Game Thread: Los Angeles Kings @ Washington Capitals

[pete6835]

Quick back in net

Grubauer in net for the home team

 

[pete6835]

 

[pete6835]

The Chicago Blackhawks placed veteran defenseman Rob Scuderi on waivers Tuesday

 

[pete6835]

Kopitar Shortie

 

[pete6835]

So many empty seats

 

[pete6835]

That ref has a hard-on for calling questionable penalties.

 

[davnlaguna]

With a minute left in the second I thought McFlurry Minute.
And the home team scored
Sorry
I promise not to think for the rest of the game

 

[smackdown380]

Kopis goal:

 

[smackdown380]

Just turned on the game, but how is this Caps goalie keeping us at 1 goal with 31 shots through the start of the 3rd. Good saves or easy shots from the outside?

 

[smackdown380]

 

[smackdown380]

Williams with the assist on the Caps goal, Kings asking for a challenge

 

[smackdown380]

Nothing on the review to suggest otherwise, good goal , caps up 2-1

 

[smackdown380]

EN goal, Kings down 3-1

 

[smackdown380]

They have a shot advantage 40-31 yet still down 3-1. Playing subpar hockey in February

 

[smackdown380]

 

[lasportzphan]

I thought the team played well and the better team won. The Caps goalie did not play lights out, but stopped the few good chances the Kings had. The 40 shots might be a bit deceptive. Schenn, Shore are not guys that will do much within the context of playoff tempo. Clifford, Nolan, King, Lucic - where's the touch and finesse coming from?

Kings are a very good team, but not complete. Always nice to see a measuring stick game where they played well.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

They had good chances early on and did not capitalize on them (shocker - sounds familiar with this team every year) and I think Grubauer did play an exceptional game.

Nothing Quick could do on the first goal and the second goal was a rookie mistake that a veteran (Williams) capitalized on. I like Gravel's decisiveness to go get the puck from behind Quick and get a whistle but obviously the better play would have been protect the far post and let Quick handle the puck. However I like what I see from him overall, he looks like he is ready for a third pairing spot and earning his way up. As much as I like the potential of Forbert, I think Gravel has looked better than he has this season, more poised and confident.

Overall, the way I look at it is if the Kings and Capitals made it to the SCFs my money would be on LA. That was an excellent game played by the Caps but I think the Kings played a little better most of the game. The game was lost in the third period, if the Kings get a goal or two from the earlier play it's a Capitals' loss.

Kings need to go on a winning streak though, not a good time to go into the annual December inconsistency. I think they need some help on defense obviously and on that note, I hope they resign Schenn - he has been solid in that third pairing role.