GDT: 2021-22 season game 73 LA Kings vs Edmonton Oilers @7:30pm 4/7/22

[Fat Elvis]

Would like to see their record when 11 plays that many minutes. Seems like every game like this one, 11 has an exorbitant amount of minutes and they come up a goal or 2 short.

Also, that #1 PP is a F-ing mess and has been been all season long. I would think that personnel changes unrelated to injury, would have taken place by now since the games actually mean something important that this team and fan base haven't witnessed in 8 years. But I digress.

This Season has been a LOT better than the last 7 and hopefully next season is better than this. Hopefully

 

[kingsfan28]

Another close game, and another game not scoring 3. This has been happening forever it seems.
the bad:
-Mike Smith being able to play the puck all night. He had more touches than Kopitar. Did anyone get the memo about shooting it in AWAY FROM HIM? Just terrible.
-Kupari and the 4th line. He looked just like the guy we saw in the first 45 games...a big nothing. The first period was a total disaster from him . Turnover, get the puck back, try and clear it down the ice, FAILED...bad change. McDavid skates right by him off the bench after Danault bad puck clear, GOAL!
Later in the period, turnover, get the puck back, has Kaliev wide open in the slot, pass behind, not in front, and it's tipped out of the zone. He was awful all night. He's not an NHL center!
-The 4th line was non-existent other than to give the Oilers scoring ops. They put 2 in on them .
-The pp and Iaffollo. Nothing else needs to be said.
-The 2nd unit pp embarrassed the 1st unit every time they were out there, even though they didn't score.
- Only 2 min for Kane's dirty kneeing penalty...yeah , ok! Didn't even ask if it was a major.
They spent more time reviewing Roy's high sticking call than most tv timeouts last.

The good: Moore!
Demote Iafollo at all spots on the team and put Moore in his place on the top line and pp.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

If Kopitar is this slow now, what’s next season going to be like? *shudders*

 

[KingsHockey24]

This'll be Kopitar, Vilardi, and Durzi next season.

 

[Butch 19]

We are slipping in the standings. I’m getting worried. Don’t want Colorado in the first round. Even though we have been here before…

They will not be in the playoffs.

 

[Fripp]

Another close game, and another game not scoring 3. This has been happening forever it seems.
the bad:
-Mike Smith being able to play the puck all night. He had more touches than Kopitar. Did anyone get the memo about shooting it in AWAY FROM HIM? Just terrible.

This was driving me nuts. The guy has been in the league like 20 years - how do they not know his biggest strength? Did they not talk about dump ins needing to be cross-corner?

 

[AbsentMojo]

A momentary diversion from the discussion of why the coaching staff could not adjust to MSmith handling all the dump ins like clockwork

 

[tny760]

Another close game, and another game not scoring 3. This has been happening forever it seems.
the bad:
-Mike Smith being able to play the puck all night. He had more touches than Kopitar. Did anyone get the memo about shooting it in AWAY FROM HIM? Just terrible.
-Kupari and the 4th line. He looked just like the guy we saw in the first 45 games...a big nothing. The first period was a total disaster from him . Turnover, get the puck back, try and clear it down the ice, FAILED...bad change. McDavid skates right by him off the bench after Danault bad puck clear, GOAL!
Later in the period, turnover, get the puck back, has Kaliev wide open in the slot, pass behind, not in front, and it's tipped out of the zone. He was awful all night. He's not an NHL center!
-The 4th line was non-existent other than to give the Oilers scoring ops. They put 2 in on them .
-The pp and Iaffollo. Nothing else needs to be said.
-The 2nd unit pp embarrassed the 1st unit every time they were out there, even though they didn't score.
- Only 2 min for Kane's dirty kneeing penalty...yeah , ok! Didn't even ask if it was a major.
They spent more time reviewing Roy's high sticking call than most tv timeouts last.

The good: Moore!
Demote Iafollo at all spots on the team and put Moore in his place on the top line and pp.

i think the real solution to iafallo is to put him on the 4th line to stabilize them somewhat and send him a message

getting moore up to kopi's wing and kaliyev to danault's would be so logical, so.. obviously tmac isn't going to do that..

frustrating

all seems to boil down to coaching at this stage, tmac is in over his head when it comes to personnel

 

[Reaper45]

At the very least TMac needs to get new assistants next season.

 

[BigKing]

Wish it was all road games from here on out. Getting tired of rolling up to LA to see them lose all the time.

The injuries are a big deal. It's not rocket science. The Lizotte line was actually the 3rd line but now you never really know what you are going to get on a shift-to-shift basis from the bottom two lines. Top two lines are not world beaters offensively so here they are just trying to grind out wins in a 3-2 league where they struggle to be the 3.

It's not surprising that it is tight sphincter time in this playoff race. I'm actually shocked that they've been able to tread water here with Durzi playing 25 minutes a night and having the Edler/Stecher pairing out there to close out a one goal game.

