POLL: Which player should the LA Kings call up today?

Two big things happened over the weekend. First, the Kings offense woke up and scored five goals on Saturday night - the third time they've hit the nickel mark this season. Then, yesterday, left wing Dustin Penner was placed on the injured reserve list for a hand injury he suffered back in Thursday night's game vs. the Canucks.

When Scott Parse went down last week, center Colin Fraser was activated.

This time around, they don't have an extra forward here in LA waiting around. So, expect to see somebody from Manchester (AHL) headed West.

Down two left wings, who could it be?

Here are the likely candidates to select from (in alphabetical order)...

Rich Clune, LW - one of only two players on this list who has NHL experience (played 14 games for the Kings in 2009-10)...is known primarily as an agitator, he plays a high energy game and ironically, any consideration he gets will be in large part be due to two players who left the organization

Ray Kaunisto, LW - one of the rare left wings on this list and the funniest guy from Manchester on twitter...he'll call out anybody, even his own wife

Dwight King, LW - the other player on the list with NHL experience (six games last year)...he was also the guy the team tried to call up when Jarret Stoll was suspended in the playoffs, but they couldn't get it done in time...was one of the last players cut in camp this season...has six points in 17 games with Manchester this season

Scott Parse, Terry Murray and their 'issues'

Left wing. If only solving the Kings' challenges at that position was as easy as typing those eight letters.

Last year, Scott Parse missed nearly the entire season due to hip surgery. A December trade for Marco Sturm wasn't the answer. A February trade for Dustin Penner yielded few points. And then, Ryan Smyth asked for a trade over the summer.

It's been challenging to say the least.

Earlier today, Kings coach Terry Murray gave us the latest on Penner. Now, let's focus on Parse.

His march to the dog house during training camp was well documented here on MayorsManor. And just a week ago, Parse was on the sidelines, talking about having to wait his turn.

Then, he slipped into the line-up last Thursday.  After practice today, he reflected on the joy of hearing he was going to play vs. the Stars.

"Very excited," was how Parse described the news. "No one likes sitting out. So, it was nice to get back in there."

Not only did he play, but he picked up a goal too.

"Goals are nice. I haven't scored in a year. So, that felt real nice," said Parse. "You don't really think about it at the time though. The injury's in the past. You just think about the game. I was thinking about what I had to do for the next shift. I'm just kind of in the moment out there."

Because you demanded it (the sequel)...

Thousands of emails have been pouring in today. People are demanding to see the Scott Parse goal from yesterday in Denver.

(not really, but it sounds good)

After all, that's two goals in three games for #21.

Over the weekend we posted video of his first goal (vs Dallas on Thursday). Here's the second one - and it required some good hand-eye coordination.

Watch and enjoy.

That's two goals for Parse now.

Meanwhile, Dustin Penner still hasn't found the back of the net - which is making my '35 goals on the season' prediction not look too good right about now.

More notes and quotes will be posted later today.

The Mayor
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RELATED ARTICLES:

Audio:  Scott Parse on when he might play again

Parse thinks the problem is between his ears, coach Murray not so sure

Western Conference predictions for the 2011-12 season - where will the Kings, Ducks, Sharks finish?

What I've learned so far this season... by Matt Greene

What I've learned so far this season... by Simon Gagne

LA Kings at Colorado Avalanche - what to watch for

Today's will be just the second back-to-back series of the season for LA...and, unfortunately, they'll be doing it at high altitude.

On the plus side, the Kings have dominated the Avs of late - winning eight of the last nine games, including five straight and the last three in Denver.

Colorado's home record is also one of the key story lines, as their 6-4 record this season features six wins on the road (tops in the NHL) and not a single win at home in four tries.

Here are some other things to watch for...

- Left Wing Stats: Who would have ever thought that after 10 games, Scott Parse would have more goals than Dustin Penner?

