LAst Night's Action: Clips Stung by Hornets

New Orleans Hornets defeat LA Clippers 112-84. After getting word that center Chris Kaman was named Western Conference player of the week, the Clippers responded by not showing up against the reeling Hornets. In fact Eric Gordon didn’t show up with a sore groin. Kaman scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds in the game. Despite having a sore ankle, Hornets guard Chris Paul stung the Clips with a 24 point, 10 assist output. The Clippers turned the ball over 17 times while the Hornets grabbed 12 steals and sunk 10 three-pointers.

Chicago Blackhawks defeat LA Kings 4-1. The Kings are reeling now losing two straight games in regulation after going 6-0-2. Penalty killing literally killed the Kings as they held strong for two periods holding a 1-1 tie. Third period power play goals by Troy Brouwer and Jonathan Toews blew the game open for the Blackhawks giving them an overall 73-72-21 lead all-time against the Kings. They Kings managed only 18 shots on goal all game including a paltry two shots in the third period. Anze Kopitar managed the only goal for the Kings in the second period giving him a league-leading 28 points making him the player to watch in the league. The loss leaves the four points behind the San Jose Sharks for the division and conference lead.

Notable Notes

• Congratulations to Kings legend “Lucky” Luc Robitaille on being inducted to Hockey’s Hall of Fame. No one could have imagined back in 1984 when he was drafted in the ninth round by the Kings that he would have a hall of fame career much less learn English. But in his 19 season NHL career he would go on to score 668 goals and 1,394 points, both records for left wingers. He also set a Kings franchise record scoring 577 goals surpassing Marcel Dionne.
  After stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, a return to the Kings, Robitaille went to the Detroit Red Wings to win the elusive Stanley Cup in the 2001-2002 season. He returned for his final stint with the Kings in 2003 and played his final game at the HP Pavilion against the San Jose Sharks on April 17, 2006.

  The Kings retired Robitaille’s number 20 on January 20, 2007 and was named the President of Business Operations for the Kings four months later.

  The video of the induction speech is after the jump and the text of the speech is here.

• The Kansas City Chiefs have released running back Larry Johnson Monday morning after suspending him for two week for calling reporters “faggots”. Johnson has had troubles ever since turning pro when then head coach Dick Vermeil told Johnson “to take the diapers off” after bitching about playing behind Pro Bowler Priest Holmes. Last season then head coach Herm Edwards suspended him three games for violating team rules and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended him an additional game for violating the league conduct policy.Good for the Chiefs. As they are trying to rebuild the franchise, they need to purge themselves of mindless ignorant fools who beating on women and calling people faggots is permissible. If Johnson does get another job in the league, I’ll be sitting there hoping every tackle knocks him out of the league.

Tonight's Action

Nothing.