It all comes down to this. With two games remaining in the regular season, the Kings and Sharks will play each other in a home-and-home series, as the Pacific Division title is yet to be decided. In the four previous match-ups this year, each team has won the two games played on their home ice.
Unfortunately, Jeff Carter won’t be available tonight to celebrate any possible Kings goals, like he’s doing in the above photo. Nor did big number-77 get a chance to participate when I asked several of his teammates who will score the first goal tonight. You may recall, he correctly predicted Mike Richards in the last game vs. San Jose – and he was sure to chirp me about it the next day. For now, he continues to nurse a sore ankle and isn’t likely to return unless the Kings make the playoffs.
Continuing to take Carter’s spot in the line-up will be Brad Richardson, who shared some of his memories playing the Sharks and then looked ahead to tonight’s game…
“Last year in the playoffs, I was able to play center – which I hadn’t played in a while. So, that was fun to get back to my natural position. Me and Simmer and Cliffy – we had a good playoff series and we were contributing. That was probably my best memory versus the Sharks. It sucked to lose that series, but it was fun to be in an offensive role. As far as the next couple of games though, it looks like the league’s schedule worked out kind of nice. They’re a good team and they’ve had a season like us, filled with lots of ups and downs. Everybody in here, we’re really looking forward to getting a big win (tonight). I’m sure they’re doing the same, so it’s going to be a battle.”
Defenseman Willie Mitchell also passed along these thoughts…
“I think they have two really good lines up front and they’re very good down low. They’re a much bigger team and stronger team than what we’ve played in the last few games. Edmonton is more of a smaller, skilled, fast team. These guys (the Sharks) really like to play from the back of the net area and cycle the puck. Personally speaking, that will be a lot of the focus for me and the other defensemen.”
MayorsManor will once again bring you a First Goal Contest as part of the game. However, since there aren’t any more regular season games to give tickets away to, we have a different prize. You’re playing for a MayorsManor t-shirt. Entering is easy, simply leave a comment below with the LA player you think will score first vs. the Sharks. All correct answers will be pooled together and one random winner will be awarded the shirt.
To help you with your selection, the following stats and info may come in handy…
– Dustin Brown has 11 goals in 47 career games vs San Jose
– Anze Kopitar has 12 goals in 37 career games
His prediction: Justin Williams
– Williams has 1 goal in 18 career games
– Richards has 4 goals in 11 career games
– Jarret Stoll has 4 goals in 35 career games
His prediction: Richardson
– Richardson has 0 goals in 23 career games
His prediction: “me”
– Drew Doughty has 1 goal in 22 career games
His prediction: Ron Scuderi
Other predictions – Davis Drewiske said “Dustin Penner, I think he’s due for another one”…Jordan Nolan and Kyle Clifford took their centerman, Colin Fraser…Dwight King and Penner took Brown.
Finally, Mitchell added his own spin on things – “I’ll take anyone, just as long as we get the first one. That first one’s important. So, I’d take anyone. I’ll take myself though, why not? You gotta to think you’re going to score, right?”
When selecting, please note that Kevin Westgarth and Drewiske are scheduled to be healthy scratches again.
Good luck!
Note: pre-game interviews with Clifford and Doughty can be found here and here.
About John Hoven
Brown!!
KING
Greene
Dustin brown!
LEWIS
Dustin Penner
kopitar
Stoll. He has to score eventually, right?
First goal Williams! Go Kings Go!
Dustin Penner!
Justin Williams.
Brown
Lewis
Mike Richards, with the Bauer Nexus, in the Staples Center.
Justin Williams
Williams
Mr. Doughty will have the first goal.
Trevor Lewis!
Richardson…
Slava Voynov
Anze Kopitar 🙂
Doughty.
Kopi
Cliffy!! Go Kings Go!!!!
Richards with the first goal.
KOPI
Mitchell!
Lewis
Stoll
Kopitar, from Richardson!
Penner
Richardson
Richardson from brown
Dwight King
kopitar
Fraser
Dwight King
clifford!
Scuderi!!!
I’m taking two guys here, if that disqualifies me so be it:
RON (sic) SCUDERI and “Matt Greene: Point Machine” (trademark pending)
GKG!!!
One of the best entries ever received over any season.
Richardson
Kopi
Richaaaaaards!
Richards
Donuts
Stoll all the way
Dustin Brown
Alec Martinez
Kopitar will get the first goal, followed by Williams, then Richards with an empty netter to seal it 3-1.
Lewis
Willie Mitchell
Go KINGS Go!!
🙂
Kopitar!!!!!
Brownie
CLIFFFFFFOOOOOOORRRRRRDDDDD
Voynov…same as always!
BIG WILLIE Mitchelle……GO KINGS!
Jarret Stoll, man.
Willie Mitchell
Drew Doughty
Mike Richards
Penner!
First Goal Anze Kopitar!!
Alec Martinez. :]
Congrats – you won the contest. Please check your email for more details.
Stoll? Yeah, Stoll. It’s been forever since he scored.
Stoll. Why not?
Mike Richards
Brown!
Voynov!
Justin Williams
Drewiske
Lewis. You got this Kings!!
Mike Richards
Kopitar
Kopitar!
gonna go out on a limb and say Fraser
Richards
King
Dustin Brown
Richards!!!!
Brown
Williams will score 1st goal.
Williams
Kopi!!
King
Going long odds… Greene or Penner? Greene or Penner? (Flips coin) Penner!!!
Nolan in the 1st on his 1st shot on his 1st shift.
Anze Kopitar!!!;)
Williams!
Martinez