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Kings are in the 2018 playoffs

Kings4OT

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You kind of expect it a little more just based on them trying to open the offense up a little more. Vegas stumbled lately and hopefully that continues.

GO KINGS GO!
 
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Agreed, Quick gets left out to dry a little too much for my taste, but I saw this year that he has let in 5-hole goals, and I don't remember him ever letting those in.
I wanted to play the Knights anyway, and might have to make a road trip to see a game.

I really looked, but the cheapest tickets were close to $300 already for Game 1. I heard the Knights are Top 5 in ticket stability for the next 10 years, which made no sense to me, except when someone told me the casinos just ate them all up. The money is nothing to them, so they locked in those long term deals for the next decade. Which leads me to a question: Who is the average "fan" who's at these games? Like it seems they have a sincere and genuine following, but if the casinos own the tickets, then it's more likely the high rollers or whoever got comped that week are the ones actually at the games.
 

pete6835

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I really looked, but the cheapest tickets were close to $300 already for Game 1. I heard the Knights are Top 5 in ticket stability for the next 10 years, which made no sense to me, except when someone told me the casinos just ate them all up. The money is nothing to them, so they locked in those long term deals for the next decade. Which leads me to a question: Who is the average "fan" who's at these games? Like it seems they have a sincere and genuine following, but if the casinos own the tickets, then it's more likely the high rollers or whoever got comped that week are the ones actually at the games.

I was there a month ago, and walking thru Excalibur right before they were playing the Devils, everyone had a Knights jersey on. It was pretty impressive, but it's always easy to support a winning team, but who knows if they sucked. I saw tickets anywhere between $185 for the upper seats to $615 lower bowl close to the blue line.
 

Kings4OT

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but it's always easy to support a winning team, but who knows if they sucked.

Exactly. I do know a lot of "Knights fans" but they don't know anything about hockey prior to the knights.....so I really doubt if they would still be around when the team isn't good. They did have the frozen fury thing and maybe it is good to have so many tickets owned by casinos to get "non fans" interested in the sport with free tickets.
 
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They have this NHL Hat Trick challenge and this one of the questions:

upload_2018-4-10_11-53-26.png

Not even, will Fleury record a shutout in the series, just straight up in Game 1. At least 95% of people think no.
 

lasportzphan

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The Kings could certainly beat Las Vegas. It's the Nashville's that the Kings do not stand a chance against. If the Kings survive the first round, I am at peace with the 2018 NHL playoffs.
 

PuckinUgly57

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It's been entertaining to read the predictions, many have picked either LA in 6 (my pick) or Vegas in 7 (Mrs. Puck's pick). Most are objective and well balanced highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of both organizations.

Then there's the usual suspects, like Greg Wyshinsky, the Puck Daddy writer who clearly just hates LA and has from day 1 including both Cup wins:

Golden Knights-Kings preview, pick: Why Vegas will keep rolling

This line really showed how ignorant/stubborn this guy is:

Alec Martinez and Dion Phaneuf are the second pairing, with the latter failing to really regain form after his trade to the Kings.

What were you expecting, the Phaneuf of 2005-2009? Newsflash bud, he never "regained his form" in two prior spots before LA in Ottawa or TO but in LA he isn't supposed to - he is slotted in exactly where he should be, a T3-4 defender in a supporting role because the defense is pretty good as is.

He isn't being asked to shut down top lines and play huge minutes because the Kings system isn't designed to rely on a one man show. Phaneuf has blended in LA perfectly fine, knows his role and plays it and stabilized the back end after his arrival in terms of a veteran presence and a calming influence.

Put it this way, I'd much rather have Phaneuf eating up 20 minutes a night than any of Fantenberg, Gravel or LaDue because of the experience factor alone. Having a Phaneuf allows them to gain valuable PO experience while not exposing them too much.

And Vegas can have all the depth they want with six 20 goal scorers - it's really impressive (honestly) - but they won't be flying up and down the ice like they did between Oct-April because that's not the game played April-June. LA has played this style for years, RS or POs.The last 2 wins in February were because LA really imposed their game and slowed Vegas down to mud which is exactly what they'll do again. They were neutered.

Kopitar is going to be all over their top line of Karlsson/Smith/Marchessau and deploying Carter is a great second option too in Games 1-2 when LA doesn't have the last change. The Knights not only have to contend with Kopitar shutting them down, they also have to contend with him lighting them up - they have no such luxury as a balanced "committee" team. Not disparaging them but it's the truth.

Another good one was this:

But it's another number worth paying attention to here: .921, which is career save percentage in the playoffs, even with a .886 flop in his last playoff season (2015-16). Marc-Andre Fleury, meanwhile, mended his tattered playoff reputation with a .924 performance in 15 games during the Penguins' 2017 Stanley Cup run.

