GDT: 2021-22 season game 12 LA Kings vs Toronto Maple Leafs @4:30pm 11/8/21

[Telos]

Well... Looking forward to being told by everyone how much Quick sucks at the trade deadline.

Danault is better than Richards.

Danault is cannon. They play a similar style, though Richards was still more physical before his career ending concussion.

 

[HookKing]

Last 5 games:

Best player not playing well.
Top line not playing well.
1st line LWer out.
Franchise Dman out.
PP mostly terrible.
PK absolutely terrible.
Goaltending mostly average. (Exception tonight)

Record? 5-0-0

You forgot about the horrendous coach who should have been fired 5 games ago.

 

[tny760]

centers down the lineup 67%, 64%, 75%, 50% from the dot

solid

 

[KingsHockey24]

I tuned in and we were up 2-0; 30 seconds later Tavares scored. Figured if I kept watching we'd lose so I turned it off immediately.

You're welcome boys.

 

[TruKingFan]

I tuned in and we were up 2-0; 30 seconds later Tavares scored. Figured if I kept watching we'd lose so I turned it off immediately.

You're welcome boys.

yeah right. Liar.

 

[MBH]

CF vs CA. HDCF vs HDCA. GF vs GA
Kempe-Kopitar-Brown 11 vs 18. 2 vs 3. 0 vs 0.
Iafallo-Danault-Athanasiou- 15 vs 7. 7 vs 0. 3 vs 0.
Lemiuex-Lizotta-Kaliyev - 7 vs 10. 1 vs 5. 0 vs 0.
Moore-Kupari-Grundstrom - 5 vs 15. 1 vs 5. 1 vs 0.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Danault is better than Richards.

Lol not really, Danault needs more hardware and put up 60-80 points. Danault is good, similar to Richards in a lot of ways but better, no.

 

[KingsFan7824]

So the Danault,Kempe and Yafallo were developing great chemistry and TM puts AA on the line...very curious and stupid me thinks

How many goals does the line need to get to be just a normal move that coaches will sometimes do when a team goes on the road to spread the wealth for matchup purposes?

We're so ready to tear TM a new one with everything he does. Coaches do what they do. Sometimes it's easier to see how it plays out before attacking every decision.

 

[MBH]

Lol not really, Danault needs more hardware and put up 60-80 points. Danault is good, similar to Richards in a lot of ways but better, no.

Mike Richards? In his prime?

 

[Bandit]

This. Hell, even Maata looked mostly good.

Now you’ve gone too far.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Quick's not letting Cal just walk in that's for sure.

Danault just smoked everyone tonight, so fun. Danault and Iafallo are the best line in the NHL no matter what you put next to them. AA is a good fit since he's a finisher and super fast but a liability otherwise, basically the same philosophy I was advocating with Vilardi/Kaliyev, so I'll take it.

Kupari and Kaliyev were working out there, Kupari in particular had one of the top two Cs out there with him all night so such a good showing watching him go hard. Ditto for Lemieux, and Lizotte was possessed. Lot of jump in everyone's games tonight really, was a rare game where the result didn't matter to me as much as everyone was pulling hard in the same direction and fighting hard for all the ice they could get.

Anderson was f***ing up everyone in his airspace tonight, baby Willie Mitchell came to play. Was fun watching him and Matthews play big boy hockey down low.

D core as a whole is pulling together since they can't look at someone to come save them. They're going to make mistakes--like Bjornfot early getting dragged--but they're an important part of growth. Playing a high energy game in a loud environment and withstanding the pressure was a huge step. THere was a lot of possession in our zone but guys weren't giving them much to look at either--lot of good checking and shot blocking.

The PP is basically the opposite, no one wants the puck and everyone wants someone to save them. That could have lost us the game. Really need to refocus on that.

Was an important win because it's 3 in 4 nights and these guys are gonna be low gas by the end of the week.

 

[HookKing]

Lol not really, Danault needs more hardware and put up 60-80 points. Danault is good, similar to Richards in a lot of ways but better, no.

