Quotes from Sharks locker room after 2-0 loss to LA

Late last night we heard from the Kings and Sharks' head coaches (linked here), as well as comments from LA's locker room (link).

Now, we go across the aisle to see what some of the Sharks players were saying after their 2-0 loss to the Kings.

Sharks captain Joe Thornton on the overall game - "Good third period, bad first two. We just have got to somehow score to make it a game and we didn’t…You knew they were going to play well at home here. I’m disappointed at the way we came out, but I’m sure we’ll get a couple good days of practice and get back at it on Thursday."

Thornton on Kings' goalie Jonathan Quick - "He played good. He’s a good goaltender, he’s a league goaltender. We had our chance but we just didn’t finish. He played well."

Sharks' defenseman Dan Boyle on the overall game - "The first two periods there was not a lot of emotion. We didn’t really work to get our chances. Five-on-five we had nothing for the first two periods. Not working hard enough to win the game. There are 82 games. You have got to find a way to get up for every game. Some nights are tougher than others, but at the end of the day you have to find a way. As a team you have got to get up for it. There’s no reason why. These guys are in our division."

More Kings vs Sharks related articles can be found below.

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

RELATED ARTICLES:

MayorsManor interview with Sharks captain Joe Thornton

Kings vs Sharks preview with Marty McSorley - talks this year's rivalry

Interview with Rob Blake - we cover it all

Interview with Kelly Hrudey - includes then-Sharks GM Dean Lombardi recruiting him

MayorsManor podcast and interview with Tony Granato

Doughty says Kings will 'do anything to win' game five

Doughty cleared out in Game 2

Over the last 36 hours, much has been about Drew Doughty's exchange with Scott Nichol in game four - which led to a power play goal for the Sharks.

Yet, that wasn't the only target of Doughty's verbal assault on Thursday night. He also spent plenty of time in the face of Joe Thornton throughout the game.

It's something I spoke with him about yesterday, after first finding out how he was feeling going into game five...

MM: Prior to the series starting you were pretty confident. How about now, being down 3-1?

DD: I still think we are fully confident. We saw the things we could do to them. We've had moments of domination. We’ve just got to clean up our d-zone. I think if we clean that up, really focus on that and just keep getting goals the way we are, we’re going to be fine.

MM: You were jawing with Thornton quite a bit on Thursday. Was his blowing kisses to Sharks fans in the crowd a bit disrespectful?

DD: I don't know if it was disrespectful. It's an emotional time in the playoffs. Obviously, Thorts and I have played together before (Team Canada) and were buddies then. But, there's just so many emotions and so much hatred for the other team, that you want to beat them. And we're going to do anything to win that game.

Do that Drew, and we'll see you back home on Monday for game six.



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

RELATED ARTICLES:

Interview with Sharks Captain - Joe Thornton

Cruising the Mall with Doughty and Simmonds

Drew Doughty comments on Mark Hardy

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photo courtesy of www.sharkspage.com

SJ Sharks vs LA Kings - Playoff Tidbits and Schedule

In the coming days MayorsManor will have a plethora of playoff coverage leading up to the first game - notes, interviews, analysis, etc.

To kick things off, here are five tidbits to keep in mind...

* Anze Kopitar - it's the name that will probably come up more often than any other until this series is over...and he's not even going to have one minute of ice time. Interesting point though, Kopitar didn't have a single goal versus the Sharks in five games played against them this season.

* Justin Williams - he wasn't expected back this early, but it looks like he'll be playing vs. the Sharks - which, of course, could be a huge boost for the Kings

* Goaltending - the Kings enter the playoffs this season with a completely different set up in net than what they had last year. Jonathan Quick is the number one goalie. But, but, but...if he struggles at all or if the team needs a different look, Jonathan Bernier is there to jump in. The players and coaching staff has plenty of confidence in him too, especially after he went 4-0-1 in March.

Kings vs Sharks - What Could Happen, Has Happened

Some credit card commercial says there's a one-in-18 chance of a hat trick being scored in an NHL game.

So, that's something that could happen.

However, here are a few of the more likely stories to watch for tonight (and some other loosely connected tidbits)...

* Should the Kings win, they're officially in the playoffs. Also of note - if the Kings can earn four points in their final four games, they're guaranteed to finish higher than Anaheim.

* Ryan Smyth's first goal as a member of the Kings came against the Sharks on October 6, 2009.  Since then, he's scored three more in another nine games between the two teams.

