GDT: Calgary Flames at Los Angeles Kings - January 19, 2015 - 7:30 p.m. (PST)

[HansH]

They didn't look good for stretches in 2012 and 2014 but as usual people here have short memories.

Some may. That's not what's happening with me, and I resent the implication. I remember how bad things were in 2012 and 2014... and I remember what was good about those teams during the slides, and have the RIGHT to be concerned about not seeing those things during THIS slide in 2015, and not be dismissed as "having a short memory".

I'm not counting on a third miracle in a fourth post-season. I'm concerned. My concerns are valid. Does that mean the team is hopeless? No -- but there IS a middle ground between Kevin Bacon "ALL IS WELL!!" and post-Judgement-Day apocalypse.

"Short memory" my ass. You don't get to say that to me. I was in the building for Courtnall/Storr. *grumpy old man mode on*

 

[Lunatik]

The Kings deserved better last night, Ortio won that game for us without a doubt. Any fan claiming the Flames deserved to win either didn't watch or is just trying to bait people into reactions.

Being happy about a win is fine, but there is no good reason to rub the loss into the face of an entire fan base.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

The Kings deserved better last night, Ortio won that game for us without a doubt. Any fan claiming the Flames deserved to win either didn't watch or is just trying to bait people into reactions.

Being happy about a win is fine, but there is no good reason to rub the loss into the face of an entire fan base.

Ok, after that post you can change your user title from "unofficial" to "official"

 

[deeshamrock]

2-12 in OT/SO should be a red flag. Good teams get the job done on a consistant basis. Losing in OT once in awhile happens but winning 2 of 14 is awful and critical points blown.

Other little things not adding up like the high number of games where they've given up clusters of goals in a short span. That's not all on the D, forwards playing lazy too much. Something just seems very off about the team this year. Hard to believe Carter has only 11 goals thru 46 and his overall game is lacking.

Shore has done fine in the limited time he's been here and a part of me (can't see Sutter doing this) would love to have a youth/speed line next year with him centering TP and TT.

I really hope they play tomorrow for all 60 like they are down by 1 with 1 minute left in the 3rd in game 7.
They need to refocus over the break(altho I thought they'd do that over xmas and that didn't pan out too well) because they have a tough stretch of games coming off the break starting with the Hawks (then Bruins, Caps and panthers), .
THe Flames have an easier stretch of games (Sabres, Wild, Oilers, jets) thru the post break and the Canucks are 3 points ahead with 2 games at hand.

This isn't 2012 and to think that it's 'okay' for them to be struggling again doesn't hold much water. This is not the same team and the competition (and that is also due to the NHL being structured diffrent for a playoff series) is tougher . the path to 'get in' is harder.
THis team has been too complacent (and Sutter gets some blame here ) for too many games thru 46. They've created a tougher road to travel .

 

[bob77]

I thought Shore's first two games were adequate. However, low minutes at 5 on 5 hockey, which I was fine with. But to see the second PP unit last night have Stoll and Clifford on it at one point with still a minute left, it's like I guess these guys just don't get it. With the current personnel we have, Shore needs to be playing some PP time. He'll be fine at it. There seems to be some sort of seniority and respect system built into the Kings organization whole train of thought. But when they do this, they're not being realistic about who is more equipped to fill certain roles. It could lead to them flat out missing the playoffs. If and when they make the playoffs, I agree with a lot of posts that suggest the Kings are hard to beat over 7 games. And, I think it's this way because of the fewer penalties called and the Kings can be more physical and just wear teams out. However, they don't tend to get this luxury in the regular season, and thus, it might actually be more of a challenge for this team each year to make the playoffs than it is to win the Stanley Cup, as strange as that sounds. Their first cup, they made the playoffs on the final day of the season. Last year, with the new alignment, they could coast into third place. This year third place doesn't appear so easy, and now for wild card they are in a race with the other division as well. Put that with the fact the Kings have now played about 8 more home games than road games so far, and I think it's going to be a challenge for this team to make the playoffs.

 

[Lunatik]

Ok, after that post you can change your user title from "unofficial" to "official"

I changed it to unofficial because someone kept coming in the Adirondack Flames thread on our board and asking me all these questions that only someone working for the organization could possibly know. So I thought it be best to warn people I'm not actually part of the ADK Flames

 

[SmellOfVictory]

So, Quick plays like crap the Kings score when needed. Quick plays well, the Kings can't score. 3 goals in 7+ periods of play, 1 of those goals against a 3rd stringer.

That's the problem I've always found with defensively-focused hockey. We had the same thing in Calgary when the Sutters were coaching (although Darryl is ten times the coach that Brent is): the margin for error is constantly razor thin, so your goalie makes one mistake and, at least in terms of perception, it hurts a lot more than it seems to with a team that's a little more offensively-oriented.

