***Playoffs Rd 1, GM 5 GDT - Kings @ Oilers 4/25/23 >6:30pm< on KCOP Ch 13 & ESPN***

[Pevsfreedom]

And yeah, Korpisalo trade made perfect sense. You don't go in with one unproven goalie. Just saying I no longer think it was the steal that I once did and I certainly wouldn't pay top dollar for him. MacEwan was a mistake - not a mistake as in they gave up anything, but he just wasn't what we needed. I'd say Lemieux could have done more for us, but the penalties probably would have us swept.

I'll argue a bit that Korpi was never "proven". He had one crazy playoff game and a series I think under his belt in a different time, different place. He didn't go deep. I do think the Kings play better in front of Copley, for whatever reason. I'd have started Copley no questions asked, but it is what it is. I don't think either would have outperformed the other. I do think Oil have figured him out, and I think Copley will be a bit screwed just starting in a do or die scenario. The point is, it doesn't matter with the Kings D playing like it is. The goalie debate is just boring now. No offense intended.

the quickest to 20 wins in Kings history, which for some reason the Kings are hellbent on relegating to a back-up.

This is the biggest damn mystery to me I've ever witnessed. Playoff experience be damned. If that's all that mattered, why get rid of Quick in the first place.

 

[Clif]

Only strategy I see for game 6 is start Copley and see if he can throw off the Oil. He’ll have his own pride to play for also.

 

[Illegal_Stick]

I'll argue a bit that Korpi was never "proven". He had one crazy playoff game and a series I think under his belt in a different time, different place. He didn't go deep. I do think the Kings play better in front of Copley, for whatever reason. I'd have started Copley no questions asked, but it is what it is. I don't think either would have outperformed the other. I do think Oil have figured him out, and I think Copley will be a bit screwed just starting in a do or die scenario. The point is, it doesn't matter with the Kings D playing like it is. The goalie debate is just boring now. No offense intended.



This is the biggest damn mystery to me I've ever witnessed. Playoff experience be damned. If that's all that mattered, why get rid of Quick in the first place.

I was on the fence about who started. Easy for me to say now that it should have been Copley, but I know you did say that. I really think goaltending has lost us one game this series only, but it may be the most pivotal one, where we could have went up 3-1. And there were many other problems in that game obviously, just think we didn't get the big saves at crucial times. Didn't love the winner in game 2 either, but in the end you're right it really doesn't matter when the defense is a mess.

 

[kingrussell]

Team plays better in front of Copley,period!!!!!

 

[Pevsfreedom]

Team plays better in front of Copley,period!!!!!

If we lose it'll be the biggest mystery to me. Dude saves season, dude starts playoffs. Just my opinion. Obviously others differ. I don't think Copley is "better" than Korpi. He just wins tho. Last time I saw a guy who "just won" it was 2012 Quick. The team somehow does play better in front of him from my couch eye test. I can't put a finger on it. Different styles. Korpi squishes down and gets beat high. Copley can fumble a bit. It's a toss-up. I find it a bit of a shame Copley didn't get a chance to start, but it is what it is. I'd really like to see him keep playing next year. I'm rooting for the guy. And Korpi, don't get me wrong, but not for the money he'll probably need to stay. I don't know that side of the game.

 

[shoot2scor]

You know, I was genuinely upset about how Blake handled the Quick trade. I figured the Kings weren’t going to win the Cup, so why throw him away (even if he were going to play for another team next year) even if the trade would somewhat help the team? We also had Copley, the quickest to 20 wins in Kings history, which for some reason the Kings are hellbent on relegating to a back-up.

Korpisolo, IMO, was the best part of the trade. I don’t think he’s been “exposed.” The Kings weak team defense and mediocre collection of defensemen has been “exposed,” i guess. I’m not sure this was that big of a secret. Korpisolo, on the other hand, has made some incredible saves, creating the allusion that the Kings have actually been competitive in these games. The ice has been completely tilted toward the L.A. defensive zone in this series. But for Korpisolo, I suspect these would have been massive blowouts.

Oilers are the better team. It’s undeniable. (Frankly, at the end the season, the Kings played so poorly, I was wondering if we’d win a single playoff game.) That’s what TM is having the Kings play so passively against them. He knows we don’t have a team-wide answer, so the idea is to contain as much as possible and pray for a mistake. In other words, we’ll need to get lucky to win. But it also requires a goaltender to give you not the “one big save” (ie, the save that shouldn’t have been made) but multiple “big saves,” which obviously has a low success rate.

I hope the Kings can pull it out. Regardless, it’s not at all on Korpisolo. IMO, he’s reason we’ve pulled two games out. It DEFINITELY hasn’t been our stellar defense or potent offense.

I agree with this mostly about Korpi. He has made some incredible saves to keep the Kings in it. Including early in the game yesterday. I also don't think he was "exposed" yesterday at all. Kane's shot while very similar was still a great shot through a defenders leg, bar-in. On a power play.

On the other hand: The 3rd goal in Game 2 to put the Oilers up was certainly stoppable, The Kane tying goal in game 4, and the Hyman OT winner IMHO were all stoppable shots and you need the save there.

I do not think Copley is the answer and I think it would be very risky to start him in an elimination game. Bottom line is this: The Kings have mostly been outplayed this series. They put 20+ minutes of solid hockey together in game 1 to steal a game. This is not a goaltending issue why they are down. They blew an amazing 1st period with an absolutely terrible 2nd period in Game 4. I am not convinced winning that game would have won them the series but it would have assured a game 7 and two shots before that to end it. They have to play a full 60 minutes and "hope" they get a little lucky to pull of two straight wins against the Oilers. I do not think there is a more dangerous team in the playoffs then the Oilers Offensively.

