GDT: GM#2 LA Kings vs Detroit Red Wings @7:30pm 10/7/18

[Raccoon Jesus]

Can't say I've seen a play like this in a while. I guess I'm still shocked they counted it, especially against The Wings.

When watching the replay it's pretty clear Bernier shoulderchecks his own net from below and can easily make the case it was intentional. I'm still with you, I don't' think I've EVER seen a play like that count at any level, but in that framework, it makes sense.

 

[lumbergh]

Can't say I've seen a play like this in a while. I guess I'm still shocked they counted it, especially against The Wings.

It sure looked like the goalposts had been displaced before Iafallo shot the puck, but whatever.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

You mean cause even when the Kings get a win, people are still *****ing and whining? Yah, I feel you.

Probably fair, me the most. Last year, I'd be silver-lining RJ and point out that even though we've played mostly like absolute dog excrement and have significant core injuries we're still second in the division with 3 out of a possible 4 points and that kids are coming in and making an impact, Kovy is looking like a good pickup, Kopitar is full monster mode again. All good omens.

But 2018 me is out of patience for the braindead ongoing coaching decisions handicapping the roster because they're very clearly going to come back to haunt us when we're not playing the Red Wings and our goaltending isn't .950. Most of us expect this to be a bubble team if the polls here are to be believed and that's fine, but the same problems are the same problems--inability to cash in on the powerplay is bad, but generating momentum for the other team on it is worse, etc.

Our next game is against winnipeg. Imagine turning the puck over repeatedly in our zone to them, or imagine giving them the puck when they're shorthanded and we only have 4 guys on the ice anyway.

Silver lining i guess is a road trip is probably a good thing and maybe the Staples ice was crap and affecting only us and maybe playing a top-tier favorite team will be good for our game flow.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Yeah, Bernier knocked the net off when he saw the puck get turned over to Kovalchuk. It's pretty clear. Whether or not it should count, well, things even out over time. The Wings cosmically owed the Kings a fluke goal.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

How did the 95-96 Kings win a game vs. the 95-96 Avs?

Must have been pre-Patrick Roy trade.

I recall they were a good playoff team until Roy came and they took it up a notch.

 

[fsanford]

Out hit, out shot, (per Staples scoreboard) and still managed to win. Against the good teams, don't think the outcome would have been as good.

Wagner just needs one to go in.. Still think that one was off the knob of Bernier stick, based on replay at arena, but have not seen one since so could be wrong.


There were times during that game I could hear Yakety Sax playing in the background.

 

[The Tikkanen]

I'm the last guy to go Positive Pete but you're winning a game at home without Brown and Quick. Happy to see Kovalchuk dangling people, that top line will be great when Brown returns, going to be very hard to defend. Clifford doesn't have a role on the team and watching Lewis completely blow up every single offensive chance shows me it's time for him to be dispatched along with Thompson. The youth are ready to invade the bottom 6 the question is is the coach ready to adapt to the current state of the NHL.

 

[The Tikkanen]

Out hit, out shot, (per Staples scoreboard) and still managed to win. Against the good teams, don't think the outcome would have been as good.

Wagner just needs one to go in.. Still think that one was off the knob of Bernier stick, based on replay at arena, but have not seen one since so could be wrong.


There were times during that game I could hear Yakety Sax playing in the background.

Wagner needs to skate across the crease and then shoot. Skating straight in on a goalie you have to go bar down and he doesn't have the skill set to do that yet. Skating across the crease opens up all the holes and Wagner has the speed and skating ability to do it. He needs more Kovalchuk in his game and less Pearson.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Probably fair, me the most. Last year, I'd be silver-lining RJ and point out that even though we've played mostly like absolute dog excrement and have significant core injuries we're still second in the division with 3 out of a possible 4 points and that kids are coming in and making an impact, Kovy is looking like a good pickup, Kopitar is full monster mode again. All good omens.