* Sharks captain 'Jumbo' Joe Thornton needs just three points to reach the 1,000 mark for his career (story here). Jarome Iginla reached the same milestone last week.

Agent Scott Norton on NHLPA Meeting w/ Donald Fehr

As reported yesterday afternoon, new NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr was in town to meet with a small group of agents.

We heard Fehr's thought on the discussions in an exclusive interview here.

Below, Scott Norton (Norton Sports Management), who reps the Kings' Dustin Brown, provides detailed commentary on the overall meeting, the major issue debated and even weighs in on the Dustin Brown trade rumors that have been popping up again.

MM: The bulk of the morning was spent on Donald Fehr updating the group on his background and experience. Given his very public role as the head of the Major League Baseball PA for over 30 years, did you learned anything new?

SN: I think, just new in terms of not knowing that much about his background. You know what you read and about the public persona. But, some of the in-depth and some of the way we're filling out the rest of the NHLPA board and the people they're bringing in, their experiences that will help move things forward with the CBA.

MM: How will the new NHLPA be different than what it has been over recently?

SN: I think it's going to be more solidified. I think Donald's going to be a great leader. I think people know from what we've gone through the past few years - hopefully some of the people aren't going to have their own agendas, that they've had in the past. I think the players are solidified and it's nice they get to take it backseat and watch the NFL and NBA go through what they're going to be going through.

MM: Knowing that you were going to be attending the meetings, did any of your players have specific questions they asked you to raise?

RECAP: Willie Mitchell on NHL Home Ice Radio

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell joined the guys on NHL Home Ice radio earlier this afternoon.  Although they asked a little about the win last night and his injury woes in 2010, the bulk of the interview was spent talking up rookie Kyle Clifford.  Here's a quick recap...

* How important was it to win again at Staples Center after the recent eight game home stand where the team went 2-6? I think we could all feel it coming. Over the few games before I think we were starting to play good hockey again, just not getting the results. So, it's nice to get rewarded. For the mental aspect, it was big.

* (on Clifford) He reminds me of Rick Rypien when he was breaking in with the Vancouver Canucks. Nobody really knew he was and I'd see him beat up guys left and right. Finally, word started to get out. Cliffy is much the same way, but actually even younger. He's a good hockey player too. He's done the physical stuff and that's probably a big reason why he stayed up in the NHL at such a young age. His game is going to continue to evolve though. He's a really good player and he'll be a good player for us for a long time.

Kings - Sharks Preview w/ SJ Captain Joe Thornton

Whenever the Kings and Sharks meet the game is usually filled with multiple subplots to the two points at stake.

Tonight finds the season series tied at one game each, with both teams looking dominant in their victory. There's the battle for the Pacific Division, something the Sharks have owned the last few years and the Kings are trying to wrestle away this season. Of course, there's also the Dean Lombardi angle - with the Sharks being his former team.

However, let's not forget Marco Sturm vs. Joe Thornton. On the surface it may not seem like a fair fight right now, considering Sturm's recent knee injuries. Yet, when two players are traded for each other a sort of natural rivalry builds as each wants to prove he was the more valuable piece in the deal.

Although Thornton has posted big numbers the last few years, the Kings have been able to contain him just about better than any other team in the Pacific Division. He has more penalty minutes against LA, his lowest plus minus (still a plus-8, but it is his lowest) and his second worst point totals.

Even better, the Kings have kept him off the scoreboard the last two seasons at Staples Center (zero goals, five assists in six games).

His Sharks will possibly arrive in downtown tonight a little road weary too. They played back-to-back games in Minnesota and Chicago (losing to the Wild and beating the Blackhawks by identical scores of 5-3), then arrived in LA past 2am on Friday morning.

Here's how Jumbo Joe sizes up tonight's match-up...

Revisiting The Hockey News Curse

After a red hot start to the 2009-10 season Anze Kopitar was the toast of the league. People everywhere were taking notice that the 2005 first round draft pick was having a breakout year.

Then, it happened. The Hockey News slapped him on the cover and poof, that was it. Instant slump.

Now, before you discount this theory, continue reading. The proof is here. Let it marinate for a minute or two.

When first tackling this issue in January we pointed out several examples of injuries (Joe Sakic, Luke Schenn, Roberto Luongo), poor playoff performances (Joe Thornton, Zdeno Chara) and slumps (Chris Pronger, John Tavares and Michael Del Zotto) linked to players soon after appearing on the cover of the popular magazine.

