GDT: 2024-25 season game 63 LA Kings vs New York Islanders @7:30pm 3/11/25

[FSL KINGS]

That was a crazy game. Going to need to clean up some penalties for the next game.

Feel a little bad for NYI.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Try giving 8 powerplay opportunities to the Capitals tomorrow and see what happens.

 

[FrozenKing18]

Try giving 8 powerplay opportunities to the Capitals tomorrow and see what happens.

Ovi breaks the record

 

[Herby]

The one good thing with Kuzmenko in is that the other lines are balanced, and Trevor Lewis sits out, but if his miscues continue, I fear we'll soon see the return of Lewis.

The line balance is key, if they sit Kuzmenko and (presumably) Hiller goes back to trying to push the Turcotte on a scoring line boulder up the hill we will see the same poor results from the 1st line and also greatly weaken the 4th line, which looks great now led by Turcotte and Jeannot.

Kuzmenko would have to be a total disaster to where he is moved off the scoring line.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

The line balance is key, if they sit Kuzmenko and (presumably) Hiller goes back to trying to push the Turcotte on a scoring line boulder up the hill we will see the same poor results from the 1st line and also greatly weaken the 4th line, which looks great now lead by Turcotte and Jeannot.

Kuzmenko would have to be a total disaster to where he is moved off the scoring line.

100%

The other 3 lines are buzzing so that definitely works in Kuzmenko's favor. Maybeeeee you could swap him and Laferriere but then Byfield has to cover defensively for both Fiala and Kuzmenko - probably not a recipe for success. Plus I still think Laf works well with 22 and 55.

Ultimately though for Kuzmenko, he's had two very good games and one not so good game. He wasn't rewarded with points in his two very good games but if he keeps playing like he did over the weekend, everything will be fine and some points will come.

 

[johnjm22]

Kuzmenko did end the night with the 3rd highest xG on the team. Getting traded and flying across the country to play 3 games in the next 4 days is tough. Hasn't had much time to settle in or even practice with the team. It will be interesting to see how he does moving forward. He's playing for an NHL contract.

Regarding the Moore-Danault-Foegle line; you'd like to see maybe a little more grit/size/toughness there, but it's still and an excellent third line that's a difficult matchup as long as Moore stays healthy.

Foegle has turned into quite the player:

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yeah I don't think they'd bail on Kuz this early, given the tight schedule and little (no?) practice time

I mean he literally landed and played a game, I think they'd give their new acquisition some grace on that

Besides he's not under 25

 

[bland]

Why in the world would they sit or demote Kuzmenko? A bad pass or two in a train wreck of a game? Who didn't commit a mistake or four last night?

He has contributed directly to three goals in three games. The entire nature of cutting off assists at two when the prior pass is often just as valuable shouldn't confuse people as to what did or didn't contribute to a scoring play. Kuzmenko would have three 3rd assists if the NHL kept track of them.

Kopitar is playing his best offensive hockey since November as well. Anze is always more dangerous with wingers who can play in tight. For the price paid, Kuzmenko has made a huge difference already.