But 2018 me is out of patience for the braindead ongoing coaching decisions handicapping the roster because they're very clearly going to come back to haunt us when we're not playing the Red Wings and our goaltending isn't .950. Most of us expect this to be a bubble team if the polls here are to be believed and that's fine, but the same problems are the same problems--inability to cash in on the powerplay is bad, but generating momentum for the other team on it is worse, etc.

Our next game is against winnipeg. Imagine turning the puck over repeatedly in our zone to them, or imagine giving them the puck when they're shorthanded and we only have 4 guys on the ice anyway.

Silver lining i guess is a road trip is probably a good thing and maybe the Staples ice was crap and affecting only us and maybe playing a top-tier favorite team will be good for our game flow.

I don't know, I'm certainly not known for being Mr. Positive, but 3 out of 4 points to start the season? I'll take it.

I'm not loving everything I'm seeing, but there is quite a lot I'm liking. Kopitar hasn't missed a step, Kovy is looking good, Toffoli looks much better...the youth that's being infused....and maybe it's just me, but it looks to me like the team is playing faster. Remember, they've been talking about how maybe it's OK to not win the Jennings trophy...maybe it's OK to be top 10 defensive team as opposed to first...all in efforts to open things up, which will mean more shots on goal against. It looks like they've opened things up a bit...I'll give it 10 games before I start bitching about what hasn't changed.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

All off-season, we heard about Stevens supposedly looking to tinker with some stuff to open up more offense and make adjustments on the powerplay, and two games in, they PP setup still looks the same as last year and thus far they are 0-8 with the man-advantage and gave up two power play goals against the Red Wings.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I'm the last guy to go Positive Pete but you're winning a game at home without Brown and Quick. Happy to see Kovalchuk dangling people, that top line will be great when Brown returns, going to be very hard to defend. Clifford doesn't have a role on the team and watching Lewis completely blow up every single offensive chance shows me it's time for him to be dispatched along with Thompson. The youth are ready to invade the bottom 6 the question is is the coach ready to adapt to the current state of the NHL.

As long as Thompson is the only guy other than Kopitar and Carter that can win a faceoff, and Lewis is still one of the big minute guys on the PK(as is Thompson), they're not going to the press box. That would be the case with any coach.

 

[KingsHockey24]

At this point I think I'd rather have Thompson over Lewis. They're both great PK'ers, though Nate Thompson is MUCH better in the circle and is probably the more physical of the two.

Not to mention he's more affordable than Lewis.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

All off-season we here, "play the kids, play the kids, play the kids" from the fanbase, and in the lineup last night, Amadio, Dolan-Anderson, Iafallo, Kempe, Wagner, 5 of the 12 forwards are "kids" and you have Ladue on the back end.

I don't get it, the kids have to show something when they are out there, in REGULAR season, everyone is on Amadio's nuts right now because WHY? He led the team in scoring in pre-season playing against AHL'ers and junior kids? Cmon....seriously? Amadio has a future in the league, it's gonna be as a tweener/ 2nd line/3rd line C but he still has a lot of growing to do, Anderson-Dolan you guys are complaning because in his first game ever, in a relatively close game, he only played 7 minutes and 24 seconds....seriously?

Just....amazing at the depths you guys will go to bitch and whine.

 

[mrkolice]

there was a certain aestethic pleasure in the game. kopi's goal for instance, it felt like the time stopped, right there, the planets stopped for a moment on their way around the sun. kovalchuk made a big mark. kids were doing good. etc. i don't mind such two points against a lower rated team. also it's much too early to evaluate their chances in the playoffs and for now i'll mostly try to enjoy the poetic moments of the game. roster & lines are fluid. upgrades are imminent. cheerz, enjoy the game!

 

[Fishhead]

I think Stevens does deserve at least some credit. I still don't agree with his ice time management at all, but there's definitely something different about the breakouts. The team is playing more risky, guys are leaving the zone instead of hanging back to make sure on 50/50 pucks, and are trying a lot more lobs, cross-ice, and high risk passes. The reins have been loosened a bit for sure.