- Richie, not Ricky: Brad Richardson, a former Avs draft pick (2003, fifth round), loves to play against his old team.  Last season, he had a hat trick in Denver and has seven points in nine games lifetime vs. Colorado. Don't be surprised to see him spend a little time on the top line with Anze Kopitar.

Because you demanded it...

Many of you were on your way home from work when it happened.

Knowing that Kings fans wouldn't want to miss out on this, we worked closely with the NHL over the last few days... and after concocting an elaborate agreement, we were able to pull video of Scott Parse's goal Thursday night vs. Dallas.

Defenseman Slava Voynov also scored a pair of goals in the game. However, with Drew Doughty back in the line-up tonight, the Russian rookie has been sent back to Manchester for the time being.

One other quick note - Simon Gagne will not play tonight, Dustin Penner will take his place on the top line.

Now watch and enjoy.

Pre-game notes for tonight's Coyotes-Kings game will be up later today.

The Mayor
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RELATED ARTICLES:

Audio:  Scott Parse on when he might play again

Parse thinks the problem is between his ears, coach Murray not so sure

What I've learned so far this season... by Simon Gagne

Audio: LA Kings coach Terry Murray after 5-3 win in Dallas

Following tonight's 5-3 win in Dallas, LA Kings coach Terry Murray spoke with the gathered media.

Among the topics discussed were Slava Voynov's future, the goal by Scott Parse, letting the Stars back into the game in the third period and more.



Eight goals total - seven of them given up by the top two goalies in the Western Conference entering play tonight. So much for Brett Hull's pre-game prediction of it being a 'low scoring' affair.

The Mayor
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RELATED ARTICLES:

Kings at Stars - what to watch for, the Penner edition

Interview with Mike Modano - an extensive conversation between Mo and The Mayor

What I've learned so far this season... by Alec Martinez

Dustin Penner's special relationship with the Dallas Stars

Win a 4-pack of tickets to see Saturday's LA Kings Alumni and Ontario Reign games

LA Kings at Dallas Stars - what to watch for, Penner edition

In a pre-game story that reads much like Tuesday's script vs. New Jersey, much of the focus for the Kings will be on goaltending and Dustin Penner.

LA comes into the game with a 5-2-1 record and is looking to bounce back from an embarrassing 3-0 loss at home on Tuesday, where coach Terry Murray put the blame on poor puck management, resulting in bad turnovers.

Here are a few things to watch for as the Kings open a three-game road trip tonight vs. the Dallas Stars...

- Goaltending: After giving back-up Andrew Raycroft a chance in net vs the Kings on Saturday, the Stars will return to regular starter Kari Lehtonen tonight. He comes in with a 7-0 record this season, on the back of .955 save percentage and 1.54 goals-against average. The Kings will counter with Jonathan Quick, who has shutout his last three opponents and has a lifetime record of 11-3-0 vs the Stars, including wins in his last five against them.

- Dustin Penner: On November 23, 2005, Penner made his NHL debut for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in Texas, against the Dallas Stars. He had five shots, zero points and two penalty minutes that night. He could really use a better performance tonight. Due to his recent play, and the Kings inability to generate much offense over the last three games, Penner will drop down a line tonight, playing with Jarret Stoll and Brad Richardson on the third unit.

- Scott Parse: He had only played in one game this season after a disastrous training camp, where he was routinely the focus of negative attention. Murray wasn't sure what to make of Parse's 'it's all between my ears' feeling a few weeks ago. It will be interesting to see if Murray has a short rope with him tonight on the second line with Mike Richards and Dustin Brown.

LA Kings forward Scott Parse on when he might play again

Scott Parse continues to be an interesting case study for the Los Angeles Kings. GM Dean Lombardi and coach Terry Murray have certainly given him plenty of praise over the last few years. However, his offensive numbers just haven't been there.

He's also found himslef under a constant microscope since returning from major hip surgery last November. First, Murray was less than pleased with his efforts in the playoffs (as discussed here).

More recently, after the coach first said he would play Parse in all of the pre-season games, the 27-year old forward was scratched a few games in. At the time, Parse thought his problems were all between his ears. Yet, Murray wasn't so sure.

