Game Thread: G2 0-1-0 Kings @ Knights 10/8/25

[PuckinUgly57]

Back at it again, 7pm start on TNT and streaming on Max. Another national game which the Kings always seem to screw up on, hope it's different tonight. Won't be able to watch most of the game as Junior II has football practice until 8:45pm so I'll check here for updates, phone for score and watch the replay when we get home.

This season for him has flown by and not as stressful as years past for me but with the older two in HS and playing softball and baseball during school hours that leaves only him as the kid in extra curricular activities which has made a world of difference - only chasing one kid around everywhere instead of three. He missed G1 back in late August because he wasn't cleared yet from the broken wrist he got in June crashing his ebike but since G2 has had a solid season as left DE. We got bumped up to D1 this season so competition has been stiff but they're sitting comfortably at 5-1 with one game left this Saturday and will most likely head to the POs with a chance to win an Orange Bowl. Saturday will be tough, Santa Margarita Cowboys who have an excellent program and are 6-0. Expecting a loss to finish 5-2 but who knows.

Onto the Kings, expect the same lineup tonight except Forsberg getting the nod in net being a B2B. Moverare and Helenius available to check in if any changes are needed but I haven't seen anything indicating that.

Absolutely need a better effort than that shit show last night, the positive is the effort level can only go up. The Kings were simply not ready to play and it showed, that's poor coaching to me. Jill had good words for Mallot and Turcotte saying they weren't part of the problem, well they can't be when you're giving them under 8:00 - they're not out there much to screw up ya jackass. Jill clearly has his new favorite which is Armia, he had 13+ minutes TOI even though he is part of that line. Sounds like to me he has become the new Lewis, Jill had him out there every possible time it seemed whereas it would have made sense to have someone else. Keep an eye on that, Armia is the new teacher's pet.

On the Vegas front tonight is their home opener and season opener so the over the top dog and pony entrance should be on full display. It's the debut for Mitch the Bitch and he is slotted on L1 with Eichel and Barbashev.

Hill is expected to start and Dorofeyev is a GTD, he led Vegas with 35 goals last season but missed the last 5 preseason games with an undisclosed injury. Knights also announced Pietrangelo will be out for the season last week, which means he will be good to go come G1 of the POs. The issue then will be they'll have to ice a cap compliant team just like any other PO qualifier. I can assure you Pietrangelo will be ready to go by mid March and in top flight form for the POs, Vegas gonna do Vegas things.

Would like to be more positive but after seeing not only the lack of effort last night but the noticeable difference in team speed from last season I'm going with a 5-2 Vegas win. Kings goals by Laferriere and Dunno. This team, first game or not, looks worse than last season's. Hope we're not in for a long season.

Let's Go Kings!

 

[Kings4OT]

Yea, Armia. Thought this could be a good pick up....ooof I might eat those words. Sorry guys I saw some things that are not good at all from him but letting it all go for 10-20 games, time wont matter tho.....these are issues that shouldnt be there at this point of his career. Hope that was a 1 off for him.

I see no path that has LA winning this game, so they probably will. I really want to be wrong on this season. Also kinda want to see Marner in LV

Go Kings GO!

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I'll give Armia a shot, he's the best B3 player LA has had in a long while. Like you said, 10-20 games or for me about Thanksgiving to let the new guys gel and settle in. If it's not good well, we kind of have our expectations set for us. Jill loves his veteran players though so we will see plenty of Armia and Peepee and Dummy to make an educated guess.

I too don't really see how LA will beat that line up but that's why they play the games. Something that jumped off the page for me is Vegas has a lot of gritty guys tonight, apart from Mallot no one played tough at all unless you count Clarke cross checking people and running away like he did last night.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

It's wasn't all bad last night. Thought the start was decent. Manhandled on special teams and some sloppy play. Also might just be that Colorado is crazy good.

Vegas not much worse though, so tough back to back out the gate. I'd like to see Forsberg. Kinda of a fan, and I thought he looked great at times playing on an Ottawa team that doesn't really prioritize defense. No shade to Kuemper at all, but it'd be nice not to play a 35 year old 60+ games this season.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Watching this Cubs/Brewers baseball game right now and I am pretty sure this is Alex Faust commentating. Random play in 1st where harmless pop fly was completely lost in the sun and somehow no one could find it. Anyway, good for Faust doing playoff baseball, but I don't miss him for the Kings.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

It's wasn't all bad last night. Thought the start was decent. Manhandled on special teams and some sloppy play. Also might just be that Colorado is crazy good.

