GDT: Kings @ Oilers Dec 29, 2016 6pm PST

[Bandit]

The last two games, sure. How quickly we forget the Kings dominating a team that is currently on a 16-game streak, only not breaking that streak because of a coin flip. Beating the Pens, who only have one point less than CBJ, at home on the third game in four nights from Buffalo to Detroit to Pittsburgh. Absolutely obliterating the Preds. And actually playing really well vs. the Stars on another 3 in 4 nights only to lose another coin flip.

Does it **** me off that we play up to CBJ and down to Vancouver? Absolutely. But considering they'll have gone exactly three weeks between home games, given all the other context surrounding that team, I'm not nearly as "BLOW IT ALL UP" as some around here. I just have a hard time wrapping my head around some of the short-sightedness.

See you guys Saturday.

I have not said once that anything should be "blown up", but the season IS slipping away regardless of whatever moral victories you choose to search for. If our top players keep playing the way they are,we will be looking forward to next season real soon.

 

[LAKings88]

The way this year is going, you can't lose divisional games and expect to make the playoffs.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

I have not said once that anything should be "blown up", but the season IS slipping away regardless of whatever moral victories you choose to search for. If our top players keep playing the way they are,we will be looking forward to next season real soon.

Not you in particular, just a general observation about trading guys like Carter etc.

I guess my only point is perspective. Saying the season is slipping away because we have 0 points in the last two is a lack of perspective. Hell, didn't we have a 4-5 game flat out losing streak earlier? We had a 3 game streak when we got shut out entirely.

Things aren't as bleak as they seem when you lose, just like they aren't as unstoppable as they look when dropping a 7 spot on the Leafs.

I agree that some guys need to pick it up. I'm genuinely worried that Kopitar won't soon now not because he sucks but because he's visibly literally playing 75% of the game with one arm on his stick. It's stupid to keep trotting him out there.

 

[KingsFan7824]

Carter, 7-1-8
Toffoli, 3-2-5
Pearson, 1-3-4
Martinez, 0-4-4
Forbort, 1-2-3
Brown, 0-3-3
Dowd, 2-0-2
Shore, 2-0-2
Kopitar, 1-1-2
Setoguchi, 1-1-2
Doughty, 0-2-2
Lewis, 0-2-2
Muzzin, 0-1-1
King, 0-1-1
Nolan, 0-1-1
Gilbert, 0-1-1

18 goals in 9 road games. Amazing they got 8 of 18 points.

The 4 centers got 2 combined assists on the road trip. 1 goal from a winger not name Toffoli and Pearson. 1 goal from a defenseman, and it was Forbort. 11 goals in 9 games not including Carter.

Their first test of the year was around Thanksgiving, and they got some wins, and were in a playoff spot. Their next test was this road trip, and they didn't get enough done, and are just on the outside. Their next test is these next 9 games. No back to backs(can't be too tired). No long stretches without a game(can't be too rusty). 8 of them at home. 3 of them against the Sharks, and 2 of those in LA, where the Sharks have owned the Kings lately. Minnesota, Dallas, St.Louis, and Winnipeg. The Wild can't lose, the Blues are always difficult, and the Stars and Jets are fighting with the Kings for the last spot.

I guess the good and bad thing is that the Kings can go any of the 3 possible ways. They can play themselves into a good position, they can keep treading water, or they can play themselves out of it.

Sure would be nice to see them win on Saturday. They're 0-6, and outscored 26-12 in the last 6 home games against SJ though. No better time.

 

[damacles1156]

Going .500 on the road trip was all you could hope for.

This team, will not be a playoff team with Kopitar hurt, and playing like he is.

It just won't happen.

 

[Bandit]

Not you in particular, just a general observation about trading guys like Carter etc.

I guess my only point is perspective. Saying the season is slipping away because we have 0 points in the last two is a lack of perspective. Hell, didn't we have a 4-5 game flat out losing streak earlier? We had a 3 game streak when we got shut out entirely.

Things aren't as bleak as they seem when you lose, just like they aren't as unstoppable as they look when dropping a 7 spot on the Leafs.

I agree that some guys need to pick it up. I'm genuinely worried that Kopitar won't soon now not because he sucks but because he's visibly literally playing 75% of the game with one arm on his stick. It's stupid to keep trotting him out there.

The problem is that these current failures are compounded upon the previous ones. It sucked when we got shut out three straight, but there was still hope for the future. The more they **** the bed, the less hope there is for what is left of this year.

