G20 13-3-3 Kings vs Capitals 11/29/23

[PuckinUgly57]

Almost game time, the Caps are looking to snap a 2 game losing streak after winning 5 I believe. Kings are rolling at 5 wins and looking for 6 in a row. I smell a trap game here, really hoping that is not the case.

Caps have the second best defense in the league behind...LA. Kings have more firepower up front, but Ovechkin is always a threat even at his old age. His pursuit of Gretzky's goal record is probably not going to happen, he looks like he is hitting that wall finally.

Talbot likely to start tonight, Kuemper for the Caps. He was solid when he played for LA for a hot minute, another reason I see this as a trap game - the dreaded "ex King cast off comes back to town" factor.

Going to pick up the daughter, get some food and catch the game at 730. Don't shit the bed boys.

Let's Go Kings!

PS - good article on TA, The Legend is pissed at The Lizard for breaking his knee. If someone wants to post it please do, if not I'll do it when I get home.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

After you guys mentioned Buster's hands, I've been paying a little more attention to it. Yeah...he doesn't have good ones. I don't know if that'll improve as he gets more experience.

Hands are one of those things you can't teach, you either do or don't have them thus 40 goal scorers vs 10 goal scorers.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Solid period. Kings controlled most of the play I felt. Actually would've been a really nice goal if Byfield has picked that out of the air. He got it, but it hit the goalie.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I think I sent this to Puck directly but this link has been working for me for most games. You'll have to close the popup windows if they hit but mostly good.

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[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Use the "Select Game" drop-down menu

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Solid period. Kings controlled most of the play I felt. Actually would've been a really nice goal if Byfield has picked that out of the air. He got it, but it hit the goalie.

Kings have controlled most of this game, they're getting goalied.

Byfield needs to power to the net and put pucks in like Kopitar, Kempe, Dubois and Dunno do. He is still very tentative going to the net and hoping for skill (tips, rebound, rush chances) vs being a bull and making things happen. When was the last time you saw him crash the net and create chaos?

Excuses are running out, he is healthy, has put on weight, worked on his skating in the off season. He needs to be assertive and use that size, not play smaller.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

3:30 left and they have thrown the sink at this guy, looking like they are going to take a L on this one no matter what.

Bound to happen, I just hope this isn't the start of a skid. Things have been going extremely well the first 25% of the season but we all know that's not how it goes. They also tend to hit those losing slumps in December, guess what's in 2 days...

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Bummer. I thought that period was awesome. Kings had been cruising in games so Stoll said it best that let's see what happens when Kings are down. They did everything, including score. Too bad it was called back. Shots looked like 38-15. Caps did block a bunch of shots too.

Really thought that push was great and they just couldn't finish it off. If they play like that, you can live with losing.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

It was a great period, can't criticize the effort at all. I think they literally got goalied, how many times have we seen that over our lifetimes?

Ovechkin a non factor, Carlson a non factor, Wilson a non factor. I was actually thinking I wonder what douchey move he will pull tonight but he's toned it down a bit the last 2 years with his antics. Their most noticeable player was ex King Dowd, which isn't saying much.

They just couldn't get anything past this guy and the Capitals seemed like they were in every shooting lane all night long. Kings had 38 hit the net, I wouldn't be surprised if shot attempts were near 70. It's almost like Martinez was playing for Washington.

Onward and upward, still a solid 13-4-3. If you told.me they would have that record near Dec 1 I wouldn't have believed you. Kings have a soft strength of schedule too the rest of the way, just keep racking up those points.

We are about 25% of the way through the season, this is where I generally start solidifying thoughts/beliefs about the team. Anything jumping out at you guys?

 

[Kings4OT]

I think the Kings are solid even with lower point numbers than expected by key lineup people. They play hard every game and that always gives you a chance. I see Talbot wearing down come PO and if McJesus offense gets rolling it could be a repeat for LA....not enough firepower and no goalie to steal a game

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I think the Kings are solid even with lower point numbers than expected by key lineup people. They play hard every game and that always gives you a chance. I see Talbot wearing down come PO and if McJesus offense gets rolling it could be a repeat for LA....not enough firepower and no goalie to steal a game

I saw some snippet that McDavid had 12 points in his last 3 games, which is really about as crazy as it gets. I sort of agree, unfortunately. The key for LA would be to actually win their division and attempt to avoid a brutal first round matchup. This was the craziest thing I had heard. I was listening to "Locked on LA Kings", which is a show I'm honestly medium on, and they said in the Kings entire history, they've never won their division. Not once.

But the way things look, I wouldn't be surprised to see Edmonton snag a wildcard anyway. So who knows?

It's hard to look at this one game and find much wrong, but you can sort of see just how important goaltending is. Talbot had 15 shots against, and he didn't make the big second period save to keep it 1-1. Kings dominate and their guy makes all of the saves.

I will say, if you re-watch the final 2 minutes though, Kopitar lost all 3 important faceoffs to end the game. I think keeping an eye on goaltending is up there for LA, but getting a true Faceoff specialist for big faceoffs couldn't hurt. A guy like Jarrett Stoll used to be. Someone who can come in, and reliably take some down.

 

[Kings4OT]

Ya, dunno is ok and PLD mediocre at faceoffs....if Kopitar declines further thats gonna hurt. FO aren't important untill they are.....probably a solid 10 or more in a game can win or lose the game....

 

[CaptHowdy00]

The one time I miss a game, this place is hopping. But when I’m here during a game, no one else is around.
Now you guys tell me right now! Is it me?

 

[Kings4OT]

Lol i didnt see it, but its hard to fit anyone else in here with that hair in your pic

 

[PuckinUgly57]

The key for LA would be to actually win their division and attempt to avoid a brutal first round matchup. This was the craziest thing I had heard. I was listening to "Locked on LA Kings", which is a show I'm honestly medium on, and they said in the Kings entire history, they've never won their division. Not once.

But the way things look, I wouldn't be surprised to see Edmonton snag a wildcard anyway. So who knows?

I believe the Kings have won the division once but that was back when it was the Smythe Division in 1991. They went 46-24-10 (102 points), funny to think there were ties back then (which I was fine with actually, still am - nothing wrong with 2 teams duking it out and no one wins IMO). That division ceased in 1993 and the Pacific and Northwest Divisions replaced that.

Being specific with the Pacific though, you're right, they've never won that even in their two Cup years.

Regarding the Oilers, the moves Blake made were to specifically address them but the irony, by TG historically speaking if you're out of the POs most likely you aren't going to make it in. The Oilers have really cranked it up in the second half the last two years though, so if they do that again they very well may pull a 2012 Kings and finish as WC2 (8th basically) and if LA wins the division, another match up.

Ya, dunno is ok and PLD mediocre at faceoffs....if Kopitar declines further thats gonna hurt. FO aren't important untill they are.....probably a solid 10 or more in a game can win or lose the game....

PLD isn't that great at FOs, hopefully learning from Kopitar and Dunno rubs off on him. Even The Lizard is better than him at FOs, that's definitely an area he needs to drastically improve upon.

And you're 100% correct, a FO win at a critical moment can make or break a game. Those 3 losses by Kopitar in the final minutes led to this loss. He's still solid but a win or two there, maybe they have a shot.