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GDT: PDSF: (2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (3) San Jose Sharks

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Fishhead said:
Gravel wasn't going to be on the top pairing, especially in the playoffs. He set two guys up in the slot in one his last games, that could swing a series.

Just because he looks better than Scuderi doesn't mean he should be in a playoff lineup over him. Give me the battle-tested guy who knows that he might have to take some pretty nasty hits and endure punishment to make the right play. I don't think it would be fair to Gravel to ask him to play 20+ minutes in a pressure cooker series, either. That's how you potentially screw up an inexperienced players development, not by letting him watch.

He might get a shot anyways, I doubt the D stays healthy.
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I agree with this.

If Geene is cleared to return at some point I am not sure if I put Greene in over Gravel though, because Greene would be very rusty
 
Key to the series is San Jose's goaltending. If you get to Jones early, they may go to Reimer. If they chase Reimer and go back to Jones, it's a huge mental advantage. Creating doubt in your most important position also creates weakness.

Quick can give up 7 in game 1 and still go in game 2. Same might not be said for SJ.
 
TheJuxtaposer said:
Hey guys, what do you think your D will look like for game 1? Is Martinez likely to play?
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he WAS likely to play but is skating with the extras...lined up this morning as Doughty-McNabb / Muzzin-Schenn (ugh) / Scuderi-McBain (ugh).

I'd expect him back...or at least, I'm hoping now :laugh:
 
The reason why Gravel isn't playing also has a lot to do with DS believing he's not physical enough, just like he thought with Forbort, even though both players skate better than Schenn, Scuderi, and McNabb. DS wants physical too, in addition to experience. This isn't only about experience. DS probably doesn't think Gravel is any more physical than Forbort, and I'd agree with him. He's not. In fact, Forbort is more physical. But DS will live and die with his physical and experience mentality. Skating? What's that?
 
Martinez is going to be eased in just to make sure, but I expect him in regular pairings tomorrow. If not, I would expect him Saturday for sure.

I'm hoping for

Doughty/McNabb
Martinez/Muzzin
Scuderi/Schenn

With the 3rd pairing's minutes being limited.

We are more likely to see

Martinez/Muzzin

Then McNabb and Scuderi rotated with Doughty depending on situation/matchup.
 
efhank said:
The reason why Gravel isn't playing also has a lot to do with DS believing he's not physical enough, just like he thought with Forbort, even though both players skate better than Schenn, Scuderi, and McNabb. DS wants physical too, in addition to experience. This isn't only about experience. DS probably doesn't think Gravel is any more physical than Forbort, and I'd agree with him. He's not. In fact, Forbort is more physical. But DS will live and die with his physical and experience mentality. Skating? What's that?
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lots more living than dieing on Sutter's resume
 
Fishhead said:
Martinez is going to be eased in just to make sure, but I expect him in regular pairings tomorrow. If not, I would expect him Saturday for sure.

I'm hoping for

Doughty/McNabb
Martinez/Muzzin
Scuderi/Schenn

With the 3rd pairing's minutes being limited.

We are more likely to see

Martinez/Muzzin

Then McNabb and Scuderi rotated with Doughty depending on situation/matchup.
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You're actually hoping for a Scuderi-Schenn pairing? That duo is going to be a nightmare in the playoffs. They're going to be exploited like crazy by the Sharks due to their lack of mobility. The D looks atrocious on paper and has shown they can't hold a lead all year. Who cares about them having the best GAA in the regular season, they certainly don't look as good as that stat indicates.

We're lucky we have Quick with that D in front of him.
 
So recently I have been doubting how well the Kings will play this postseason, but I asked my group of friends that are Kings fans this simple question that ended up making me feel better about.

"you can replace 1 of Doughty, Kopitar or Quick with any other player in the league at their position for this upcoming playoff run. Do you do it? And if so, with who?"

My answer is no. How many teams in the league could say that about their top player at each position? Probably not many.
 
