GDT: 2020-21 season Game 12 LA Kings vs San Jose Sharks @7:00pm 2/9/21

[kilowatt]

I'm interested in seeing this team once (or if) Lizotte, Frk, and Athanasiou come back.

Iafallo - Kopitar - Brown
Kempe - Vilardi - Carter
Athanasiou - JAD - Frk
Grundstrom - Lizotte - Moore

I thought a few guys had really good games tonight. Vilardi of course, I'll talk him up in a minute, but also JAD, Brown, and Kopitar.

If we see Vilardi gaining confidence and taking over shifts in 25-50% of the games he plays this year, that will be a really encouraging sign. He needs better linemates around him right now (and Kempe and Carter are a good place to start), but with more experience and conditioning he might just be the guy on his line. You could tell he was pretty gassed in overtime, and 18:39 is probably the most minutes he's ever played in the NHL.

I think it's time to move Kopitar to fourth in the shootout lineup, by the way. Vilardi looked great, I'd love to see what some of the other guys can do, too.

This season is already basically a wash, but we might be decent next season. I'm excited to see how guys like Clague and Anderson perform when Roy and Walker come back and the pressure isn't quite so high on them. I think Clague looks pretty good on the offensive side but needs help defensively, while Anderson needs to get stronger across the board. Maatta, MacDermid, and Alt shouldn't even be on an NHL roster. Strand might be a decent bottom-pairing option one day, who knows. He hasn't been bad.

 

[ru4reals]

I'm interested in seeing this team once (or if) Lizotte, Frk, and Athanasiou come back.

Iafallo - Kopitar - Brown
Kempe - Vilardi - Carter
Athanasiou - JAD - Frk
Grundstrom - Lizotte - Moore

I thought a few guys had really good games tonight. Vilardi of course, I'll talk him up in a minute, but also JAD, Brown, and Kopitar.

If we see Vilardi gaining confidence and taking over shifts in 25-50% of the games he plays this year, that will be a really encouraging sign. He needs better linemates around him right now (and Kempe and Carter are a good place to start), but with more experience and conditioning he might just be the guy on his line. You could tell he was pretty gassed in overtime, and 18:39 is probably the most minutes he's ever played in the NHL.

I think it's time to move Kopitar to fourth in the shootout lineup, by the way. Vilardi looked great, I'd love to see what some of the other guys can do, too.

This season is already basically a wash, but we might be decent next season. I'm excited to see how guys like Clague and Anderson perform when Roy and Walker come back and the pressure isn't quite so high on them. I think Clague looks pretty good on the offensive side but needs help defensively, while Anderson needs to get stronger across the board. Maatta, MacDermid, and Alt shouldn't even be on an NHL roster. Strand might be a decent bottom-pairing option one day, who knows. He hasn't been bad.

Unfortunately Todd is coaching this team and this is more like it, even with a full healthy line-up.

Iafallo - Kopitar - Brown
Wagner-Amadios- Carter
Athanasiou- Lizotte- Moore
Kempe- Vilardi - Frk

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Crazy stat of the night: Dustin Brown ranks in the top 20 in NHL goal scoring with 6 goals, and is tied for 1st in power play goals with 5.

For a player who can barely handle the puck, he also find himself in the right spot. Just shows how effective he can be when he's not mishandling the puck and drives to the net, as we witnessed with both of his goals tonight.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Losses and breakdowns are getting very old. Blake has some tough decisions to make if this keeps up.

 

[Docgonzo]

Depending on if Doughty is out for a long period of time I doubt Blake can do much. Unless there’s some Dman he can get for cheap they’ll just have to grin and bare it.

As for TMs future I understand the loses and slow stats are frustrating but this team is insanely inexperienced and if Doughty is down it’s just going to become even more inexperienced. I think if it continues into next season then he’ll be on the hot seat.

Kopitar and Brown are plugging along but as you can see from the kids, they look amazing one game and non existent the next. It’ll be better hopefully once AA and Lizotte come back and hope Frk comes back soon. Then everybody will be slotted properly.

 

[Sparky206]

Catch 22 now, They clearly don't want to burn a year off Bjornfots ELC, but if they don't play him now they play a whole lineup of 5th and 6th D men. But season is clearly gone, burn his 5 games now and pray that Roy is back before you send him back to Ontario for the rest of the season.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Crazy stat of the night: Dustin Brown ranks in the top 20 in NHL goal scoring with 6 goals, and is tied for 1st in power play goals with 5.

For a player who can barely handle the puck, he also find himself in the right spot. Just shows how effective he can be when he's not mishandling the puck and drives to the net, as we witnessed with both of his goals tonight.

Brown's kinda like a drunken master out there.

 

[KingsFan7824]

If Doughty is out, that just means that TM is finally forced to play other dmen. Since this year doesn't matter anyway, it might be kinda nice to not have to complain about Doughty.

