PLAYOFFS Game Day Thread
Round 1, Game 1 -- 4/22/24
7:00pm on ESPN2 & BSSC
Los Angeles Kings @ Edmonton Oilers
Rogers Place | Edmonton, AB
Season Series Meetings
**Game Time 7:00PM**
TV: ESPN2 & BSSC (Bally's SoCal)
Radio: LA Kings iHeartRadio
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Jim Hiller (video), Byfield, Arvidsson, & Kopitar 4/18 Post-Game Quotes:
Quinton Byfield
On what the team was playing for tonight, with the bigger picture looming
Yeah, I think we all had it in the back of our heads what could happen. This last game we’re trying to get ready for the playoffs, so every game matters. It’s the last one of the regular season and we wanted to win it and wherever we ended up, we ended up.
On getting his 20th goal of the season tonight
Yeah, it was good, I felt good again, which is really nice, but getting that goal is huge. They were looking for me all night, so credit to my teammates there, but getting that goal and that extra boost going into playoffs is going to be good for me.
On his process of getting to this point of being a 20-goal scorer
I think it’s big for me. I started off my first year and I had five goals. Last year, I had three, so it’s a big step up for me. It just shows that I can score at this level and hopefully the process keeps continuing, going the right way.
On the desire within the room to get past the Oilers in Round 1
Yeah, we definitely want to beat them now. I think we owe them, but they’re a really good team, they added a lot of really great pieces at the deadline. They’re going to be a tough out for sure, but they’re a team that we really want to beat.
Viktor Arvidsson
On the team’s readiness heading into the playoffs
I think we’re ready. We’ve been playing really good at home and winning games at home, I think that’s positive. Now it’s a big roadtrip, so we’ll be ready for it and ready to play Edmonton.
On his line combining on a nice goal and his thoughts on where they’re at, heading into playoffs
Yeah, obviously I’ve been gone for most of the year and we haven’t been playing with each other consistently. When Phil came back there, I think it’s been really good, we’ve been finding our game back, trying to generate plays off the forecheck, being in the [offensive zone]. It’s been good.
On the team’s effort to come away with a win in the third period and overtime
I just wanted to win the game. We got a little sloppy there for a few minutes, but we found our way back. It’s a good effort, good character to just settle down and get back to it.
On his freshness level, considering the time he’s missed this season
Yeah, for sure. I’ve been working all year to get to this point. I feel ready, I’m confident in my game and my body. It’s going to be good.
Anze Kopitar
On if a first-round matchup against Edmonton felt “inevitable”
Yeah, I guess so. I mean, you don’t think about it too much during the year but once it comes down to crunch time, the way that the picture has kind of shaken out, it looked like it was Edmonton.
On the thought process on the bench, with the larger picture versus tonight’s result
It’s hard not to think about the whole picture. I guess we knew what the score was [in Vegas] going out for the third period and all that stuff. We didn’t plan on going down by one goal, but I guess we got the job done in the end and we’re going back to Edmonton.
On a dicey third period but ultimately finding a way to get the victory
Yeah, like I said, it’s the ups and downs. Some lapses within the game, really, so it’s nice for us to comeback and just kind of go and grind away get the late one and then obviously score a quick one in OT.
On Quinton Byfield getting his 20th of the season and his play tonight
If he plays like he did tonight, he’s going to have a say in the series, for sure. He’s been good all season. Yes, he’s had some downtime the last few games, but he knows that and he knows what it takes. He’s been in a hard series last year, played a lot of minutes, seeing the top matchups, so he knows. I think this was a good indicator for him to see how he needs to play.
Subject to Change
Lineups Courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com
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OILERS PROBABLE LINEUP
Former King
Troy Stecher
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Last 5 games
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**No Poll Questions for Playoffs**
Thanks to everyone who has played The Game this year!
I hope you had as much fun playing as I had creating it.
GAME 82 WINNERS
Congratulations to the many following posters who get 2 final points for correctly guessing Kempe for the final goal of the season
Unsurprisingly, nobody picked Talbot for the final penalty:
CONGRATS TO RUSTY FOR AMAZING GUESSES THROUGH THE LAST 3RD OF THE SEASON
TO CAPTURE AND MAINTAIN KING OF THE MOUNTAIN!
Rog or Reg?
Hockey53
VegasHockey
JayWells24
Drum4Pigs
beady eye
Rusty
KernCoKingFan
Symbology
SirJW
mugs
forum gold
Chateau Bow Wow
pray4mojo
randdog
puckoff
empire
JETS GARAGE
jammer06
dannybuoy1
AngelEyes
Dr. Tran
HiFi
Kurisu
sonnyboy11
Liz4LA
hornman
FINAL POLL GAME WIN TOTALS
King of the Mountain with 75 points - Rusty
68 pts = hornman
64 pts = beady eye
63 pts = Angel Eyes
62 pts = forum gold
60 pts = VegasHockey
59 pts = SirJW
58 pts = mugs, notbob
57 pts = jammer06, puckoff
56 pts = Liz4LA, pray4mojo
55 pts = KernCoKingsFan
54 pts = Cross Traffic, Guinevere, VCRW
53 pts = dannybuoy1
52 pts = Nyssa42
50 pts = Chateau Bow Wow
49 pts = Randdog
48 pts = katydid213, Rogie-Vachon
47 pts = DRGinLBC, Dr Tran, empire, Rog or Reg?
46 pts = DRice
44 pts = Bill Hicks, Kurisu
43 pts = Byron
41 pts = Drum4Pigs
39 pts = sonnyboy11, symbology
37 pts = Shackleford
36 pts = Rinkrat
33 pts = JETS GARAGE
31 pts = JayWells24, Jerram
27 pts = TooCool
26 pts = Madness20721
22 pts = fake_it_make_it, KHenry14
21 pts = clif
20 pts = waynet
19 pts = Sevenhole
18 pts = Salty Puck
17 pts = CIrvine, HiFi
16 pts = hihocarp
14 pts = Hockey53, JC6388LAKings
9 pts = cokingsfan
8 pts = Ice24
7 pts = rfischer
6 pts = Busted Chops, Dexter
4 pts = beedee
2 pts = Ragbone, Tiranga
1 pt = CHARAzard, PuckMaster, STONE
photos courtesy of LA Kings on X