Sure, Kopitar eventually broke out of his post-cover slump (just five points in 12 games). In fact, about six hours after I wrote the original curse article he went on to post two points against San Jose - his first multi-point night in 23 games. That's a quarter of the season!

The flood gates were open though. In the remaining 18 games leading up to the Olympic break he scored 21 points. Fine, case closed. Or so we thought...

Season Preview w/ NHL Insider Kevin Allen

It's safe to say that Kevin Allen knows a thing or two about hockey. He's been covering the sport since the early 80's - including nearly 25 years for USA Today - and is a featured guest each week on NHL Home Ice (radio and television), as one of their NHL Insiders.

Today, he brings his view on the game and upcoming season to MayorsManor for an exclusive season preview.

Of course, we'll get into all the big issues in the Western Conference -covering topics like why did the Ducks keep Cam Fowler in Anaheim, what should the Sharks do with Joe Thornton, can the Coyotes have another 100-point season, which free agent signing last year was a major bust, who will and won't go through sophomore slumps, did the 'Hawks lose too many players, are the 'Wings too old and much more.

First though, we just had to find out how in the world he lists Slap Shot so far down the list of the best sports movies of all time. Not even top five? Really?

MM: Slap Shot only made it to #9 on your list of the greatest sports movies. How is that even possible?

Rob Blake : The Interview

Bet you never thought you'd see this one did you?!?!

Yep, the Rob Blake interview. For real. No joke.

For those who don't know, there's a little history here. I'm very much a 'you're with me or against me' type guy. So, when Rob Blake resigned the captaincy of the Kings in September 2000 it pretty much sealed his fate with me.

From the moment he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche the following spring, he was one of my top targets along the visiting team tunnel.

The banter with players comes from many places - dark places for some, respect for others. It's a blast when you know you're inside of a guys head. For others, it's a respectful give-and-take, back-and-forth thing. You can 'hate' a player and still respect him - see Theo Fleury, Mike Ricci, etc. You can also 'hate' a player to your very core - see Craig Muni, Craig MacTavish, etc.

Then there's Rob Blake. It's so hard to describe. On some levels you want to like him for what he did for the organization. On the other hand, you want to hate him for what he did to the organization.

Blake was combative every time he returned in an Avs uniform. Constantly stirring things up with the fans in Section 119. He says he returned to LA in 2006 to try and fix things. After completing his second tour of duty with the Kings I get the feeling he's moved on. Nowadays, when he visits with the Sharks he keeps his head down and appears focused on the game, ignoring those still hanging on to the past. It's like he got the closure he needed. Now I find myself asking, "Do I have closure too?"

He had resigned the captaincy after receiving what he thought to be a 'take it or leave it' contract offer. At the time he said "When (an offer) is put that way, if you don't agree, you're gone. I stepped down as captain because the team needs to keep moving forward."

Then, a few days later, when he asked for the captaincy back he said "This is a business. But I think I took it way too personal."

Did, perhaps, we all take things too personal?

When Kings GM Dean Lombardi resigned him in the summer of '06 I asked him how he could bring back a guy like Blake after preaching he only wanted 'high character' guys. Dean insisted we had it all wrong and the Player's Association was behind most of the drama back then.

Perhaps. Or was it poor leadership? Contract, free agency, whatever. Leaders lead. And I'm not following any guy that leads by taking his ball and going home.

Where does the truth end and fiction begin? Is any of this still important after the franchise and the player have both moved on?

He's an important part of the Kings story and certainly one of the best defenseman in franchise history.

He'll return once again tonight, now the captain of the San Jose Sharks. As a preview to the game I chatted with Blake about his time in LA and we reflected a bit, as things begin to wind down on what will surely be a Hall of Fame career.

When you were drafted by the Kings back in '88 was that something you were expecting or had you been talking more with some other teams?

It was more unexpected than expected. Back then they didn't really do all the interviews and things they do now. So when I went to the draft I really didn't have a clue where I would end up. LA wasn't a team that I spoke with before hand or anything, so I didn't know they were going to pick me.

You played two more years of college hockey before finally signing with the Kings. What were some of your first thoughts when you finally showed up to play with the Kings?

I came right at the end of college. We finished our season at Bowling Green and the next day I flew to LA. I remember my stall was right beside Larry Robinson, who was a childhood idol of mine growing up. So to walk into the dressing room, over at Culver City at the time, and have Larry Robinson as the guy next to me and looking across the room was Wayne Gretzky. I remember he actually came over and introduced himself, saying 'Hi. I'm Wayne Gretzky' or something like that. I was like, 'I grew up in Canada. I know who you are.' That's how personable those guys were. But, when you're not in the NHL and you're working your way up, those guys are idols to you. Then, from one day to the next, all the sudden they became teammates. It was pretty amazing.

