Frustrating losses in Detroit...

...are not the worst thing in the world for the Kings.

Early March, 2012. The Kings are battling for a playoff spot. They blow a one-goal lead in Detroit with 4 minutes left. Disappointing. They give up the winning goal with about a minute left in regulation, not getting a single point from the game. Even though changes had already taken place that were turning the team around, that was the low point of the season for me.

What happened next? The Kings were apparently as pissed as I was. They pulled their heads out of their asses, went 8-2 in the next ten games, and plowed through the best teams in the league in the postseason.

Now, with Mitchell and Greene out indefinitely, Doughty having picked up Jack Johnson's share of the stupids, and Richards the Old Grey Mare, the Kings might not have the resources to turn things around. But hopefully the guys are furious with themselves after today's game, because it was an effective wake up call 11 months ago.

But seriously, how old and lazy does Richards look? He's like a non-ugly Ryan Smyth. Think he'll cry when he gets traded?

Was Richards even playing today ?

Safe to say that Mike Richards did very little hockey-related activity during the lockout.

Cr@p on ice, as usual

I thought this may have been the best game they played all season. Clearly you can see who worked out in the offseason and who didnt

Tough loss for sure, heart breaking. However, there were some positives I thought Clifford was great, Kopitar scored going to the net and Alec Martinez was possessed. I hope the King play with the same amount of desperation the rest of the season and I believe they will make the playoffs and make some noise.

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Originally Posted by MarVistaKing

Tough loss for sure, heart breaking. However, there were some positives I thought Clifford was great, Kopitar scored going to the net and Alec Martinez was possessed. I hope the King play with the same amount of desperation the rest of the season and I believe they will make the playoffs and make some noise.

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"Hope" is all they have right now

There were a lot of positives from this game. It was probably the Kings strongest effort all year. The problem with it is that I don't know how much was because the Kings asserted themselves or because the Wings were dead tired.

As for wake up calls, this has to be the 3rd or 4th one this season. How many does it take. They will be facing a very hungry Blues tomorrow with Halak back between the pipes. I don't like their chances.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MarVistaKing

Tough loss for sure, heart breaking. However, there were some positives I thought Clifford was great, Kopitar scored going to the net and Alec Martinez was possessed. I hope the King play with the same amount of desperation the rest of the season and I believe they will make the playoffs and make some noise.

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A-Mart may have has family & friends in the stands. Cliffords play to start the game was amazing, just wish he got it over Howards pad. Honestly, its a loss and should be treated like any other loss. Does not matter that they lost with 5 sec left. They were losing anyways. Should have thought about scoring way before 1 min left in the game.

I posted this in the GDT, but it bears repeating. Perhaps this thread should be modified to "Frustrating losses against Detroit. Other examples where frustrating / heartbreaking losses against the Wings have preceded good things:
1) 2001: Kings tie a game in the last-minute of regulation at Detroit, only to lose in the last few seconds. In the playoffs that year, the Kings beat the Red Wings, including the Frenzy on Figouroa.
2) January 2010: Kings outshoot Detroit at Staples 52-24, but lose when Helm scores a lucky goal with under 20 seconds left. Like today, Howard stood on his head. Within a month's time, the Kings win 9 in a row, with the 9th win being a come-from-behind 4-3 win against the Red Wings at Staples.