Game Thread: G8 4-2-1 Kings vs Stone Sandbaggers 10/28/23

[PuckinUgly57]

Well I'll be able to watch this game tonight, I've been instructed to stay home from my daughter's softball game and the GF is taking her. A few weeks ago the other pitcher deliberately beaned our girls including mine and laughed about it, who took a pitch in the ribs and I had enough of that nonsense and got in the other teams parents faces. You guys know me, parking lot confrontation. Tonight is the rematch, my daughter doesn't want me to embarrass her so she said stay home and watch the Kings game. Oh darn.

=)~~

Huge test for LA tonight, and also Vegas. Lot of ex Kings in this game so it'll be interesting. Vegas defense is big, physical and mobile. I'm curious to see how determined the Kings will be to get to the net because there will be plenty of abuse waiting for them. Let's see who has the balls to go there. Buster should, especially after last night, and guys like Lizotte will try as well.

Good measuring stick against the 7-0-1 defending champs. Cannot play like last night, they will not win. Hope they come out ready and no slow start.

Let's Go Kings!

 

[davnlaguna]

Kings have shown they can score. Can they keep the other team from scoring?
Will they use 1 goalie or 2 or two at once or just play 6 on 5 all game?

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I do not like this 6-5 game stuff dude. You're not going to get 4+ goals in a PO game 90% of the time. It's about playing structured but aggressive hockey. I haven't seen that, their 4 wins may placate Teh Blog but it does not placate me. Something is very off.

Maybe they'll work it out by G20 but if we see this stuff going on by then they have a serious problem.

Huge test tonight, let's see what happens.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Talbot is looking strong at the start.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Nice to see and hear Brown at the game.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Oof, Buster just blocked a shot and came up gimpy.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

@PuckinUgly57 I think you’re absolutely correct, the Nick and Fox are really making Buster sound better than he is.

 

[davnlaguna]

Article from end of last season on Byfield

Kings First Line Reaching New Heights With Byfield

Regardless of your opinion on Byfield, he's undoubtedly improved the Kings' top line.

lahockeynow.com

It says Kopitar and Kempe are better with him than without him.
First period over and Kings are not down by 4

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Lewis with a sloppy goal!

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Buster trying to break through. I think he knows that the clock is ticking.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

@PuckinUgly57 I think you’re absolutely correct, the Nick and Fox are really making Buster sound better than he is.

They are in the early stages of damage control. Can't say too much negative about an asset you may be trading soon.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Article from end of last season on Byfield

Kings First Line Reaching New Heights With Byfield

Regardless of your opinion on Byfield, he's undoubtedly improved the Kings' top line.

lahockeynow.com

It says Kopitar and Kempe are better with him than without him.
First period over and Kings are not down by 4

Kings were better with Brown on that line than without him. But apart from a small 2 year renaissance the last 10 years of Brown with Kopitar, Brown didn't produce much. Sure I guess you could say that was his job, but Brown wasn't taken at 2OA and expected to be a franchise changer. Buster is and expectations are higher.

Interesting how they're playing a Cup champ and Buster isn't noticeable. These ain't the Coyotes.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

He did try to split two defenders to get to the goal, but I think that was more show than anything else.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Kings were better with Brown on that line than without him. But apart from a small 2 year renaissance the last 10 years of Brown with Kopitar, Brown didn't produce much. Sure I guess you could say that was his job, but Brown wasn't taken at 2OA and expected to be a franchise changer. Buster is and expectations are higher.

Interesting how they're playing a Cup champ and Buster isn't noticeable. These ain't the Coyotes.

So my question is, who on that LA Kings scouting team didn’t see this coming?

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Did Evans raid Don Cherry’s closet?

 

[davnlaguna]

The always say to get off to a good start
Kings did that tonight
And then




Nothing for 40 minutes

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Weird game. Vegas blocks so many shots, it's really impressive. Kinda old school with such a loaded backend. Their d-core is so good. Kings blowing the 2-0 lead felt on brand, but they're playing a really good team. Double-minor penalty with about 11 minutes left, I feel like those are the big moments where the Kings aren't capitalizing against the top tier opponents. Big chance to tie it and they didn't do much. But that rocket by Doughty was really nice to tie it up. 3 goals in two games is something we haven't seen in a long time. I was just about to talk shit about Fiala kinda letting me down lately. He gets the assist on Doughty's goal, but he kinda fumbles easy plays a lot. Just a little too casual for my liking. I feel like he could be an absolute stud, but he doesn't seem to be dialed in at times. Kempe kinda quiet too, but I thought he won it in OT with that late drive. Not sure how that didn't go in.

Byfield honestly does look better. Not great but he's entering with speed and is hanging around the net more. Little more physical. I'm okay with the progression this season so far.

Overall, Kings are losing to good teams and beating bad ones. They'll need to find a way to beat quality opponents if they want to take that next step. Not all bad, not great.

I think Danault-Moore-Kaliyev as the 3rd line probably have to control more play since they're not playing the top 2 opponent's lines.

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Did Evans raid Don Cherry’s closet?

Evans has been rocking the wild suits for years now. I follow him on Instagram, and it never lets us down.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

So my question is, who on that LA Kings scouting team didn’t see this coming?

He was a concensus project, I think we all agree on that. But while that may be so, almost 4 years into his career he is well behind where we thought he would be. Did I think he was going to become a 2C by year 2? No. But I also didn't anticipate this type of stagnant development either.

Don't care what the Buster Bandits say, I have way more compelling - and 100% accurate - proof than any of them do besides throwing up some graph or statistic about how great he is even if he isn't scoring. That is not what he was drafted to be.

This all comes back down to Yanetti the clown, he has pretty much sucked since 2012 in identifying talent. Whatever he did to draft guys who would become solid NHL players leading to the Cup years for LA or not, he hasn't done in a long, long time. I seriously do not understand how that guy is still at the wheel except he's Bowlbys friend.