GDT: 2020-21 season game 25 LA Kings vs Anaheim Ducks @6:30pm 3/10/21

[kilowatt]

Kempe has arrived.

A 'freakish' amount of goals by Brown, 6 goals by AA in 17 games and 11 by Kempe, make a big difference from what was
mostly a 1 line team last year. The PP looks like the best it has looked in years. I like that both Drew and Kopi are shooting
more on it.

It's just f***ing crazy. The power play is so good I don't even recognize it. What's different? Has anyone analyzed it yet? Are we just a better team?

Kopitar 7th in points
Brown tied for 7th in goals
Kempe tied for 19th in goals
Doughty tied fourth in scoring among defensemen
Vilardi tied for sixth in rookie scoring

Grosenick now leads the league in save percentage among goalies with at least one start lmao

 

[Stimpythecat]

is it because of the players buying in to TM's system? Is it something that takes a while to get used to?

 

[ru4reals]

It's just f***ing crazy. The power play is so good I don't even recognize it. What's different? Has anyone analyzed it yet? Are we just a better team?

Kopitar 7th in points
Brown tied for 7th in goals
Kempe tied for 19th in goals
Doughty tied fourth in scoring among defensemen
Vilardi tied for sixth in rookie scoring

Grosenick now leads the league in save percentage among goalies with at least one start lmao

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[Schmooley]

Ducks were pathetic tonight. Kings played well.

 

[johnjm22]

Athanasiou is playing at the level of a star winger. The amount of scoring chances he generates at even strength relative to his ice time is very high.

Had it not been for COVID taking him out of his rhythm, his stats would look much better right now. Still scoring at a 29 goal pace though.

His play is almost too good to be true. It will be interesting to see what management decides to do with him.

 

[kingsboy11]

Kempe has arrived.

A 'freakish' amount of goals by Brown, 6 goals by AA in 17 games and 11 by Kempe, make a big difference from what was
mostly a 1 line team last year. Vilardi has emerged as a legit #2 NHL center... The PP looks like the best it has looked in years. I like that both Drew and Kopi are shooting more on it.

I've been watching since the 06-07 season and I don't think the powerplay has ever been this good. I legit feel like we're going to score a powerplay goal every game at this point and its ridiculous. The special teams overhaul has been massive for this team.

 

[ru4reals]

On a side note Anze is only 19 points away from 1000!!!! Only 2 players from that draft will have 1000 games played and 1000 points if Kopi gets there not bad for a kid from a non traditional hockey country. We all know who that other guy is. Lets do this Kopi.

 

[Frolov 6'3]

Hakkanpaa with the Steve Duschene award

He also passed the puck to Kempe on the 1st goal.

He was having a heck of a game for us.

 

[King'sPawn]

I know the league is different now, but dammit, if a hot shot kid ever tried a lacrosse goal on my goalie he is getting his ass handed to him. I really miss that mentality. Fear used to keep punks in line.

Zegras is definitely good enough to put his bag of tricks aside and go about shit the right way. The no look fakes, every pass has to show somebody up, everybody look at my mits, god I hate that bitch game.

I was telling my friend about similar thoughts. He has great puck skills. When he tried to do the Michigan for his first career goal, it did not resonate well with me.

But again, I've eaten my words each season he does well/improved.

 

[rapots]

On a side note Anze is only 19 points away from 1000!!!! Only 2 players from that draft will have 1000 games played and 1000 points if Kopi gets there not bad for a kid from a non traditional hockey country. We all know who that other guy is. Lets do this Kopi.

Slovenia has always been a hockey country, tiny one but still

 

[LAK74]

Kings trivia - who is their last player to get two hattys in a row?

Nichols or Carson..

Man, Carson was an absolute monster that season (1987/88). Five hat tricks (!), 55 goals and 107 points. I’m very happy to own the jersey he was wearing when he scored the consecutive hat tricks.

 

[Vino]

The power play is so good I don't even recognize it. What's different?

I don't know what advanced stats, numbers etc. says, but my eye test says difference is Adrian Kempe.

 

[SFKingshomer]

I was telling my friend about similar thoughts. He has great puck skills. When he tried to do the Michigan for his first career goal, it did not resonate well with me.

But again, I've eaten my words each season he does well/improved.

Right now he’s been all flash no substance. I get that he racked up a ton of points at WJ but Turcotte played a better overall game doing all the dirty work for that line.

 

[HookKing]

I don't know what advanced stats, numbers etc. says, but my eye test says difference is Adrian Kempe.

The biggest differences are 1) the sense of urgency -- just moving the puck quickly and not waiting for it to come to you (Kopitar/Doughty)

2) Hitting the 1-timers -- the boys have probably hit more 1 timers in the last few games than they usually do in a season.

3) Creativity in getting the thing set up (Kempe/Vilardi).

 

[mbar]

Zegras has no goals in a dozen games? I know he’s on a bad team but he seemed a complete non factor last night.

Have to wonder about the Ducks burning a year of his contract on a lost season for them. Wouldn’t he be better off in San Diego?

 

[SFKingshomer]

I gotta admit I gave up on Kempe becoming a top 6 forward and was fine with the Kings trading him. Now he looks like part of the core moving forward...good to see. Another 1 of those players that play better in the NHL than the AHL. Structure and speed fit his game better...

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

It's just f***ing crazy. The power play is so good I don't even recognize it. What's different? Has anyone analyzed it yet? Are we just a better team?

