Fire Hiller

solg42 said:
Something I don't understand is why did the refs let them play through tons of things that would normally be penalties from both teams throughout Overtime and Then call a penalty on us so late... I understand we need to do better despite to put the game away in regulation but this penalty seems ridiculous When so much was ignored previously
Click to expand...
Cuz that’s what Bettman wants
 
Birdman said:
Cuz that’s what Bettman wants
Click to expand...

I will say I agreed with you the whole time but BIG STRAPPING BODIES is why this team isn't a playoff team. We have no grit or resilience. The Oilers were straight stampeding over us in the 3rd period, like flying into us. I know it's obvious but where's our Brown on Sedin hit, or something even remotely like that? Not one big hit from the Kings. I know it's the Oilers and they're fast, bla bla, but we're not fatiguing their fast players - we let them build up speed and do whatever they want with us. We're trying to (and capable of somehow) match them in firepower, but we lack the depth (or Hiller lacks a brain) to keep 4 lines rolling to keep fatigue levels managed - it's just hard to watch. I really wish Jeannot was in as he's exactly the type of player I think we're missing.
 
SirJW said:
I came here tonight to bitch about only playing 3 lines and 4 D but it's the team he's given. Hence why Blake should not be getting any accolades in the other thread.
Click to expand...

Completely disagree. The Kings 4th line and 3rd pair are no worse (and better imo) than what Edmonton has. Knoblauch is playing his 4th line and 3rd pair about twice as often as Hiller is and guess what his team is better for it. This isn't rocket science. If you save your best player's legs for when they're needed most they will be fresher than the other guys.
 
Statue4Deano said:
Completely disagree. The Kings 4th line and 3rd pair are no worse (and better imo) than what Edmonton has. Knoblauch is playing his 4th line and 3rd pair about twice as often as Hiller is and guess what his team is better for it. This isn't rocket science. If you save your best player's legs for when they're needed most they will be fresher than the other guys.
Click to expand...

I was yelling put out the 4th line in OT when everyone was clearly gassed - what's the worst that happens? We lose? Oh.
 
symbology said:
Does anyone here think that the play of the Oilers has anything to do with the Kings folding? There was more than one team out there changing things up in the 3rd.
Click to expand...
What I see is Edmonton on the attack in third periods of these games. The Oilers are spending lots of time in the Kings zone. The Kings are getting hemmed in for long stretches. When the Kings get possession they need a line change.
I honestly don’t know that it’s a deliberate strategy to sit back. I think it’s mostly because the Oilers are trailing and need goals and are throwing everyone in the zone with relentless pressure.
I agree there are questions about three lines etc but the Kings were 38 seconds from going up 3-1, even after a blatant non-call and Fiala hitting the post. The bogus call in OT was the deciding factor.
The sky isn’t falling. These two games were tough but it’s a three-game series with two on home ice.
 
DoubleMinor said:
What I see is Edmonton on the attack in third periods of these games. The Oilers are spending lots of time in the Kings zone. The Kings are getting hemmed in for long stretches. When the Kings get possession they need a line change.
I honestly don’t know that it’s a deliberate strategy to sit back. I think it’s mostly because the Oilers are trailing and need goals and are throwing everyone in the zone with relentless pressure.
I agree there are questions about three lines etc but the Kings were 38 seconds from going up 3-1, even after a blatant non-call and Fiala hitting the post. The bogus call in OT was the deciding factor.
The sky isn’t falling. These two games were tough but it’s a three-game series with two on home ice.
Click to expand...
Kings were a missed EN shot from winning and being up 3-1. Kings were a Byfield clear from being up 3-1. That said, the TNT talking heads also didn't understand what the game plan was. And I agree with them. There is laying back and counterpunching and then there is just playing Prevent Defense hockey and that is what we were doing there in the third. I get trying to clog the defensive zone and get chances when the Oilers are taking risks but we're neutering a lot of the strengths on the team. The Kings have no hitting in the 3rd. So they get floored by the Oilers and the Oilers take no hits. That adds up over the span of a 7-game series. Also, the Oilers D sucks. If you pressure them, they will turn it over in their zone. We've seen that over and over for 4 games. But if you chip the puck in and don't pursue then the Oilers D gets an easy exit.
That was just a sad end to the game.
I also don't understand playing 4.5 D and giving Doughty 30 minutes when he is basically immobile. If I'm Edmonton, I am taking him wide on every zone entry. I am trying to blow past Drew and have my forward cut in on Keumper if I can. If not, at least stress Doughty and the Kings D and try to get a rebound or open pass.
 
symbology said:
Does anyone here think that the play of the Oilers has anything to do with the Kings folding? There was more than one team out there changing things up in the 3rd.
Click to expand...
Obviously, the Oilers are very talented and are pushing hard to get back in the game. They should get credit for that. The problem is that Hiller is making it easier on them by insisting that they play 1-3-1 and not push for any offense. Falling back to 1-3-1 at the beginning of the 3rd probably works more times than not against mediocre teams in the regular season. It should have been obvious that it would not work against the Oilers after what happened in game 1. They are too talented and are easily getting entry and possession in our zone. At some point you have to make adjustments and Hiller has not done that.
 
Hiller has proven that it has been the players, not the coaching staff, who have made this year successful. Players need a closed door meeting and decide to play the right way, not the Hiller way. These last 4 games have amply displayed Hiller’ shortcomings as an NHL coach.
 