He also seems willing to move young guys up if they are performing. Wagner got nearly 13 minutes of ice time last game, 3 more than his first game. Amadio got just under 10, about 3 more than his first game. The two lowest in this game were JAD and LaDue, both who were playing their first game. I feel a little better after seeing this, I was ready to lop the guys head off last game.

I still hate that Kopitar and Doughty play that much all the time, and I think that the younger players should get more ES time, with Thompson, Lewis and such focusing more on the PK.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

Another thing,

Saturday, Ottawa beats Toronto, Montreal destroys Pittsburgh, etc,

Can we get away from "one of the worst team in the league nonsense" any given night, a team can beat another team, these are NHL level players ffs.

 

[Fishhead]

All off-season, we heard about Stevens supposedly looking to tinker with some stuff to open up more offense and make adjustments on the powerplay, and two games in, they PP setup still looks the same as last year and thus far they are 0-8 with the man-advantage and gave up two power play goals against the Red Wings.

I think this is the biggest problem for sure. They've tinkered with the 5v5 stuff, that's plain to see. The PP is a total shitshow. The first minute or so of the first powerplay was fantastic, then they stopped doing it. I think it's two things: the players are falling back into what they were comfortable with, and the coaches aren't riding their asses enough to get it done.

 

[lexlavender]

It sure feels like Stevens offensive system is just "Win puck battles and be creative" except we lose puck battles and then when we win them no one has any idea what anyone else is doing. Cross ice passes into feet, losing the puck at the point, back handing the puck all the way around the boards and out of the zone while cycling; this is a team that has zero clue how to actually work together in a new system. When you're out shot and out chanced by the on paper worst team in the league, you have serious issues. No one should be satisfied with this win except Kopitar, Kovalchuck, Iafallo, and Campbell who all did there part.

People complain Kopi and Doughty get too many minutes; that's because they're the only ones that can consistently perform under Steven's coaching.

 

[regulate]

Wagner needs to skate across the crease and then shoot. Skating straight in on a goalie you have to go bar down and he doesn't have the skill set to do that yet. Skating across the crease opens up all the holes and Wagner has the speed and skating ability to do it. He needs more Kovalchuk in his game and less Pearson.

Wagner's patented move when he comes down the RW with a step or two on the defender is to cut across the crease to the forehand for a shot. The more skilled goalies just lay their stick down (like Marc-Andre did in the preseason) and it knocks the puck away from him. He's scored a few in Ontario with that move. I don't think he's skilled enough to move to the backhand at full speed from the middle or left side, at least I don't remember him trying it. He usually just shoots. Remember he scored 10 goals in 50 games at the AHL level. He's not a particularly skilled player, but speed is the great equalizer, I'm sure he'll pot one at some point before he is sent back down.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

All off-season we here, "play the kids, play the kids, play the kids" from the fanbase, and in the lineup last night, Amadio, Dolan-Anderson, Iafallo, Kempe, Wagner, 5 of the 12 forwards are "kids" and you have Ladue on the back end.

I don't get it, the kids have to show something when they are out there, in REGULAR season, everyone is on Amadio's nuts right now because WHY? He led the team in scoring in pre-season playing against AHL'ers and junior kids? Cmon....seriously? Amadio has a future in the league, it's gonna be as a tweener/ 2nd line/3rd line C but he still has a lot of growing to do, Anderson-Dolan you guys are complaning because in his first game ever, in a relatively close game, he only played 7 minutes and 24 seconds....seriously?

Just....amazing at the depths you guys will go to ***** and whine.

I like how you just shotgunned yourself in the face with your own argument. They can't show anything if they don't play. Giving Kopitar #1 d-man minutes while playing other forwards less than 10 at home against one of the projected worst teams in the league...when are you going to play them if not vs. a divisional rival and if not vs. an east coast lotter team?

Amadio has a lot of growing to do--fine. Giving him a showcase role in the preseason only to absolutely bury him now is stupid. He has nowhere else to go. Put him as the #1C in the AHL if you're just going to staple him to the bench.

