonight's Kings vs Blue Jackets match-up. Here, we went around the locker room and gathered additional comments from a few others...

Anze Kopitar - "We have to worry about ourselves. We know if we bring our 'A' game to the table, I like our chances. That's the big thing. We have to worry about our game and the rest will come."

Matt Greene - "We have to be ready to work. They work real hard and we have to be ready to match whatever they put into it. They're a gritty team and we have to make sure it's a tough game and be ready right away. We can't wait to ease ourselves into it."

Jack Johnson - "Teams that are so-called 'out of it' have nothing to lose. So, sometimes they're dangerous to play against - just like Edmonton is a dangerous team because they have nothing to lose. If things are going right for them during the night, they're tough. Even when you're out of it, teams have a lot of pride and individual pride. So, they're going to play hard. But, we have to make sure we keep getting points to stay in the playoffs."

POLL: Who was the Kings Player of the Month for January?

With the All-Star break now behind us, it's time to look ahead towards February - when the Kings return to the ice tomorrow night vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets. However, before we do, let's first open up the polls to determine who was the Kings Player of the Month for January.

Overall, the Kings went 5-2-4 in 11 games last month, including a 3-2-3 record at home and 2-0-1 on the road. As for individual stats, try these brain teasers out to get the juices flowing...

- Which King led the team in shots on goal? No, he wasn't a center. Justin Williams paced the team with 39 SOG, eight more than Koptiar.

- Which player on the second line had the most goals - Dustin Penner, Mike Richards or Jarret Stoll? None, or all, depending on how you look at it. They each had one goal. Penner led the way with 21 shots (and played one fewer game than his linemates).

- Kyle Clifford had the second most penalty minutes in January (30). Who had the most? Richards with 31. And who was third? Drew Doughty with 20. Not what you want to see from two of your best players.

OK, enough is enough. How about some nominees for the Kings' January Player of the Month...

Dustin Brown - tied for the team goal lead (4) and produced the most hits (41) in January

Drew Doughty - led all defensemen with six assists and was a team best plus-7

Jack Johnson - most goals by a defensemen (3) and only one back from the team lead, led all d-men in shots (26), had only four penalty minutes and a plus-1 rating

Anze Kopitar - tied for the team goal lead (4) and was second in points (9)

Jonathan Quick - started ten of the team's 11 games, posting a 4-2-4 record with one shutout and five games where he only gave up one goal - giving him a goals-against average well under 2.00

Justin Williams - Led the team in assists (7), points (10), power play goals (3) and shots (39), was also tied for second in goals (3), just one back of Brown and Kopitar




Poll closes Wednesday 2/1 at 5pm PST.

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VIDEO: Kings players try moving from athletes to celebrities

After watching the video below you'll understand why it doesn't need much of an introduction. Just sit back and enjoy as Drew Doughty, Matt Greene, Anze Kopitar and Mike Richards try to move from athletes to big-time celebrities. You should be warned though - when it's over, you'll surely be humming 'wristshot, slapshot, backhand, goal' for the rest of the day.

The Fame Makers with the Los Angeles Kings from Anze Kopitar

Great work by the Fame Makers at funnyordie.com.

The Mayor

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RELATED ARTICLES:

Mike Richards and Willie Mitchell admit to forming a bromance

Matt Greene calls out a few of his teammates for stealing his material

What I've learned so far this season... by Drew Doughty

Coach Sutter's presser vs Sens: full comments vs Sutterisms

Below are full comments from coach Darryl Sutter's post game press conference following the Kings 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. See if you can pull out a few of his popular three-word Sutterisms...

On the balanced effort from the team - "We got lots from... probably half of our shots came from our defense. The power play scored a big goal in the second, and a penalty-shot goal."

On the killer instinct in the second period - "I thought, emotionally, our second period was a strong period. That’s all I was trying to get, was to emotionally draw something out of them tonight."

On Justin Williams eight-game point streak - "Their line wasn't as effective tonight. I don't know if Kopi and Brownie even had shots on goal. So, I don't think if they were nearly as effective tonight."

Kings coach Darryl Sutter wants to know 'What is history?'

LA Kings forward Mike Richards wasn't the only one with a lot to say prior to the Kings leaving for Calgary today. Coach Darryl Sutter shared thoughts on Anze Kopitar's health, the instigator rule, his return to Calgary, the Kings schedule and much more.

For you soundbite readers, here's a taste of the three-word Sutterisms - 'going to live' (status of Kopitar), 'moved past it' (his return to Calgary), 'What is history?' (Calgary's record at home). His full quotes were as follows...

On Kopitar - "It appears he’s going to live. Going to pull through...He was fine last night. I try to be as honest as I can without disclosure, right? I said he was fine. It’s a good hit, a hard hit. Nothing wrong with it...Assuming we had practice today, he would have practiced."

On the instigator penalty assessed to Richards after his scrap with Stars' captain Brenden Morrow (video linked below) - "It's sort of a funny rule, right? One penalty that you still deem as a good penalty is protecting your teammates, and with that heavyweight thing going away in the league, guys with heart and character are guys that have always protected their teammates. Without saying it’s grandfathered in, there’s not too many kids coming out that don’t wear visors, right? It may be a rule that’s gone past its time, sort of. It’s probably something that they should look at when you think about it."

