Friday Kings Report......

[ddubs]

What a gut-wrenching loss last nite for the Kings. They gave up 2 goals in the final 3 1/2 min to lose the game in regulation. But I don't think anyone would have been able to stop that incredible deflection goal by Datsyuk to tie the game up, and that blind pass by Whitney to Stevie Y was incredible. The Kings, however, outplayed the Wings in every which way, IMHO.

More bad news for the Kings on the injury front, Captain Mattias Norstrom, their best D-man, will be out for at least 2 games for what sounds like pinched nerve in the neck. He's flying back to LA this morning.

Steve Avery will not be at the game tonite, as he drove from Detroit right after last nite's game to Elmira, Canada, for Dan Snyder's funeral. They were roommates for 2 yrs while playing Junior Hockey for Owen Sound. Just fawking saddening:nooo:

Miller is now expected back in 3 weeks from his broken wrist. When Deader or Allison will be back is anybody's guess.

On the bright side, the Kings haven't lost to Pittsburgh since the 1998-99 season, going 6-0-1 since then. Can you say "Bitch Of The Day"??

Good luck today, everyone!!!!!!

 

[LUCKY 7]

That was a tough one Dubs........But your right the Kings looked good last night despite the loss. Keep up the good cappin.

 

[the mugs]

Penguins goaltender

Penguins goaltender

Stole this from covers.com

NHL Fri, Oct 10, 2003
Fleury to start Penguins' season opener
Associated Press

PITTSBURGH -- Marc-Andre Fleury's ex-roommate readily offered the No. 1 draft pick some advice about what to expect as a teenager playing his first NHL game.

Mario Lemieux, the Penguins' owner-player and Fleury's former landlord, also made his NHL debut without having any previous pro experience, as the rookie goalie will do Friday night against Los Angeles.

"It's nerve-racking your first game, especially when you're 18 years old, not really knowing what to expect in game situations," Lemieux said Thursday. "We'll try to relax him a little bit and, with all the talent he has, I'm sure he will be fine."

Fleury learned only after practice Thursday he would be the opening night goalie, adding to what has been a whirlwind week. He didn't reach contract terms until Monday, then needed two days to obtain a work visa and return to Pittsburgh from Montreal.

Fleury acknowledged he might be "a little stressed," and probably for good reason. A year ago, he was opening his third Quebec Major Junior Hockey League season with Cape Breton. Now he'll be trying to stop skilled shooters such as the Kings' Jason Allison, Ziggy Palffy and Adam Deadmarsh.

"I'll just have to try to play like I'm used to playing," said Fleury, who starred for Canada in the world junior championships last season. "At first, I wasn't sure if I was going to make the team. I just wanted to do well in training camp. Now it's the season, and I wasn't expecting to play. ... I'll just try to keep it simple and not worry about anything, just try to be my best."

The talent-thin Penguins are rebuilding after finishing with the NHL's second-worst record last season, yet they had other goaltender options. Sebastien Caron, rewarded with a $3.2 million, four-year contract after playing well down the stretch as a rookie last season, will start Saturday night in Philadelphia.

Penguins coach Eddie Olczyk felt it preferable that Fleury play before a supportive home crowd rather than in the hostile environment of Philadelphia. He also didn't want to start Caron both nights.

"I talked about it with Craig (Patrick, the general manager) and Mario but, ultimately, it was my decision," said Olczyk, who will be making his pro coaching debut. "We thought this was the time to give Marc-Andre an opportunity."

No matter how well he plays, it will be difficult for Fleury to top Lemieux's debut in October 1984. Less than a week after his 19th birthday, Lemieux scored a goal on his first shift and first shot in Boston.

Fleury stayed at Lemieux's house last week, and the Hall of Famer explained how different it will be in the NHL.

"The shooters are a little bit more precise, it's a lot harder than what he's faced in the past, and the quickness of the game is a concern for him, but he's adjusted pretty well," Lemieux said. "It will take time, but, as long as we can help him for the first few games, I think he'll be in good shape."

Fleury will be among the youngest goalies to start an NHL game. The youngest was 17-year-old Harry Lumley for Detroit in 1943. Goalies who started at 18 but were younger than Fleury include John Vanbiesbrouck, Martin Biron, Tom Barrasso and Dan Blackburn.

The only other goalie chosen No. 1 in the NHL draft, Rick DiPietro in June 2000, made his NHL debut midway through the 2000-01 season with the Islanders. He stopped 29 shots in a 2-1 loss to Buffalo.