2024-25 Season Thread

[PuckinUgly57]

TA on how the POs are working out down the stretch and what to expect in a series:

(P2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers

We could see Los Angeles-Edmonton for the fourth consecutive year, but this might be Los Angeles’ best chance at upending last year’s Western Conference champions. The Kings are one of the best teams at home and Darcy Kuemper has been a quality goaltender — maybe even Vezina Trophy level if not for Hellebuyck — with a 2.10 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. In this scenario, they’d have a home-ice advantage for the first time in the four matchups against the Oilers.

Once the playoffs start, however, the Oilers should have Connor McDavid healthy. With McDavid and Draisaitl, the Oilers remain Western Conference favorites for many. Both teams are also brilliant at five-on-five, so this series has the potential to go the distance.

Remaining schedules:

Los Angeles (nine games): vs. Winnipeg (Tuesday), at Utah (Thursday), vs. Edmonton (Saturday), vs. Seattle (April 7), vs. Anaheim (April 10), vs. Colorado (April 12), at Edmonton (April 14), at Seattle (April 15), vs. Calgary (April 17)

Edmonton (nine games): at Vegas (Tuesday), at San Jose (Thursday), at Los Angeles (Saturday), at Anaheim (April 7), vs. St. Louis (April 9), vs. San Jose (April 11), at Winnipeg (April 13), vs. Los Angeles (April 14), at San Jose (April 16)

 

[Kings4OT]

Surprisingly I think LA nabs P2. I also think if Kings get healthy this is their best chance at beating the McJesuses....only because they arent as good and Bouchard and nurse give LA a decent chance to score. Kinda rides on Kuempers shoulders tho

 

[Fox4Kings]

Surprisingly I think LA nabs P2. I also think if Kings get healthy this is their best chance at beating the McJesuses....only because they arent as good and Bouchard and nurse give LA a decent chance to score. Kinda rides on Kuempers shoulders tho

I tend to agree it feels like goaltending was a bit sus last several years against the Oilers. Not that Kings played excellent in front of them, but Talbot had a pretty good regular season and looked bad in the playoffs and same for Korpisalo. Unless you're an offensive juggernaut like Colorado you need goalies to at least steal you a game each series, haven't seen that since Quick.

 

[Kings4OT]

Great news! Otto Salin is flying in from TPS Turku to sign his entry level contract....the 5-11 D is exactly what we need! I mean im sure hes fine I really dont know....he did score the game winner sending Turku into the post season, I guess thats something

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Surprisingly I think LA nabs P2. I also think if Kings get healthy this is their best chance at beating the McJesuses....only because they arent as good and Bouchard and nurse give LA a decent chance to score. Kinda rides on Kuempers shoulders tho

My gut is the Kings seem to be peaking going into the POs, something we haven't really seen in some time - which is good. But it also feels like a set up, like they'll play crappy the last 4-5 games or whatever and enter with a whimper - which is bad. I sure hope not but knowing this team I could completely see either scenario happening.

I think the Kings will end up as PD3, the way they are flipping spots nightly with the Oilers and the Kings having the harder schedule left than Edmonton. I think the two games left with Edmonton (4/5 and 4/14) will be deciding games honestly, if the Kings get lit up it'll set the tone for what will happen in the series.

 

[Kings4OT]

Im getting too excited. Kings rolling, looking good. Blowout adding a new dimension, got some good size, guys that can muck it out and some good speed guys...

Gonna hurt if they get rolled again by Oil

 

[PuckinUgly57]

If they do, I'd be in full favor of a tear down. Move whatever assets have value and start over but this time follow through with it and not go acquire a Dunno or Fiala after you have some type of overachieving luck.

But make sure Blake is on the sidelines. He may not be GM this summer but you know damn well they'll invent some cubicle job for him to remain in the organization.