Then, the twists and turns continued when, just as Parse seemed moments from being placed on waivers, Dustin Penner was injured, pushing him into the opening night line-up vs. the New York Rangers.

Parse played a total of 23 minutes, had two shots on goal and zero points in the first two games.

Yesterday, he offered a little perspective on where things stand...

The Mayor
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GM Dean Lombardi - 'Anze Kopitar may be the new Blake Griffin'

Lombardi on prospects Holloway and Moller bolting for Europe

Germany: Sabres def Kings 4-2 - postgame notes and video

After a week long stay in Europe, the Kings will now return to the U.S. sporting a 1-1 record. They lost to the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in Berlin, Germany earlier today. Here are some post-games notes and video highlights.

- Anze Kopitar scored both of the Kings goals, he now has three total on the young season.

- Jonathan Bernier is now 0-2 vs. the Sabres in his career. Ironically, he gave up four goals in both games.

- Math with Jack: Jack Johnson was one the ice for four of the goals scored in the game - Buffalo's second and third goals, plus both of LA's goals. Because Kopitar's first goal was on the power play, Johnson finished the night with a minus-1.

- Johnson and Alec Martinez were each credited with four blocked shots. Kopitar had three.

- Parse Watch Continues: Scott Parse had 17 shifts in 12:06 of total ice time, no shots on goal.

- The Kings outshot the Sabres 33-26. Kopitar led all Kings with five shots on goal, four each for Mike Richards and Justin Williams.

- Ethan Moreau, Drew Doughty and Matt Greene led the Kings with two hits each. Dustin Brown, who is usually among the leaders, wasn't credited with a single hit in the game.

Murray says Voynov will play Tuesday - did he tip his hand?

Slava Voynov of LA Kings (photo: M. Zampelli)

Given the words and actions of LA Kings coach Terry Murray over the last few weeks, it at least appears like forward Scott Parse may be hanging on by a thread.

The team needs to get the roster down to 21 skaters by Friday, meaning one more cut is required.

Thus, either Parse, Davis Drewiske or rookie Slava Voynov won't be around for the season opener.

During a press conference earlier today in Germany, Murray may have tipped his hand when he shared the following:

"Voynov will play in the (final pre-season) game tomorrow...he's had a great training camp for us. He's coming off an All-Star year in the American Hockey League. His game has grown tremendously over the three years that I've been watching him in the training camps. Right now, he's on the threshold - he's knocking right on the door, can he make the National Hockey League and the LA Kings? He's been a fun player to watch. He's similar in his game to Drew Doughty - he's a 'puck skill' guy, he's got great vision on the ice, he's a second/third option player, he can find those guys and make really good plays. So, it's going to be another good look at him tomorrow night."

Previously in camp, Murray had said he'd be open to starting the season with eight defensemen. Thus, the option is there for Drewiske and Voynov to occupy those final two roster spots.

Voynov is also expected to debut his new #26 jersey in the game, after wearing #76 so far this preseason. Originally selected by the Kings in the second round of the 2008 NHL Draft, he entered training camp ranked by MayorsManor as the second best defensive prospect in the Kings organization and sixth overall (see the full list here).

Early tomorrow morning we'll have a special preview of the Kings pre-season game against the Hamburg Freezers.

The Mayor
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www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

RELATED ARTICLES:

Coach Murray looks at Slava Voynov vs Thomas Hickey on defense

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LA Kings at Ducks: pre-game notes, line-up, Doughty, more

The game in Anaheim is starting in less than hour.

Last Sunday at Staples Center, the Kings lost to the Ducks 3-1. LA's lone goal came from Andrei Loktionov, who was sent to Manchester (AHL) earlier this afternoon. You can read the post-game notes and quotes from that contest here.  Coach Terry Murray wasn't happy with the performance of Scott Parse that night - pause the thought for a moment though.