Minnesota is going to be rough. These guys are going to have to be ready to play a physical game. Not getting a point there is going to lead to a meltdown on the board depending on how the other teams in the race fare this weekend.

 

[Reaper45]

I’m fully expecting them to get manhandled again Minnesota and possibly adding one injury to the list as well.

 

[Peter James Bond II]

i think the real solution to iafallo is to put him on the 4th line to stabilize them somewhat and send him a message

getting moore up to kopi's wing and kaliyev to danault's would be so logical, so.. obviously tmac isn't going to do that..

frustrating

all seems to boil down to coaching at this stage, tmac is in over his head when it comes to personnel

TMac needs to change his definition of productive, to the actual, real defeinition and consider going over stats,, in which he does not believe in. Stats do not lie.

 

[funky]

Does anyone feel that Byfield will potentially become a 100 pt type player once he fully grows and gains more experience? The problem I see, the numerous years of the Kings struggles to score goals will hold back Byfield at putting up no more than a 80 pt player. I can't understand it. Why do the Kings not develop any goal scorers? They need to develop some Bernie Nichol types, and bring in the Kurri and Gaborik types of goal scorers. Right now all they got is Kempe, Danualt and that is it. Thought Avardsson would be another goal scorer, but he doesn't always have it for every game. The Kings badly need some snipers that can score from inside the face-off circles(would be such a help scoring even strength and on the PP). It would also help to get some back end scoring other than Doughty.

Pre draft most scouts had him as a 65 to 70 point guy that would play a good two way game.

Right now I see glimpses of skill but I do not see the drive or hunger.

Wish the best for the kid and need him to play every shift like he played two back to back third period shifts last night. Take puck and use size and speed to drive it down ice and create chances.

Hoping a little seasoning and twenty pounds helps him thrive.

 

[kinghock]

I watched the live ESPN feed as I am in the US, so it much a much easier watch rather than relying on my tablet, usually a couple of hours (+) behind live. So my random thoughts...

1. Durzi really struggled and his flaws really came to the fore. He’s certainly getting too many minutes but right now it’s clear if this team ever becomes a contender (with him in it) then he will be the No1 whipping boy on here. I don’t see how there is any chance he gets north of 3 million as some suggested. He looks like a #6 pp specialist, at best, to me.

2. I prefer Kupari on wing

3. Vilardi and Byfield had some nice moments. The production must surely follow. Shouldn’t it?

4. I really like Spence. Roy definitely brought something to the blue line that was missing but Spence was the standout D man in my eyes. I also liked Bjornfots game.

5. The second pp unit looked way better than pp1.

6. The second line was definitely our major scoring threat all thought Danault made a couple of bad defensive plays. The only player on the top line that looked like making anything happen was Kempe.


I thought the compete was there but we really have to start taking chances. Making Smith look good is never a positive. I really thought the Oilers were there for the taking and it was a game we definitely should have won.

I would trade Durzi for 2nd or 3rd round pick ASAP (if some team wants him).

You cannot help player with really slow feet.

Spence is so much better player

 

[kinghock]

This'll be Kopitar, Vilardi, and Durzi next season.

Can you please keep Vilardi out of this group?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

i think the real solution to iafallo is to put him on the 4th line to stabilize them somewhat and send him a message

getting moore up to kopi's wing and kaliyev to danault's would be so logical, so.. obviously tmac isn't going to do that..

frustrating

all seems to boil down to coaching at this stage, tmac is in over his head when it comes to personnel

Vets don't get messages

They get additional playing time

Wish it was all road games from here on out. Getting tired of rolling up to LA to see them lose all the time.

The injuries are a big deal. It's not rocket science. The Lizotte line was actually the 3rd line but now you never really know what you are going to get on a shift-to-shift basis from the bottom two lines. Top two lines are not world beaters offensively so here they are just trying to grind out wins in a 3-2 league where they struggle to be the 3.

It's not surprising that it is tight sphincter time in this playoff race. I'm actually shocked that they've been able to tread water here with Durzi playing 25 minutes a night and having the Edler/Stecher pairing out there to close out a one goal game.

Minnesota is going to be rough. These guys are going to have to be ready to play a physical game. Not getting a point there is going to lead to a meltdown on the board depending on how the other teams in the race fare this weekend.

Minnesota is going to kick our teeth in. I'm watching only out of morbid curiousity. I smell an injury.

I said it in another thread but this team misses Lizotte more than they miss anyone but Drew.

 

[Reaper45]

Vets don't get messages

They get additional playing time




Minnesota is going to kick our teeth in. I'm watching only out of morbid curiousity. I smell an injury.

I said it in another thread but this team misses Lizotte more than they miss anyone but Drew.

Lizotte is a tone setter. This team needs more tone setters. Not passengers.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

God bless the replacements but it's apparent they're all finally out of gas fighting adversity. There's nothing left in the tank for anyone. Bless their efforts keeping us afloat for what, two months of the worst injuries since 2006? ANd it makes me upset sure but not really mad AT them given what they've been through, but I think this team has given us all they had left to give. I expect a soft descent out of the playoffs going 3-6 or something and missing out by 2-3 points.