Omni Owl said:
You're actually hoping for a Scuderi-Schenn pairing? That duo is going to be a nightmare in the playoffs. They're going to be exploited like crazy by the Sharks due to their lack of mobility. The D looks atrocious on paper and has shown they can't hold a lead all year. Who cares about them having the best GAA in the regular season, they certainly don't look as good as that stat indicates.

We're lucky we have Quick with that D in front of him.
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We need to go back to the "stay at home"/"puck mover" pairing format to survive the Sharks:

Scuderi/Doughty
Schenn/Muzzin
Greene (if back)/Martinez

Or we can go top heavy like the Hawks last year:

(Martinez or Muzzin rotating in)/Doughty
Martinez/Muzzin (Doughty rotating in)
Schenn/Scuderi/McNabb
 
only in blowouts said:
So recently I have been doubting how well the Kings will play this postseason, but I asked my group of friends that are Kings fans this simple question that ended up making me feel better about.

"you can replace 1 of Doughty, Kopitar or Quick with any other player in the league at their position for this upcoming playoff run. Do you do it? And if so, with who?"

My answer is no. How many teams in the league could say that about their top player at each position? Probably not many.
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I would replace Doughty, Kopitar and Quick with three Erick Karlssons.
 
Omni Owl said:
You're actually hoping for a Scuderi-Schenn pairing? That duo is going to be a nightmare in the playoffs. They're going to be exploited like crazy by the Sharks due to their lack of mobility. The D looks atrocious on paper and has shown they can't hold a lead all year. Who cares about them having the best GAA in the regular season, they certainly don't look as good as that stat indicates.

We're lucky we have Quick with that D in front of him.
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I'd be OK with it if they are playing 10 minutes, at home with favorable matchups. Otherwise, yea it's kind of a nightmare. I expect a lot of rotating pairings on the road, it's the only way.
 
Fishhead said:
I'd be OK with it if they are playing 10 minutes, at home with favorable matchups. Otherwise, yea it's kind of a nightmare. I expect a lot of rotating pairings on the road, it's the only way.
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The problem is we don't have a set person that can play 30 with Doughty. Which means all other D will get more than 10 minutes most likely. Just because of them rotating into that spot with Doughty.
 
tsanuri said:
The problem is we don't have a set person that can play 30 with Doughty. Which means all other D will get more than 10 minutes most likely. Just because of them rotating into that spot with Doughty.
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As long as they don't have more than 10 minutes together, I would be fine with it. I doubt that any D will be much under 15 minutes overall. If they are, that means there is a lot of special teams play which is what the Kings will be trying to avoid.

The defense is a bit worrisome, but I think it's going to come down to forecheck/possession in the offensive zone. It will make it substantially easier on our blue line if they can control the neutral zone and keep the puck in their end. It's tough against the Sharks because they are a great counter attack team, but I'd rather them be aggressive. Gotta sink or swim with your strengths.
 
tsanuri said:
The problem is we don't have a set person that can play 30 with Doughty. Which means all other D will get more than 10 minutes most likely. Just because of them rotating into that spot with Doughty.
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This is our biggest issue and was pointed out by one of the commentators on the NHL channel. Voynov left a big glaring hole in our defense. I hope we can address it in the offseason, even if it means not resigning Lucic.
 
mrkolice said:
plus another quote from kopi, hehe, i love this one:

"I'm least worried about quick and our defence."

discuss.
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nah, i'll discuss is with myself.

kopi, #11, raccoon jesus (all hail to Our Lord, Who was conceived in Jesenice, Slovenia,), our mvp and so on... is saying that he is not worried about lak's defence. why is he so confident?

on the other hand, the discussion here is 90% how lak defense suxxx. luke, rob and brayden are crucified in almost every single post. without martinez we're doomed. and it goes on and on and on...

i invite you to notice this discrepancy: kopi, 1/3 of lak's the trinity, is saying he's not worried about lak's defence, not an inch. "I'm least worried about quick and our defence," that's what he said, and i believe he believes that 100%.

ppl here are getting paranoid. locker room is fine. sutter knows what he's doing. it's fine.

and just to switch the general direction of our discussion, just a little: who will score goals? which line?
 
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