GDT: 2022-23 season game 44 LA Kings vs Edmonton Oilers @7:30pm 1/9/23

[rapots]

Always a happy day when beating McOilers

 

[KingsFan7824]

The team is really beginning to play for each other. Durzi is a made man now as far as I’m concerned.

Edmonton is such a laughable franchise. Imagine where this team would be if they didn’t have Mcdavid.

 

[Dykstra]

3 fun games in row? Where’s my boring Kings?

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

You've lost it. You've gone full troll. Your gaslighting is worse than @GoldenBearHockey. You make @Axl Rhoadz seem reasonable.

Not sure why you brought me into this, I am just laughing my ass off at all the people who couldn't see what this team was.....and are now going...wait...what? Imagine being the person who can't enjoy beating the shit out of Edmonton, because Kopitar played 7 minutes in the 1st???

Maybe Tmac never was the problem to begin with? All the armchair GMs and their beer league hockey experience was?

Team will still have garbage nights, team still has to figure out a long term solution for LD/G, but this team has also strung together about 30 days of goddamn hockey......and most of you are just figuring out what I saw in the first month.....imagine that.

 

[Reaper45]

The team is really beginning to play for each other. Durzi is a made man now as far as I’m concerned.

Edmonton is such a laughable franchise. Imagine where this team would be if they didn’t have Mcdavid.

Honestly they’d probably be better. They’d have to fill other spots with better players instead of we have the best player in the world let’s fill the rest of the roster with white dog shit.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Byfield has averaged 15 TOI the last 5 games playing on the top line....and has 1 assist to show for it. I'm not one that's giving up on him, but I laugh at the posters who were so persistent that the coaching staff was holding Byfield back by playing him on 3rd or 4th line.

Yeah, he showed them....

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

.and most of you are just figuring out what I saw in the first month.....imagine that.

Hey, you don't get all the credit....

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Does @bland still think that Kevin Fiala doesn't make this team better? Asking for a friend...

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Byfield has averaged 15 TOI the last 5 games playing on the top line....and has 1 assist to show for it. I'm not one that's giving up on him, but I laugh at the posters who were so persistent that the coaching staff was holding Byfield back by playing him on 3rd or 4th line.

Yeah, he showed them....

I don’t think he’s adjusted to playing wing, akin to seeing how much of a different player Kempe is when he’s playing center, where he’s less productive. Problem is, he hasn’t challenged any of the other centers in pushing them out of the lineup.

I’d be curious to see how he’d do between Fiala and Vilardi, but the team loves Lizotte (justifiably so), and the coaching staff knows they can trust Lizotte defensively with Fiala and Vilardi, so they don’t have many other options as to where to play Byfield.

Have to think that once Kaliyev and eventually Moore return that Byfield and one of Lemieux, Kupari, or JAD will be scratched.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I don’t think he’s adjusted to playing wing, akin to seeing how much of a different player Kempe is when he’s playing center, where he’s less productive. Problem is, he hasn’t challenged any of the other centers in pushing them out of the lineup.

I’d be curious to see how he’d do between Fiala and Vilardi, but the team loves Lizotte (justifiably so), and the coaching staff knows they can trust Lizotte defensively with Fiala and Vilardi, so they don’t have many other options as to where to play Byfield.

Have to think that once Kaliyev and eventually Moore return that Byfield and one of Lemieux, Kupari, or JAD will be scratched.

Byfield has been playing fine up on the wing, he's learning the game consistently at that level, he's doing the small things needed, no problem with him not producing right now.....he's getting his chances but more importantly he's creating chances for others.

When Kaliyev and Moore come back, I see Kupari going down, Lemieux being scratched and run something like Moore/Iafallo - JAD - Kaliyev......for a bit, I don't know if they want to or should break up those top 3 lines right now.

 

[King'sPawn]

Good game. Byfield had the worst out of the skaters, but I think he even just got worse after the check hit his jaw. He was good before that.

 

[kings11]

Ya that roster has a dirty streak throughout.. Cry, Hymen, McNeverGonnaGetACup, Kane, and the dumb Russian. We are in their heads. They dont believe in themselves.

