Game Day Thread
Game #47/82 -- 01/25/25
>>4:00pm<<
on FanDuel
Los Angeles Kings @ Columbus Blue Jackets
Nationwide Arena | Columbus, OH
**Game Time 4:00pm**
TV: FanDuel
Radio: ESPN LA app only
Check Out Articles & Video on LA Kings Insider Here
Samuel Helenius (video), Kevin Fiala & Jim Hiller 1/22 Post-Game Quotes
Kevin Fiala
On the team coming back in the third period and getting the victory
That was a big third. One down, we didn’t have much, they didn’t give us much, we just kept grinding and shooting pucks to the net. We had a guy in front all the time, I felt like we tried, and I think we deserved it.
On the simple nature of how the team scored both goals tonight
Yeah, exactly. I think it was like a playoff game out there and I don’t think in playoffs there’s so many nice plays to be made. Today, like I said before, it was a tight game, they were on top of us, so you have to simplify things and we got the job done.
On getting the response game from Monday’s loss to Pittsburgh
It was important. Obviously that was not the game we wanted. Honestly, I think we forgot about it and we had a good jump from the start here and played a good team. We played 60 minutes.
On moving up with Kopitar/Kempe in the third period
I just go wherever [Jim Hiller] puts me. I think no matter where I go, we scored our goal because I thought we had some good chances, when I played with them. It was nice to play with them, but it’s just a good win.
On taking advantage of tired legs on the other side in the third period
They had a back-to-back, so put the pucks behind them. They were a little tired and we went at them hard, good forechecks, we stayed above them, didn’t give them much the whole game, I felt like. They’re a great team, obviously, so I’m very proud of the team and how we responded in the third.
Jim Hiller
On getting both goals by making simple, direct plays
It’s really the recipe most nights. When you’re playing the defending Stanley Cup champions, I mean, what else was out there? Mooresie missed one, we had one in the front, Mooresie missed it at the end, wasn’t much else out there. There’s just not. That’s just the way the hockey gets and they know how to play, they won the Cup and they make it hard on you. I was happy that we ended up there and Clarkie made a great play, Juice is the guy who scored the goal, well where did he get that one from? Right in front of the goal. He’s a good example for us that way too because he knows where you have to score to get the greasy one.
On seeing Samuel Helenius get his first career goal in the NHL
There’s few things that are better than seeing a guy score his first goal. It’s just a special moment. You work long and hard to get to the NHL and then get to score a goal, it’s pretty cool. I don’t think anybody expected Sammy to be scoring his first NHL goal this season, you know what I mean? So, it’s kind of extra special. He had a great summer, finished the season strong in Ontario last year during playoffs, but no expectations for him to help us at all. So, all those things combined and you’re really happy for him.
On moving Kevin Fiala up with Kopitar and Kempe and getting rewarded with the GWG
We had talked about it in between periods, we were down one, we talked about putting Kevin with those guys. We don’t do that all the time, but it just felt like it was one of those nights it was so hard to create, we wanted to put those three together. On the faceoff, they were already 30 somewhat seconds into that shift and I really thought about bringing them off, but Kopi is a our best o-zone faceoff guy, got him a short blow, so fortunate decision on that one, I almost screwed it up.
On another strong showing from Darcy Kuemper and his consistency of late
He’s just played very, very well. I think coming back to the Kings, being here, good relationship with some of the guys. Kopi and Drew really had a lot of respect for him. They were telling me in the summer that this is a great guy, this is an awesome move and this was before he made a save for us. I think the fit’s worked out really well, happy to see him back on the top of his game.
On going with 12 forwards and 6 defensemen tonight for the first time since November
It was fine, but it was interesting, because right before the game started, I was saying to the guys, okay, who am I doubling up tonight, what’s my order, but easy night for me, I didn’t think here tonight. It was good, Akil was good, fourth line was good, worked out just fine. I wanted to get Akil in and I wanted a big, strong line in Sammy, Lewie and Jeanno.
Subject to Change
Lineups Courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com
KINGS INJURIES
Drew Doughty - IR
Alex Laferriere - D2D
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BLUE JACKETS PROBABLE LINEUP
Former King
Jack Johnson
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GOALIE COMPARISON
PLAYERS TO WATCH
(last 5 games)
PACIFIC DIVISION STANDINGS
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**Today’s Poll Question Game**
Zach Werenski is 2nd in the league in both goals & assists among D-men. How many TOTAL POINTS will be scored by ALL D-MEN in tonight's game?
You can take 2 guesses
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Take your best guesses in your post below.
The only prize is the glory of seeing your name in the next GDT if you get it right.
PREVIOUS GAME'S WINNERS
Congratulations to the many following posters who correctly guessed the goal differential of 1 goal in the previous game:
Dr. Tran
Cross Traffic
SirJW
Chateau Bow Wow
JayWells24
VegasHockey
jammer06
CIrvine
Clif
DRice
DRGinLBC
Guinevere
JETS GARAGE
VCRW
KernCoKingFan
Rog or Reg?
kingsmen93
Surf Nutz
HiFi
Nyssa42
Rusty
empire
hornman
Liz4LA
POLL GAME WIN TOTALS
King of the Mountain - 42 points
VegasHockey
40 pts
Rusty
39 pts
sonnyboy11
36 pts
Hockey 53
35 pts
VCRW
33 pts
Chateau Bow Wow
mugs
Sir JW
32 pts
Byron
31 pts
Cross Traffic
DRice
Dr. Tran
Forum Gold
Liz4LA
30 pts
Shackleford
29 pts
CIrvine
Drum4Pigs
Guinevere
HiFi
JayWells24
pray4mojo
28 pts
Angel Eyes
empire
jammer06
27 pts
hornman
KernCoKingsFan
Nyssa42
25 pts
randdog
Rogie-Vachon
24 pts
Clif
23 pts
Kingsmen93
notbob
22 pts
dannybuoy1
20 pts
Rog or Reg?
19 pts
RinkRat
TooCool
16 pts
mik999999
13 pts
DRGinLBC
motolare
12 pts
beady eye
7 pts
JETS GARAGE
KHenry14
5 pts
sloppydog
Surf Nutz
4 pts
Bill Hicks
3 pts
kurisu
2 pts
ICE24
JC6388LAKings
symbology
SAMUEL HELENIUS - 1ST NHL GOAL - CONGRATS!