Players often talk about how much faster the NHL is than college or juniors. What were some of the first things you noticed about the game itself being different?

I think the size and strength of the guys is the first thing you noticed. I think the first game was against Winnipeg. I remember skating around in warm-ups and thinking 'Look at the size of all these guys.' In college you might have had one or two guys that were kinda big, but they might not have been as fast. It seemed like it was a whole different level. And it was men! I was coming from college and kids. Now all the sudden I was in a league of men. It's almost better that you don't know what to expect. You just kinda get thrown in and away you go.

One of the first real high points for the franchise was winning the Smythe Division in '90-91, your first full year with the team. As you guys entered the playoffs that year, what kind of a sense did you get from your teammates - how close did that group think the team was at that point to making a serious run at the Cup?

I think we thought we were...obviously, finishing first in the Smythe - a division that was, at the time one of the toughest divisions for sure. We all expected we would go a lot further. We had some big games and we had guys like Gretzky and Kelly Hrudey. So our expectations were to go very deep into the playoffs. It's not easy to do, but winning the Smythe put us in a position where we thought 'We're not far away from going to the finals.'

Some of your teammates from the early '90s have said they felt it was the Oilers that were the big hurdle for you guys. That getting past that team was just too much. Did you see things that way or did you have a different perspective?

I don't know if that was it so much with me because I had just come in at that time. But, we did have a lot of ex-Oilers. We had Marty, Huddy, Gretzky, Kurri. So, we had plenty of ex-Oilers and that created that issue. But, not so much with me because I wasn't part of it. When you look back on it though you can certainly see the history between the two teams for sure.

On to the '93 playoffs. The seven game series with Toronto had to be draining. Entering the finals, were you concerned that maybe the team wouldn't have enough left to compete with Montreal - who was well rested at that point?

Yeah, they had been off. Anytime you make it that far though and you get into the finals you understand there's a maximum of seven games left, so you have enough left in your tank. Interestingly, we had to go through four Canadian teams that year in the playoffs. Obviously, the majority of us being from the Toronto area, to be able to beat them in a seven game situation was a pretty exciting situation. We stayed right there in Toronto after it was over. I think we had a day or two off and then was off to Montreal and the hype began for the finals. It was a pretty amazing experience.

You're probably tired of talking about it, yet we have to if we're talking about this time period...Marty and the stick situation - everybody has an opinion about it and over time some opinions have changed - do you think that was the turning point in the series?

I think it's the most publicized turning point of that series. I don't know if it was the real turning point. I mean if you look, we were still up by a goal when that happened. We should have been able to put the game away. We should have been able to kill that off. They scored in overtime. They won three games in a row in overtime. I think Desjardins, LeClair and LeClair. So...it wasn't just that we lost that game. The next two games were very close too. The series ended up 4-1 and in the fifth game they kinda took it to us. There were a lot of different key points, but I think the stick incident will always be the most talked about just because it gave them that power play late, late in the game.

As you look back at your career, is there one guy you wish you would have had a chance to play with?

I don't know. I've been fortunate. I played with so many players throughout the LA era there. It's been pretty amazing. I look more at the guys I played with, rather than I didn't. Like I mentioned Gretzky, Robinson, Kurri - then you have guys like Granato, McSorley, Huddy, Hrudey. I can go on and on with the players. So for me, I've been blessed to be able to play with some great players over my career. It's made it a lot of fun.

How about the hiring of Andy Murray. He told me that you were one of the reasons he wanted to come to LA. Was that something you lobbied for after having him coach you with Team Canada or were you surprised when he ended up here?

No it wasn't a coincidence. It was definitely something we had talked about. I had him before in previous hockey Canada situations and I understood what type of coach he was and the structure he had, his understanding of the game. He had us so well prepared in those World Championships I thought that was something that could be brought to the Kings. Obviously his record over the years on different teams shows that he can do that. He brings teams that are kinda coming together and he finds a way to get them playing and producing every year. So, we were fortunate to be able to have him there for a few years to help build that.

What happened with all the injuries? People in the media, even fans, they like to point to him working his teams too hard in practice.