I kid you not, this is why I wanted Deslauriers.. Wouldn’t you know it, Provorov is now on the block and he could be packaged but that’s too much salary.. we need a Gavrikov badly

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

It's worth reiterating how nice it is to see a rivalry build organically, and not forced due to stupid scheduling. This rivalry has been rekindled due to their playoff matchup. It also reminds me of how much I hated the Oilers growing up, as they were a team full off assholes like Craig Muni, Dave Brown, Kelly Buchberger, and Esa Tikkanen.

 

[kilowatt]

We’ve done a really good job neutralizing McDavid and Draisaitl this year.

 

[AbsentMojo]

I kid you not, this is why I wanted Deslauriers.. Wouldn’t you know it, Provorov is now on the block and he could be packaged but that’s too much salary.. we need a Gavrikov badly

Yes we could use a heavy weight goon that can play - but not the highest priority. What you think of our boy KFiala? Can we mention in same sentence as ZP yet? How about most exciting individual player since the Zig?

 

[Statto]

Not sure why you brought me into this, I am just laughing my ass off at all the people who couldn't see what this team was.....and are now going...wait...what? Imagine being the person who can't enjoy beating the shit out of Edmonton, because Kopitar played 7 minutes in the 1st???

Maybe Tmac never was the problem to begin with? All the armchair GMs and their beer league hockey experience was?

Team will still have garbage nights, team still has to figure out a long term solution for LD/G, but this team has also strung together about 30 days of goddamn hockey......and most of you are just figuring out what I saw in the first month.....imagine that.

Even you said after the Buffalo game that he may be losing the room. Many of the concerns have been valid and in terms of the lines recently they are more in line with what people wanted.

This is also a stretch where we’d expect to be getting decent points against struggling teams. Thats not a critique btw, especially as we’d have lost these games earlier in the year, not just goaltending either because the team is definitely playing better. Its just it’s a bit early to think everything is rosey because we don’t yet know if this is particularly good form or a new norm. I hope the latter because as I’ve said before I like TMac.

The minutes are an issue though as I’d be concerned about burnout for DD and Kopi in the play-offs. The odd game (like yesterday) is fine but they need to trend down.

 

[lumbergh]

Subtle thing, but McLellan is matching up the Danault line up against the opposing top line much more the past week. He's trusted Kopitar with this task for years, but last night Danault lined up against McDavid more than Kopitar did at 5on5. The previous game same against Jack Eichel. 10:21 Danault to 1:42 Kopitar against Bergeron in the Boston game. Same kind of tilt against Hintz-Robertson-Pavelski.

The time of Kopitar having to carry the team on his back on both ends of the ice is over. What you really have is a top 9 with the Danault line taking over the shutdown responsibilities.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Subtle thing, but McLellan is matching up the Danault line up against the opposing top line much more the past week. He's trusted Kopitar with this task for years, but last night Danault lined up against McDavid more than Kopitar did at 5on5. The previous game same against Jack Eichel. 10:21 Danault to 1:42 Kopitar against Bergeron in the Boston game. Same kind of tilt against Hintz-Robertson-Pavelski.

The time of Kopitar having to carry the team on his back on both ends of the ice is over. What you really have is a top 9 with the Danault line taking over the shutdown responsibilities.

That's also because Kopitar absolutely educates Draisaitl and when they were Mcdavid and Leon were split Kopitar turned him into a f***ing puddle. It's a good matchup...or as good as you're going to get with McJesus.

It's also really helpful that the Kings can really skate, they might be better than most teams at dealing with the Oilers. We struggle vs. bigger tougher teams at times but our guys can fly and I can't imagine being McDavid and having to deal with shift after shift of guys like Lizotte, Fiala, Danault, Moore, and if I'm lucky Kupari...

Even you said after the Buffalo game that he may be losing the room. Many of the concerns have been valid and in terms of the lines recently they are more in line with what people wanted.

This is also a stretch where we’d expect to be getting decent points against struggling teams. Thats not a critique btw, especially as we’d have lost these games earlier in the year, not just goaltending either because the team is definitely playing better. Its just it’s a bit early to think everything is rosey because we don’t yet know if this is particularly good form or a new norm. I hope the latter because as I’ve said before I like TMac.

The minutes are an issue though as I’d be concerned about burnout for DD and Kopi in the play-offs. The odd game (like yesterday) is fine but they need to trend down.

