GDT: 2025-26 season Game 2 WCQF Los Angeles Kings vs Colorado Avalanche @7:00pm 4/21/26 COL leads 1-0

[Axl Rhoadz]

People are forgetting Byfield cleanly winning that faceoff after Doughty’s idiotic icing at the end of the third. Had the Kings won, it would have been a crucial play. He didn’t capitalize on his many chances but I’ll take that over someone who’s invisible. Eventually those chances go in and even then, he had an assist. Acting like he’s the reason the Kings lost when there is a mountain of reasons why they lost is juvenile.

We lost by one goal....in overtime..., can't be that many reasons why we lost the game.

But yes, agree...JUVENILE. Consider the source.

 

[KopitarGOAT420]

that was the best hockey game Ive seen the Kings play in probably 10 years, despite the loss

The Mayor (on twitter) said basically the same thing... (Maybe you are the Mayor on twitter too or just a coincidence)

On one hand, that's great... But on the other hand, isn't that also......... SO f**king embarrassing to admit?!?? That the best game the Kings have played in YEARS resulted in a 2-1 OT loss and going down 2-0 to start a round 1 playoff series... Virtually every other franchise in the NHL has better games to hang their hats on in the last 5-10 years.

To me, it's a massive indication of how bad the Kings have been failing over the last 5-10 years.

 

[johnjm22]

Also.

Oilers fans > Avs Fans

 

[theMajor]

The Mayor (on twitter) said basically the same thing... (Maybe you are the Mayor on twitter too or just a coincidence)

On one hand, that's great... But on the other hand, isn't that also......... SO f**king embarrassing to admit?!?? That the best game the Kings have played in YEARS resulted in a 2-1 OT loss and going down 2-0 to start a round 1 playoff series... Virtually every other franchise in the NHL has better games to hang their hats on in the last 5-10 years.

To me, it's a massive indication of how bad the Kings have been failing over the last 5-10 years.

im definitely NOT john hoven lol.

it is embarrassing to say of course but its true. when was the last time we witnessed that level of compete? or that much physicality?

yes it sucks theyre now down 0-2 but lets not forget theyre playing the President Trophy winners and one of the most stacked teams ever

 

[funky]

Jeff Malott with 0 hits, a giveaway, -1 and a penalty.

Jared Wright with 1 hit, 1 giveaway, -1 in over 12 minutes of ice-time.

HOORAH!

Watch the game instead of the stats. Wright was in fast and all over them. I know Forsberg and the post Gods played a big role in keeping it 2-1 but the unsung hero guys showed up last night and backed that powerhouse offence off. A lot of times the Ave's breakouts, set-ups, etc were thwarted by our guys getting in there face or blowing through them.

There were scrums galore and big boys like Mallott still provide that menacing presence.

Hell, Mikey Anderson showed up for the first time since Connor made him his bitch.

Sammy H is in their heads. Hell he arguably has been our most effective center in the role he has been given. Kopitar was one of the worse players on the ice, Laughton has been getting pounding into the ice and Q is an enigma wrapped in a mystery that the Hardy Boys could not solve.

People that want Wright out blows my mind. We are not winning this series. Let the kids play and gain valuable experience. He will come back the better for it next year.

I hate our executive, I have hated the way we played under Hiller but man, this is the first fun Kings hockey I have seen in a long time.

 

[bland]

that was the best hockey game Ive seen the Kings play in probably 10 years, despite the loss

Absolutely, last night was the most proud I have been of this team since the 2014 Finals.

 

[BigKing]

Who won the board battle in got the puck to Moore who set up Panarin.

I liked his pen shot move but it was also a really good save.

I agree he has to start potting goals more but his 10 goals in 14 games helped the team make the playoffs down the stretch while playing with 2 third line wingers. Not a shot at Laf as I love him, more a shot at the org for putting the retiring guy on his last legs between the two star players and leaving their “future” top line center to play with average offensive wingers.

Q had a few real nice defensive plays last night as well but definitely needs to get that dog in him.

I hated his first game but this game he did more offensively than pretty much anyone on the ice. Kopi and Kempe did dick

I think we get so used to piling on some guys that it skews what we’re actually watching even when they have a somewhat decent game. I just didn’t think he’s as bad as some other people on here are saying this game. He was no superstar stand out by any means, but I just didn’t think he was as bad as some are saying.

