Game Thread: G58 29-18-10 Kings @ Flames 2/27/24

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

I'm watching the Flames broadcast because that's all I have and I'm pretty sure it's Kelly Hrudey talking. He said he talked to Blake at 1st intermission and Blake mentioned all the injuries. That would/could be an excuse if they didn't lose like a quarter of the season straight with an almost fully healthy roster. Sounded like laying the groundwork of excuses if they don't make the playoffs.

 

[Kings4OT]

That was a great play by Fiala. Made the initial entry pass and followed it up by going straight to the net. High skill shot too.

Hes really the Kings only pure skill guy IMO. I Don't mean that the other guys don't have skill .... He just has the most flashy and does some pretty incredible things but also blows it , ha ha

 

[Kings4OT]

I'm watching the Flames broadcast because that's all I have and I'm pretty sure it's Kelly Hrudey talking. He said he talked to Blake at 1st intermission and Blake mentioned all the injuries. That would/could be an excuse if they didn't lose like a quarter of the season straight with an almost fully healthy roster. Sounded like laying the groundwork of excuses if they don't make the playoffs.

In blakes defense, they where losing because they sucked.... Now it's injuries

 

[Kings4OT]

^^^ That's also a joke

 

[davnlaguna]

Tied after first
tied after second
just like yesterday

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Dayam. Lot of good stuff there. High slot tip Kopitar to Turcotte. Some big blocked shots by Calgary there. Really wanted PLD to bury that little half break.

Flames break the other way and draw a penalty after all that.

Big kill here, but that was LA's best shift of the night before that.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

. That would/could be an excuse if they didn't lose like a quarter of the season straight with an almost fully healthy roster. Sounded like laying the groundwork of excuses if they don't make the playoffs.

Bingo.

When you lose 16 of 19 with a healthy roster, you don't get to use injuries as an excuse after the fact.

If the Kings don't make the POs, that skid was the culprit - not this rash of injuries.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Fawk. Great kill then get absolutely dominated by Flames 4th line for a whole shift. Rush back down beat Talbot high glove. Seems like high glove is generally Talbot's weak spot.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

That was a 7-11 Special for sure, absolutely stoppable puck. Hope that wasn't the game.

Flames dominated that shift.

 

[Kings4OT]

Kids need to do something

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Be nice to get this Power Play goal here. Haven't really heard Fiala this period so hoping he's involved.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Kopitar two huge faceoff wins, followed by two Jack Johnson-esque shots from the point by Fiala. Both ten feet wide and rocketing back the other direction. Need to take some mustard off that and get it to the net where LA had numbers.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Felt like this trip was real make or break for this team and I think we're getting the answer. See how Vancouver game goes, but feels like this is not a playoff team and maybe they should sell some pieces at the deadline.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Seemed like the Kings had a rough night getting pucks to the front, credit to Calgary.

0-2 on this trip, 22 seconds left. I don't see them beating Vancouver Thursday, may be an 0-3 trip.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Felt like this trip was real make or break for this team and I think we're getting the answer. See how Vancouver game goes, but feels like this is not a playoff team and maybe they should sell some pieces at the deadline.

Sure looking like it.

Interesting to me is when they made that surprise PO appearance in 2021-22, they seem to have regressed every year instead of progressed since.

 

[davnlaguna]

I fell like we saw this game yesterday

Can’t win without Arvidsson

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Vancouver actually not playing too well and might be coming back to earth, but this LA team is just missing something. You can see having a stud like Markstrom or Hellebuyck in this tighter games does make a big difference though. Talbot's not awful, he just isn't a gamebreaker or a guy who can steal one.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I fell like we saw this game yesterday

Can’t win without Arvidsson

This whole season just methodically and gradually fell apart, injuries included.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Vancouver actually not playing too well and might be coming back to earth, but this LA team is just missing something. You can see having a stud like Markstrom or Hellebuyck in this tighter games does make a big difference though. Talbot's not awful, he just isn't a gamebreaker or a guy who can steal one.

I mentioned it before, this team has talented players - just not the right mix of talented players. Blake did what Sather did in 2000, just signing names trying to assemble a superstar team instead of a cohesive one. There is not the right blend of players.

And agree, Talbot hasn't stolen a game yet. Rittich did against Nashville but thats been it. Blake should have spent the money on a high end goalie, not PLD or maybe a stud LHD.

This game feels like a season deflater for some reason. I expect another big skid coming.

 

[Kings4OT]

Imo What they are missing is fight, A will to win. They can get pushed around and have no response. It's why they lose to the Oilers in the playoffs. Every one of the high energy guys are like four feet tall and weigh eighty pounds..... Well that's okay, but you need some beef in there too. And I'm not saying they need to fight everybody. But they should be able to go out there and get a big hit when one is deserved. I know hitting is frowned upon in the new n h l, But there are definitely times to do it And take the penalty. But it doesn't matter because we don't have anybody that can do that anyway.