Dein erstes Forum » Langdon, but goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne appears

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Kings have been in all types of jams during the past two postseasons. Just a few weeks ago, they even escaped the same 0-2 deficit theyre now facing in the Western Conference finals. "Weve been here, what, three weeks ago?" forward Justin Williams asked, referring to the Kings great escape in the first round against St. Louis. "Obviously its not do-or-die (in Game 3), but it is." Yet the defending Stanley Cup champions arent sure theyve tangled with an opponent that could match the depth and versatility of the Chicago Blackhawks, who might even be the team to end Los Angeles 2 1/2 months of perfection at home. After back-to-back losses in Chicago, the Kings are hoping they can stay perfect at Staples Center in a crucial Game 3 on Tuesday night. The Kings have won 14 straight at home since March, and theyve won seven straight home playoff games dating to last seasons Stanley Cup clincher. The Kings have no idea why theyve been unbeatable at Staples Center, but they realize their repeat hopes depend on it. "Home ice is something weve been able to rely on, and have in our back pocket," Williams said Monday after the Kings team meeting at their training complex. "Im (also) not sure why we went 10-1 on the road last year (in the playoffs). Certainly our confidence is high for us coming back home. Theres been a lot of success there. Weve won every which way there, and its going to have to continue." Even two solid efforts in Chicago by coach Darryl Sutters estimation werent enough to turn back the Presidents Trophy winners, who have won five straight post-season games after falling into a 1-3 hole against Detroit in the second round. The Blackhawks won both games of the conference finals in persuasive fashion, overcoming the Kings greatest strengths along the way. Chicago even chased Jonathan Quick out of Game 2 by scoring four goals against the Conn Smythe Trophy-winning goalie -- something nobody had done in 34 straight playoff games over the past three years. Sutter acknowledged he pulled Quick partly to give him a brief rest for the remaining playoff grind. The Blackhawks were reminded of the tenuous nature of any playoff lead in the second round, so they werent brimming with overconfidence when they arrived on the West Coast. "You look back at the St. Louis series, (and) they were up 2-0 coming to L.A.," Blackhawks defenceman Brent Seabrook said Monday. "Weve got to continue to focus on the game (Tuesday) night. Theyre a great team, L.A. Quick is a great goaltender. We understand hes going to come back with a better game than he did last night. We have to continue to get pucks to him and make it tough on him." The Kings have lost at home in regulation just four times in this entire lockout-shortened season, but the Blackhawks were responsible for arguably the biggest defeat of them all. Chicago ruined the Kings Stanley Cup banner-raising ceremony in the season opener in January, and the Blackhawks 5-2 victory catapulted them to the start that led them to the NHLs best regular-season record. "Its been a long time since we played here, and it was a special day when we began the season here for them," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. "Theres some buildings in this league that can get real loud, get the crowd into it, and the team feeds off of that. I think theres more success this year on the home teams side in the playoffs. Hopefully we can get off to a great start and quiet it as best you can. Its tough on visiting teams trying to do that this year." After the long flight Monday, the Blackhawks arrived at their Beverly Hills hotel for a night of relaxation before their attempt to break through at Staples Center. As usual, the Blackhawks set up a large players lounge at their hotel, filling it with an eye-catching buffet and multiple televisions and video game consoles -- all to promote team bonding. "The Hawks do a good job of making it easy on us," forward Patrick Sharp said. "Its a fun atmosphere to go down there and hang around with your teammates. You dont see enough of each other in Chicago with the families, people doing their own thing. Its always been fun to be on the road, be together, thinking hockey all the time." Although Quick blames himself for the Kings road struggles, he isnt the real problem for the Kings, who have won a series after trailing 0-2 just twice in franchise history. Williams realizes the Kings arent sustaining any offensive pressure on the Blackhawks, whose forechecking has kept the Kings pinned in their end for long stretches. Los Angeles scoring struggles are getting ugly, with just 29 goals in 15 playoff games -- easily the lowest scoring average for any team that won a playoff round. Its not nearly enough to hang with the Blackhawks, whose talented lineup generates goals from all four lines and its defence. The Kings have never been an offensive dynamo on the level of Chicago or Pittsburgh, but they didnt founder like this in the regular season. Their top scorers in last seasons playoffs also are struggling mightily this year: Star centre Anze Kopitar has just two goals in 15 games after enduring a lengthy goal-scoring slump to end the regular season, while captain Dustin Brown has a mere four points in the playoffs. "Its pretty fair to say as a line, were collectively in a slump," Brown said of his partnership with Kopitar and Williams. "We know what we need to do better. Getting into their offensive zone, our spacing is pretty significant. Its hard to play (without it), especially against a team like Chicago. When you dont have the spacing right, one guy eliminates the other guy." Center Mike Richards missed Game 2 with symptoms from an apparent head injury, and the Kings wont say whether hell play in Game 3. Richards, who hadnt missed a game all season, is Los Angeles leading post-season scorer with 10 points. At least Tyler Toffoli is an intriguing addition to the lineup in Richards absence. The big rookie picked up a goal in Game 2 while playing alongside top goal-scorer Jeff Carter, who moved over to centre without Richards alongside him. "Going back six games in the season, weve had trouble scoring," Sutter said. "Its not a home-road disparity at all. You know what? Were a good hockey club. Were not surprising anybody. Theres no upsets now. Were trying to surprise the team that finished first overall." The Kings championship poise might be their greatest asset in the next two games. With the confidence of last seasons 16-4 run through the playoffs still fresh in most players minds, Sutters club doesnt really get rattled -- even after winning just twice in its last seven playoff games. "You can draw on the fact weve been in this situation before," Brown said. "The series is long from over in our mindset." Cheap Jerseys .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers. China Jerseys .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. http://www.nfljerseyschina.net/ . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead. Cheap NFL Jerseys . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Fremantle have fended off interest from Victorian clubs to re-sign emerging midfielder Ed Langdon, but goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne appears increasingly likely to leave the AFL club.Langdon, who hails from Victoria, considered a move back home before deciding to re-sign with Fremantle for the 2017 season.The 20-year-old, who is the younger brother of Collingwoods Tom Langdon, averaged 15.8 disposals in 13 games this season, and also booted eight goals.The No.54 pick in the 2014 national draft is on track to become a regular next season as the Dockers launch a rebuild of their ageing list.Ballantyne is set to leave the club in search of a premiership in his twilight years.Thee 29-year-old has expressed interest in moving to West Coast.dddddddddddd.Although trades between arch rivals Fremantle and West Coast have been few and far between over the past 20 years, Ballantynes manager Colin Young is confident a deal can be done.Several other veteran Dockers could also be on the way out, with the future of Michael Barlow, Tendai Mzungu, and Matt de Boer still unclear.Fremantle arent expected to announce any more list changes until after their affiliate side Peel Thunder compete in Sundays WAFL grand final against Subiaco. 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