my thing is even on a team with great depth there are only so many goals to go around
In a record scoring year last year the oilers got 325 goals as a team, that's not quite 4 goals a game, and that's with a historic PP
Yet they didn't go far, because D and G
Kings will score oodles, they may even break that 325, but unless they can get the GA under 4 against meaningful teams, we're f***ed
and that's not a "wait till Kempe scores, wait till Dubois scores" problem
I don't care about the regular season, the playoffs SHOULD be a foregone conclusion, it's what they do vs. playoff teams that matters and right now all they've done vs. playoff teams is sunset
Top 4 D of Mikey, Doughty, Gavrikov, Roy is very strong. King have Spence & Clarke to work in. Not worried about the D's ability to play.
First couple of weeks of the season is normally high scoring until the defenders & defensive systems get up to speed.
Average goaltending: King's are going to need to work harder than other teams on defense. This is a good thing & will get them playing at a higher level by the end of the season.
Kings lost a shootout in OT against the best team in the division. They gave Eichle multiple breaks. That needs addressing. Kings were in the game the whole way & could have easily won. Even dominated possession at time & cycled in the offensive zone. Even with all the issues that need addressing, the King's are very competitive right now.
The thing is these narratives can have completely different implications. So as much as I’d like to fully buy in that everything can only go up that’s just not realistic.
1. What if he’s just injured? He’s been playing bad ever since he got boarded in the preseason where he lit it up, Byfield played with two bum wrists all last season supposedly, Arvy came back injured, Fiala came back injured, this training staff has been nothing but incompetent with how they manage their players health so we have no idea how Kempe will play.
2. Fiala even looks off too. He is probably injured as well IMO. He always is a player who dances and he hasn’t been doing anything remotely close to that. PLD is an unknown asset so I can’t comment on that.
3. The kids have looked ok except for Laf who’s looked really good.
4. I don’t know how doughty will be. He’s been scoring but he’s also been getting beat a lot as well. Especially Roy too who’s looked terrible.
5. Goaltending big problem.
These are all things that could also not change. The truth is always somewhere in the middle.
Hockey Gods are cruel, but they're in a good spot to start the season. They can improve. There are young players to call up in case of injury.
Some of the guys that started hot will probably cool off. That is were depth comes in.
The main issues should be easily addressed. G needs a trade & defense normally picks up a couple weeks in. If it's still an issue then I'll be more concerned. Average goaltending is going to make things look worse on D than they really are.
It's nice to be banking points early in the season & not get a horrendous start like that other team.
You didn't mention Lewis' two goals. It's like we don't even know you anymore!
Didn't want to ruin the moment when everyone was basking in the glow of his awesomeness.
