WCF Gm#1: KINGS vs. Hawks - 6/1/13 - Another 2-1 Loss

[Sydor25]

Hopefully it's something simple and not too serious of an injury. I doubt he would be playing if it was that serious.

It just looks like it limits his mobility and leg strength. He looks slower and is unable to lean into defenders like he normally does.


Kings just won the cup and are in the conference final, I'm sure the kings will have some new young blood in the lineup next season. I think the kings are hoping that Pearson can play in the top six next season. Unless dean can get a young, promising LW for Bernier and Martinez.

Brown-Kopitar-Williams
Pearson/trade-Richards-Carter
King-Stoll-Lewis
Clifford-Vey-Tofolli

I would like to see a more skilled fourth line that can play 8-10 minutes to keep the top six fresher.

Knowing that the kings have quick, they only need around 2.6 goals per game to win enough to make the playoffs. They were at 2.75 this season. The offense has just evaporated on the road in the playoffs. Teams are jacked up to play the defending champs. It happens.

I'm already happy with the season so far. Another cup final appearance would be above my expectations for the season. The kings are the first defending champ to get out of the second round since Detroit.

Go Kings!

 

[Reclamation Project]

Absolutely, and also, what was the market at the deadline? Overpaying for rentals and iffy commodities. The only deals I really liked were the acquisitions of Bouwmeester and Torres.

I'd rather watch this roster make it to the WCF in a lockout shortened season than overpay for a rental. I'm glad Dean didn't overpay for a rental and I'm also glad our sole acquisition just re-signed for another two years. That's solid asset management.

Not sure how accurate this is, it's from a poster on LA Kings Insider:

Rich Hammond tweeted that Colin Fraser said Richards looks fine to him

It looked awful and as angry as I was at the poor performance by most of the team, I felt they could regroup for game 2.
If Richards is out, they're done.

Saw that too. Hopefully it's true.

 

[AKAY47]

Tanner Pearson isn't ready. I'd still try Toffoli on the LW with Richards and Carter. Mayor just tweeted that he expects Toffoli in the lineup, regardless of Richards' status. Here are a few tweets:

@Rich_Hammond: Colin Fraser on Mike Richards, who took big hit late in game: "I just saw him. He looked fine to me."

@Mayor_NHL: For all those asking... yes, I'm expecting Toffoli back in the line-up tomorrow regardless of Mike Richards status. More on that early Sun.

Btw, since when is Rich Hammond covering the Kings again?

 

[KingKopitar11*]

Bolland and toews would love that.

Could you imagine vey trying to defend hossa or sharp .... Lol

Yeah because everyone else did a marvelous job today defending him. And maybe they do a pretty good job. Who knows. But stuff has to change.

 

[Reclamation Project]

He's a general sports journalist for the OC Register when there isn't Trojans news, correct?

 

[Live in the Now]

Yeah because everyone else did a marvelous job today defending him. And maybe they do a pretty good job. Who knows. But stuff has to change.

I thought they did do a pretty good job defending him, lol.

 

[AKAY47]

Also, Linden Vey & Tanner Pearson aren't playing. You just can't plug them in to the 2nd and 4th line in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals when they both haven't played any NHL games (Pearson played 5 mins vs SJ).

 

[KingKopitar11*]

We got out shot, 2:1, no one was playing well at all, how bad could the young kids do lol. Seriously. Lol this team isn't playing with any fire. I rather try some young kids for one game and have them fail just to known we tried all our resources. But oh well. Won't happen.

What will likely happen is that Dwight King will play 40+mins next game. And Doughty will be benched and Muzzin would play 50+ mins.

 

[AKAY47]

Muzzin needs to come out for Martinez, I'm sorry Sutter, but I'm starting to question his decision making. Dwight King or Kyle Clifford out, put in Toffoli. Those are the two changes I'd personally want to see. Linden Vey and Tanner Pearson do not belong in the lineup right now.

 

[KingKopitar11*]

Muzzin needs to come out for Martinez, I'm sorry Sutter, but I'm starting to question his decision making. Dwight King or Kyle Clifford out, put in Toffoli. Those are the two changes I'd personally want to see. Linden Vey and Tanner Pearson do not belong in the lineup right now.

Lol oh really tell me who deserves to be in this line up currently. Seriously. I am expecting a really short answer.

 

[Pucknut50]

Hey we just need to win one in Chicago. We have 3 more shots.

**In reality I don't like this matchup with Chicago. It may end here boys.

 

[KINGS17]

The play of our 1-2 centers killed any hope of winning Game 1.