I don't know, I don't really buy into that. The conditioning has changed so much from he 90's until now. I mean it's tremendous. If you watch, now you see why kids are so developed coming into the league. I think the way Andy coaches the practices and how he drives it that's anticipated. You need to have your body in that position and need to be able to take all that. So, I don't read too much into it. But, I do think the transition of the training process has increased so much from the early 90s to now, it's changed the game a lot.

The trade. By resigning the captaincy some would say you forced the teams hand. In hindsight is that how you see things?

Well that's totally false. I don't really answer these things because a lot of it is what people want to say and what people want to make up. Obviously there was a dispute in the number of years and things we wanted on the contract and then the next day I wake up and get a call and I'm traded. So, there's not a lot a player can do. You respond to the trade. When you're traded, you go to that team and you show up the next day and go to work. That's the position I was in at the time.

Some fans in LA didn't treat you so well after the trade. Being a fan favorite for so long in LA, was that a bitter pill to swallow at the time or was winning the Cup in Colorado your own sense of satisfaction?

Well I don't know if there's any satisfaction in it. I came into the league a Los Angeles King and that's what I wanted to remain. Like I said we're in a business. When you get that phone call that you've been traded your mindset has to change that very day. You have to become a product of the Colorado Avalanche now and you've got to leave those memories that you had with Los Angeles behind you. I've always said the fans are passionate fans there and they're not going to cheer for somebody wearing a different uniform, that's for sure. That's the way it's been handled from that day on and we can live with that.

How about returning to the Kings in '06, GM Dean Lombardi took some heat for it at the time. Was it something you needed to do, wanted to do or was it just the right offer at the right time?

No. I didn't even actually look anywhere else. It's what I wanted to do at the time. I've enjoyed my time in LA and I enjoyed playing there, living there, raising a family there. It was an opportunity to be able to come back and try to work things out, try to get through it. It wasn't the best two years for the franchise or for me personally. But, it was something that I needed to do and I'm glad I did it. Obviously we've gone different ways now. That being said, at that time, it's exactly what I had hoped. I had hoped I could go back and try to play in LA again. That's what I wanted to do.

Speculation at the trade deadline in '08, your last year here, was that Lombardi wanted to trade you and you wouldn't allow it. Any truth to that?

No. He tried to trade me and I allowed it to go through if that's what he wanted to do. I guess at the last minute they couldn't get the deal worked out. I wasn't going to stand in the way of anything they wanted to accomplish.

That summer, without a contract, did you contemplate retirement...or did you know you wanted to play, but you knew you just wanted to play somewhere else?

It's not that I wanted to play someplace else, that was the only option I had. I wanted to keep playing in the NHL. I had some injuries that took awhile to heal and later on through the year you start feeling a little better. As I was overcoming those things I knew I wanted to continue my career in the NHL. It's a dream to be able to do that, that's how it's unfolded even a couple more years past that.

How about getting the 'C' in San Jose. Was that captain by default? Does it bother you when people say Joe Thornton is the real leader of the team?

Not at all. We have more of a leadership group. It's definitely not one guy wearing a letter that's going to be able to lead this team. We needed a group. We didn't look at it so much as Patty losing the captaincy, he's a big part of this team and anything going forward. When we go into meetings and whatnot we have four or five guys go in as a group, so its obviously not just one guy in there. That's the way this team has been set up. You have a lot of guys capable of handling things at different times, so we kinda do it as a group.

Is there anything else you'd like to say to the fans of the LA Kings to wrap things up here?

Nope. I think that's good.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

After thinking about it for a long time, I think he's right. So much has been said already, there really isn't much left to say. Perhaps it's time to move on.

When it comes to Rob Blake I'm conflicted. I'll admit it.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/Mayor119
www.facebook.com/MayorsManor


RELATED ARTICLES

High / Low with Rob Blake - also includes word association on a bunch of his teammates

Reliving '93 - When Mullets Were Cool

Roy, Melrose and Blake on the '93 Finals

20 Questions with #20 Luc Robitaille

Interview with Andy Murray

Hockey's Most Exclusive Club - live from the induction ceremonies

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Perfect for the New Year

Two games for the Kings since the calendar flipped to 2010, two victories. Easy enough, right? Not exactly.

On Saturday LA hosted the greatest player in the game, Alexander Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals. A team that has scored more goals this year than any other club in the NHL. The Kings held him scoreless and his team to just just one goal.

Tonight the Kings faced the second most prolific offensive team in hockey this year, the San Jose Sharks. Their big line of Thornton-Marleau-Heatley have all been top-20 points producers since 2002-03. Marleau was the only one of the trio to score tonight.

Two amazing games. And Jonathan Quick is the Kings number one star of the moment, no doubt about it.