Kings ran on adrenaline from being the Home Opener last night, they had chances and in typical Kings fashion failed to score.

Once that wore off and Colorado started taking over in the second it was over. So I'll have to disagree with that, the Kings were more bad than good last night, I didn't see a lot of positives.

Vegas not much worse though, so tough back to back out the gate. I'd like to see Forsberg. Kinda of a fan, and I thought he looked great at times playing on an Ottawa team that doesn't really prioritize defense. No shade to Kuemper at all, but it'd be nice not to play a 35 year old 60+ games this season.

The deal wirh Forsberg is he can give up softies in bunches, hoping the Kings defensive structure helps prevent that. But I agree, can't have Kuemper playing excessively this season.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Watching this Cubs/Brewers baseball game right now and I am pretty sure this is Alex Faust commentating. Random play in 1st where harmless pop fly was completely lost in the sun and somehow no one could find it. Anyway, good for Faust doing playoff baseball, but I don't miss him for the Kings.

Don't miss Faust at all. He was not good IMO. Wish him well but glad he is out of LA.

Didn't need to hear about his grandma's meatloaf recipe between whistles or other filler nonsense.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Armia. Right on cue.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Feels like Vegas grinding LA down, so big goal from Armia. Actually some nice goals in the first from Kuzmenko and Byfield. Soft goal against from Forsberg, but he's been okay.

Vegas very much like Florida. They don't let their guys get run or hit. Turcotte boarding call and all 5 Vegas guys on him.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Kings falling apart again. After Turcotte penalty. If Doughty and Andersen never play together again, it'll be too soon. Trevor Moore dropping his stick at point and then Doughty-Andersen getting worked downlow on the PK

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Doughty-Andersen worked downlow again. Dorofeyev with the hat trick.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Just got home, this looks like a loss in the making.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

The Kings are nowhere near a contender, very apparent. The philosophy of this team needs to change, they need game breaking talent.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Yeah this is bad. It's like one giant montage of Doughty down on one knee while the puck flies past him. I'm trying not to overreact because LA basically had to open against the top 2 teams in the West, but this is the version of LA we've seen for awhile now. No identity whatsoever. They aren't great at anything and they can't hold a lead to save their lives. Blew countless leads in the playoffs and then just did it again.

 

[Kings4OT]

Most of LA success is playing D, jumping on mistakes. That can work its not like LA doesnt have skill....but you play a few teams and you see what real skill looks like.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

These are the teams they need to beat, measuring sticks. The Kings aren't even in the same zip code.

Barbashev goal 4, game over. This team is constructed terribly, thank Blake for the cake and Holly for the icing.

I would get rid if 50% of this roster minimum no questions asked.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

A real team would look at the score as 3-3 heading into the 3rd. No matter what had transpired to get us there, the fact of the matter is it was a tie game with one period to win it all. But that is the difference between this Kings team and a real team. You already know they will come out and play not to lose, which will cause then to lose. They don't have the heart to be great. If I were to look at their forwards on paper, it's honestly a talented group. They could do something. Hiller is not the guy to coax that out of them though.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

And Eichel and Marner both just signed 8 year deals. McDavid just re-upped. Ducks and Utah are coming up. San Jose is improving and stocking high end talent. This could be very bad if they don't figure this out. You're telling me Kempe is in a hurry to re-sign here? Imagine a team next year with no Kopitar, Kempe, Kuzmenko. Old contracts for the defense locked in for the next 4 years at least.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

A real team would look at the score as 3-3 heading into the 3rd. No matter what had transpired to get us there, the fact of the matter is it was a tie game with one period to win it all. But that is the difference between this Kings team and a real team. You already know they will come out and play not to lose, which will cause then to lose. They don't have the heart to be great. If I were to look at their forwards on paper, it's honestly a talented group. They could do something. Hiller is not the guy to coax that out of them though.

Not a fan of Jill but he only works with what he is given.

 

[Kings4OT]

Lol, guess we need to keep telling em they suck