GDT: Game 23: San Jose Sharks @ LA Kings | Wed, Nov 30 2016 - 7:30PM

[kingsholygrail]

5-1 in the last 6 and everything is broken. This place is nothing if not predictable

This team was challenging for the division lead tonight despite everything that's gone wrong this season. How is that not encouraging

1-1 since Kopitar's return and it was a 2-1 OT nailbiter. The offense died when he came back and the defense didn't get better.

 

[Omni Owl]

Kopitar for Tavares.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

1-1 since Kopitar's return and it was a 2-1 OT nailbiter. The offense died when he came back and the defense didn't get better.

...and the two games have been vs. teams who were largely our kryptonite...one of whom is leading the entire western conference, one who is leading our division and went to the SCF, and both of whom were on fire streaks of their own. And in both games we dominated for large stretches.

I'm not worried about Kopitar. I remember his slow starts every year. And I remember him starting suuuuper slow in 2015 and going damn near 2 PPG the rest of the way. Him and Toffoli will get his. When theirs and Gaborik's return to form, and Quick McNabb and Andreoff get back in the lineup, we're gonna be money.

 

[Trolfoli]

Well one things for sure at this point. Need some sort of add to the defense to compete in the playoffs or someone to have a crazy break out in the next couple of months.

 

[kingsholygrail]

...and the two games have been vs. teams who were largely our kryptonite...one of whom is leading the entire western conference, one who is leading our division and went to the SCF, and both of whom were on fire streaks of their own. And in both games we dominated for large stretches.

I'm not worried about Kopitar. I remember his slow starts every year. And I remember him starting suuuuper slow in 2015 and going damn near 2 PPG the rest of the way. Him and Toffoli will get his. When theirs and Gaborik's return to form, and Quick McNabb and Andreoff get back in the lineup, we're gonna be money.

I remember his slow starts too. All the more reason to give him **** minutes until he decides it's time to play some hockey again. He went down and the suddenly the saddle bags he was dragging around the ice were dropped down the lineup and the Kings offense came alive. Now we're gonna grind it to a complete halt because gotta have Kopitar and his saddle bags eating up all that play time again.

 

[mbar]

Feel like Doughty has been bigger disappointment to me this season then Kopitar (at least against expectations).

Both will be fine. I think we have a Better team this year then last and I'm optimistic.

 

[Kingspiracy]

I remember his slow starts too. All the more reason to give him **** minutes until he decides it's time to play some hockey again. He went down and the suddenly the saddle bags he was dragging around the ice were dropped down the lineup and the Kings offense came alive. Now we're gonna grind it to a complete halt because gotta have Kopitar and his saddle bags eating up all that play time again.

That 70s line were a -2 tonight

 

[kingsholygrail]

That 70s line were a -2 tonight

...And your point?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

The minutes were actually spread out really evenly tonight, which makes sense because no lines were uber effective or ineffective (except the 4th which saw much less). Sutter smartly looking at the B2B imo.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Feel like Doughty has been bigger disappointment to me this season then Kopitar (at least against expectations).

Both will be fine. I think we have a Better team this year then last and I'm optimistic.

I agree, too good to NOT figure it out, and that's why I'm so optimistic--we're right in the thick of things despite the injuries and other **** like scheduling etc.

 

[Kingspiracy]

...And your point?

Kopitar and his saddlebags may not just be eating up all the playing time but keeping us in the game, our main offensive threat has been the 70's line, but if they are leaking goals like a sieve perhaps they weren't a better option tonight.

 

[KingsFan7824]

4 out of his 5 shots hit the net and he was a plus one. Doughty missed by my count 4 times and had 3 blocked. Oh, and was a -3.

Well during this last bit of time, Burns has had the better of Doughty. Last 12 Kings/Sharks games, Burns has 7G and 9A, Doughty has 1G and 4A. It's not all on them individually, but one can almost do no wrong lately, the other can't do much right.

5-1 in the last 6 and everything is broken. This place is nothing if not predictable

This team was challenging for the division lead tonight despite everything that's gone wrong this season. How is that not encouraging

I know you're not a fan of looking at the 3v3, but the Kings are as close as they are because of that 3v3 point. Win if you go to OT, no question, but they're tied in post regulation points with Chicago, ok, but also Florida and Vancouver. Chicago is 9-6 in regulation, with Florida and Vancouver a combined 9-21. The Kings are now 6-10. Take out that 3v3 point league wide, and the Kings have the 25th best record with 6 wins, 10 losses, and 7 regulation ties.

Considering what's gone wrong, it's not surprising, it's somewhat encouraging, but it's not a solid 25 points for the year. They're hanging around though, which is good, because assuming Kopitar, Doughty, Muzzin, Gaborik, and Toffoli get going, it can only mean better things. Plus if Quick manages to get back.

 

[Nizar]

Let the complaining commence.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I know you're not a fan of looking at the 3v3, but the Kings are as close as they are because of that 3v3 point. Win if you go to OT, no question, but they're tied in post regulation points with Chicago, ok, but also Florida and Vancouver. Chicago is 9-6 in regulation, with Florida and Vancouver a combined 9-21. The Kings are now 6-10. Take out that 3v3 point league wide, and the Kings have the 25th best record with 6 wins, 10 losses, and 7 regulation ties.

Considering what's gone wrong, it's not surprising, it's somewhat encouraging, but it's not a solid 25 points for the year. They're hanging around though, which is good, because assuming Kopitar, Doughty, Muzzin, Gaborik, and Toffoli get going, it can only mean better things. Plus if Quick manages to get back.

