Game Thread: G79 45-24-9 Kings vs Nordalanche 4/12/25

[PuckinUgly57]

Game day again, 1pm start on FDS. Junior I has a baseball game that ends at 12pm so should be able to watch all this. He's heading for DC at 445am Monday morning for 5 days as their 8th grade annual trip so it'll be getting him prepped and ready to go tonight so an afternoon game is welcomed to free up my night.

No skate this morning with the early game so we don't know who will be in net but my guess is Kuemper against his former team. I do think Rittich should get a game in here in the final 3 so he isn't cold going into the POs.

Doughty and Turcotte may be in or out, it's a game time decision. Turcotte is apparently ready to go but they want to be 100% sure. Can't say I blame them with the amount of injuries this guy has had in 6 years. Doughty is being managed for the POs. Otherwise it'll be the same line up as against Anaheim including the 5 forward PP unit of Kempe, Kopitar, Fiala, Buster and Kuzmenko as PP1. And please, pull Dunno off that second until, may as well be 4 on 4 with him out there not doing much offensively.

This is game 81 for Colorado and they have smoked LA both other times by a combined 8-2 score, last time a 4-0 shutout last month. The Kings flat out have not played well against them either time. The Avs are resting guys including MacKinnon, Makar, Manson, Colton, Druin and Lindgren. That's a third of their regular lineup.

They've called up a bunch of players from Hershey who are expected to play so this won't be the same team that tooled LA. Should be an easier win with that much firepower out but the Kings better come to play. The magic number is 4 (Kings points gained or Oilers points lost) to secure home ice so this is still an important game. The Avs will conclude their season against Anaheim tomorrow I believe.

Prediction, Kings get off the 0-2 schneid with a hard fought 4-3 win. Goals by Kuzmenko, Kempe, Fiala and Helenius. Buster assists on all 7 goals somehow because he's arrived. Bet he suits up for the Lakers tonight too.

Let's Go Kings!

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Do my eyes deceive me? Lewis out, Glass Boy in.

I for sure thought HOS 2.0 was staying in the line up since Jill loves him so much. Edmundson still out as well, L4 will be Mallot - who deserves to stay in - Helenius/Glass Boy.

Over under on how long it takes him to leave the game injured? My guess second period.

 

[Kings4OT]

Im out too, maybe catch 3rd

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Buster with the shot from the slot, nice goal.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

PP actually looked pretty great with movement. Nasty work by Fiala on that goal. High end skill.

 

[Kings4OT]

2- 0 Kings i see,

Goals by Arrived and Hated

Dont see this continuing

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Fiala with the double dirty dangle, Buster another gimme assist.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

2- 0 Kings i see,

Goals by Arrived and Hated

Dont see this continuing

No Makar or MacKinnon though, context. This is a game the Kings should win.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

two man disadvantage. Felt like Mikey Andersen went down too early. Any decent NHL player can saucer pass over the flat stick.

Hard to get too into critiquing the two man, but I felt like they made it easy on Colorado there.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

two man disadvantage. Felt like Mikey Andersen went down too early. Any decent NHL player can saucer pass over the flat stick.

Hard to get too into critiquing the two man, but I felt like they made it easy on Colorado there.

Anderson absolutely went down too early, basically gave the passer more lane to saucer it which as you said most any NHL player can do.

Looked like Kuemper may have had a chance at it but was expecting a one timer instead of a delayed shot so he was too early on the save attempt.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Burrows having a little 1st period struggle

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Burrows having a little 1st period struggle

That's on Jill for not playing guys like him, Thomas, etc for extended periods of time and insisting on playing Lewis instead.

Moverare has at least played more frequently so he's not as cold but guys like Burroughs, need to get them some games. Can't have enough defensive depth come playoffs.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Weird period, can't really gauge anything yet.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

2-2. Nelson just occupying the the front of the net. Kempe close call on one end, in the Kings' net right after. Sort of just how it goes.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

2-2. Nelson just occupying the the front of the net. Kempe close call on one end, in the Kings' net right after. Sort of just how it goes.

That was Buster's man, no excuse for that at all. Can't blame Kuemper, no chance.

 

[davnlaguna]

Two teams going through the motions
Playoff spots basically known.
Oilers game only one that sort of matters.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Two teams going through the motions
Playoff spots basically known.
Oilers game only one that sort of matters.

Still can't take games off though, Avs finish their season tomorrow and get basically a week off. Kings still have 3 games left, won't get much time off before POs.

Can't be backing into the first round or else it'll be the same as usual.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Actually a nice pinch and pass from Clarke. Good finish by Laferriere.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Before that, power play running 5 forwards is really working, but you know Edmonton or whoever will be absolutely gunning for shorties. But outstanding movement and it's nice to see so many guys who can be a threat on the man advantage. Kopitar got stoned, but the overall movement was there, and that's all you can really ask for.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Before that, power play running 5 forwards is really working, but you know Edmonton or whoever will be absolutely gunning for shorties. But outstanding movement and it's nice to see so many guys who can be a threat on the man advantage. Kopitar got stoned, but the overall movement was there, and that's all you can really ask for.

The PP has lost so many games for LA, they don't even generate good chances for the most part or can't even get set up in the zone. They just play catch around the perimeter.

The five PP look is dangerous but seems to also be a better option than whatever they've been sporting all season long. The only forward I would even feel remotely comfortable with going back on D would be Kempe. They joked earlier and said he's the best 9th defenseman on the team, it's true.

But I agree, they run this 5 against Edmonton and we could see a lot of shorty attempts going the other way and burn LA.