Kopitar should be able to dominate whoever he is matched up against due to his size advantage, or his advantage in quickness over Handzus, but it just didn't happen today.

 

[Oh Snap]

Brown-Kopitar-Williams
Pearson/trade-Richards-Carter
King-Stoll-Lewis
Clifford-Vey-Tofolli

I don't like the thought of having a roster with 3 rookies going into the playoffs. I would also like to see the BKW line broken up. Here's what I would go with:

Trade via Bernier Package - Kopitar - Williams
Brown - Richards - Carter
UFA - Stoll - Toffoli
Clifford/King - Lewis - Richardson

Regehr - Doughty
Scuds - Slava
UFA - Greene

Quick
Jones

We have solid trade pieces in Bernier/Nolan/Muzzin/Martinez that we could try to package together to get a real 1st line left wing.

LW UFAs to note this year are gonna be: Galiardi/Clowe(lol)/Cooke/Stalberg/Morrow oh ... and RAFFI TORRES.

Defenseman UFAs: Corvo/Rozsival/Redden/Leopold/Ian White

 

[Ollie Weeks]

As soon as we decided to open up the chances on the rush in the 2nd period we were cooked. The Hawks live for that game and 2 quick goals was all they needed before we smartened back up. That can't happen again. We can't dick around with the Hawks like we could with San Jose or St. Louis.

For our first road game in Chicago, it was not a terrible performance, but we must be far better to leave no doubt of the outcome.

 

[KINGS17]

I don't like the thought of having a roster with 3 rookies going into the playoffs. I would also like to see the BKW line broken up. Here's what I would go with:

Trade via Bernier Package - Kopitar - Williams
Brown - Richards - Carter
UFA - Stoll - Toffoli
Clifford/King - Lewis - Richardson

Regehr - Doughty
Scuds - Slava
UFA - Greene

Quick
Jones

We have solid trade pieces in Bernier/Nolan/Muzzin/Martinez that we could try to package together to get a real 1st line left wing.

LW UFAs to note this year are gonna be: Galiardi/Clowe(lol)/Cooke/Stalberg/Morrow oh ... and RAFFI TORRES.

Defenseman UFAs: Corvo/Rozsival/Redden/Leopold/Ian White

I doubt that another team will trade a #1 LW for a package of players like those you are mentioning unless you are including Toffoli.

 

[KINGS17]

My friend, I havent read this whole topic so dont know if people were criticizing him. Its just unfortunate that the wrong player was at the right spot, that's all.

That being said, he sucks anyway.

The Kings have multiple forwards that are not playing well in the playoffs.

Williams has been the most consistent forward, and Richards has come up big in a few games.

 

[Kingspiracy]

The Kings poor breakout passing is just handcuffing the forwards. There is just no speed out of our end, Making it difficult to create premium scoring chances. Somehow Sutter needs to find a way to fix this.

That's exactly how I saw it. I was sick to death of seeing the kings trying to get out of their zone, Inching along the wall then a blind pass to center ice that gets picked off before it clears the zone. Must have happened half a dozen times. Our team just never got started. Hopefully Sutter can come up with something to sort it out.

 

[kingsfan28]

Even the Lakers aren't the favorites.

 

[Butch 19]

Disgusting effort

They cannot pass, they cannot clear their d-zone, they cannot score for ****.

Seriously not one guy besides 32 showed up.

King and Muzzin please get the **** off

^^^^ sums it all up quite nicely.

Kings couldn't even break out of their own zone. Chi stifled them, all game long. It was like men against boys.

MUCH has to change or else this will be a short series.

 

[Scottkmlps]

This team looks injured and tired. They've played the most NHL level hockey of all the teams remaining. Not an excuse, but they look nothing, with the exception of Quick, like the team of last years run. Watched the Bruins/Pens game and I said to myself about the Bruins play, "That's how the Kings played for 4 straight series last playoffs.".

 

[KingKopitar11*]

This team looks injured and tired. They've played the most NHL level hockey of all the teams remaining. Not an excuse, but they look nothing, with the exception of Quick, like the team of last years run. Watched the Bruins/Pens game and I said to myself about the Bruins play, "That's how the Kings played for 4 straight series last playoffs.".

We haven't really played well even during the first series. It's not like there's a decline in out put.

 

[cneil99]

Any news on Richards yet? He seemed ok but what do I know

 

[Reclamation Project]

My gut says Richie is ok. Hope I'm right. If he's done, we're done.

 

[Sydor25]

Any news on Richards yet? He seemed ok but what do I know

Nothing official, but there never is.

I think he is fine. Didn't look bad after getting to the bench.

 

[Captain Mittens*]

That's the worst they've looked in a while.