 

[HeadInjury]

And yeah, Korpisalo trade made perfect sense. You don't go in with one unproven goalie. Just saying I no longer think it was the steal that I once did and I certainly wouldn't pay top dollar for him. MacEwan was a mistake - not a mistake as in they gave up anything, but he just wasn't what we needed. I'd say Lemieux could have done more for us, but the penalties probably would have us swept.

I don't think we will have to pay top dollar for Korpisalo. He re-signed in Columbus last year for less than half of his prior salary. If we offer him two years at $2.25 million, he probably takes it. And then we'd still have the tandem with Copley next year. Two decent if not great goalies where we don't have the cap space to try to add a big name.

There's no difference between having Lemieux and MacEwen. If we had kept Lemieux, he would have played in game 2, taken a penalty like MacEwen did, and Todd would have decided to never dress him again.

 

[Illegal_Stick]

I don't think we will have to pay top dollar for Korpisalo. He re-signed in Columbus last year for less than half of his prior salary. If we offer him two years at $2.25 million, he probably takes it. And then we'd still have the tandem with Copley next year. Two decent if not great goalies where we don't have the cap space to try to add a big name.

There's no difference between having Lemieux and MacEwen. If we had kept Lemieux, he would have played in game 2, taken a penalty like MacEwen did, and Todd would have decided to never dress him again.

If that’s the price I’m all over it. I thought he’d be looking for much more than that. I’m fine with he and Copley if it’s not breaking the bank. As for Lemieux, you are probably right but man at least he had some energy.

 

[Dr. Tran]

I would rather they start Copley in game 6. But if not I won't go crazy over it. Both of them have done well but have given up seemingly weak goals. But to me it's more about the play of the 18 in front of them. I'm no expert on defensive strategy in beating McDavid & Draisaitl. But I think they show them far too much respect, especially on the power play. We need to make them work for every point. And we can't let their other guys get anything. If their top 2 are better than our top 2, our 3-12 should be better than their 3-12. But they haven't been.

I'm going to spend the day not thinking about hockey. This loss was so disappointing & we have so much time to game 6 that I don't want to stew in the loss. For the Kings I hope they get that loss out of their system, get some rest & heal up, and get back to trying to beat the Oilers. They can pull this out but they need to come with the right mentality. And in that time they could figure out who should be in the lineup & what lines we should go with.

Go Kings Go!

 

[jammer06]

If we lose it'll be the biggest mystery to me. Dude saves season, dude starts playoffs. Just my opinion. Obviously others differ. I don't think Copley is "better" than Korpi. He just wins tho. Last time I saw a guy who "just won" it was 2012 Quick. The team somehow does play better in front of him from my couch eye test. I can't put a finger on it. Different styles. Korpi squishes down and gets beat high. Copley can fumble a bit. It's a toss-up. I find it a bit of a shame Copley didn't get a chance to start, but it is what it is. I'd really like to see him keep playing next year. I'm rooting for the guy. And Korpi, don't get me wrong, but not for the money he'll probably need to stay. I don't know that side of the game.

I've no idea what the right answer is to who should start the next game but I feel the comparison to Quick is owed some context. Quicks 2012 season and playoff season weren't just good for the LA Kings, his playoff run represents the highest save percentage ever for a cup winning goalie since they've expanded the playoff to 16 wins. He didn't just win, he completely dominated that entire 20 game playoff. Copleys inspired sense of trust over what Quick and Cal had become doesn't come close to the dearth of goaltending talent the kings had been using since Potvin moved on. It nice that you have found a guy, but if you want to put him on that Quick pedastal.... well as a wise man once said "its a bold move Cotton"

 

[Pevsfreedom]

I've no idea what the right answer is to who should start the next game but I feel the comparison to Quick is owed some context. Quicks 2012 season and playoff season weren't just good for the LA Kings, his playoff run represents the highest save percentage ever for a cup winning goalie since they've expanded the playoff to 16 wins. He didn't just win, he completely dominated that entire 20 game playoff. Copleys inspired sense of trust over what Quick and Cal had become doesn't come close to the dearth of goaltending talent the kings had been using since Potvin moved on. It nice that you have found a guy, but if you want to put him on that Quick pedastal.... well as a wise man once said "its a bold move Cotton"

I'm not comparing them at all besides the "just wins" analogy. Copley ain't proven anything in the playoffs, but I think it would have been an excellent chance for him, over a newcomer who.. hasn't proved too much in the playoffs. I'm beating a dead horse I know. Quick has proved everything and more - and nobody can compare to him in Kings history. Or ever will I'm sure. My only point is I'd have the guy who "just wins" over the guy who had a record whatever setting saves playoff performance a few years ago in another time and place. I'm no good at looking up stats, just going off what I've heard on his playoff experience (Korpisalo). I think he was elite in games 1-3. 4 and 5.. ouch. VCRW said he looked like he needed a rest, as did Skinner. I think that's spot on. I mean, again, it doesn't matter. Our forward's D is terrible. Our positioning and defensive strategy is terrible. 2012 Quick might be screwed behind QB's coverage.

 

[K-Man #32]

I think Korpisalo just got tired

 

[Pevsfreedom]

I think Korpisalo just got tired

I'd not blame him. I was tired watching.

 

[Bill Hicks]

I think Korpisalo just got tired

I think he'll be well rested and back in games 1-3 form. Hopefully, so will everyone else.

 

[kingrussell]

I think he'll be well rested and back in games 1-3 form. Hopefully, so will everyone else.

Copley is even better rested!!

 

[Pevsfreedom]

Copley is even better rested!!

Petersen is rested as ****.

IDK if that's true.