I'm assuming someone is like "yeah well what about TM now" and like I said last night it's not even an "I told you so" because this is exactly what people had been asking for. He's finally doing what we want WRT a lot of forward lines and we're winning...if anything it makes all the earlier commentary even DUMBER so what a self-own by our forums favorite two entertainers

 

[21Dog]

Thats it! thats who he is.. fitting for a team full of p***yes

Old man reference I figured would be lost on almost everyone here.

 

[21Dog]

I don't think it's physically possible to do that. Also Hyman is a f***ing bitch.

I'd be concerned about getting impaled by that beak. A lot of pelicans would be jealous of that thing.

 

[mysterman2]

was a great game but Oilers are going to be a tough team when Kane gets back....would not want to play them in the playoffs again. Love the spunk from the team...3 fights made for a fun night.

 

[cyclones22]

I'm assuming someone is like "yeah well what about TM now" and like I said last night it's not even an "I told you so" because this is exactly what people had been asking for. He's finally doing what we want WRT a lot of forward lines and we're winning...if anything it makes all the earlier commentary even DUMBER so what a self-own by our forums favorite two entertainers

We've been saying forever that the kids needed training wheels, to be paired with actual functional good hockey players. Not the worst forwards on the team or just to all be tossed together in a sink or swim line. We also harped over and over that there needed to be 3 scoring lines (Fiala has a ton of points on the 3rd line) and there wasn't a need for a "checking" line and that was an old and outdated philosophy. So, credit is due that TMc is finally doing these things. Thank goodness, it's about time. But you're right, it's not a gotcha when the coach we've criticized is finally doing what we all wanted him to do and it's actually working. Hell, it's an "I told you so" FROM us.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I'm assuming someone is like "yeah well what about TM now" and like I said last night it's not even an "I told you so" because this is exactly what people had been asking for. He's finally doing what we want WRT a lot of forward lines and we're winning...if anything it makes all the earlier commentary even DUMBER so what a self-own by our forums favorite two entertainers

Blah blah blah....more backtracking from the resident beer league GM. I could prob dig up at least 10 posts this season where you've given up on the team, the coach...claimed you were 'done', etc. Bottom line is no team goes 82-0, it's a long season with it's peaks and valleys. Players, coaches, everyone has to adapt to the challenges and adjust accordingly which doesn't happen overnight. This is NOT f***ing XBOX.

 

[kilowatt]

Subtle thing, but McLellan is matching up the Danault line up against the opposing top line much more the past week. He's trusted Kopitar with this task for years, but last night Danault lined up against McDavid more than Kopitar did at 5on5. The previous game same against Jack Eichel. 10:21 Danault to 1:42 Kopitar against Bergeron in the Boston game. Same kind of tilt against Hintz-Robertson-Pavelski.

The time of Kopitar having to carry the team on his back on both ends of the ice is over. What you really have is a top 9 with the Danault line taking over the shutdown responsibilities.

This is exactly the outcome we wanted when we signed Danault. He was coming off an incredible cup finals run in which his elite defensive abilities were fully on display. Add Iafallo on his line and you have two really incredible shutdown forwards that frankly are able to match up with McDavid and Draisaitl as well as one can reasonably expect.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

44 games into last season, the team record was 22-16-6, which is good for 50 points. This season they're 24-14-6, and have improved to 54 points. Just imagine how much better the team record would've been they didn't have the worst goaltending in the league for the first few months of the season.

Now the areas where they improved significantly: the team offense 44 games in last season was ranked 22nd, averaging 2.77 goals per game. This season, the offense has improved to 3.27 goals per game, 11th overall in the NHL.

Last season, the Kings PP ranked 26th at 16.6%. This season they're 10th overall at 24.7%. However, the PK is relatively the same rate at 73%, and their goals allowed per game has gone up significantly.

At this point last season, the Kings allowed the 8th fewest goals per game at 2.68 goals allowed per game. This season they're averaging 3.36 goals per game, all the way down to 21st overall in the NHL. Most of the fault can be attributed the the incompetence of Cal Petersen and Jonathan Quick, as well as the team defense.

There are still areas to improve, but the Fiala factor is certainly being felt in terms of offensive production and improvement on the power play.