Here are a few other Kings-Ducks articles that have appeared on MayorsManor previously. These should get you warmed up and ready to go:

Mike Richards on Corey Perry and not doing stupid things

LA Kings players on favorite moments in Anaheim

Kings prospect Ray Kaunisto calls Ducks fan 'a lost cause'

In the plans:  LA Kings vs Anaheim Ducks outdoor game

Kings-Ducks:  The first time it mattered this much

Tonight's projected line-up for the Kings is as follows:

Simon Gagne - Anze Kopitar - Scott Parse
Dustin Penner - Mike Richards - Dustin Brown
Kyle Clifford - Jarret Stoll - Ethan Moreau
Brad Richardson - Trevor Lewis - Trent Hunter
[update: Dustin Penner was a late scratch, replaced by Dwight King]

Willie Mitchell - Slava Voynov
Rob Scuderi - Thomas Hickey
Davis Drewiske - Matt Greene

Jonathan Bernier - Jeff Zatkoff

This may very well be the final shot for Parse, especially considering the Kings just signed Trent Hunter to a one-year deal earlier today.

Parse was on MayorsManor recently, claiming the ineffectiveness he's displayed in camp is a 'problem between his ears' - read that article here.

Hunter was also on MayorsManor recently, talking about his knee and playing with skilled guys like Kopitar and Penner (linked here).

The game starts at 6pm PST, you can listen live via the KTLK website.

As for Drew Doughty, he's been signed to a new eight-year contract (detailed here) and is not expected to play his first game until the Kings get over to Europe - more on that later this weekend.

The Mayor
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POLL: What should the LA Kings do with Scott Parse?

Last night in Colorado, Kings forward Scott Parse recorded his first point of the pre-season.

However, just a few days ago, coach Terry Murray said he wasn't necessarily looking for goals or assists out of the 27-year old winger right now. Instead, he wanted to see his feet moving - something Murray claimed has been lacking.

While a dozen or so players have been fighting for one of the few roster spots available on the Kings team this season, Murray practically gave Parse a job heading into camp - even saying he planned for him to be part of the line-up during every pre-season game, in an effort to let him get back into game shape after missing most of last season.

As of Monday, Parse had yet to 'grab the opporuntiy' according to Murray, which led to a subsequent sit down meeting and him being scratched from Tuesday's game in Kansas City.

With guys like Ethan Moreau, Brad Richarson, Trevor Lewis, Andrei Loktionov and others all pushing for a spot on the Kings third and fourth lines, time may be running out for Parse.

Or is it?

If you were in charge of the Kings, what would you do...



Poll closes Friday at 3pm PST.

The Mayor
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www.facebook.com/MayorsManor 

RELATED ARTICLES:

Scott Parse thinks it's all between his ears, coach Murray isn't sure

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Training Camp 2011: updates on injured players - including Parse

Kings at Avalanche: post-game notes, Kopitar goal video

Last night, the Kings beat the Avalanche 6-0 in Colorado - powered by four goals in the second period. Below are some key stats from the game and fan-filmed footage of Anze Kopitar putting one of his three goals in the net.

* Justin Williams led all Kings with six shots on goal (one went in). Kopitar was second, with five. Trevor Lewis had four.

* The Kings, after playing the night before in Kansas City, came out of the gates slow - putting only six shots on goal in the first. They then outshot the Avs 14-9 and 12-7 in the final two periods.

* Jonathan Quick played the entire game in net, stopping all 27 shots he faced.

* Dwight King, Justin Azevedo and Andrew Campbell all made a rare start. And they showed up on the box score - in the penalty section. Campbell and Azevedo each received two minutes for tripping, while Kings was give a four minute double-minor for high sticking in the third.

* Jack Johnson led the Kings in total ice time (23:30). Rookie Slava Voynov wasn't far behind at 23:16.

Kings at Avalanche: pre-game links, rosters and listen live

A few quick links to get you ready for tonight's game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Colorado Avalanche:

* Over the summer, the Avs signed free agent defenseman Shane O'Brien - that's a name Kings fans may remember from the 2010 NHL playoffs, when he was with the Vancouver Canucks. Kevin Westgarth and former King Wayne Simmonds spoke about his antics on MayorsManor last season (article).