 

[moosehead81]

Something just seems very off about the team this year. They've created a tougher road to travel .

I agree big time. They're now at the point of needing a 60% success rate to get to 95 points, which is hopefully enough for the play-offs. Wild card spots are going to be really tough to slide into; Winnipeg is playing really well and Dallas and Colorado are going to make a push for sure. Maybe they can win their way to place ahead of San Jose or Vancouver but that's a gamble (note that I've considered Calgary to be a flash in the pan but that's also not for sure).

And the constant detailed analysis of Mike Richards as being about the only catalyst for this team's current failure rate is a bit unfair. Yes he's over-paid for the use Sutter's making of him but that's not his fault. The whole friggin' team from Kopitar on down is under-performing and that I pin on the coach.

 

[Omni Owl]

This team isn't making the playoffs this year, its that simple. They're worn down from all the hockey played, some of the top guys we rely on are disappearing, and they don't have any confidence left.

 

[KingsFan7824]

That's the problem I've always found with defensively-focused hockey. We had the same thing in Calgary when the Sutters were coaching (although Darryl is ten times the coach that Brent is): the margin for error is constantly razor thin, so your goalie makes one mistake and, at least in terms of perception, it hurts a lot more than it seems to with a team that's a little more offensively-oriented.

The Kings won the Cup last year with 4 guys at or near a point per game, and they couldn't stop anyone from scoring. Quick just came up with that one extra save they needed every night to win enough games.

As Sutter said: http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/...says-teams-dont-defend-they-possess-the-puck/

“The game’s changed. They think there’s defending in today’s game. Nah, it’s how much you have the puck. Teams that play around in their own zone they they’re defending but they’re generally getting scored on or taking face-offs and they need a goalie to stand on his head if that’s the way they play,” said Sutter.

The problem is when the Kings can't score while possessing the puck. That's why the margin of error is thin. Well, that, and for a combination of reasons, the Kings don't seem to have to give up many chances to the opposition for the puck to end up in the net.

 

[Ron*]

So, Quick plays like crap the Kings score when needed. Quick plays well, the Kings can't score. 3 goals in 7+ periods of play, 1 of those goals against a 3rd stringer.

First of all, the 3rd stringer is hotter than hell. 4-0-0 in four games and he has basically supplanted Hiller as the Flames no. 1 goalie.

Second of all, this is the same formula the Kings have followed for the past three seasons. They always seem to frustrate us fans with it during the regular season, but always seem to get it together for the last 20 games headed into the playoffs. I do believe we will get it all back in the fold again this season. Time will tell.

 

[Ron*]

This team isn't making the playoffs this year, its that simple. They're worn down from all the hockey played, some of the top guys we rely on are disappearing, and they don't have any confidence left.

Couldn't disagree more.

 

[Omni Owl]

Couldn't disagree more.

That's fine, but nothing this year has indicated they're a playoff team, let alone a contender. The OT and Shootout loses, the lackluster play, the sieve defense, etc...

Its time for a shakeup as far as I'm concerned. Some of the blood is getting stale...

 

[Chain]

This team isn't making the playoffs this year, its that simple. They're worn down from all the hockey played, some of the top guys we rely on are disappearing, and they don't have any confidence left.

They can still make the playoffs even if they improve just a little. If we win our next game and Calgary loses theirs, then our positions are suddenly switched and we pass them. Heck, we're 2 points behind San Jose with a game in hand so if we win our next game, we're tied in points and I'm pretty sure we squeak into 3rd place. The race is tight so I think we still have a good shot at making the playoffs, provided they start playing better.

The trouble is I don't have confidence in us playing better right now the way things are going. We had an early winning streak that is helping keep us just below the surface of the water right now. But the way the team is playing lately, it seems more likely we're heading in the wrong direction. This Kings team is traditionally better in the 2nd half of the season & when their backs are against the wall. I just think that, the vets are getting older and our best young players are injured. Plus, the team is usually better in shootouts and PP's and little things they're struggling with right now. So it's looking like this year might be different. Let's hope it's not though.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I remember this very good.

Chicago reach play-off as 8th seed and then finish in first round of PO against Vancouver (with overtime goal in game 7).

But the best part was last day of regular season. Chicago needed a point against Detroit to secure PO and lost in regular time. This was afternoon game. Immediately after ending this game Dallas started their last game at home against Minnesota, that played for nothing. Dallas needed a win and would secure a PO spot instead of Chicago. But they lost...

Let's also not forget the Flyers SCF runner-up...who literally needed to win a shootout on the last night of the season to make it IN to the playoffs...then went to the SCF.

