Kings Lose 7-2

[TonySCV]

Sutter had this quote postgame:

On when he made the decision to use seven defensemen, and why it was made:

"The decision was made at game time when a couple guys – we didn’t know if they’d get through the game."

I do wonder if the D is dealing with significant illness / injuries of some sort. May explain why they flew home between games 1 and 2.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

Me too. The famous "line change" goal. It was so bad, that i started to laugh hysterically.

the good thing is they can't play worse than they did yesterday.

is that a challenge?

 

[Monarchist]

Guys, I realize that hating Richards and Brown is the cool thing to do but even if they were having the greatest games ever, they aren't making up 5 goal deficits.

That's the nature of being blown out two games in a row.

If the games are all close, then maybe only one change needs to be made and someone on a message board saying "the problems are the coaching and the bottom six" implies that the rest is fine. And so when someone responds by saying "the problems are the speed of the defense and the top six" or "the team needs youth who want to win and better goaltending" they are implicitly disagreeing.

But you do not give up 13 goals in two games by having only one or two things go wrong.

The Kings are being outcoached. The defense would be too old and slow healthy, and its catastrophically worse injured. The bottom six are hard workers who can't score. The top six is invisible. No one wants to win as much as other teams, because they already won once and its enough for them. The coach puts in the wrong guys based on seniority, seniority, seniority and effort and not who can play hockey. And in game the Kings are out coached on matchups and also have no discipline, as shown on the line change. Quick is not making the key save. And once the Kings somehow get a lead, they mentally collapse after giving up a goal.

 

[Muzzinga]

I hate hockey, just going to keep pounding the booze until Regehr and Greene fight to the death

 

[OldGreatWestern]

Next game I'd go w/

Gaborik - Kopitar - Williams
Pearson - Carter - Toffoli
Clifford - Stoll - Brown
King - Richards - Nolan

 

[King RAZZ]

Something's telling me the team needs a case of the Trotz...

 

[Buddy The Elf]

Man, the Kings got their ***** kicked!

 

[HarrisonFord]

did we lose those games 6-3 and 7-2? hmm lemme check...

Despite the magnitude of the scores, down 2-0 is still down 2-0.

If anything, the blowout nature of the losses should put that much more of desperation into their game for game 3 than if they were 3-2, 2-1 games.

 

[King RAZZ]

I hate hockey, just going to keep pounding the booze until Regehr and Greene fight to the death

Can it PLEASE end in a tie...

 

[Buddy The Elf]

This is the line up I'd go with next game:

Regher-Quick-Doughty
Clifford-Jones-Lewis
Gaborik-Stoll-Greene
King-Martinez-Muzzin

Richards/Carter
Williams/Toffoli
Pearson/Nolan

Kopitar
Brown

 

[jml87]

This is the line up I'd go with next game:

Regher-Quick-Doughty
Clifford-Jones-Lewis
Gaborik-Stoll-Greene
King-Martinez-Muzzin

Richards/Carter
Williams/Toffoli
Pearson/Nolan

Kopitar
Brown

I'm liking this lineup a lot. Confuse the hell out of them. Also nice to see that Stoll keeps his spot as the third line center

 

[Moses Doughty]

I don't remember the Kings getting destroyed in every way possible last year, let alone in 2 straight games. They hadn't allowed more than 5 goals all season long. You'd expect them to up their game for the playoffs not collapse.

And yet just like last year in a few days there's the potential this series is tied.

True...

but it aint looking good.

Not saying it doesn't

 

[Basilisk]

What's weird is, before the series even started, I had an Obi Wan Kenobi "I have a bad feeling about this" thought running through my head.

 

[Omni Owl]

Br00tal. What in the **** happened? They're not even putting up a fight...

 

[theMajor]

Br00tal. What in the **** happened? They're not even putting up a fight...

the Sharks are rabid and are tired of getting their butts kicked. its hard to nitpick player matchups and this and that when literally our entire team is getting outworked and outplayed

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I worry about that. I honestly, truthfully believe DL is blinded by his personal attachment to most of the core guys. It'll be a cold day in hell when Richards or Brown are sent packing.

Even guys like Greene, who are CLEARLY done, I have a tough time believing will be let go.

I would normally feel that way and I hate to say it like this but thankfully the salary cap is going to force DL's hand one way or another this offseason (unless it does actually go up to 71, but doubtful). I know there's precedents for shipping dudes out with Visnovsky and Johnson but I don't see DL getting rid of "winners" so easily without motivation.

Guys, I realize that hating Richards and Brown is the cool thing to do but even if they were having the greatest games ever, they aren't making up 5 goal deficits. They aren't gonna score 8 goals a game. Neither of them were even on the ice for any of the Sharks' 7 goals. They are contributing to this problem cause its a teamwide issue, but you can't single them out and say if they weren't there, we'd be up in the series right now.

And it's not like the Kings were outmatched by the Sharks in the regular season either. A week before the season ended, they lost 2-1. I don't know what's happened.

Coaching and preparation. I don't know if Kompon is one of the best in the business with video, but Payne is clearly one of the worst. I've literally never seen a team get dismantled this systematically. I shouldn't have a feeling of terror after a dominating shift simply because we line change.

You mean Sutter wasn't dressing 7 defenseman just for the **** of it? You don't say...