* Brad Richardson - a one man wrecking crew against his former Avalanche teammates - was featured in a MayorsManor article earlier today. He's fighting to land one of the the final roster spots on the Kings third or fourth lines.

* The guy who seems to be on the hot seat right now, Scott Parse, is back in the line-up tonight. Earlier this week he thought his problems were between his ears. Coach Terry Murray was going to meet with him late Monday to see what was going on. Full story here.

Projected Kings line-up:

Scott Parse thinks it's all between his ears, Murray unsure

Scott Parse of LA Kings (photo: M. Zampelli)

Against the Ducks last night, Kings coach Terry Murray wasn't happy with the way Scott Parse was moving - or not moving - out on the ice.

When his post-game press conference included comments like 'There’s not much happening on either side of the puck for him right now' and 'His plays and decisions with the puck are not real good,' things didn't sound well for the 27-year old forward - who GM Dean Lombardi once said he hoped turned into a Kris Versteeg type player.

Today after practice, Parse said Murray hadn't shared his feelings with him - yet.

"He hasn't talked to me yet, but he's right. I have to skate better and play with more energy," Parse said.

"Nope, I'm good," was the reaction when I then asked if maybe he was still nursing some nagging injuries.

So, is it all between the ears then? "Yep," was what he quickly said.

Knowing that camp started with upwards of ten players vying for spots on the Kings third and fourth lines doesn't seem to be placing any additional pressure on him though.

"It's not about that. It's about going out there and playing," Parse explained. "I have to do my job and just play. Don't think - have fun and play."

About ten minutes later, down the hall from the Kings locker room at their training facility, Murray acknowledged he has tried to be patient and understanding with a player coming off major surgery.

Parsing through the Kings-Ducks post-game notes, quotes

Yes, the Kings lost 3-1 to the Ducks - or at least that's what the box score said, even though Anaheim's roster read more like an AHL team.

And for a guy who has yet to record a single point in two pre-season games, Scott Parse is quickly becoming one of the key focal points of the team's news items right now.

Below are ten tidbits from last night's second (and final) pre-season game at Staples Center...

* Andrei Loktionov scored the lone goal for the Kings. He also had two shots on goal and two takeaways. In the faceoff circle, he only won two of seven draws (29%).

* For the second game in a row, Alec Martinez led all Kings players with 22:25 of total ice time. Slava Voynov wasn't far behind, with 22:20 total.

* Voynov only had one official shot on goal in the game. Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams each had five shots on goal.

* Dustin Brown, Dustin Penner and Matt Greene led the team with three hits. That wasn't much of a consolation for Greene, who said this about the game - "No real positives at all, actually. Just a bad game for us. We got outworked. We didn’t really have a great effort, great execution... We just got outworked in our own building."

* Back to Martinez - "He had a couple good looks and missed the net," said coach Terry Murray. "He had some problems receiving passes tonight. There were a lot of pucks that hit his stick and went underneath."

Lombardi on Williams, Parse, Loktionov, Schenn injuries

All things considered, the Kings have been pretty transparent with injuries of late. There wasn't a lot of the mysterious 'lower (or upper) body injury' stuff from several months ago.

Then again, it's hard to mask Anze Kopitar's leg injury when it played out live inside Staples Center and at home on television. Just about every hockey fan has seen the clip by this point.

That being said, GM Dean Lombardi did have some updates on several players during his post-season recap yesterday...

On Justin Williams - "Obviously, there's an issue there. But, it's kind of going to be a player thing (decision). I forget the exact percentage - he can get it 90% back, I think he had it 80% back, in terms of being able to go out there and play. But, the issue is obviously the long term effect. This is one you have to be careful of because this isn't one - like with Parse's hip, where you're like 'OK, you have to have it done' - this is one where you have to make a decision. Do you want to go through this (the surgery)? It will set you back three months, but your shoulder is going to be as good as new. It's one of those decisions where it's more about his long-term benefit than being ready for training camp."