Richards never remotely played this dominant for the Kings. Danault is a beast.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Now you’ve gone too far.

I've come to the conclusion that Maatta is just an idiot savant. He doens't even know what he's doing, so how can anyone else? There was a play near the end where he inexplicably stood Matthews up at the blue line and no one on the rink saw it coming, total all or nothing play, like why right now but since it worked perfectly, he looks like a genius.

 

[BringTheReign]

Glad to see Moore pot one. He and Brown were near the bottom of the list in terms of actual goals vs. expected goals (meaning they're both due).

 

[Mats26]

Danault- Iafallo are simply amazing. But can we give some love to Bjornfot and Anderson? They are playing out of their minds right now.

So glad we don't need Kopitar\Doughty to fully carry this team. Looks like we got good bones to build on.

 

[Matt13]

I bet we don’t lose a game again until Doughty comes back.

 

[tny760]

I've come to the conclusion that Maatta is just an idiot savant. He doens't even know what he's doing, so how can anyone else? There was a play near the end where he inexplicably stood Matthews up at the blue line and no one on the rink saw it coming, total all or nothing play, like why right now but since it worked perfectly, he looks like a genius.

i genuinely laughed out loud when i saw that

just a perfect defensive play and he's like "oh shit i did it"

 

[KingsHockey24]

Danault is better than Richards.

 

[HookKing]

I'm not a Lizotte fan but he had a fantastic game.

 

[Lt Dan]

On to the Bell Centre in Montreal to play Les Canadiens tomorrow!!! |See you all here,there wherever you are

I am like Visa. I am everywhere you want to be.

 

[Master Yoda]

Last 5 games:

Best player not playing well.
Top line not playing well.
1st line LWer out.
Franchise Dman out.
PP mostly terrible.
PK absolutely terrible.
Goaltending mostly average. (Exception tonight)

Record? 5-0-0

Don't forget allowing a 4v3 short hander with 7 seconds left, and another last minute goal allowed playing 6v5.

 

[Steve Zissou]

I think the hard work of the 4th line trickled over to the rest of the team tonight. Everyone worked really hard in all areas of the ice tonight.

Lizotte gets blown up like 2-3 times a game but the kid is just a nat to play against. Kid does have brass balls.

 

[kilowatt]

Mike Richards' best stat total in LA was 18 goals and 44 points in 78 games. Danault's on pace for 20 goals and 54 points this season.

 

[MBH]

CF vs CA. HDCF vs HDCA. GF vs GA
Kempe-Kopitar-Brown 11 vs 18. 2 vs 3. 0 vs 0.
Iafallo-Danault-Athanasiou- 15 vs 7. 7 vs 0. 3 vs 0.
Lemiuex-Lizotta-Kaliyev - 7 vs 10. 1 vs 5. 0 vs 0.
Moore-Kupari-Grundstrom - 5 vs 15. 1 vs 5. 1 vs 0.

I get why TMac doesn't separate Kopitar-Brown.
Kopitar and Brown are big f***ing names.
But look what happens when Doughty can't play.

Sometimes, those big names block other guys from the opportunities they need.
Brown is still a great PP performer.

I'd like to see:

Arvidsson-Kopitar-Brown - for awhile. I think Brown's physicality and netfront play still helps. But if not, maybe replace him with Vilardi.
Iafallo-Danault-Athanasiou - defensive matchup line with more than enough sizzle to scorch you
Kempe-Vilardi-Kaliyev - Vilardi as 3C with Kempe/Kaliyev should get the matchups they like.
Moore-Kupari-Lemieux/Andersson -

And then, from

 

[johnjm22]

Lizotte is a fine, maybe even good 4th line center. People just don't like him because he doesn't have upside beyond that.

No matter how many scoring chances Athanasiou generates, people around here will always be eager to give his spot away to Andersson, Vilardi, or whoever the shiny new toy is like Tkachev.

Kopitar needs to have his ice time cut.

If the PP/PK continue to struggle, the coaching staff should just blow them and rebuild the units.