It's not that I'm not a fan of looking at 3v3, it's that people often go 'oh we're just hanging around because of 3v3' when if you look at it, most of those games that went to OT WENT to OT because the other team was lucky to take advantage of ****** goaltending. It's not like we're scraping out comeback wins often or getting undeserved points. People say that as a way to dismiss our performance, like 'oh what a terrible team,' ignoring the context of missing Kopitar/Gaborik/Quick/McNabb/Andreoff/even Purcell and playing 8 games in ****ing 13 nights coast to coast.

 

[kingsfan28]

After reading this, my first thought is Sutter never seems to be when it come to playing them. He had that same checked out look when the Sharks scored 2 in the final minute of the 1st as he did in the playoffs.

 

[ScoreZeGoals]

The Kings are extremely fortunate to be in the position they are considering the three best players on the team have either been massively disappointing or injured

 

[kingsholygrail]

All the Sharks care about is beating the Kings. So it's not really a surprise they put so much effort into doing it. I don't think the Kings care as much about beating them except for the 2pts. Kings beat the Sharks in the most embarrassing way possible. Can't top it.

 

[KingsFan7824]

It's not that I'm not a fan of looking at 3v3, it's that people often go 'oh we're just hanging around because of 3v3' when if you look at it, most of those games that went to OT WENT to OT because the other team was lucky to take advantage of ****** goaltending. It's not like we're scraping out comeback wins often or getting undeserved points. People say that as a way to dismiss our performance, like 'oh what a terrible team,' ignoring the context of missing Kopitar/Gaborik/Quick/McNabb/Andreoff/even Purcell and playing 8 games in ****ing 13 nights coast to coast.

They were doing the same thing last year with Quick. Most prominently losing a 3-0 lead at home to the Jets in the last game of the year with the division on the line. They're doing it this year too, plus, with everything else that's gone wrong, they've won only 6 of 23 games in regulation.

They're thankfully winning the OT games, but more than hanging around because of the 3v3 point, they're 6-10 in regulation. That's the bigger issue, and obviously there are reasons for it. That's 2 more wins than Arizona and Vancouver, who have the fewest reg wins in the league with 4 each.

 

[Legionnaire]

On an encouraging note, Gaborik looked like he had the same spring in his step that he did in the World Cup. Hopefully, he can stay healthy, find his shot and hit 20 goals.

 

[LAKings88]

They need to put Gabby and Kopi together. Enough of this ship.

 

[Omni Owl]

They need to put Gabby and Kopi together. Enough of this ship.

Pretty much, and exile Nolan for life.

Also, **** the ****ing World Cup of Hockey, 2 out of 3 of our important players are just coming back from injury after playing in this ******** tourney. Kopitar is no doubt feeling fatigued, because his season is basically elongated by a month. Not everything has to be commodified you greedy ****s.

 

[PJ Kings Hockey]

5-1 in the last 6 and everything is broken. This place is nothing if not predictable

This team was challenging for the division lead tonight despite everything that's gone wrong this season. How is that not encouraging

Yeah, I don't have too much to complain about. I fell asleep during the third period, but the during the first two periods the Kings carried the play most of the time. On the offensive side, they had at least 3-4 opportunities (posts, battles in front of the net) that nearly went in. On the defensive side, a goal was scored on a breakaway and another was a rebound that popped up right in front of the Shark on a silver platter. Defensively they could have been sharper when it counted, but overall I'm not complaining about the Kings' play. Entertaining game.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Pretty much, and exile Nolan for life.

Also, **** the ****ing World Cup of Hockey, 2 out of 3 of our important players are just coming back from injury after playing in this ******** tourney. Kopitar is no doubt feeling fatigued, because his season is basically elongated by a month. Not everything has to be commodified you greedy ****s.

No need to blame the World Cup. Kopitar has gone on long goal droughts/looking tired all the time before. Just last year he had 1 goal in the last 12 regular season games. Gaborik gets hurt. Just a fact, and a matter of when. Could've happened in the 1st period of the season like Quick. Speaking of, Quick has been hurt before as well, and in the first 19 minutes of the season, didn't look any worse for the wear. Muzzin, he barely played in the WC, and looks like he put on skates for the first time this year most of the time. Maybe he was rusty not playing in the WC, but we're 2 months into the season now. Doughty? Most of Team Canada seems to be doing alright in the league so far. Bergeron isn't doing what he normally does. Thornton is a bit down in points, but he's also like 82 years old.

 

[lumbergh]

All the Sharks care about is beating the Kings. So it's not really a surprise they put so much effort into doing it. I don't think the Kings care as much about beating them except for the 2pts. Kings beat the Sharks in the most embarrassing way possible. Can't top it.

Kings better start caring about beating the Sharks. If the Kings are going to the Cup Finals, they'll have to go through the Sharks.

 

[Papa Mocha 15]

We need a real 1st line R Winger- a la Justin Williams style. Someone who will show up when it matters. I don't blame DL for letting him go, but we never replaced that position. Gaborik is too streaky and while has flashes of brilliance, we need a better upgrade and Stone Hands Lewis doesn't cut it there. It's easier to shut out Kopitar when you have ghost playing along side him. There needs to be a duel threat to keep opposing D Men on their heels. Otherwise, it simplifies our offense and provides crap scoring chances which are always from the perimeter.