 

[damacles1156]

Also the Kings are not making teams pay to earn their ice anymore. It's tough to watch.

One of the best thing about the old Kings, was watching them pound teams into submission.

Remember when Toews said this "The Kings make you earn ice, they hit you all game long, it sucks playing them".

Those days are gone.

 

[Steve Zissou]

Also the Kings are not making teams pay to earn their ice anymore. It's tough to watch.

One of the best thing about the old Kings, was watching them pound teams into submission.

Remember when Toews said this "The Kings make you earn ice, they hit you all game long, it sucks playing them".

Those days are gone.

Great line by Toews.

Sheesh we look soft as hell this season. How in the world doe this team lead the league in hits!?

 

[Winger23]

For the first time in years I'm starting to not look forward to the games being on. It's one thing to lose, but I can't stand watching them lose and be boring at the same time. All this team does is dump and chase, usually with just one forward anywhere near the puck. Something has got to change.

 

[blupye*]

Oiler fan in peace. I am just curious what fans think of us now. Do we match up better now. We definitely have the size

 

[Jumptheshark]

Pat ****ing Maroon has almost triple the goals that Kopitar does. There is something seriously wrong with this team right now

what makes the oiler fans love the Maroon deal more is that the ducks are paying 500k of his contract

 

[KingsFan7824]

Also the Kings are not making teams pay to earn their ice anymore. It's tough to watch.

One of the best thing about the old Kings, was watching them pound teams into submission.

Remember when Toews said this "The Kings make you earn ice, they hit you all game long, it sucks playing them".

Those days are gone.

Look at some of the guys that have replaced all the veterans lost to age and the cap. Shore, Dowd, Pearson, Toffoli, Gaborik, Setoguchi. Instead of Williams, Richards, Regehr, Stoll, Mitchell, and even a guy like Penner. The new guys aren't in your face. In terms of demeanor, Toffoli isn't Williams. Dowd isn't Richards. Pearson isn't an overly physical player. Shore isn't Fraser. He's not even 4th line playoff Richards. We hope Gravel can be a Scuderi type, but he's not that guy yet. Quick is a bit of a hothead, and he's not in the lineup. Brown used to be a 50/60 PIM guy. He's had 26, 30, and right now 10 through 34 games in the last 3 years.

It was nice to see Brown getting physically involved last night though. You wish he had some linemates that couple follow his lead. They should maybe think about giving that guy a letter.

5v5 scoring:
Purcell, 12GP, 0G, 2pts
Gaborik, 14GP, 0G, 2pts

 

[KingsFan7824]

Oiler fan in peace. I am just curious what fans think of us now. Do we match up better now. We definitely have the size

The proof is in the standings right? 10th overall, and 9th if you go by their regulation record of 15-12-10. 8th in GF, 10th in GA. 2 of the top 16 scorers in the league.

 

[blupye*]

The proof is in the standings right? 10th overall, and 9th if you go by their regulation record of 15-12-10. 8th in GF, 10th in GA. 2 of the top 16 scorers in the league.

We look much better in our end. If you want to win in the west, you need size. LA had great size for their 2 cups. I just want playoffs.

 

[BigKing]

Best stretches this season are a abnormal offensive explosion, Budaj mini hot streak and an abnormal penalty killing streak.

All unsustainable.

We've seen what they are more than what they aren't this season but we would like to believe they are the latter.

They are a middling team and that was evident going in to the season unless a lot of things went right. Some things have gone right (Forbort, Bottom 6) but it means nothing in the W/L column if the best players are injured, sucking or a combo of both.

Where has the offense gone? It's never been here to begin with.

 

[KingsFan7824]

We look much better in our end. If you want to win in the west, you need size. LA had great size for their 2 cups. I just want playoffs.

Yeah, they're a different team. I thought trading Hall for Larsson made all the sense in the world. Is it "full value" for Hall? Probably not, but when you have McDavid, you can lose a deal on talent to fill a glaring hole. Especially if you have a 2nd center behind McDavid too. Maroon, Lucic, and Kassian, all big guys that the GM brought in.

Best stretches this season are a abnormal offensive explosion, Budaj mini hot streak and an abnormal penalty killing streak.

All unsustainable.

We've seen what they are more than what they aren't this season but we would like to believe they are the latter.

They are a middling team and that was evident going in to the season unless a lot of things went right. Some things have gone right (Forbort, Bottom 6) but it means nothing in the W/L column if the best players are injured, sucking or a combo of both.