I guess he forgot about the career PO save percentage of Fleury, which is actually .908 and worse than Quick's. Fleury in fact posted 4 straight years of sub .900 SP% from 2009-2012 and in 2 of the next 4 seasons posted less than Quick's career .921 (.875 in 2015-16, is second worst career PO showing, .915 the other) but no mention of those numbers.

Selective journalism at its finest since apparently comparing apples to apples isn't this guy's strength. Quick is a money goaltender stats or not, hands down. You cannot quantify that.

I found a really humorous one on Sunday, the writer was a Vegas guy and the slant was beyond homer. I'll see if I can find it (example, he said the Kings split the season series 2-2 when describing LA alliterating .500 but on the Vegas side he put 2-1-1 to make it look like .500. In reality LA won the series 2-1-1 with 5/8 possible points or .625 win percentage).
 

Deader2818

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Wyshinsky is also the only one ive seen to pick Vegas in 5. Seems everyone else is saying this is a 6 or 7 game series in LA's favor.
 

Kings4OT

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I can see LA winning in 5 or 6. If Quick plays un-pete like and the games are close and hard fought I think its the best opponent the Kings could have faced. Vegas is a good team and can score from all over their lineup ...but the Kings are one of the few teams that can deal with that.

I also agree about Phanuef, he wasn't supposed to be a savior and compete with DD for top dman in the league. He has done what he was needed to do and I admit I didn't think he would be able to. The little bit of edge will be invaluable in the playoffs as well.
 

PuckinUgly57

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Agreed, Quick gets left out to dry a little too much for my taste, but I saw this year that he has let in 5-hole goals, and I don't remember him ever letting those in.
I wanted to play the Knights anyway, and might have to make a road trip to see a game.

I actually agree with highlighted part, he did let in a lot of five hole goals this year, more than I had noticed in the past.

I don't think that had much to do with opening up the offense because defensively the Kings still ranked 1st in GA, 1st in PK and 8th in SA so the defense wasn't compromised much (2016-17 rankings: 6th GA/5th PK/1st SA) but more of a technical issue, he has always been that paddle flat guy when there are scrums around the net, potential wraparounds or cutting off passes coming through the crease but this season I noticed he didn't protect the five hole well enough on a lot of nights - stick was off center or off the ice completely.

Seems like it was more of a technical thing than a team thing, which can be worked on and corrected. Better be actually, it's showtime tonight.
 

PuckinUgly57

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I can see LA winning in 5 or 6. If Quick plays un-pete like and the games are close and hard fought I think its the best opponent the Kings could have faced. Vegas is a good team and can score from all over their lineup ...but the Kings are one of the few teams that can deal with that.

I agree LA can handle them - the Kings, Oilers (WTF??), Islanders and Wild were the only teams this season with winning records against them - but I don't think either team is going to win this series in 5 games or less. That just doesn't seem realistic to me given how LA is and how Vegas are as teams.

Two of those teams (LA, Wild) were in the top 11 for team defense (LA 1st, Wild 11th). The Wild beat them by 2+ games in every game (they went 0-4) while all the LA games were decided by 1 goal except the last one where LA beat them 4-2 (the first game was 4-2 Vegas but included an EN goal). The Kings will play them tight, no game was a blowout except the last game in Vegas where they took the lead 1-0 and the Kings hammered them for 4 straight goals to win it (no EN goals here).

I will surprised beyond belief is this is 5 or a sweep either team; just don't see it happening. Too very good teams with different strengths that are significantly opposite. Puck Boy is just an idiot and letting his emotions spill out on the keyboard, he isn't being objective or realistic at all.

Fine by me, he said the same thing in 2012 and 2014.

=)~~

I also agree about Phanuef, he wasn't supposed to be a savior and compete with DD for top dman in the league. He has done what he was needed to do and I admit I didn't think he would be able to. The little bit of edge will be invaluable in the playoffs as well.

His snarl has been welcomed. The Kings lost that on the back end notably with Greene and then to a lesser degree with Regehr and Mitchell. Phaneuf isn't afraid to throw himself around, clear the crease or deliver a hit or even fight although I don't want him doing that.

In fact I think that should be one of the series setting tones early on - crush a guy (cleanly) like Karlsson, Smith, etc. and send that message that you are about to play Kings hockey.
 