Kopitar 7th in points
Brown tied for 7th in goals
Kempe tied for 19th in goals
Doughty tied fourth in scoring among defensemen
Vilardi tied for sixth in rookie scoring

Grosenick now leads the league in save percentage among goalies with at least one start lmao

I wouldn't say I've analyzed it but it has so many different looks, people can't just get to "oh yeah Kopi is on that half wall and Drew is glued to the point" when Doughty is at the goal line firing backhand passes across. And the suicidal drop pass entry has gotten so much better with Kempe carrying and Vilardi able to do so on the next unit. Also, the 2nd unit being mostly fine with just being a 5v5 style 'chaos' unit seems to f*** people up--in games when the controlled 1st unit can't get it done, the 2nd unit just going down broadway with no f***s given does.

is it because of the players buying in to TM's system? Is it something that takes a while to get used to?

The way they talk about it it sure seems so.

 

[bland]

I was telling my friend about similar thoughts. He has great puck skills. When he tried to do the Michigan for his first career goal, it did not resonate well with me.

But again, I've eaten my words each season he does well/improved.

The comparisons to Patrick Kane's lateral mobility and unearthly puck skills are worthy, but there is a respect for the game and opposition that appears to be limited if not lacking. Why make a simple 12 foot pass when you can add three types of flourish to it?

I know kids love to show off their "sick" skills, but lord I hope that he isn't just a taste of what's to come.

 

[BigKing]

Big difference on the PP is moving the puck quickly, even if it just at the point. They are using the forward well that kind of comes up towards the blue line in the middle of the zone for quick touch passes from D-F-back to the D with the D then moving it quickly to the other point man. It makes the PK move a little bit more and have their head's on a swivel. We've been used to Kopitar holding the puck at the half wall and not much movement. Predictability. Now you've got much quicker passing plus zone entries that aren't almost exclusively a dump-in or Kopitar carrying it in and then peeling off to his half-wall spot.

It's funny down in Ontario that the Reign are supposed to be using the same system. They definitely do the drop pass to the trailing forward for zone entry (and have made some real comical errors while doing so) but I don't see the aforementioned forward in the middle of the zone deal. It's all an effort to try to get one-timers for Fagemo and Kaliyev and Byfield basically plays the entire thing down at the goal line. Reminds me of the Kings PP when they first got Kovalchuk.

 

[AzKing]

Right now he’s been all flash no substance. I get that he racked up a ton of points at WJ but Turcotte played a better overall game doing all the dirty work for that line.

I have felt that Turcotte will have a Mike Richards-type of career in the NHL and that is more than ok for a #2 level Center. You win titles with guys like Turcotte. I think Zegras is going to be really pretty damn good but I like the guys who will play it at both ends and do that dirty work as well.

 

[cyclones22]

Big difference on the PP is moving the puck quickly, even if it just at the point. They are using the forward well that kind of comes up towards the blue line in the middle of the zone for quick touch passes from D-F-back to the D with the D then moving it quickly to the other point man. It makes the PK move a little bit more and have their head's on a swivel. We've been used to Kopitar holding the puck at the half wall and not much movement. Predictability. Now you've got much quicker passing plus zone entries that aren't almost exclusively a dump-in or Kopitar carrying it in and then peeling off to his half-wall spot.

It's funny down in Ontario that the Reign are supposed to be using the same system. They definitely do the drop pass to the trailing forward for zone entry (and have made some real comical errors while doing so) but I don't see the aforementioned forward in the middle of the zone deal. It's all an effort to try to get one-timers for Fagemo and Kaliyev and Byfield basically plays the entire thing down at the goal line. Reminds me of the Kings PP when they first got Kovalchuk.

It's the "bump" forward. I don't think they're utilizing that yet in Ontario. Will definitely look for it in the next game though.

 

[Herby]

Only down part about tonight is Minnesota got 2 points and Colorado/Arizona was a 3 point game. The Kings are probably not going to catch Vegas so them winning every game they play (other than vs. us) is kind of important. Very annoying they let Minnesota get 4 points. The Ducks and Sharks are just not very good teams, very close to saying they are both done. 5 teams fighting for 3 spots.

 

[Herby]

Big difference on the PP is moving the puck quickly, even if it just at the point. They are using the forward well that kind of comes up towards the blue line in the middle of the zone for quick touch passes from D-F-back to the D with the D then moving it quickly to the other point man. It makes the PK move a little bit more and have their head's on a swivel. We've been used to Kopitar holding the puck at the half wall and not much movement. Predictability. Now you've got much quicker passing plus zone entries that aren't almost exclusively a dump-in or Kopitar carrying it in and then peeling off to his half-wall spot.

It's funny down in Ontario that the Reign are supposed to be using the same system. They definitely do the drop pass to the trailing forward for zone entry (and have made some real comical errors while doing so) but I don't see the aforementioned forward in the middle of the zone deal. It's all an effort to try to get one-timers for Fagemo and Kaliyev and Byfield basically plays the entire thing down at the goal line. Reminds me of the Kings PP when they first got Kovalchuk.

I miss the good old days of Kopitar lobbing pucks for Stoll to one-time high and wide. Love the sound of the puck hitting the glass and the visual of defenders (or teammates) seeing their lives flash before their eyes as the puck is eye level.

Screw these passes through the seams and creativity. Who wants to see that?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

As long as the Kings keep getting 3 of 4 points, no matter where they land, I'd say that's an immensely successful season and they were only held out of the playoffs by true powerhouse teams.

 

[Steve Zissou]

I miss the good old days of Kopitar lobbing pucks for Stoll to one-time high and wide. Love the sound of the puck hitting the glass and the visual of defenders (or teammates) seeing their lives flash before their eyes as the puck is eye level.

Screw these passes through the seams and creativity. Who wants to see that?

Welcome to 2020/21 The Year of The Pandemic complete with a 1 second delay of fake oohs and ahhhs when said player misses the net.