Game Thread: G26 12-6-7 Kings vs Capitals 12/2/25

[PuckinUgly57]

Game day, 7pm start on FDS. Will be headed to south OC to the GFs house in Aliso Viejo to eat and catch the game. Going to see if I can sucker her into going to a sports bar or something for a drink the last period.*

Lot of changes tonight, I understand the Kings can't score but this line jumbling every 20 minutes makes no sense to me. How is anyone able to develop any chemistry? On the flip, playing with everyone lets others know their tendencies so maybe later down the line as situations or injuries come up they know what to expect. Changes below to both the regular lineup and the PP units, Kuemper to start:

12/11/9
22/55/40
14/24/96
39/15/10

44 6
2 92
43 5

TOTM on the first line is a joke, his last goal was Oct 25. That even eclipses Buster droughts which is hard to fathom as is. Kuzmenko back to L3, my theory is Jill hoping Laferriere can get those two guys going. Personally Dunno needs to be benched vet or not. He is not getting it done, period.

Jill is finally ditching the 5F unit:

PP1
92 9 22 11 12
PP2
2 10 55 and most likely 14 and 12 from what I'm gathering although nothing confirmed yet.

Clarke finally getting a shot at running point on the PP in Doughty's absence, he's built for that. Hope it works, can't be any worse than the 5F stuff.

Seeing Dummy run PP2 will be interesting, he has minimal PP time from his Penguins days but is a patient defender from what I've seen, he doesn't panic and will take that split second longer to let a screen develop or spring a guy for a pass. He has grown on me, just not the price point.

Caps have won 7 of their last 8 and are on a heater too, nothing new to report there. Hill to get the start, last visit for Kopitar and Ovechkin at Staples unless it's a SCF. Caps starting a three game WC swing.

Prediction: Capitals 3-2, Kings goals by Malott and Ceci of all people. Kings offense once again shut down, Buster with another accidental assist to pad his stats and make the believers feel better and deny he is a bust.

Let's Go Kings!

 

[PuckinUgly57]

* change in plans, Ms Puck II bought a car on Saturday and it already broke down on her. AAA getting her and the car and towing it up here but she's at least 2 hours out so I'll be watching from home because I'll need to pick her up.

Alao Dexter still out but now in a non contact red jersey.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

730pm start, not 7pm. My bad.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Pretty tight checking game so far, feels more like two teams feeling each other out.

FDS flashed a stat that the last 8 Kings wins have been by 1 goal, 12 OT games leads the league, etc and Fox trying to spin it like it's a PO game type feel. Umm no, they cant freaking score dude.

One SOG over 10 minutes in again, not going to cut it.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Fox saying take it to the net when Buster had a chance, instead he peels up looking for someone but the Kings weren't even in the NZ yet because Buster was sprung by a long pass and behind the play. Softest 6'5" ever, go to the freaking net.

Kuzmenko with a stupid OZ penalty, that's not going to win you more ice time especially since he's struggled badly offensively.

Caps 1-0 on that PP, Tom Wilson. Kings need a response here.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

That was such a nice Power Play.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

That was such a nice Power Play.

Lot of movement, lot of different looks.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Kopitar down the middle and doesn't shoot, WTH is wrong with this team? Shoot!

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Kopitar down the middle and doesn't shoot, WTH is wrong with this team? Shoot!

Standard way too cute. Kings look for that perfect play too much.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

That was a beautiful goal. Nice pump fake and then pass by Kopitar.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

That was a beautiful goal. Nice pump fake and then pass by Kopitar.

Had to rewind on DTV, had to get my daughter. Nice play, great delay pass by Kopitar and finish by Kempe.

TOTM pulls the Buster and gets an assist for a quick NZ pass haha.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Edmundson laying the boom on people recently, love it. He nailed Kane last game against Vancouver, that's more of what I was expecting from him when he was signed last year.

Good fight too, about damn time the Kings had one and weren't on the receiving end of a check.

 

[Kings4OT]

Again

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Again

Clarke didn't get the shot through, pulled a Muzzin. Then Fiala didn’t tie up his guy's stick for the tap in basically.

This new PP will take some getting used to I'm sure.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Huge special teams egg at an important juncture. Last minute of 2nd and first minute of 3rd. Caps kill that and immediately take the lead.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

That was a 50/50 non call on TOTMs stick, I could see both cases for it. I think in most cases that's called.

Buster smacking his stick on the ice lobbying for a call with arms raised was gold, that's the most noise he's made all night.

 

[Kings4OT]

Huge special teams egg at an important juncture. Last minute of 2nd and first minute of 3rd. Caps kill that and immediately take the lead.

Another goal due to MasterClarke not being aware and not getting puck through deep with man out of box behind most everyone and a "see im doing something" effort by Fiala

 

[Kings4OT]

Shut up about the slash Foxy, your not a Duck commentor

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Shut up about the slash Foxy, your not a Duck commentor

Not like Mr Last Goal Was Oct 25 would have scored anyway.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Shut up about the slash Foxy, your not a Duck commentor

I had the Washington feed for most of that game, and have to be honest, they were pretty fair with a bunch. Jim Fox used to be that way back when LA was terrible (The first time). He's definitely been different the last decade or so.