GDT: Game 74: Los Angeles Kings at Winnipeg Jets | Thursday, Mar 24 2016 - 5:00PM PT

[KingsKnight]

LOS ANGELES KINGS @ WINNIPEG JETS
Thursday, Mar 24 2016 - 5:00PM PT
MTS Centre | Winnipeg, MB
TV: FS-W | Radio: AM 790 KABC

|

LOS ANGELES|

WINNIPEG

(44-24-5 93pts)|

(30-37-6 66pts)
​

|

Lucic - Kopitar - Carter |

Ehlers - Scheifele - Wheeler

Pearson - Dowd - Toffoli |

Armia - Burmistrov - Stafford

King - Shore - Brown |

Thorburn - Lowry - Halischuk

Clifford - Lewis - Andreoff |

Petan - Copp - Dano
​

|

McNabb - Doughty |

Chiarot - Byfuglien

Muzzin - Martinez |

Stuart - Trouba

Scuderi - Schenn |

Melchiori - Postma
​

|

Quick / Enroth |

Pavelec / Hutchinson​

INJURIES
Versteeg is day-to-day and being treated in Los Angeles, and probably won’t play during this trip.
Greene - LTIR - Has been skating before/after practices in El Segundo.
Gaborik - LTIR - Lombardi has indicated that he could start skating soon.
Neither Greene nor Gaborik are expected to return before the post season.
Nolan is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a herniated disc.

NEWS | NOTES
Still awaiting word on whether Pearson has rejoined the team.

MATCHUP
This is the second of three regular season meeting between the clubs:

10/27 LAK 4 at WPG 1
3/24 LAK at WPG
4/9 WPG at LAK

|GP|Record|Pts|ROW|Home|Away|Last 10|Streak
LAK|73|44-24-5|93|42|23-11-2|21-13-3|6-3-1|Lost 2
WPG|73|30-37-6|66|28|16-18-3|14-19-3|4-5-1|Won 1

|G/GP|GA/GP|PP%|PK%|S/GP|SA/GP|FOW%
LAK|2.70|2.26|20.5|81.3|32.1|27.6|50.3
WPG|2.52|2.92|14.6|78.5|29.9|29.7|47.3

STANDINGS
WESTERN CONFERENCE

# | [pre] Central [/pre] | GP |

[pre] W-L-OT [/pre]|PTS|ROW

1|[pre] x Dallas[/pre]|

74|

44-21-9|

97|

42

2|[pre] St. Louis[/pre]|

74|

43-22-9|

95|

38

3|[pre] Chicago[/pre]|

74|

42-25-7|

91|

41​

# | [pre] Pacific [/pre] | GP |

[pre] W-L-OT [/pre]|PTS|ROW

1|[pre] x Los Angeles[/pre]|

73|

44-24-5|

93|

42

2|[pre] Anaheim[/pre]|

72|

40-23-9|

89|

37

3|[pre] San Jose[/pre]|

73|

41-26-6|

88|

38​

# | [pre] Wild Card [/pre] | GP |

[pre] W-L-OT [/pre]|PTS|ROW

1|[pre] Nashville[/pre]|

73|

37-23-13|

87|

34

2|[pre] Minnesota[/pre]|

74|

35-28-11|

81|

32

-|[pre] Colorado[/pre]|

73|

38-31-4|

80|

34​

SEASON SCHEDULE | RESULTS

Disclaimer: “GDT may not be 100% accurate. I got the line combos from your mom. I used to have Center Ice, Gamecenter Live, and an undercover concession worker in each arena, but this **** costs money. I will admit that my pet otter is using all up that money on his worsening opium problem. I try to not be an enabler, but I haven't had a sea urchin problem in months. Then I thought, why should I pay all this money and have a sea urchin problem to appease fans of random teams that I don't even care about anyway? Unless you are willing to take a bunch of sea urchins off of my hands, don't ***** if I get the lines wrong.” - BF​

Click to read more...

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

a bunch of youngsters trying to prove themselves vs. the Kings with nothing much to play for? What could possibly go wrong!