Where has the offense gone? It's never been here to begin with.

When Kopitar is looking at 7 goals, and Gaborik 4, that's where the offense went. Unless Toffoli is matching Carter, which he isn't, it's tough to score when a line worth $21m has only 4 total 5v5 goals 36 games into a season. I'm pretty sure it's the saddest line in hockey right now.

 

[Scottkmlps]

For the first time in years I'm starting to not look forward to the games being on. It's one thing to lose, but I can't stand watching them lose and be boring at the same time. All this team does is dump and chase, usually with just one forward anywhere near the puck. Something has got to change.

Never even put the game on until after the Canada shellacking of Latvia last night. Was more interested in the junior game when it was 9-2 Canada than I was the Kings game.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

I just have to wonder if it's time for a coaching change...we've seen too many times this season (and last) that maybe Sutter's system requires specific types of players to be successful, and we don't have that anymore.

But in typical Lombardi fashion, his loyalty is getting the best of him and Sutter would probably quit before he's fired.

 

[KingsFan7824]

I just have to wonder if it's time for a coaching change...we've seen too many times this season (and last) that maybe Sutter's system requires specific types of players to be successful, and we don't have that anymore.

But in typical Lombardi fashion, his loyalty is getting the best of him and Sutter would probably quit before he's fired.

A lot of guys aren't the same, but we can't blame Sutter or his system for Kopitar playing hurt, Gaborik being old, Brown, Doughty and Muzzin doing stupid things, or Budaj not being Quick. Tough to think of a coach that would be doing any better with the reality of the roster.

Unless Sutter is telling them not to go to the net and play dumber, there's only so long that Lewis and King can carry a team offensively.

 

[Little Psycho]

Great line by Toews.

Sheesh we look soft as hell this season. How in the world doe this team lead the league in hits!?

Tells you that stats mean nothing sometimes.

 

[Little Psycho]

For the first time in years I'm starting to not look forward to the games being on. It's one thing to lose, but I can't stand watching them lose and be boring at the same time. All this team does is dump and chase, usually with just one forward anywhere near the puck. Something has got to change.

You're not the only one.

 

[lexlavender]

I thought we all agreed that it would be a miracle if this team made playoffs this season in the offseason? I thought they played pretty well tonight, considering the personnel they have. Give credit to the Oilers for also playing a really strong game.

I'll just say that McNabb played a really good game for just being back. I think he will do a lot to stabilize our D.

 

[WHOneedsSOX]

Great line by Toews.

Sheesh we look soft as hell this season. How in the world doe this team lead the league in hits!?

When Lewis is always top 20 in the NHL in hits you know there's something wrong about that stat. I'm almost positive Staples Centers scorers give the Kings more hits and shots than they actually take. Or at least give the Kings more than they give their opponents.

 

[AlphaBravo]

I'm not a homer optimist, far from it. But the team is not playing terrible. Terrible hockey was the last two season, when the Kings would crumble defensively. That does not happen nearly enough this season for me to say they are terrible. The only games I recall where we let in goals in bunches was because of terrible goaltending, like the Buffalo game.

The problem with this team now is that they do not have another Carter-like pure sniper, Kopitar and Toffoli (when not injured) are underperforming, and the team overall does not trust the goaltending so much that they are back to playing Terry Murray in their own zone shell hockey. Very similar to 2012.

We just have to ride out this season and hope for the best when Quick comes back and the team plays with more confidence. We wont be getting any help at the trade deadline this season, nor do we have anyone in Ontario that can come up and actually make a difference.

What I like about this team is that we are setting the framework to be contenders again shortly. We have good defensemen, and only need to move one of our leftys for a righty to balance things out. We also need one more top 6 winger, which I am sure we will eventually acquire or develop in the next two seasons. If by miracle Vegas takes Brown or Gaborik, we will have some open cap space to expedite the process next season, but I am not holding my breath. I just hope Kempe speeds up his development.

 

[Sacha Baron Corbin]

I just have to wonder if it's time for a coaching change...we've seen too many times this season (and last) that maybe Sutter's system requires specific types of players to be successful, and we don't have that anymore.

But in typical Lombardi fashion, his loyalty is getting the best of him and Sutter would probably quit before he's fired.

I have a feeling if things stay the course this season and the Kings miss the playoffs then Sutter will likely step down in the offseason. Likely won't do much when Lombardi will just bring in a similar style coach