We're a handful of points out. Crazier things have happened.

 

[YP44]

Let's also not forget the Flyers SCF runner-up...who literally needed to win a shootout on the last night of the season to make it IN to the playoffs...then went to the SCF.

We're a handful of points out. Crazier things have happened.

we're only one point out.
This team will make the playoffs. I still believe.

 

[Ron*]

Let's also not forget the Flyers SCF runner-up...who literally needed to win a shootout on the last night of the season to make it IN to the playoffs...then went to the SCF.

We're a handful of points out. Crazier things have happened.

One only has to look at 2012 to come to that conclusion.

The Kings are still the team to beat. I don't care what anyone else thinks about it. They are the defending champs and they have the best goalie in the world. That alone will give any opponent pause.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Second of all, this is the same formula the Kings have followed for the past three seasons. They always seem to frustrate us fans with it during the regular season, but always seem to get it together for the last 20 games headed into the playoffs. I do believe we will get it all back in the fold again this season. Time will tell.

It's interesting how different it's been each year.

In 11-12, the Kings couldn't score, but Quick was great. A .929sv%. Hasn't really come close to that before or since in the regular season. Quick was of course ridiculous in the playoffs that year, and Kopitar and Brown were at a point per game.

In 12-13, half a season, but the Kings had the 10th best goals per game in the league. Quick had a .902sv% though. In the playoffs, Kopitar and Brown went missing, but Quick had a .934sv%, and they clawed their way to a conference final that they probably shouldn't have been in.

In 13-14, the Kings go into the playoffs with the fewest goals against in the league, although Quick's numbers were rather average, and again couldn't score. Then the playoffs start, the defense goes out the window, but nobody could stop the Kings from scoring. They outscored the Hawks 28-23 with 0 goals from Kopitar.

 

[Omni Owl]

One only has to look at 2012 to come to that conclusion.

The Kings are still the team to beat. I don't care what anyone else thinks about it. They are the defending champs and they have the best goalie in the world. That alone will give any opponent pause.

The TSN panel all unanimously agreed last night that Chicago is the team to beat in the playoffs. You gotta take off the Kings glasses a bit. There's no Voynov, Mitchell, Pearson, and Toffoli right now. A kid that hasn't played in the league more than 2 games is centering the 2nd line. Not to mention the dismal decline of Richards, and now Carter.

This isn't the same team...

 

[Ron*]

Some may. That's not what's happening with me, and I resent the implication. I remember how bad things were in 2012 and 2014... and I remember what was good about those teams during the slides, and have the RIGHT to be concerned about not seeing those things during THIS slide in 2015, and not be dismissed as "having a short memory".

I'm not counting on a third miracle in a fourth post-season. I'm concerned. My concerns are valid. Does that mean the team is hopeless? No -- but there IS a middle ground between Kevin Bacon "ALL IS WELL!!" and post-Judgement-Day apocalypse.

"Short memory" my ass. You don't get to say that to me. I was in the building for Courtnall/Storr. *grumpy old man mode on*

Jesus H. Christ, chill out man.

I didn't quote you and the poster I did quote quoted someone else. Hell, looks like you WANT to be lumped into the "short memory" group. Whatever.

Have a sandwich, drink a glass of milk, ...

 

[YP44]

One only has to look at 2012 to come to that conclusion.

The Kings are still the team to beat. I don't care what anyone else thinks about it. They are the defending champs and they have the best goalie in the world. That alone will give any opponent pause.

Not sure you can say that about Quick this yer. If Nashville offered Rinne for Quick would you do it?

 

[Ron*]

Not sure you can say that about Quick this yer. If Nashville offered Rinne for Quick would you do it?

Nope.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

"Short memory" my ass.*

I don't have a dog in this fight, but please leave your ass out of it

 

[sinister6000]

This team is horrible in overtime, and shootouts. The worst thing the kings could do is go to overtime. I don't blame the defense men for the kings problems this season, it all falls on the forwards. All the older go to guys aren't getting it done this season. Toffoli and Pearson were leading the team offensively. But Sutter wouldn't even give those guys number 1 power play time, or more ice time then vets they out played.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Holy crap, Doughty played 31:51 last night

The TSN panel all unanimously agreed last night that Chicago is the team to beat in the playoffs. You gotta take off the Kings glasses a bit. There's no Voynov, Mitchell, Pearson, and Toffoli right now. A kid that hasn't played in the league more than 2 games is centering the 2nd line. Not to mention the dismal decline of Richards, and now Carter.

This isn't the same team...

Boldfaced the important part for you. And Decline of Carter? Give me a break.

And who cares about what the 'experts' say. How often have they written us off?

Got the league right where we want them imo, and you know DL isn't standing pat.