May 20th, 2013 at 9:29 PM
By Brandon Der AvanessianLos Angeles Kings captain Dustin Brown is one of three finalists for the 2013 Mark Messier NHL Leadership award, the league announced Monday.
The award has been in existence since the 2006-07 season, and is given to “the player who exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice during the regular season.” With the help of team and league personnel, along with NHL fans, Messier selects a list of three finalists, before ultimately naming a winner. Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson and Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews are also finalists for this year’s award.
Brown was selected as the first American-born captain in Kings history prior to the 2008-09 season. He leads a physical Kings team with his toughness and grit, ranking first on the team in hits for four consecutive seasons since it became an official NHL stat. The 28-year-old forward was chosen by teammates as the Kings’ Most Popular Player this season.
As for his leadership off the ice, Brown contributes $50 for each hit he accumulates to the Newborn and Infant Critical Care Unit at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Kaboom! Since he began this charitable initiative in 2008, he has helped raise $60,000, and is responsible for the construction of a special playground built in Carson, CA in 2010.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 18th, 2013 at 10:13 PM
By Brandon Der AvanessianLogan Couture’s power-play goal in overtime propelled the San Jose Sharks to a 2-1 home-win over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Dan Boyle scored the only other goal for the home team and Antii Niemi stopped 26 shots, as the Sharks cut the Kings’ series lead in half, 2-1.
Game 4 will be played Thursday at HP Pavillion, before the series shifts back to Los Angeles for Game 5.
The Kings took full advantage of late penalties called against San Jose in Thursday’s Game 2, scoring two power-play goals in the final minutes to complete a wild comeback victory.
On Saturday, the Sharks got their chance at redemption. Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr took a hooking penalty with 42 seconds remaining in the third, and moments later, Trevor Lewis was called for goaltender interference at 19:55, giving the Sharks a glorious 5 on 3 opportunity late in regulation and overtime.
The Kings had just killed off the first of two penalties before Couture’s game-winning wrist shot sailed past the glove-hand of Jonathan Quick at 1:29. Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton earned the assists on the young center’s first career playoff overtime goal.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 16th, 2013 at 11:58 AM
By Brandon Der AvanessianThe Los Angeles Kings scored back to back power-play goals in the final two minutes of regulation on Thursday, completing a wild 4-3 comeback win over the San Jose Sharks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals.
Dustin Brown tied the game with 1:43 remaining and Trevor Lewis added the game-winner just 22 seconds later, as the defending champs took a 2-0 series lead over their interstate rivals.
The Sharks were less than two minutes away from tying the best-of-seven series at 1-1, but a late-game meltdown now has them in a tough hole as they head back home to San Jose. After two series-opening games at Staples Center, the second round will now shift up North to HP Pavillion for Game 3 on Saturday night, and Game 4 on Tuesday.
The Kings were in a tough situation of their own deep in the game, but two of their 18 third-period shots finally broke down the door, sending the sold-out Staples Center crowd into a frenzy.
"We've been together, we've been through a lot together, and that goes a long way when you get yourselves in tight situations like tonight," said captain Dustin Brown. "This time of year it's a matter of sticking to your game."
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 20th, 2013 at 11:54 PM
By Brandon Der AvanessianLos Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick will not face supplementary discipline for his post-game actions in Saturday’s Game 3 loss to the San Jose Sharks, reports Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times. Quick was assessed a game misconduct after he chased down officials following Logan Couture’s game-winning goal in overtime.
While it looks as though Quick will escape a suspension, a game misconduct for verbal abuse of officials does carry a $200 fine, along with the possibility of review by the league.
The Kings were clearly unhappy about the calls near the end of regulation that led to a five-on-three advantage for the Sharks in overtime. Couture’s game-winner came seconds after Los Angeles had killed off the first of two penalties, while the Sharks still held a one-man advantage.
The exact reason for Quick’s anger is somewhat unclear, but the 27-year-old goaltender will need to keep his frustration level to a minimum in order to avoid further discipline by the league.
NHL Rule 23.4 states, “any player who incurs a total of two game misconduct penalties for abuse of officials related infractions penalized under Rule 39, Abuse of Officials, shall be suspended automatically for the next League or Playoff game of his team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.”
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 16th, 2013 at 4:15 PM
By Brandon Der AvanessianSan Jose Sharks forward Raffi Torres has been suspended for the remainder of the Western Conference Semifinals for his Game-1 hit on Los Angeles Kings center Jarret Stoll. The verdict on Torres' suspension came down Thursday afternoon, after the 11-year veteran flew to New York Wednesday for an in-person disciplinary hearing with the NHL.
Torres was assessed a charging penalty towards the end of the second period, when it looked as though he made contact (whether intentionally or not) with Stoll's head while finishing a shoulder to shoulder check. In Torres' defense, Stoll was slightly bent over and in a vulnerable position, but Director of Player Safety Brendan Shanahan explained that Torres ignored the opportunity to take more of the body, instead making the head the principal point of contact.
Stoll left the ice and did not return for the third period with what is presumably a concussion. Head Coach Darryl Sutter called Torres' hit "careless" and stated that Stoll is "day to day." He will miss Game 2 at the very least. If Stoll is indeed suffering from a concussion, it will be the third consecutive postseason in which an illegal hit by Torres has led to a player being concussed.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 16th, 2013 at 1:17 PM
By Brandon Der AvanessianLos Angeles Kings forward Brad Richardson will replace Jarret Stoll as the third-line center for tonight’s Game 2 at Staples Center against the San Jose Sharks.
Stoll was injured late in the second period of Game 1, after he was knocked to the ice on a borderline hit by Sharks forward Raffi Torres. The team has stayed mum on the details of the injury, but Stoll presumably suffered a concussion as a result of the contact to his head. Head Coach Darryl Sutter called the hit “reckless,” and labeled his center man ” day to day.”
Torres was assessed a two-minute minor for charging during the game, at the time the incident occurred. The 11-year veteran flew to New York on Wednesday for an in-person disciplinary hearing with the NHL, and faces a possible suspension for the hit in question. He will miss Game 2 while the team awaits a verdict from the league, which will likely be announced later Thursday.
Torres has previously been suspended three times and fined on numerous occasions for illegal checks, including a 21-game suspension for a reckless hit that knocked Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa out of the postseason last spring.
Read more... Join the Conversation... 
Loading ...