 

[lumbergh]

I missed the game. Did vilardi have a good game?

He had a ... game. His line was on the ice for both first period goals against, and pretty much hemmed in as a group. On the plus side, he was noticeable this game with the puck on his stick. Last few games he's been largely invisible. Vilardi hasn't been obviously bad, but he hasn't quite figured out the 200 foot game he needs to be more successful.

 

[Magicman]

i'll eat this if i'm wrong, but i'm gonna be pretty f***in pissed off if i learn that doughty just had a soft tissue ouchie he couldn't play though

i know there ain't a lot there above the glove and impacts onto the forearm hurt but i don't think that shot was breaking an arm

Of his draft class the number of games played Doughty #1

Number of regular season games missed in his career, including any suspensions, 1-0-6-5-1-4-0-0-0-0-0-3

Number of playoff games missed, 1 due to a suspension.

I would say he's been one of the most resilient players

 

[ibleedkings]

This was the first game that Vilardi was heavily relied on and he responded. TM better play him the 18 mins like he got tonight and not the 12-13 that he has on most nights. The other night Wagner had more ice time than Gabe. Complete horse****!!!

 

[kilowatt]

Also important to note that Vilardi's line looked considerably improved once McLellan swapped Andersson for Carter. It was a noticeable net positive for Kempe, Vilardi, and Carter. Please, Todd, keep that line together. It almost passes for a real second line.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

The team constantly loses with one goal, in OT, SO and with a late goal in regular time.

Painful but its close.

 

[Fat Elvis]

Crazy stat of the night: Dustin Brown ranks in the top 20 in NHL goal scoring with 6 goals, and is tied for 1st in power play goals with 5.

For a player who can barely handle the puck, he also find himself in the right spot. Just shows how effective he can be when he's not mishandling the puck and drives to the net, as we witnessed with both of his goals tonight.

That's a fact. Brown can no longer pass, receive a pass, or skate with the puck. His hockey IQ has never been great, but I hope he keeps going to the net. Just go to the net big boy, good things will happen.

 

[Mats26]

I think having Doughty out for a few games might be a good thing. Maybe the team regroups and finally plays team defense. Really want to see more of Strand. He might be the next Walker.

About Amadio, Wagner...need to understand we need to play them now so we can get something in return. Once AA nad Lizotte come out of C-19 protocol they will be in the lineup.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Brown's kinda like a drunken master out there.

It's remarkable how dreadful he was when handling the puck along the goal line on one of the PP opportunities in the second period, then he scores on the power play.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Looks like Donuts won't miss time. Is... it weird I kinda hoped he would?

 

[Steve Zissou]

I think having Doughty out for a few games might be a good thing. Maybe the team regroups and finally plays team defense. Really want to see more of Strand. He might be the next Walker.

About Amadio, Wagner...need to understand we need to play them now so we can get something in return. Once AA nad Lizotte come out of C-19 protocol they will be in the lineup.

Regarding defenders... at this point, I guess I am good with any D who doesn't create turnovers or gets beat thus leading to odd man rushes. In this regard, Strand has looked amazing.

 

[kingsholygrail]

Looks like Donuts won't miss time. Is... it weird I kinda hoped he would?

I mean, there have only been a few games the Kings have played without him over the last ten years, so there is some interest in seeing what it's like without him long term.

 

[tny760]

It's remarkable how dreadful he was when handling the puck along the goal line on one of the PP opportunities in the second period, then he scores on the power play.

feels like one of those situations where guys need to be utilized to their strengths.. he's not a passer but he's a great netfront guy

i get that they're trying to instill systems but sometimes guys don't fit specific systems and you gotta play to their strengths

but who knows i'm not an NHL coach

 

[kingsholygrail]

feels like one of those situations where guys need to be utilized to their strengths.. he's not a passer but he's a great netfront guy

i get that they're trying to instill systems but sometimes guys don't fit specific systems and you gotta play to their strengths

but who knows i'm not an NHL coach

Brown's always been pretty good in the dirty areas. It's weird when they don't stick him there and have him trying to snipe or set up plays.

 

[bouncesonly]

Random question, if your team has to serve a bench minor like too many men on the ice, and TM chooses MacD for whatever reason, does that count towards MacD’s PIM?

 

[BigKing]

Random question, if your team has to serve a bench minor like too many men on the ice, and TM chooses MacD for whatever reason, does that count towards MacD’s PIM?

No. You only get minutes that you earn.

 

[kingsholygrail]

No. You only get minutes that you earn.

This. The minor is assigned to the bench, not the player. It gets added to the team's overall PIM.

 

[cyclones22]

I did like the trial by fire first pairing of Clague and Anderson. They fought hard out there. 14 and 18 NHL games between them.