He went on to talk about how great Williams played when he came back in the playoffs - specifically saying he was "outstanding" in the first game, partially because of adrenaline. He also said he almost got the sense the Sharks were "targeting him" later in the series.

LA Kings coach Terry Murray is NOT happy w/ Scott Parse

Dean Lombardi had overwhelming praise for the fact that Justin Williams even returned to play in the post-season, let alone how well he performed in game one. The Kings GM said 'a lot of guys' wouldn't have played and risked further injury (at this stage of their career), opting instead to shut it down and just return the following season.

Coach Terry Murray had repeatedly said he was waiting for Williams to come and tell him that he was ready before he penciled him in. Once that happened, it was full steam ahead.

Williams played in all six games versus the Sharks and averaged more than 15 minutes of ice time in each contest.

Which brings us to Scott Parse.

He too was rumored to be ready - or at least close to ready - in the days leading up to the playoffs. He finally made his return in game five, playing 10 minutes. Afterwards, Murray said things like "I thought he played pretty well" and "I thought he stepped in and did a pretty decent job."

So, what changed?

Scott Parse - health update and plan for tonight

Prior to Saturday night's contest versus the Sharks, Kings' forward Scott Parse hadn't participated in a real game since November - also in San Jose.

Although he came away pointless in his return to game action over the weekend, that's just fine.

The Kings still won and according to coach Terry Murray, his surgically repaired hip wasn't bothering him yesterday - saying the medical staff reported "Everything was good. No issues at all."

So, how about his performance - was Murray happy with what he saw?

"I thought he played pretty well. He showed a lot of confidence with the puck. And he has that, I guess you'd call it a little bit of that 'inner arrogance' - which you have to have as a pro athlete, to have confidence in your own game, to play, to know exactly what it is you can do and try to do it. I thought he stepped in and did a pretty decent job."

He played 10:17 on Saturday night, was that the goal?

"No. I didn't really set any kind of a number there, for him in particular. But, I did want to play four lines. The penalty kill, obviously, takes minutes away from the rotation. So, it possibly could be higher if we go through a game five-on-five. But, he didn't have any problems on the conditioning side of things. I felt strong about that going into the game, making the decision that he would go out and play, that that would not be a concern of mine. And he confirmed it. He looked good, he looked strong though the game. He brought us the offensive part of the game, some skill that I knew he could."

Parse will be in the line-up again tonight, as Murray is keeping the same line combinations for game six.

And perhaps that can be a lucky number for him - in just his sixth career playoff game, maybe he can add to the list of April 25th post-season moments.



The Mayor
www.twitter.com/MayorNHL
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor

RELATED ARTICLES:

Game Five Photos - Kings vs. Sharks

10 Tidbits on Scott Parse

DIY Surgery an option for Parse?

Kings vs Sharks - Game Five Playoff Photos

Earlier in the series Jon from sharkspage.com - the Bay Area's longest running hockey blog - was kind enough to pass over some photos from games one and two between the Kings and Sharks (linked here: game one and game two).

Below are some shots he took during game five on Saturday night, featuring: Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson, Willie Mitchell, Scott Parse, Brad Richardson, Jonathan Quick, Rob Scuderi, Ryan Smyth and a few other Los Angeles Kings players...

(click on any image to enlarge)

For coverage of the Kings-Sharks series to date, check out the following MayorsManor articles:

* Highs and Lows with Jim Fox - Game One and Game Two

* Wayne Simmonds - Born for Playoff Hockey?

* Jack Johnson says 'Best is Yet to Come'

* Ryan Smyth Looking For Help From Seventh Attacker

* Rob Scuderi on Expectations and Being Extra Special

* Kyle Clifford's Picking Up Points and Gifts in the Playoffs

* Kevin Westgarth Presents - Westie 2.0

The Mayor
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