DoubleMinor said:
What I see is Edmonton on the attack in third periods of these games. The Oilers are spending lots of time in the Kings zone. The Kings are getting hemmed in for long stretches. When the Kings get possession they need a line change.
I honestly don’t know that it’s a deliberate strategy to sit back. I think it’s mostly because the Oilers are trailing and need goals and are throwing everyone in the zone with relentless pressure.
I agree there are questions about three lines etc but the Kings were 38 seconds from going up 3-1, even after a blatant non-call and Fiala hitting the post. The bogus call in OT was the deciding factor.
The sky isn’t falling. These two games were tough but it’s a three-game series with two on home ice.
Click to expand...
It's not just that the Oilers were pressing on the gas and hemming the Kings in. They were getting hemmed in because of poor coaching decisions. The Kings deliberately switched strategies at the beginning of the 3rd. Even Fox, who hates to directly call out coaching decisions on air, pointed it out a number of times. They were backing off to their own blue line in a 1-3-1 trying to clog the neutral zone and prevent clean entry. The Oilers were able to easily beat the 1-3-1 by either using their speed to outright skate around the trap, or dumping in and using all the speed they had built up to retrieve the puck on the forecheck. It was clear as day. This was a COACHING decision. That strategy failed and has failed in 3 games already, yet Hiller keeps going back to expecting different results.
 
Pevsfreedom said:
I will say I agreed with you the whole time but BIG STRAPPING BODIES is why this team isn't a playoff team. We have no grit or resilience. The Oilers were straight stampeding over us in the 3rd period, like flying into us. I know it's obvious but where's our Brown on Sedin hit, or something even remotely like that? Not one big hit from the Kings. I know it's the Oilers and they're fast, bla bla, but we're not fatiguing their fast players - we let them build up speed and do whatever they want with us. We're trying to (and capable of somehow) match them in firepower, but we lack the depth (or Hiller lacks a brain) to keep 4 lines rolling to keep fatigue levels managed - it's just hard to watch. I really wish Jeannot was in as he's exactly the type of player I think we're missing.
Click to expand...
The 2012 to 2014 team was a forechecking team and they never let up, even with the lead late in the 3rd. Watch some of those 2012 games and the opposing teams sometimes couldn't even get out of their own zone to get their goalie to the bench for an extra attacker. For whatever reason Hiller doesn't understand the value of an aggressive forecheck even if you have the lead.
 
VCRW said:
Hiller has proven that it has been the players, not the coaching staff, who have made this year successful. Players need a closed door meeting and decide to play the right way, not the Hiller way. These last 4 games have amply displayed Hiller’ shortcomings as an NHL coach.
Click to expand...
Exactly. What could Hiller do to them if they just ignored him? Would management get involved knowing that Hiller’s coaching isn’t working?
 
Last edited:
on one hand- he had them in the position to win this series in 4 games- This series should be over or at least 3-1. 4 3rd period leads. Then again terrible 3rd period coaching "challenges." With that said Fiala, hitting the empty net in game 1, Byfield getting the puck out in game 4, the non call trip, and we aren't talking too much about game 1 and 4.

As bad as these losses feel and the series being tied- the series is still very much winnable.
 
hokiecat said:
Kings were a missed EN shot from winning and being up 3-1. Kings were a Byfield clear from being up 3-1. That said, the TNT talking heads also didn't understand what the game plan was. And I agree with them. There is laying back and counterpunching and then there is just playing Prevent Defense hockey and that is what we were doing there in the third. I get trying to clog the defensive zone and get chances when the Oilers are taking risks but we're neutering a lot of the strengths on the team. The Kings have no hitting in the 3rd. So they get floored by the Oilers and the Oilers take no hits. That adds up over the span of a 7-game series. Also, the Oilers D sucks. If you pressure them, they will turn it over in their zone. We've seen that over and over for 4 games. But if you chip the puck in and don't pursue then the Oilers D gets an easy exit.
That was just a sad end to the game.
I also don't understand playing 4.5 D and giving Doughty 30 minutes when he is basically immobile. If I'm Edmonton, I am taking him wide on every zone entry. I am trying to blow past Drew and have my forward cut in on Keumper if I can. If not, at least stress Doughty and the Kings D and try to get a rebound or open pass.
Click to expand...
As I’ve heard for decades the best defense is a good offense and I see almost no offense in third periods. I just can’t fathom tgat is the strategy.
 
shoot2scor said:
on one hand- he had them in the position to win this series in 4 games- This series should be over or at least 3-1. 4 3rd period leads. Then again terrible 3rd period coaching "challenges." With that said Fiala, hitting the empty net in game 1, Byfield getting the puck out in game 4, the non call trip, and we aren't talking too much about game 1 and 4.

As bad as these losses feel and the series being tied- the series is still very much winnable.
Click to expand...

IT IS winnable and to me that makes it feel worse. If we're going to shorten the bench from the very get-go of the game and forgo balancing ice time, the result should not come as a surprise. You can take a multi goal lead on EDM into the third and that team knows all they have to do is pull their goaltender and rush McDraihumpl and they'll score with impunity to win or at least force OT- all when the Kings players will be gassed and will have leaden legs. It was so predicable for these last two games up there. The question is: will they try and roll four lines and 6D in game five in order not to over-burden the top nine and top two pairings?
 
I think we'll see more of the 4th line and 3rd pairing at home. Part of the issue is Edmonton getting the last change when they are at home. But I don't say this to defend Hiller. I literally turned off games 3 and 4 when the Oilers tied them as I knew how it was going to end up and was disgusted by what a was watching. Nearly 50 years as a Kings fan and I've never done that before.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Now Chirping

Share this page

Back
Top