To be fair I kind of figured Greene was maybe in there just for toughness on the PK and as an injury sub in case Doughty et. al. needed a shift off.

Gaborik shouldn't be brought back, I thought he might be a weapon when he doesn't need to be the guy running the show, but he's invisible and plays with zero intensity. Pass.

I get the feeling he's injured. Check his playing time.

Its been pretty demoralizing so far, but the silver lining is the Sharks could have scored 15 goals last night and only been credited for the one win. Its over and done with. If there was ever a time for a reset, its now.

Counterpoint: This was my feeling following Game 1 as well, where I thought we'd seen the worst.

Rofl, exactly how we feel. I shouldn't be able to say "this is rock bottom!" two games in a row, but the silver lining is the Sharks are still holding the same lead as the Blues last year.

I hate hockey, just going to keep pounding the booze until Regehr and Greene fight to the death

Give me your phone number so I can check on you...there's a lot of time between now and Tuesday

 

[Reclamation Project]

Seven unanswered goals in forty minutes. Still can't believe it.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yup, shellshocked. Never seen anything like this. Even Game...3? in 2011 was child's play compared to this. I would love to see the Kings use this as a rallying point or something but I'm lowering my expectations which is sad.

 

[fsanford]

Br00tal. What in the **** happened? They're not even putting up a fight...

Maybe LA Kings are a little bit like Blackberry. Your on top of the world, with talks of owning the industry, but you become complacent and fat after reaching the top, and you get passed by. Its not always that easy to get it back. Plus if you look at all the goals being scored in the playoff's this year, maybe the game is changing and trying to grind out wins, is not as easy as it once was.

Sometimes you need new blood, to shake things up and keep it fresh.

Guess will see what happens on Tuesday, if they put up a fight and still lose I am okay with that. If we get steamrolled at home, then you gotta look hard are moving some pieces out.

 

[KingsHockey24]

Next game lineups:

Richards-Kopitar-Carter
Clifford-Andreoff-Gaborik
King-Stoll-Nolan
Brown-Lewis-Sabourin

Bodnarchuk-Doughty
Muzzin-Voynov
Martinez-McNabb

Jones
Ersberg

 

[Martyros]

Definitely built for the playoffs

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Sutter doesn't seem like the type to make sweeping changes (i.e. game 2) but I'm interested to see what comes out of this. Something something definition of insanity etc.

 

[Basilisk]

Sutter doesn't seem like the type to make sweeping changes (i.e. game 2) but I'm interested to see what comes out of this. Something something definition of insanity etc.

Maybe Sutter will start Jones, just to light a fire under the team.

 

[Reclamation Project]

I'm a pretty positive guy to the point that even during this season I was called blind. We need to get real, just because the Kings are down 2-0 like last year, there is only one connection - being down 2-0. The Sharks are a scary deep team with tons of veteran experience. The Blues do not have that. I could try to spin the facts whatever way, but after being railed two different ways in San Jose, I simply don't see the Kings winning a game in SAP. And we all know who holds home ice.

It's absolutely true that the opponent needs to win four games to advance, but damn, this series looks pretty damn bleak. The first game the Kings got smoked in the final minute of the first period and the game was done after two. Well, they rebounded strong in the third and lost 6-3. Which is an extremely eye opening score for a Kings fan. I felt they would have a great chance at winning game 2 if that momentum carried over. Well, they got smoked a different way. When San Jose scored their first goal to make it 2-1 I knew what was happening. I sunk back into my chair and knew the inevitable would arrive. I didn't think it would be 7 goals in 40 minutes though. I'm still in shock. When a team that was built on defense gives up 13 goals in 80 minutes, I lose hope. This team isn't going anywhere.

I was hoping a deep playoff run would give Dean some leverage with Gaborik, but that's not happening. I wouldn't be shocked if he walked now. The only way he stays is for gross overpayment and we simply don't have the money as is.

I've said since before game one in October that the Kings needed three things - one legit winger and two younger, more agile defensemen. I've loved what Matt Greene has done for the Kings, but I don't want him playing another game in LA. He got torched last night as I expected. Regehr will be an effective player if his role is reduced. Mitchell should only be re-signed for a figure under 1.5 million. That leaves a couple holes. That back end needs an injection of speed and youth.

In the long run, I think this will make this team much stronger and more importantly - much better. We needed a minor facelift.

Either way, I'm expecting Dean to bite the bullet on a couple moves this Summer. It should be an interesting one.

 

[Reaper45]

I feel like I'm a broken record here because I've been saying it for so long but the Kings are just too slow, especially the d. I love both Richards and Williams but it's time for them to move on. Clifford all speed now and no grit, no scoring, nothing. And yes guys like Brown and Stoll have been invisible in the playoffs but to me King, Kopitar and Gaborik have been worse. Mitchell cannot keep up anymore. Greene tries but is just too slow.

We could potentially be swept and if so I hope Richards, King, Williams and Clifford are gone. I'd probably try to move Regehr as well. Good soldier but let's reload with some youth.

Gaborik-Kopitar-XXX
Pearson-Carter-Toffoli
Lewis-Stoll-Brown
Nolan-Vey-XXX

Doughty-XXX
Voynov-Martinez
Muzzin-McNabb

Quick
Jones

Dramatic? Absolutely, but losing 2 playoff games 13-5 will do that to you.