 

[Trolfoli]

Lots of easy matches for other playoff bound teams. Kings need a win tonight to keep pace.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

I'll be in attendence. I'm a few rows behind penalty box. Basically if you see someone on TV with a 2000-2004 era Kings jersey (Ziggy Palffy #33) with a Jets touque on TV that'll be me

This is a win-win/lose-lose for me. 4 point game needing a Kings win. GO KINGS!

 

[The Night King]

Hope Pearson is back...

 

[KingTrouty]

I find it so damn annoying that the NHL insists on supreme secrecy when it comes to reporting injuries. It would be nice to know what's wrong with our guys. Like exactly what's wrong with them, and a general idea of their return. It's always annoyed me, it seems like far too many have always defended it.

 

[jfont]

Hope Pearson is back...

I read on LA times that Pearson should be back for this game...

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-kings-report-20160324-story.html

 

[Fishhead]

I find it so damn annoying that the NHL insists on supreme secrecy when it comes to reporting injuries. It would be nice to know what's wrong with our guys. Like exactly what's wrong with them, and a general idea of their return. It's always annoyed me, it seems like far too many have always defended it.

It's annoying, and going to get worse the later in the season it gets.

But it is absolutely necessary at this time of the year. Don't think for a second players won't target those kind of things - maybe not in a dirty way, but to make sure all checks are finished with emphasis on the injured area. A guy recovering from a sprained knee? Lean on him to test its strength. Dislocated shoulder? Extra hard into the boards. I'm pretty sure some of them would check their grandmother to the ice for a shot at the cup.

 

[YP44]

I'll be in attendence. I'm a few rows behind penalty box. Basically if you see someone on TV with a 2000-2004 era Kings jersey (Ziggy Palffy #33) with a Jets touque on TV that'll be me

This is a win-win/lose-lose for me. 4 point game needing a Kings win. GO KINGS!

nice, enjoy. I made the trek to the peg last weekend and took in the quacks jets game. I like the MTS centre. Was also my first time in Winnipeg. Nice city other than alot of the people.

 

[KingTrouty]

It's annoying, and going to get worse the later in the season it gets.

But it is absolutely necessary at this time of the year. Don't think for a second players won't target those kind of things - maybe not in a dirty way, but to make sure all checks are finished with emphasis on the injured area. A guy recovering from a sprained knee? Lean on him to test its strength. Dislocated shoulder? Extra hard into the boards. I'm pretty sure some of them would check their grandmother to the ice for a shot at the cup.

I understand the thought process that you guys all state, i.e. our guys' injuries being exploited by the opposition. Only I don't feel like this would happen nearly often as many think it would. I can't recall a player in the NFL, another highly physical sport, being targeted in past-injured areas. Certainly not recently.

Yes, sometimes players target other players, but to actively seek out the injury and go after it. I guess it's plausible, just highly unlikely, imo. Plus, what the f**k could someone do to Versteeg's foot, slash the top of it? Step on his skate? Personally, it's way over done.

 

[KingsKnight]

Hope Pearson is back...

In a LAKingsInsider comment, Rosen said "Expected to return and play tonight."

EDIT: Slotted Pearson back in, but I'm guessing on the lines for now.

 

[Omni Owl]

Break them.

 

[tsanuri]

I understand the thought process that you guys all state, i.e. our guys' injuries being exploited by the opposition. Only I don't feel like this would happen nearly often as many think it would. I can't recall a player in the NFL, another highly physical sport, being targeted in past-injured areas. Certainly not recently.

Yes, sometimes players target other players, but to actively seek out the injury and go after it. I guess it's plausible, just highly unlikely, imo. Plus, what the f**k could someone do to Versteeg's foot, slash the top of it? Step on his skate? Personally, it's way over done.

The only reason the NFL releases injury info is for gambling. It has now trickled down into fantasy as well. But since the bigger leagues are for money that really falls under gambling anyway.

The fact that one league does it because it was setup log ago after a scandal doesn't mean every league need to.

As a group fans tend to act like spoiled children thinking we need are entitled to know everything. But we don't need to know.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Sounds like Lecavalier out tonight. Don't know how to embed tweets so..From Jon Rosen:

Vinny could be out tonight. Have not heard of any injury, likely just rest. On ice with Enroth, McBain for extra work, was extra in rushes.