I think he’s probably gone this summer anyways, so we’ll see what happens

Kudos for the board battle that helped lead to the goal. Makes up for the abomination that was his body of work on the first PP of the game.

They definitely needed those goals down the stretch to make the playoffs. Goals are goals, but those 10 goals were scored against Utah, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, and Seattle. One good team in the whole bunch.

He has to step up in big moments. The failed clear last year was brutal. Not scoring on the penalty shot is a big deal. You just feel that he is going to choke, which is unfortunate.

He was much better than in Game 1. It's just not enough and it is hard to carry the torch for "he'll breakout eventually". I read that with Kopitar gone and more PP time, he will score 70 points. I think he can score 70 points someday, but it will probably be empty calorie points on a non-playoff team.

 

[BigKing]

Absolutely, last night was the most proud I have been of this team since the 2014 Finals.

Same. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[Lt Dan]

Lets not forget Clarke clearly losing the puck battle in front of the net in OT and Roy getting to the puck and winning the game.

This is our "franchise" defensemen.

We all realize you aren't a fan of Clarke,
but let's see what happened

shot comes in Forsberg is screened

Clarke blocks the shot

Two Avalanche collapse on the "rebound" and Clarke is on his knees with no help

If Clarke doesn't block the shot, it probably goes in since the goalie was screened

 

[BigKing]

Jeff Malott with 0 hits, a giveaway, -1 and a penalty.

Jared Wright with 1 hit, 1 giveaway, -1 in over 12 minutes of ice-time.

HOORAH!

I was going to give Byfield shit for having zero hits last night, but then I saw they gave Mallott zero as well as Dumoulin. Mallott was physical and Dumo took Landeskog hard into the turnbuckle. Stat guy in Colorado was stingy with the hit counter.

 

[HockeyEsoterics]

Absolutely, last night was the most proud I have been of this team since the 2014 Finals.

wtf

 

[Buddy The Elf]

It's hard to be disappointed in the result when that's what you expected. At least they seem to care and you can tell they're doing their best.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

We all realize you aren't a fan of Clarke,
but let's see what happened

shot comes in Forsberg is screened

View attachment 1225099

Clarke blocks the shot
View attachment 1225094


Two Avalanche collapse on the "rebound" and Clarke is on his knees with no help

View attachment 1225098



If Clarke doesn't block the shot, it probably goes in since the goalie was screened

also note his partner Edmundson had the failed shot block at the point that allowed it to thru in the first place AND he was probably hurting from saving a SURE goal on the Necas one timer just seconds earlier.

 

[HockeyEsoterics]

At least they seem to care and you can tell they're doing their best.

Which makes them worthy of NOT being derided... but what does that say about expectations of the team that "well they're trying hard" is held up as a positive?

They SHOULD try hard.

Every day of every season I hear people tell me about the lion hearts of the professional athlete and how they're all just cut from a different cloth.

Well... then fine go earn your money by trying hard.

You get the money for that... you don't ALSO get my adoration.

 

[Sol]

Youre talking a bunch of nonsense. You know zero about hockey and just curse at a player when they miss a chance. Unless its Fiala you ride his jock no matter what. Where did anyone say Byfield is as good as Kopitar? Kopitar is a hall of famer top 40 points in nhl history.
Whats that got to do with Byfield? He played a good game tonight and they still got beat by a team with a better roster thats playing a better system put in place by a better coach who was hired by better management. Switch Byfield and Necas and youd be clowning Necas nightly because hed be trapping all night and miss some opportunities like everyone else on the team. Hes not the franchise player we hoped but that doesnt mean he had a bad game.

You are delusional if you think I am blind to Fialas issues. Why are you comparing Byfield to people who have a history of production whereas Byfield has no history of production. Meat riding him for what reason exactly? He sucks.

Production? Byfield has as many points as MacK, Makar, and McDavid combined this playoff.

From all those players you just mentioned, which one of those players has a history of not producing whereas the other players are anomalous? Try some critical thinking.

Yes, getting chances isn’t good enough, I agree. I’m just not shitting on him as much on that PS. It wasnt a half assed attempt. He got Wedgewood to bite and he had the right move to go backhand and over the glove. I’m giving Wedgewood credit for saving that because that goes in 9 times out of 10. The guy still needs to do more to create his own chances and he’s still a f***ing coward when it comes to the physicality of the game but i’m not going to blindly shit on him for the attempt.