The Kings 6-2 victory over the Sharks was a strange one. It's a game in which they were out shot 47-20 (that's not a typo).

How do you score six goals on your first 17 shots? They were playing the Sharks, not some weather-named team like the Lightning or the Hurricanes.

It was a game of streaks too.

The Sharks ended their eight game win streak and the Kings now have a modest three game stretch of their own.

Ryan Smith scored in this third straight game. Michal Handzus scored, giving him five points in three straight.

Oh yeah, then there's that little issue about Kopitar's funk. Anze had a goal and an assist in the victory. That's back to games with points for Kopi, only the third time he's done that since mid-November. More importantly, it was his first multi point night in 24 games (since Nov. 11 vs. Carolina).

In other player news Scott Parse scored his third goal in just five games since being recalled from Manchester. Drew Doughty had a career night with four assists. He now has eight points in the last five games. And perhaps the most underrated player on this year's team, Jarret Stoll, made his return to the line-up, picking up an assist.

As a team, the Kings scored four power-play goals for the first time since 2/16/09 vs. Atlanta.

With the win the Kings evened their record to 47-47-14 all time vs. the Sharks, a ledger they'll get the chance to add to soon enough.

In the first 20 games of 2010 - coincidentally, the 20 games until the Olympic break also - the Kings schedule sees them playing the Sharks three times, Anaheim three times and Detroit three times. Forget parity in the league, that's familiarity.

The first of those against the Red Wings will be Thursday night, opening up a 7 game home stand for the Kings. It's been two straight sellouts at Staples Center. Will they get a hat trick?

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/Mayor119

Is there a Hockey News curse?

Sports fans know all too well about 'the curse' and what it can do to their favorite team or player. The Red Sox had the curse of the Bambino. The Cubs still have the goat. Entire seasons have been lost due to the Sports Illustrated curse. Plus, you have the Madden Football video game curse. This year it was a two-fer, with both Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu showcased on the popular game...and, yep, they both were injured.

Hockey fans take note, because there may be some negative karma brewing in the print world north of the border too. It's possible The Hockey News is the latest sports related curse to be rearing its ugly head.

Perhaps it isn't Ryan Smyth's fault after all that Anze Kopitar has lost his mojo.

Case in point - November 2008 Av's captain Joe Sakic is featured on the cover of The Hockey News. Three weeks later he injures his back, then some fingers and hand injuries. That's it, he's lost for the season and then retires.

You want more? The very next issue showcased young Maple Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn on the cover. Less than a month later he gets the famous lower body injury (knee) and misses a month of action.

Fast forward to this season. One of the best goalies in the world, Roberto Luongo, gets the cover for a late September issue. A month later, he injures his ribs and has to miss a handful of games.

OK, so you say injuries are just part of the game and it's a coincidence. Well, how about playoff performance?

April 16, 2009 Joe Thornton was the Playoff Preview cover boy. By now, everybody knows what happened to his Sharks in the first round after entering the playoffs as the top team in the West.

The following issue featured Zdeno Chara, captain of the East's top team - the Boston Bruins. What happens? Done, bounced in the second round by Carolina.

Not good enough for you? Let's look at some recent stats then...

Chris Pronger, Flyers defenseman, poses for a cover of The Hockey News in early November. The issue was released on 11/9/09. Prior to that he was a +11 with 14 points in 14 games. Since that time he is a -1 with just 11 points in 27 games. Cursed!

The next issue focused on three rookies playing for various New York teams. Last year's number one draft pick, John Tavares of the New York Islanders had 18 points and was a -1 in the 20 games prior. His numbers gave gone south since: -7, 10 points in 23 games. Another New York kid, Michael Del Zotto of the Rangers, was getting early Calder Trophy pub with his pre-cover play of 15 points in 20 games. Man, have times changed - only 5 points in 21 games since and a terrible -16 rating.

Which brings us to Kopitar. What's wrong with Anze? It's the million dollar question right now. Many people speculated it was the absence of Ryan Smyth. However, Rhyno's back now and things haven't really changed.

Kopi was The Hockey News cover boy for the December 14th issue. Ignoring his red hot start to the year - for the sake of trying to factor in the Smyth impact - in the 20 games prior to the issue being released on December 7th Anze had 16 points. The Kings have played 12 games from that point forward, a strech where Kopitar has just 5 points.

Is there a new curse to worry about in the world of hockey?

It's one possible explanation.

The Mayor
www.twitter.com/Mayor119