Anze Kopitar picked up right where he left off this week scoring two more goals and adding to his league lead. Alexander Frolov must have heard Terry Murray loud and clear because he scored two goals and added an assist en route to his 6th point since his benching less than a week ago.

Couple that with an exhausted Blue Jackets team who played a physical game against the Ducks last night, their 3rd game in 4 nights and their 4th game in 6 nights and it was a recipe for disaster.

But the real story here is what happened around the eleven minute mark of the 1st period.

The Blue Jackets Jason Chimera was skating along the boards. Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi dropped into a crouch and upended Chimera with a check that was borderline legal and reopened a cut he had sustained against Minnesota. Scuderi was not called for a penalty.
(WATCH DUAL FEED HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIav-Su5-bs&feature=player_embedded#)

"It was a dirty hit," said Chimera following the game. "It wasn't a hip check at all. It was a dirty hit and there's no room in the game for that kind of (expletive). The guy (Scuderi) takes your knees out, what are you supposed to do? He doesn't want to fight either, that's the biggest thing," an angry Chimera continued. "It was a dirty play and there's no room in the game for that. Too many guys are getting carried out on a stretcher. There's got to be a level of respect. I don't care if it's fricken Scuderi, at least stick up for yourself."

During the play the whistle was blown because Derek Dorsett had jumped over the boards causing a "too many men on the ice" penalty to be called, but what he really was after was Scuderi. He failed in his attempts, instead taking two linesmen to the ice with him and earning a game misconduct.

But the question will be, did he jump over the boards to start a fight, thus earning an automatic ten game suspension?

"I thought it was a good hit," Scuderi said in the locker room. "Apparently it was questionable and some of the guys are up in arms. I thought it was a good hit. Maybe if I see it... I'm sure (Chimera) is not gonna want to accept my apology but the game is played at a split second. I made a decision, I went for it. The rest is them sticking up for their teammate".

Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock refused to comment on the incident. Terry Murray stated, "The hit is just a hockey hit," he began. "That's what we used to see years ago all the time. That's one of those hits that's been around for 50 years. That part of it was clean. Obviously everybody thought that. There were no stoppages of play... it seems now there's a lot of reactions to hits around the league. It was the same scenario here tonight. They react and we end up with a big power play and take advantage of it."

The rest of the game was expectedly chippy and most likely a tape will make its way to the NHL office, especially in light of what happened in the Flyers/Panthers game yesterday.

1) Jakub Voracek elbows Drew Doughty in the head. Two minutes, roughing
2) Michael Blunden high sticks Dustin Brown in the head. Two minutes, roughing.
3) Jason Chimera punches Alexander Frolov in the back of the head causing his helmet to fly off. Two minutes, roughing.

Unless the league is going to do something about head shots, someone is going to have a career ending injury this season.

Meanwhile, props to Jonathan Quick who not only stopped a Rick Nash penalty shot, but 25 others as well.

The King continued their climb from the bottom of the faceoff stats by collecting their 3rd straight game at 58% or better.

The Kings are scoring an average of 5 goals a game at home.

Justin Williams is out for Wednesday's game in San Jose but may return for the Vancouver game.

Scott Parse notched his second assist in as many games since being called up from Manchester. "He's surprising the heck out of me," said Terry Murray. "He's smart, he reads, he scans the ice, he makes good decisions." Not a good sign for Trevor Lewis who was a healthy scratch again.

P.S. - How great was it to have David Courtney back announcing the game!!!
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No Love For Frolov

Frolov scores 2 goals and an assist. Three Stars? Doughty, Stoll, Kopitar. WTF???

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No Love For The Marketing Department

I have to address my friends in the marketing department - For years, during the 2nd period of each game they have what has been called "The McFlurry Minute" sponsored by McDonalds. If a player scores within the last minute, everyone in the stands receives a coupon for a free McFlurry upon exiting the building! - This season they changed it to the "McMuffin Minute". Why, I don't know, but hey' its something to root for and you still get something for free.

Tonight, Anze Kopitar scored with 53 seconds left in the 2nd period! FREE MCMUFFINS!!!! What did we get upon exiting the building tonight? A coupon for CARLS JR and we have to BUY a Parmesan sandwich in order to get free fries and soft drink.

Here's what I have to say to my good friends.

I WANT MY MCMUFFIN!!!!!!! (and so do the 15,819 other fans)
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Thanks for the lottery tickets - you know who you are :)

BTW - what was Luc's big announcement? - I was at the game so I missed it - Anyone?

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