Like I get the complaints about Durzi but the guy was playing 26-28 minutes a night in the Drew Doughty role, that had to catch up eventually. Can't wait to see him in an 18-20 minute capacity next year and you know that dude is going to LIVE in the gym this summer, he's hungry, and I hope he's contagious.

 

[KingsHockey24]

They will not be in the playoffs.

Careful saying that; I was bashed relentlessly saying that 3 days ago.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Can you please keep Vilardi out of this group?

This is good though! Frolov was a legit top six forward for us for many years!

And well.. Peter Harrold was a serviceable 4th line RW'er and bottom pairing D! The future shines bright for Sean Durzi.

 

[LAKings88]

Am I the only one who thinks Durzi is a bit of a soccer player. Gaudreau and Kane incidents both kinda reek of dying on the ice and coming right back next shift.

 

[Herby]

Can you please keep Vilardi out of this group?

Frolov is a generous comparison for Vilardi.

 

[bland]

God bless the replacements but it's apparent they're all finally out of gas fighting adversity. There's nothing left in the tank for anyone. Bless their efforts keeping us afloat for what, two months of the worst injuries since 2006? ANd it makes me upset sure but not really mad AT them given what they've been through, but I think this team has given us all they had left to give. I expect a soft descent out of the playoffs going 3-6 or something and missing out by 2-3 points.

Like I get the complaints about Durzi but the guy was playing 26-28 minutes a night in the Drew Doughty role, that had to catch up eventually. Can't wait to see him in an 18-20 minute capacity next year and you know that dude is going to LIVE in the gym this summer, he's hungry, and I hope he's contagious.

Durzi is such an odd player, SO many admirable and rare qualities, but his limitations are so severe that most nights its a net negative to have him in the lineup.

If you had better leadership from the vets, including those in their mid to late 20s, you could cast him aside easily because his defensive ability would be adequate in the ECHL. Its not just his individual puck mistakes that are costly, its the positioning and spacing that creates easy passing lanes and allows continued possession, backing in soooo deep to allow easy zone entries, the kind of unpredictability that makes it virtually impossible to be his partner.

I don't think most folks recognized the role he played in that goal allowed by Petersen before they finished the anthems in Calgary. Its a set play for the goalie when retrieving pucks while facing the boards to flip it hard around the corner to a defenseman who heads to that wall. Happens 4 or 5 times every night, its a coached situation that is supposed be engrained and automatic so they can gain an extra second on the forecheckers and make a cleaner, controlled exit. Only problem that time was that Durzi didn't head to the corner, he stayed halfway towards the slot and allowed Gaudreau not only to get the puck but also to have the unpressured time to look up and take his chance in the confusion. Everybody lost their mud at Cal, but that was on Durzi.

Set plays and coverages are blown every shift. Some don't turn into anything dangerous, but the chances for it to happen with him on the ice are thru the roof. Maybe it really would be better to try him up front. .

 

[bland]

Am I the only one who thinks Durzi is a bit of a soccer player. Gaudreau and Kane incidents both kinda reek of dying on the ice and coming right back next shift.

No, he has hit that frustrated stage of diving when nothing else works. The knee was a legit call, but he embellished it - not nearly as bad as when Gaudreau killed him though.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Durzi is such an odd player, SO many admirable and rare qualities, but his limitations are so severe that most nights its a net negative to have him in the lineup.

If you had better leadership from the vets, including those in their mid to late 20s, you could cast him aside easily because his defensive ability would be adequate in the ECHL. Its not just his individual puck mistakes that are costly, its the positioning and spacing that creates easy passing lanes and allows continued possession, backing in soooo deep to allow easy zone entries, the kind of unpredictability that makes it virtually impossible to be his partner.

I don't think most folks recognized the role he played in that goal allowed by Petersen before they finished the anthems in Calgary. Its a set play for the goalie when retrieving pucks while facing the boards to flip it hard around the corner to a defenseman who heads to that wall. Happens 4 or 5 times every night, its a coached situation that is supposed be engrained and automatic so they can gain an extra second on the forecheckers and make a cleaner, controlled exit. Only problem that time was that Durzi didn't head to the corner, he stayed halfway towards the slot and allowed Gaudreau not only to get the puck but also to have the unpressured time to look up and take his chance in the confusion. Everybody lost their mud at Cal, but that was on Durzi.

Set plays and coverages are blown every shift. Some don't turn into anything dangerous, but the chances for it to happen with him on the ice are thru the roof. Maybe it really would be better to try him up front. .

Anyone's limitations are going to be on full display in 28 minutes of icetime.

I'm on the same page as you re his good and bad volatility but I'm also trying not to Derek Armstrong him out of town, it's not his fault he's a sudden NHL #1D.