PuckinUgly57

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At least TSN was more objective about it:

Playoff X-Factors: Who could make or break the post-season for each Cup contender? | The Hockey News

LOS ANGELES KINGS: Jonathan Quick had a tremendous season, but the playoffs can be a different animal. We’ve seen two versions of Quick throughout his career when the post-season rolls around. The first is the unbeatable Gumby-esque goaltender who contorts his body to stop pucks he should have no business stopping. That’s the Quick that won the Conn Smythe Trophy with a .946 SP in 2011-12 and the Quick who posted a .934 SP across 18 outings the next post-season. The other Quick is the one who posted a modest .906 SP across his next 31 playoff games — though he did win another Cup with a mere .911 SP. But Quick’s play can, and quite likely will, determine how far Los Angeles goes.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS: Marc-Andre Fleury was excellent during the regular season and put together what was almost inarguably the best campaign of his career. The problem, though, is that Fleury is no stranger to post-season stumbles. Of his 115 playoff appearances, he has posted a .900 SP or lower on 49 occasions, which helps explain his career .908 SP in the post-season. The good news is that the last time Fleury was tasked with starting duty in the playoffs for a long stretch, he went 9-6 with a .924 SP, helping guide the Penguins to the conference final en route to a Stanley Cup victory.
 

lasportzphan

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Not for a lack of effort, these Kings look old and slow while taking a beating. A lot of heart on that ice, but not much in the tank. Perhaps it is rebuild time? Is that even an option?
 

Deader2818

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Not for a lack of effort, these Kings look old and slow while taking a beating. A lot of heart on that ice, but not much in the tank. Perhaps it is rebuild time? Is that even an option?

Kind of an over reaction when they are only down 1-0 after 2 in Game 1 no?
 

lasportzphan

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Kind of an over reaction when they are only down 1-0 after 2 in Game 1 no?
I don’t think Vegas is all that good. Offensively speaking, the Kings lacked creativity, botched their few opportunities, skated into multiple defenders all night. Meanwhile, Quick played brilliantly.
 

PuckinUgly57

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Kind of an over reaction when they are only down 1-0 after 2 in Game 1 no?

Kings missing 2 T6 defenders, Vegas was buzzing but mostly perimeter, and all they did was win 1-0? Where was Big Dick Karlsson? Superstar Smith? Money Marchessau? Nowhere to be found. The Kings did a good job, it shows their depth and strength on defense.

I usually throw out Game 1 in any series because teams are feeling each other out and seeing what they are up against, losing 1-0 isn't that big a deal at all looking at the big picture. One deflection beat Quick, it was a good play. Vegas better bring some more on Friday, I'm really not concerned to be honest with you.

One area the Kings need to improve on is laying the body, Vegas was all over the Kings' guns, they arehn't built for a physical game but the Kings are. Start hitting those guys, OD mentioned it during the first intermission and what I said earlier. Target a Karlsson, Smith, Theodore. That is not their game and they are not built for it so expose it.

PS - McNabb showed why he was left available in the Expansion Draft. The guy is horrible.
 
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PuckinUgly57

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Doughty to have a hearing for his "illegal check to the head" on William Carrier:

Drew Doughty to have hearing for illegal check to head on Carrier (Video)

What a joke, that guy was running Doughty all game long. He dipped his shoulder and pulled back at the last second as Doughty was coming in for the hit, some onus has to fall on him too. I don't think it was intentional so I'd be surprised if he is suspended. No priors, no majors, etc. so I am expecting a fine.

If he gets suspended you know damn well the fix is in for Vegas. Lots of calls that were let go last night, which is PO hockey but this hit wasn't even penalized.
 

Fox4Kings

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Like Puck, not worried at all yet. Obviously would have loved to win the game, but didn't see anything showing Kings were the inferior team. You know Vegas was pumped up to play in their building in their first ever playoff game, and they were able to capitalize on that energy early in the first. Ferraro touched on it, but Kings looked calm and collected and will come out in game 2 with adjustments. Quick looked great and on top of his game. Very encouraged by his play.

I think Muzzin was sorely missed in this game. I think his size and strength will help nullify some of those hits the Kings took and shift the hitting momentum the other direction.

Carter needs to step it up. He was invisible. Haven't checked the box score but I don't recall any shots on goal by him.
 
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Frustrating to learn Muzzin wasn't going to play last night and I felt it was a glaring hole. Quick looked phenomenal after being pretty suspect a few games of late, which is extremely promising.

Does anyone else believe that maybe Carter is hurt again? He hasn't looked the same to me for about 2 weeks.

I actually consider maybe benching Toffoli because he's too slow and doesn't bring enough intangibles to the table (for my money. I know the analytics etc.).

Faceoffs were a nightmare in my opinion. Several times Vegas would ice it and LA would lose the endzone draw (I mean almost every single time). We're already not generating enough as is, so those draws are uber important. Kopitar and Carter no less, but it's team based, because on a few occasions the King would pull it back, but Vegas would jump and get to it first. That's on the wingers and defense at that point.

I agree, we gotta hit them more. Can't just sit back and take it as they run Doughty the whole game (loved that he got his back).

All said and done, 0-1 loss with a few chances to steal it wasn't a bad effort. Kempe solid, Quick solid, Kopitar pretty good. Liked Clifford's game. Phaneuf not bad. Doughty with a lot of tough minutes.

I felt we needed more from Martinez, Brown, Carter. Toffoli is horrible. Pearson actually got in the way of Kopitar's scoring chance, but I don't have a strong opinion either way on Pearson's game last night.
 
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