Since the news came down yesterday that Kyle Clifford would be out of the line-up tonight, MayorsManor readers have been split on who should replace him. In our poll, it was nearly dead even – with 51% opting for Andrei Loktionov. Kings coach Darryl Sutter agreed with the (slight) majority and has opted to put in the guy he recently called a ‘good little player’ on the fourth line with Colin Fraser and Jordan Nolan.
Loktionov played 39 games with the Kings this season, scoring three goals. He also played 32 games for the Manchester Monarchs, scoring five goals. His only playoff experience as a professional came in the AHL two seasons ago, when he had one goal in 16 games. During his one year of junior hockey, he scored 11 goals in 20 games for the Windsor Spitfires en route to the Memorial Cup Championship.
As usual, MayorsManor will host a First Goal Contest tonight and just like we did for game one of the series, we’ll be giving away a Dustin Brown autographed puck. If you’d like to enter, simply leave a comment below with the LA player you think will score first vs. the Canucks. All correct answers will be pooled together and one random winner will be selected.
Who should you pick? Well, Willie Mitchell looked like a man possessed the other night (and sounded like one in his MayorsManor interview here). You’d be hard pressed to go against Jeff Carter or Mike Richards, both had excellent games on Wednesday and were heavily involved in the Kings offensive attack. And yes, Dustin Penner had the game winning goal.
If you’d like a larger body of work to use when making your decision, the following stats may come in handy…
– Brown has 10 goals in 28 career regular season games vs Vancouver
– Anze Kopitar has 5 goals in 22 regular season games
– Justin Williams has 6 goals in 16 regular season games
– Richards has 3 goals in 8 regular season games
– Carter has 4 goals in 8 regular season games
– Jarret Stoll has 9 goals in 41 regular season games
– Drew Doughty has 1 goal in 15 regular season games
– Penner has 7 goal in 35 regular season games
– Loktionov has 0 goals in 3 regular season games
Also feel free to take Colin Fraser, Alec Martinez, Slava Voynov or any of the other Kings players. Just stay clear of Kevin Westgarth and Davis Drewiske because both are expected to be healthy scratches for game two of the playoffs. Plus, Brad Richardson is still out following surgery earlier this week.
Good luck!
RELATED ARTICLES:
Willie Mitchell juggling it all with one thing on his mind – MayorsManor feature story
Bitz suspended, Clifford to miss game two – now what?
VIDEO: Doughty, Brown, Richards post-practice in Vancouver
Matt Greene – MayorsManor interview prior to game one
MayorsManor LIVE show – playoff preview with special guests from around the NHL
MayorsManor POLL: Who will win the series – LA or Vancouver?
About John Hoven
Kopitar
Dustin Brown
Mitchell
Jeff Carter
Mike Richards
Williams will get credit for the goal after it deflects off Burrows face.
If Williams gets the 1st goal, I nominate the author of this post for the signed puck, under the seldom applied ‘brilliant and hilarious post’ provision.
Brown
Drew Doughty
Williams
Brown
Williams
Williams 🙂 go Kings!!
penner
Dustin Brown
Had Richards in game 1 and hit it again in game 2…Penner needs to pay me to pick him in game 3
Doughty
Richards
Carter. And I called Richards last time, who won?
MITCHELL
Dustin Penner.
Voynov
I’ll go with Williams again because if I stay with it eventually I’ll probably be right.
NOLAN
Lewis.
Voynov
Kopitar!
Slava Voynov.
Anze Kopitar!
CARTER
Scuds
Anze Kopitar
Richards
Kopi
Justin Williams. My spidey senses detect a hattrick.
This new guy they brought up named Penner.
Richards
Doughty!
Mitchell.
Kopi.. It’s too much to hope Penner will score again..
Williams
Brown is real hungry for that first goal!
Go Kings!!
Alec Martinez
Drew Doughty!
Carter please
Doughty FTW! (Kopitar will get the GWG, just like two years ago!)
Go Kings Go! Bring that 2-0 lead back to TSC!
Brown
Lokti to earn the slot.
The captain.
loktionov
Kopitar
dustin brown!!!
Kopitar!
Richards. Again 🙂
Go Kings!!
Greene!
Colin Fraser
Sticking with Carter.
I am going out on a limb and saying Greene!
Dwight King! Just cause he has “King” in his name (and nobody else mentioned him)
Sticking with Carter
lewis
Carter
Carter
Martinez
Stoll!
Stoll
can I opt for Game 3 tix instead? 😉
Brown.
JEFF CARTER!!!!!!!!!!!!
Williams
Jordan Nolan
Anze Kopitor with the first goal.
Williams
Dustin Brown
Since the Colonel is out, I’ll choose Captain Brownie for tonight’s 1st goal.
Dustin Brown
Mitchell
Kopitar!
A- Mart
Colin Fraser
Richards
Williams
Voynov, as usual!
I’ll go with Carter this time. Go Kings Go!!! Let’s get another win against the Vancouver Schmucks!!
Im gonna go with Jeff Carter
Richards!
Loktionov!
my heart says Stoll… my gut says Kopi…
JUSTIN WILLIAMS!!!! was givin constant effort in game one!
Jeff Carter
First goal. Carter Go Kings Go!
Lewis for the win
Martinez
Alec Martinez
Williams…. GKG
Greener
PENNER!!!!!! Duh!!!! 😀
Voynov
Go Kings!
Penner = 1st Goal
stoll
Williams
Kopitar
Kopitar!!
Mitchell
I gots to go with Carter, big #77
Brown
Congrats – you were the winner of last night’s contest. Please check your email for more info.
Ill go with Dustin Brown
Oh, I will take Captain, Dustin Brown, of course. Wouldn’t it be fitting if his biggest fan (yours truly) won a puck autographed by him? 😉 Thanks! GKG
Kopitar
Kopitar!
Captain Brown!
Loktionov
I’ll take Williams.
DB!
Stoll
Kopistar!!!GKG
Matt Greene. Go big or go home right?
Doughty.
Mitchell.
Rob Scuderi 😉 Why not?
Jeff Carter
Dwight King
First Goal Anze Kopitar #11!!!
Voynov!
Richards
King
Dwight King!!
Kopitar
Westgarth 🙂
He is well rested
Stoll its gonna happen
Jeff Carter!!:)
Carterrrr
I’ll take Brown for the first goal and the sign Brown puck
richards!
Doughty (:
Brownieee
Jeff Carter to open it up!!!!
QUICK! bahahahah!
Willie Mitchell
GO KINGS GO!!
Drew Doughty
Loktionov
Stoll
Martinez
Justin Williams
Carter ! #JMFC !
Martinez!
J-DUB! #14 GKG!
Richards
Penner
Martinez
Who was the winner?