Game Thread: Los Angeles Kings @ Washington Capitals, 2/3 4:00 PM, FS-W

[ouendan1]

AT

Relevant Game Information

So, Edmonton got their 5th road win of the season. Same number of road wins the Kings have. That better change tonight.

 

[oxnardkingsfan]

Gonna be a tough game. Caps have lost 2 in a row. Rare occasion that a Trotz coached team loses 3 in a row.

Ox

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Trotz coached teams are generally extremely well prepared and play balls to the wall hockey. I'm impressed with the job he has done in Washington.

He did get some defensive reinforcements that Boudreau didn't have (still shake my head at that Orpik contract though) so this team is more geared to play his type of hockey, but he definitely knows how to prepare his teams better than Fatty McFatty did.

Watching that HBO special with the Caps a few years ago, Boudreau was dropping F bombs every 5 words but it was more the delivery than the message - I can't take a guy seriously who sounds like a 5 year old having a tantrum on the playground and I'm sure the players didn't either.

I see another Boudreau Special with Anaheim come April - early golf after a stellar regular season.

 

[oxnardkingsfan]

So far this game is looking like a Kings/Nashville game. The only difference is that Washington has more skill and is generating the better scoring chances by far.

Ox

 

[ouendan1]

Solid breakdown on the caps goal. Why bother defending the player in the middle of the ice?

 

[oxnardkingsfan]

Solid breakdown on the caps goal. Why bother defending the player in the middle of the ice?

That's Kings Hockey 2014/15 version.

Ox

 

[ouendan1]

That goal was on Williams. Though Stoll is the C, he was engaged with the caps player along the wall. Williams was in no mans land and even pointed at the Caps player when he needed to realize that he should be the one attacking him.

 

[Kings4OT]

At least Holtby is one ofmy fantasy goalies, that should ruin this SO just by posting that

 

[ouendan1]

I mentioned the Kings SHOULD win 3 games on this road trip. I'll be shocked if they win 3 more road games all year.

 

[Kings4OT]

I was guessing 3 points, I hope they surprise me and get out of this funk but its not looking good.

 

[ouendan1]

I was guessing 3 points, I hope they surprise me and get out of this funk but its not looking good.

This team could be looking at 13th in the west after tonight if Dallas & Colorado goes OT.

 

[pete6835]

This team is in trouble.

 

[oxnardkingsfan]

This team has quit on their goaltender, coach and their fans. A shame really. Gonna be an interesting off season to say the least. Wouldn't surprise me to see Sutter give up and go back to the farm.

Ox

 

[davnlaguna]

I am holding hope that the Kings are just waiting until the outdoor game so they can turn it around on the big stage.


I am also hoping that the lost reel of ole yeller is found and the dog lives and is cured
That the refs retro actively call pass interference on the Pats and they have to replay the down
And that micheal Jackson wakes from his coma

 

[PuckinUgly57]

I got to watch the first 90 minutes of this game with no distractions at all - for starters I was working from home, Mrs. Puck left work and was grocery shopping and getting the boys, the girls are with their mom on M-Tues so it was just me and the game. First time that has happened in years, let me tell you.

Then I watch this pile of shit of a hockey team just implode on itself and let the Craps do whatever they wish. Defensive breakdowns all over, and clearing the zone seemed like an impossibility (pretty sure 3 goals were the result of that).

And I agree, Stoll is engaged along the boards almost at the blue line and Williams is motioning for him to cover slot? Poor read in my opinion, there was no way Stoll was going to be able to pick that guy up - Williams should have assumed the center position and covered for him. All on Williams from what I saw.

My take is this team will make the playoffs as the 8th seed and promptly get their lunch handed to them in the first round. Who knows, maybe that'll be a good thing - they need the rest after 3 grueling years and Dumbo needs some time to assess WTF to do to make this team relevant again.

 

[ouendan1]

I'm not as confident as you are this team makes the playoffs. I'm at work right now so I can't post a ton of stats, but with tiebreakers, LA is in 13th right now in the west. I'll break down the teams record through 50 games in 10 game segments when I get home but if I had to guess, each 10 game strech is progressively worse.