GDT: 2021-22 season game 9 LA Kings vs Buffalo Sabres @1:00pm 10/31/21

[crassbonanza]

Fun game, these past two wins were critical and they came through

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Also, both goaltenders look much better this past week. We are finally getting saves here and there and it’s keeping us in games.

 

[Docgonzo]

I'm a little more scared that Arvidsson was taking warmups before getting pulled for Covid protocol, really. That's gonna be interesting to monitor the next few days, luckily not on the road again until the 8th

I’ll cry if we lose more people.

 

[HookKing]

Zegras got knocked out of the game for quite some time after a dirty hit, so.

Fair enough, but explain ready for assisted living -- Getzlaf.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

So Vilardi was scratched yesterday and in covid protocol today. Non issue.

Kaliyev swaps positions with Andersson and both end up with around 14 minutes. Non issue.

Kupari is playing a decent amount as well. Lizzotte and Lemieux working hard with an effective sub-10 minute game.

I have zero problem with bench management the last couple games. Youth is being rotated in and out and given a variety of opportunities, and we are winning. I don’t think complaints about ice time this weekend fits the larger narrative about TM at all. The team is still emerging. We have too many forwards and there’ll be some tinkering while still trying to secure wins.

Euphemistic way of looking at it.

Kaliyev got benched/demoted, let's see if he's scratched next game. Andersson, to his credit, looked like a beast. Him moving UP was a good move.

There should be no reason for guys to have 7 minutes in this game and Kopitar to have nearly 25 on a back to back. That's the load management thing we were complaining about last year. The offseason sold us on rolling all lines, aggressive forecheck philosophy.

You would think Lemieux at least had earned more icetime, but whatevs.

It's hard to complain because as you say ultimately it's the first b2b wins of the season (and on afternoon weekend games, none the less!), but the same TM issues are there, they didn't patch themselves and I still have an issue with it. I guess to be fair special teams time threw everything out of whack, too.

As far as the players out there--I'm much happier with the efforts top to bottom.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Thank god he demoted Kaliyev though, that'll help that dumb kid learn that when he's actually making the effort to cover someone else's error on the PP it's all his fault no matter how hard he tries.

Maybe someone told TM Arty wasn't actually 34 years old.

Kopitar with 24 and Brown with 22 minutes on the back-to-back though, great management

A lot of PP time.

But, the closer the game, the more likely the vets will play. On the other hand, over the last 2 games, Edler and Maatta take up the 4 lowest spots on D for total TOI, with Clague being more of a PP specialist.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Fair enough, but explain ready for assisted living -- Getzlaf.

Probably ate some of Zegras' time with a lead since that would have knocked the ducks down a C.

I'm more shocked by Fowler but they've got mostly veterans on D anyway, minus Drysdale

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I'd say almost most importantly that was extremely watchable hockey, haha. Fun game, some big saves, some big hits, a spontaneous fight, nice goals, good pace. Very unusual

 

[KingsFan7824]

I miss the fun self hatred/loathing, not the just angry at everything.

I miss the 90's too.

 

[King'sPawn]

Brown at the end - wtf was he thinking?

This is probably going to be misunderstood, but that play by Björnfot is antithetical Kings play. If Iafallo doesn't get that, it's lost possession with the puck likely going the other way. It's a beautiful play, but it's a medium-high risk move that paid off.

I am curious if this is a change going forward or if players will face discipline doing stuff like this.

Edit: really dig Andersson on the top line. Kopitar always thrives with puck hound types, like Iafallo, Williams, etc.

 

[cyclones22]

Andersson was the motor of the Vilardi line. Absolutely compliments both Gabe's and Tkachev's skill but who knows if we'll ever see that line again.

 

[unicornpig]

Andersson was the motor of the Vilardi line. Absolutely compliments both Gabe's and Tkachev's skill but who knows if we'll ever see that line again.

it would take kupari to play himself out of the 3c

 

[lumbergh]

You might wanna switch to booze pretty soon.

Went with a Jell-O shot after 2 periods. Worked out well in the end.

