Post-Game Talk: Official Kings (2) vs Soilers (3) Series talk

[Raccoon Jesus]

I know a lot of people that cut their cable. And if you dont have cable they make it harder to watch on apps. Instead of using Hulu or Amazon its on a thing called Fubo and Max Sports that used to be included with normal Max. Its all so crazy.
That on top of some people probably fed up with where the game is going as far as reffing based on game management is adding up.

Was going to suggest the cable cutting but NBA viewership is up massively vs last year

 

[Schmooley]

Was going to suggest the cable cutting but NBA viewership is up massively vs last year

Interesting. I dont follow that sport but are the games available to watch on more streaming services than the NHL?
I know NBA was way down for a bit.

 

[johnjm22]

The local broadcasts are covering PO games as well. Surely that cuts into the viewership

Also the first few days of playoff games were pretty bad IMO. Lots of non-competitive games.

Plus many of the American teams that get the biggest draws didn't make the playoffs.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Job's not done.

Love what the Kings have done so far, but it's only what they were 'supposed' to do, hold serve at home. Now they've put the Oilers in a position where they have to win 4 out of 5...but they've been dog shit on the road. Can they sort that out vs. the Edmonton crowd? Gonna need Darcy to steal at least one game here, I partially expect to come back to LA 2-2, but boy, 3-1 would be nice...

 

[Lt Dan]

 

[fivehole32]

I think the King's learned a valuable lesson in the third period of the first game. Keeping that kind of persistence going throughout a series is hard, however. I think if they get out to a lead in game three they'll win that game, but if they get behind I am curious how they will react. This team seems like it has a lot more resilience than the teams of the last few years.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Weird having a coach where matchups matter again. Koala didn't care, Sutter didn't much care either, but for different reasons. With the series heading to Edmonton, that will be interesting to watch.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Also it's badass watching the PP go to work...and it works because they're all dual threats. Take away Kempe's one timer? Fine, now you have to deal with Fiala. Take away that side? fine, you're going to have to gamble that you're hopefully cutting off Kuzmenko from an easy tap in. And in a world where Kopitar is the 3rd/4th option for a trigger...that's deadly.

And the most important part is it has so many looks. I remarked early in the game it looks like they had scouted to snuff it out as they were taking away Fiala altogether and kind of shading off Kempe...what did they do? talk talk talk, rotate guys around, and suddenly boom, goal.

I have NEVER seen 5 dudes so connected in actual talking/communication every stoppage. It's like a quarterback play calling in the huddle before the faceoff. So cool to watch.

 

[fivehole32]

Also it's badass watching the PP go to work...and it works because they're all dual threats. Take away Kempe's one timer? Fine, now you have to deal with Fiala. Take away that side? fine, you're going to have to gamble that you're hopefully cutting off Kuzmenko from an easy tap in. And in a world where Kopitar is the 3rd/4th option for a trigger...that's deadly.

And the most important part is it has so many looks. I remarked early in the game it looks like they had scouted to snuff it out as they were taking away Fiala altogether and kind of shading off Kempe...what did they do? talk talk talk, rotate guys around, and suddenly boom, goal.

I have NEVER seen 5 dudes so connected in actual talking/communication every stoppage. It's like a quarterback play calling in the huddle before the faceoff. So cool to watch.

Having an engaged player like Kuzmeko has made a ton of difference, the guys have joked about it, but having a fresh perspective from a guy who is constantly talking and isn't a passenger makes a huge difference, I think.

 

[Ollie Weeks]

Everyone’s been seemingly running it as a “flavour of the week” over the past season or two, but this might be the most successful run by a 5F PP in the league in that time period.

 

[Schrute farms]

One down. Three to go. Sweep here we come!

Two down. Two to go. Sweep here we come!

 

[King'sPawn]

The 5-forward powerplay is working better than I expected.

I do have concerns still, particularly with stronger/more aggressive PKs. It will be prone to a lot of breakaways.

 

[CarlSneep]

It's not even so much the 5 forward thing as it is that Kopitar & Doughty are no longer the primary puck carriers anymore. Kopitar is still there, at least, but he's mostly in a facilitator role instead of being the primary passer. Ever since they moved him to the other side and put Fiala in his place I feel like things have really opened up, and running things through Kuzmenko down low has helped even more.

 

[Master Yoda]

The biggest difference I see about the PP is they are entering the zone and setting it up with ease. I've never seen this before with a Kings PP.

 

[johnjm22]

Highest Points Per Game, NHL Playoffs, Last 4 Years:

1- McDavid 1.8
2- Draisaitl 1.53
3- Kempe 1.3
4- Makar 1.28
5- Marchand 1.23
6- Rantanen 1.22
7- MacKinnon 1.2
8- Kucherov 1.17
9- Gaudreau 1.17
10- Bouchard 1.11

*Minimum 10GP

Hilarious that all of Kempe's points have come against 1 team.

 

[ahmedou]

 

[Kingfan1967]

Kempe, one more year then he's a UFA, he's going to get PAID (very lucky that he's a UFA at a time when the Cap is rising).

 

[KingsOfCali25]

Kempe leads the playoffs in scoring with 7 points and is tied for the goal scoring lead at 3. But even better the Kings have 3 of the top 5 points leaders through 2 games (Kempe, Kopitar, Kuzmenko).

When did they get this offensive firepower?

 

[riznat]

Kempe, one more year then he's a UFA, he's going to get PAID (very lucky that he's a UFA at a time when the Cap is rising).

Good for him, what a fantastic and loveable King he's been so far

 

[riznat]

Kempe leads the playoffs in scoring with 7 points and is tied for the goal scoring lead at 3. But even better the Kings have 3 of the top 5 points leaders through 2 games (Kempe, Kopitar, Kuzmenko).

When did they get this offensive firepower?

Unfortunate that it's the KKK line

 

[Omni Owl]

Unfortunate that it's the KKK line

KKK is also a great company that makes quality turbocharges too, both unfortunate acronyms.

 

[BigKing]

Highest Points Per Game, NHL Playoffs, Last 4 Years:

1- McDavid 1.8
2- Draisaitl 1.53
3- Kempe 1.3
4- Makar 1.28
5- Marchand 1.23
6- Rantanen 1.22
7- MacKinnon 1.2
8- Kucherov 1.17
9- Gaudreau 1.17
10- Bouchard 1.11

*Minimum 10GP

Hilarious that all of Kempe's points have come against 1 team.

Feels like McDrai might still be #1 and #2 if you only used the points they scored against the Kings but still used all of their games played to arrive at the average. I know they wouldn't be, but it feels like it.

 

[King'sPawn]

Went over to Edmonton's post-game thread.

After about half a dozen or so pages, most are feeling bleak. But I kid you not there were still a couple references to "California reffing" and about the NHL being corrupt.

You can't make this up.

And as nice it is to be up 2-0, I still won't count out McDraisaitl until LA wins the 4th game.

 

[Axl Rhoadz]

Went over to Edmonton's post-game thread.

After about half a dozen or so pages, most are feeling bleak. But I kid you not there were still a couple references to "California reffing" and about the NHL being corrupt.

You can't make this up.

And as nice it is to be up 2-0, I still won't count out McDraisaitl until LA wins the 4th game.

I was reminded today about how they came back from an 0-3 deficit last year in SCF to force game 7.

 

[Sol]

California reffing when they have zero discipline