On what the NHL should do about the rule - "You know what, I’ve been all over with it in the few years… the way the fighting part of it has changed, the intimidation part of it has changed in the game, really I don’t even know where I stand in it anymore. I think it’s more of a case-to-case thing with me."

Richards - plenty to say about NHL rules, Morrow, Kopitar

After the game last night, Kings forward Mike Richards wasn't happy with the instigator penalty he was assigned in his fight with Stars' captain Brenden Morrow.

Prior to the Kings boarding a plane for Calgary, he had a chance to speak about the entire incident at the Kings training facility in El Segundo...

On the overall situation - "I think the most frustrating thing is if the NHL is trying to get us to wear visors, and then we get penalized for fighting with them on. I think it kind of defeats the purpose...You hear all the speculation of having the set fights and fighting in the moment and things like that, but then when you do fight in the moment, you get penalized for it because you had a visor on. I don’t really understand the whole thing about visors, and if they want people to wear them or not. It just seems like every day something new."

On similar situations in the past - "I can’t remember ever getting an instigator on plays like that. Usually it’s a two minute roughing or something like that, but the refs are there to call what they see. They made the right calls, I mean you can’t argue with that, but I just think it’s a dumb rule in place."

On Kopitar being hit by Morrow moments prior - "I was obviously scared for Kopi and you never like to see a player like that. Even though it was a shoulder to shoulder hit, it was a dangerous play and it’s good to see that he’s healthy and doing well. Like I said, it was just one of those in the moment things. If you’re going to get penalized for sticking up for your teammates, it’s a tough message to send around the league."

VIDEO: Brenden Morrow's hit on Anze Kopitar

At the 12:12 mark of the third period - with the LA Kings leading by a goal - Stars' captain Brenden Morrow put a hit on Anze Kopitar as he was trying to come from behind the net and possibly wrap around the goaltender.

Kopitar did not return to the game, due to something coach Darryl Sutter described as 'a bloody nose' during his post game presser. Mike Richards went after Morrow and ended up receiving enough penalties to put the Stars on a four minute power play. Dallas scored, ruining the Kings extended penalty kill success of late. And, more importantly, it was the goal they needed to push the game into overtime.

The question of the hour is was the hit legal? Take a look...

VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP

Kopitar praises Quick, Brown talks power play after 1-0 loss

For the first time in the Darryl Sutter era, the Kings lost a game in regulation on Saturday. It probably wasn't that surprising, for the last few seasons the Kings have rarely shown up for afternoon games.

For the third game in a row LA failed to score more than one goal - and, in fact, didn't have any goals. It was the second time they've been shut out in their last five games and fifth time this season.  The chances were there for the Kings, who out shot the Blue Jackets 31-18 and spent more than ten minutes on the power play - against the NHL's 29th ranked penalty kill.

Dustin Brown finished the game with six hits and Anze Kopitar was credited with six shots on goal, both were high water marks among the LA players. Afterwards, they spoke about what went down...

Brown on the Kings' power plays (which included a 5-on-3 and a 6-on-4) - "We have to find a way to score goals. That has kind of been the problem for us all year. If I had the answer, we wouldn't be talking about it. We have to figure out a way to get a goal. You can look at that last power play - we had a four-minute power play to start the period and other opportunities. Our PK has been doing a good job and our 5-on-5. If we score a goal on the power play, it’s a different game."

Brown on new strategies for the ailing power play - "We're working on it. But, it doesn’t really make a difference. We have to find ways to score goals. He [Jackets goalie Curtis Sanford] made some pretty good saves on the power play. But bottom line is you just have to find a way to score goals on power plays."

First Goal Contest - win tickets to Meet the Players Party

Are you as good as Dustin Brown?

Prior to Thursday's game against the Coyotes he came on MayorsManor and predicted Drew Doughty would score the first goal for the Kings. Not only did #8 find the back of the net, it stood as the game winner.

Unfortunately, there was no sign of Doughty and Jarret Stoll doing another one of their 'love tap' goal celebrations though.

Today, we'll be running another First Goal Contest as part of the Kings game. One lucky winner will win a pair of tickets to the Kings' Meet the Players Party - scheduled to take place this coming Tuesday.

If you like to play the odds, here's some past performance information to help you with your pick. This is a list of a few LA Kings and their career numbers vs. the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Dustin Brown five goals in 24 games
Drew Doughty two in 13
Jack Johnson zero in 14
Anze Kopitar 11 in 19
Dustin Penner seven in 22
Mike Richards one in five
Jarret Stoll four in 28
Justin Williams five in 14

Of course, you can also go with Kyle Clifford, Trevor Lewis, Willie Mitchell or a bunch of other guys.

So, who do you think will score first for the Kings today?

Entering is easy, either log in via the website or just use your facebook profile below. Submit your answer and you could win a pair of tickets to the Kings' Meet the Players Party. Good luck!

The Mayor
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First Goal Game - LA Kings players submit their guesses

For the past few seasons we've hosted a 'First Goal Game' contest on twitter and facebook for LA Kings home and road games. Each night, one random winner is selected from all correct entries and a prize is awarded - things like t-shirts, game tickets, etc.

At practice yesterday we asked a few of the Kings players who they would pick in the first goal contest. The question was simple enough - looking around the room, yourself included, which player will score first vs. the Coyotes?

Here's what a few guys had to say...

Drew Doughty - Stolly

Mike Richards - Kopitar