 

[lumbergh]

Fun game, these past two wins were critical and they came through

Good for the Kings to win a close game for once. Important they figure out how to gut one out.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

it would take kupari to play himself out of the 3c

I dunno, Andersson-Kupari-Vilardi sounds pretty good to me!

 

[Jericho111091]

I forgot there was a game today so I slept in and got around to watching Dune

 

[Bandit]

Yep, look at Anaheim today, Getzlaf played almost 24 minutes with Fowler next a 22. Oh, and Kaliyev had over a minute more than 2019 GOAT pick -- Zegras.

Not sure I’d look to the Ducks as the franchise to be emulating.

 

[funky]

Don’t like Kaliyev on Kopitars’s line without a puck hound. Kaliyev is not that guy. He is a guy that finds open ice and gets shots off.

thought Grundstrom had a great game as did Lemieux. I like a little bite in the lineup.

Defence as a whole did well. Not going to nitpick there.

still waiting to see more from Moore. I have missed a few games this year but man he has looked off.

AI is a gem. Want to see Kaliyev back w Danault and Iafallo for a couple of games.

Kupari will be a beast if he adds a bit more strength.

 

[Docgonzo]

With Vilardi we might be seeing a sped up version of Kempe’s time at center. Only difference is when they kept trying Kempe at center they didn’t have anybody else, so it kept him there longer.

Coaches might start tinkering more with Vilardi at wing and then he starts to get moved up and down the lineup depending how he plays until he sticks, or doesn’t and gets traded lol

 

[Bandit]

I miss the 90's too.

30 years ago is the 80’s right? RIGHT????

 

[funky]

I hope by Byfield heals soon and gets back into the lineup and plays well. A guy with that kind of size, speed, and skill will really help this team.

I feel really bad for Anderson-Dolan. Thought he played well in a majority of his games last year and brought some spark and skill to the bottom line. I love Lizotte’s hustle and energy but sometimes it’s a lot of flash and not a lot of finish. I did like his game today.

 

[King'sPawn]

Don’t like Kaliyev on Kopitars’s line without a puck hound. Kaliyev is not that guy. He is a guy that finds open ice and gets shots off.

thought Grundstrom had a great game as did Lemieux. I like a little bite in the lineup.

Defence as a whole did well. Not going to nitpick there.

still waiting to see more from Moore. I have missed a few games this year but man he has looked off.

AI is a gem. Want to see Kaliyev back w Danault and Iafallo for a couple of games.

Kupari will be a beast if he adds a bit more strength.

Going forward, would be down with:
Andersson - Kopitar - Vilardi
Vilardi's not staying center. So stop wasting time. Let's put him with a scorer he can learn from, while keeping him with Andersson, with whom he has chemistry

Arvidsson - Danault - Kempe
Arvidsson and Kempe both provide speed up the wings, while Danault helps with zone entries and 5-on-5 defense

Iafallo - Kupari - Kaliyev
Kupari and Kaliyev can benefit from Iafallo's puck pursuit, and he also is defensively responsible. Kaliyev and Kupari are also developing some chemistry.

Lemieux - Byfield/Lizotte - Moore
Moore is an easy plug-and-play who can help any rookie transition. So when Byfield returns, it will be a good person to partner with. Lemieux adds the edge to the team. In the meantime, Lizotte can make it a standard energy line.

This line-up does its best to give youth some vets to play with to learn from, while also having some nod to chemistry.

Ask me again in 10 mins though and I'm sure I'd have something different. It's why I'm not a coach.

Edit: Forgot Brown. Put him in the bottom 6.

Then it's about making room for Tkachev.

 

[funky]

What you going to do with Brown?

 

[HookKing]

Don’t like Kaliyev on Kopitars’s line without a puck hound. Kaliyev is not that guy. He is a guy that finds open ice and gets shots off.

thought Grundstrom had a great game as did Lemieux. I like a little bite in the lineup.

Defence as a whole did well. Not going to nitpick there.

still waiting to see more from Moore. I have missed a few games this year but man he has looked off.

AI is a gem. Want to see Kaliyev back w Danault and Iafallo for a couple of games.

Kupari will be a beast if he adds a bit more strength.

Disagree on Moore, the guy was all over the ice today.

 

[KingsFan7824]

What you going to do with Brown?