 

[TonySCV]

Hey Kings, let's win this one, k? We haven't had 3 regulation losses in a row since the start of the season. No need for another streak now.

 

[Trolfoli]

Sounds like Myers is done for the season. Knee/Hip need to be fixed up. WPG seems to be in full tank.

I'm worried.

 

[Omni Owl]

Hopefully just maintenance for Vinny and nothing too serious. Maybe they realize Dowd can fill in while he recoups.

 

[HansH]

A Kings regulation win and a Wild regulation win tonight would mathematically eliminate the Jets. Is there a superstition for that?

 

[AlphaBravo]

Honestly, the way I see it there wont be an easy first round matchup other than playing Colorado. But if they don't get the last wild card spot, I would rather rest our star players and have Sutter experiment with lines in these last few games then risk injuries. Whereever we end up in the standings so be it.

 

[YP44]

Sounds like Myers is done for the season. Knee/Hip need to be fixed up. WPG seems to be in full tank.

I'm worried.

I don't think they are tanking they just suck and have some key injuries. No point in waiting till the off season to address.

Their D without Myers is terrible.

 

[Omni Owl]

Honestly, the way I see it there wont be an easy first round matchup other than playing Colorado. But if they don't get the last wild card spot, I would rather rest our star players and have Sutter experiment with lines in these last few games then risk injuries. Whereever we end up in the standings so be it.

I'm pretty sure this is what they're going to do, now that Vinny is scratched. The coaching staff is more focused on the team's health rather than who we match up against, which is the right call. They know there's going to be no easy matchups, so might as well rest a few guys in preparation for the upcoming war.

 

[AlphaBravo]

I'm pretty sure this is what they're going to do, now that Vinny is scratched. The coaching staff is more focused on the team's health rather than who we match up against, which is the right call. They know there's going to be no easy matchups, so might as well rest a few guys in preparation for the upcoming war.

Yup. Also, I disagree with most people on this board that the past cup winning Kings teams were better than the 2015-2016 team. When the current Kings team is on its game, which Sutter is fine tuning for the playoffs instead of focusing on getting two points, they are unstoppable and can beat anybody.

The 2012 team was strong defensively, but not as dynamic or deep offensively. The 2014 team had a good balance of defense and offense, but they were not as dominant in the regular season and were simply not ready to start the playoffs (e.g., the blowouts in the first two games). I also think Quick is better this year than in 2014.

Hopefully Sutter focuses on playing the kids more to prepare them for the playoffs and gives Brown a lot of ice time so that he continues scoring leading up to the playoffs.

 

[Trolfoli]

Yup. Also, I disagree with most people on this board that the past cup winning Kings teams were better than the 2015-2016 team. When the current Kings team is on its game, which Sutter is fine tuning for the playoffs instead of focusing on getting two points, they are unstoppable and can beat anybody.

The 2012 team was strong defensively, but not as dynamic or deep offensively. The 2014 team had a good balance of defense and offense, but they were not as dominant in the regular season and were simply not ready to start the playoffs (e.g., the blowouts in the first two games). I also think Quick is better this year than in 2014.

Hopefully Sutter focuses on playing the kids more to prepare them for the playoffs and gives Brown a lot of ice time so that he continues scoring leading up to the playoffs.

That was on Sutter starting Nolan with Carter/Toffoli and waiting 2 games to put the fast break in to back the Sharks' full court press off.

The playoffs comes down to one thing this year. Do the Kings get enough scoring depth back by the time it starts? The defense is what it is at this point and the Kings will have to score goals. They need 2 of Pearson/Versteeg/Gaborik to come back and play at a high level. King, Brown, Lewis chipping in wouldn't hurt either.

 

[mrkolice]

nah, loss written all over it. but i'll watch, hopefully not sobber.

 

[Holden Caulfield]

I don't think they are tanking they just suck and have some key injuries. No point in waiting till the off season to address.

Their D without Myers is terrible.

The right side is really good still. Byfuglien - Trouba - Postma is a really good 1, 2, 3 on the right side. Problem is the Jets dont have a single NHL calibre player on the left side of the defense (you could make an argument for Chiarot being an ok 7/8 press box defenseman I guess).