There's always an excuse it seems. Panarin nearly scores every chance he gets whether its 1 or 2 chances, he scored game 1 and game 2. Byfield is on the same boat. He gets chances and never scores when it matters. At some point its lack of talent and balls thats not converting. When Trevor Lewis would get breakaways and miss, were you surprised or expecting him to cause it's trevor lewis. Byfield is in this same category where he just doesn't score ever when he needs to. "the goalie did this" the goalie did that bullshit. Never clutch. Always a loser. Dont get that shit twisted.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Which makes them worthy of NOT being derided... but what does that say about expectations of the team that "well they're trying hard" is held up as a positive?

They SHOULD try hard.

Every day of every season I hear people tell me about the lion hearts of the professional athlete and how they're all just cut from a different cloth.

Well... then fine go earn your money by trying hard.

You get the money for that... you don't ALSO get my adoration.

Jesse, you are a weird dude. You were gushing over the Kings in game 1, and now you're all pissed over game 2 when they actually had a better performance.

What exactly are your expectations?

 

[HockeyEsoterics]

Jesse, you are a weird dude. You were gushing over the Kings in game 1, and now you're all pissed over game 2 when they actually had a better performance.

What exactly are your expectations?

What was better about the performance in game 2?

 

[Buddy The Elf]

Which makes them worthy of NOT being derided... but what does that say about expectations of the team that "well they're trying hard" is held up as a positive?

They SHOULD try hard.

Every day of every season I hear people tell me about the lion hearts of the professional athlete and how they're all just cut from a different cloth.

Well... then fine go earn your money by trying hard.

You get the money for that... you don't ALSO get my adoration.

Well, they could not be trying their best and that would lead me to not bother to tune in which I haven't done for about half the season.

 

[HockeyEsoterics]

Well, they could not be trying their best and that would lead me to not bother to tune in which I haven't done for about half the season.

Right. Which is what I'm saying.

I'm being asked to be thrilled with the absolute bare minimum.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

What was better about the performance in game 2?

Better defensively and more physical. The offense is what is is, you don't wake up and suddenly become a 40-goal scorer because it's the playoffs - and COL is the best defensive team in the league, that is very clear.

 

[Sol]

It doesn't escape me either that Laferriere is stone hands Lewis too right now. He cannot score a single goal despite high danger chances, same with Micro Moore.

I bitch about Byfield the most because Byfield should be a lot better than Moore and Laf.

Helenius was solid. He was killing people. I like the fourth line a lot. I dont care if they're not scoring or they leak goals. The top 6 should be doing better because the fourth line did a great job intimidating the Avs and the top 6 was smoking pole the entire time. Even Byfield bro, throw a hit for the love of god. How is Helenius more of an impact player than this dude but here we are. Embarassing top 6.

Bring in Kuzmenko because this bullshit predictable offense is making a great defensive avs team kick back and relax.

 

[johnjm22]

Better defensively and more physical. The offense is what is is, you don't wake up and suddenly become a 40-goal scorer because it's the playoffs - and COL is the best defensive team in the league, that is very clear.

Kings gave up 4 expected goals. Not exactly a great performance.

Forsberg's play is making them look better than they are.

Kings put in the same performance last night but get average goaltending people would be singing a different tune.

 

[RumHam]

You are delusional if you think I am blind to Fialas issues. Why are you comparing Byfield to people who have a history of production whereas Byfield has no history of production. Meat riding him for what reason exactly? He sucks.

Idk what I was getting at with Fiala I think I was just smack talking. I came on here after to skim through the game thread and it was like you for 30 pages cursing about Byfield and I didnt think he was the problem last night and it was unwarranted and there are other things to talk about this team. Today is a new day cheers Sol

 

[HockeyEsoterics]

Better defensively and more physical. The offense is what is is, you don't wake up and suddenly become a 40-goal scorer because it's the playoffs - and COL is the best defensive team in the league, that is very clear.

better defensively or better goaltending?

Cus they allowed more shots and shot attempts and that's WITH the Kings spending all that time on the Power Play in the first period.

I don't think they played horribly in Game Two but why was Fosrberg so great? Because he was facing shots all night long because the Avs were way better than the Kings.

 

[BigKing]

Kings gave up 4 expected goals. Not exactly a great performance.

Forsberg's play is making them look better than they are.

Kings put in the same performance last night but get average goaltending people would be singing a different tune.

Except they played with balls, which has been lacking for the majority of Luc's reign of terror.