JAD--when is he going to get any minutes if not vs. Detroit? Why bother burning his 9 games? Just send him back to juniors to freaking dominate if you're just going to let him rot with scrubs here.

Iafallo was fantastic, you're making shit up if you see anyone complaining about him and his role. Same with Kempe, same with Wagner, mostly same with LaDue.

Frankly it just looks like you're inventing something to get mad about at the people who are upset with some dumbass coaching decisions. You can soapbox for Stevens if you want, but at least put together something coherent.

If Kopitar gets 24 minutes at home vs. Detroit, what's gonna happen in winnipeg?

 

[lumbergh]

As the founding member of the new Paul LaDue fan club, I'd like to just mention, 1 game, 1 shot, 1 big goal, +1, 12 minutes in penalties, 1 win. All in 8:46 played. What a hero.

I don't know why Stevens hates this guy, but it's like every time he plays, good things happen.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Another thing,

Saturday, Ottawa beats Toronto, Montreal destroys Pittsburgh, etc,

Can we get away from "one of the worst team in the league nonsense" any given night, a team can beat another team, these are NHL level players ffs.

Is complaining about what others post the only thing you contribute on here? How about you focus on discussing what happens on the ice?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

As the founding member of the new Paul LaDue fan club, I'd like to just mention, 1 game, 1 shot, 1 big goal, +1, 12 minutes in penalties, 1 win. All in 8:46 played. What a hero.

I don't know why Stevens hates this guy, but it's like every time he plays, good things happen.

Every one of his NHL goals has been pretty big so far!

 

[lumbergh]

Wagner's patented move when he comes down the RW with a step or two on the defender is too cut across the crease to the forehand for a shot. The more skilled goalies just lay their stick down (like Marc-Andre did in the preseason) and it knocks the puck away from him. He's scored a few in Ontario with that move. I don't think he's skilled enough to move to the backhand at full speed from the middle or left side, at least I don't remember him trying it. He usually just shoots. Remember he scored 10 goals in 50 games at the AHL level. He's not a particularly skilled player, but speed is the great equalizer, I'm sure he'll pot one at some point before he is sent back down.

Never a bad idea to shoot. I think if Kopitar tried some of his moves at Wagner speed, he'd probably flub it away or run out of room. I look forward to another 2-3 Wagner unproductive breakaways next game. At least it's something to cheer for.

 

[GoldenBearHockey]

I like how you just shotgunned yourself in the face with your own argument. They can't show anything if they don't play. Giving Kopitar #1 d-man minutes while playing other forwards less than 10 at home against one of the projected worst teams in the league...when are you going to play them if not vs. a divisional rival and if not vs. an east coast lotter team?

Amadio has a lot of growing to do--fine. Giving him a showcase role in the preseason only to absolutely bury him now is stupid. He has nowhere else to go. Put him as the #1C in the AHL if you're just going to staple him to the bench.

JAD--when is he going to get any minutes if not vs. Detroit? Why bother burning his 9 games? Just send him back to juniors to freaking dominate if you're just going to let him rot with scrubs here.

Iafallo was fantastic, you're making **** up if you see anyone complaining about him and his role. Same with Kempe, same with Wagner, mostly same with LaDue.

Frankly it just looks like you're inventing something to get mad about at the people who are upset with some dumbass coaching decisions. You can soapbox for Stevens if you want, but at least put together something coherent.

If Kopitar gets 24 minutes at home vs. Detroit, what's gonna happen in winnipeg?

Do you not understand or care what pre-season is about?? They weren't showcasing him FFS, they were making sure he had the tools to play with, keep in mind, before brown got hurt, he was slated to play with Toffoli, and Pearson, what good would that be if he showed he had the passing ability of Joe Blow playing rec league....

I swear to god some of you take pre-season like it actually means something..it means jack shit, zero, nothing, absolutely nothing, less than nothing...throw it out the damn window ffs.

As far as JAD, where exactly would you have him play? Just curious, tight game, you are going to throw him out there to win a faceoff in your own zone? No....but why not, he needs minutes right?

Cmon man.....seriously?