***Playoffs Rd 1, GM 6 GDT - Oilers vs. Kings 4/29/23 >>7:00pm<< on BSSC & TBS***

[jammer06]

Korpisalo had 3 strong games and 3 below average games. The difference was still 4 total goals in 6 games.

The stats you quoted said the team was outscored in all situations. Typically there are two explanations for a scenario. 1) the outlier game like in 1993 where the kings lost 9-2.
2) getting goalied
Ill happily say game 6 i didnt blame the lineup, but that doesn't excuse just how much i truly blame them for that game 5 effort.

 

[jammer06]

If only Byfield would have scored coming out of the penalty box.....oh well...a fun ride, further than any of us predicted at the start of the season, I think.

I kinda feel like I'm gonna root for the Oilers now. At least in the West. Hate the Stars, hate the VGK even more.... And neither Kraken or Avs have what it takes

I too thought, this is a moment... Alas

 

[Sevenhole]

The Kings played the Oilers tough, they just don’t have the talent to beat them in 7 games. Oilers improved immensely at the deadline, the Kings improved. So now the organization knows what it takes to win. Blake has a lot of decisions to make in the off-season and it won’t be easy. It’s only 4.7 months without Kings hockey, we need the break. Last season I was in New Orleans when they lost the 7th game, this year I am in Chicago. Next season, I hope to be home when they win the 1st playoff series.


Like in the late 70’s and early 80’s, have a bitchen summer!

Best regards,

Have had our arguments over the season but a having a bitchen summer is my language from the 70’s and 80’s. Have one!

 

[Sevenhole]

if only byfield would have scored coming out of the penalty box.....oh well...a fun ride, further than any of us predicted at the start of the season, i think.

I kinda feel like i'm gonna root for the oilers now. At least in the west. Hate the stars, hate the vgk even more.... And neither kraken or avs have what it takes

i can’t

 

[Kurisu]

If only Byfield would have scored coming out of the penalty box.....oh well...a fun ride, further than any of us predicted at the start of the season, I think.

I kinda feel like I'm gonna root for the Oilers now. At least in the West. Hate the Stars, hate the VGK even more.... And neither Kraken or Avs have what it takes

I'd actually like to see an Oilers vs Leafs final just to see all of Canada lose their minds. I definitely think the Oil take the west. The east is harder to predict.

 

[Statue4Deano]

Was there one particular defense pairing that got victimized for most of those even strength goals, or was it fairly well spread out?

Numbers aren't fully updated yet but I believe this is accurate Doughty and Anderson were on for 8 goals allowed. Durzi and Edler/Walker for 4. Gavrikov and Roy were on for 3 goals allowed.

 

[DarkLeftHand]

Numbers aren't fully updated yet but I believe this is accurate Doughty and Anderson were on for 8 goals allowed. Durzi and Edler/Walker for 4. Gavrikov and Roy were on for 3 goals allowed.

This was my suspicion. As easy as it would be to blame the Durzi/edler/Walker third pairing here, it was Doughty and Anderson who surrendered the most even strength goals. For as good as Doughty still looked at various points throughout the season, he had a very average to subpar playoff series.

Roy and Gavrikov looked fantastic, on the other hand. On both ends of the ice, for that matter!

 

[Illegal_Stick]

This was my suspicion. As easy as it would be to blame the Durzi/edler/Walker third pairing here, it was Doughty and Anderson who surrendered the most even strength goals. For as good as Doughty still looked at various points throughout the season, he had a very average to subpar playoff series.

Roy and Gavrikov looked fantastic, on the other hand. On both ends of the ice, for that matter!

Oh my God they were an absolute revelation. Easily could have been the top pair. I think Anderson hasn't fully recovered and Doughty.... well, what can you say? I've never been one of the TMac bashers and no doubt he's back next season, but starting to think what Doughty truly needs is a coach who holds him accountable, not one who treats him with reverence. Give it to Kopi all day long, because he's going to work hard no matter what, but Drew can't keep living off his past glories and can't keep making plays that his body could make ten years ago. He's not the player he used to be, but with proper coaching he can still adjust his game and be great night in, night out.

 

[HeadInjury]

Oh my God they were an absolute revelation. Easily could have been the top pair. I think Anderson hasn't fully recovered and Doughty.... well, what can you say? I've never been one of the TMac bashers and no doubt he's back next season, but starting to think what Doughty truly needs is a coach who holds him accountable, not one who treats him with reverence. Give it to Kopi all day long, because he's going to work hard no matter what, but Drew can't keep living off his past glories and can't keep making plays that his body could make ten years ago. He's not the player he used to be, but with proper coaching he can still adjust his game and be great night in, night out.

Drew also needs to play way less minutes. Another side effect of the horrible third pairing.

 

[shoot2scor]

This feels ominously like the 2000’s back hole Kings; trading picks for short term rentals who aren’t a long term solution. I don’t really see us retaining either, perhaps Korpi. Not having a first and one of our thirds (we still have the Pen’s 3rd) this year is really going to hurt.

To me it felt more like the 2010-2011 Kings.
He took a swing at that trade and they just ran into a team that may win it all.
I think had they played any other team in the West they are probably
On to round 2. It’s a bummer that the playoff format is what it is.
The Kings were a top team in the west this year. The Oilers just have two of the best players in the league that did them
In. It’s not very often you see a team as hot and dominant as the Oilers heading into the playoffs with world class players playing at their peak/prime. It was too much for them to overcome.

 

[Illegal_Stick]

See Boston is starting Swayman for game seven. Ballsy move to go with the other goalie who has had a good year rather than expecting the guy who has struggled for two games to pull it back together.

 

[dannybuoy1]

Look, it is a learning experience for these kids. We need to get stronger in the back and solid goaltending. I do not think Joonas is the answer. But we are pretty close.

Look remember when we lost to Vancouver in 2010? We were one inch in one game and finishing out 10 minutes in the final game in winning that series. Learn to start, learn to close. Get big. Trade everyone. Hate. Team.

 

[PTDP]

I do not think Joonas is the answer.

The guy played pretty damn good considering how that Kings team played in front of him.
Getting bigger and tougher is a must, but trades need to be made. Maybe a coaching change?

 

[Illegal_Stick]

I don’t get anyone wanting Korpisalo. He played great twice. Maybe I’m just spoiled from years of Quick but we need a big game goalie to win. Was that the performance of a big game goalie last night? The best saves were by Roy and Doughty. Nothing against the guy, but we saw him exactly where we needed to and he simply couldn’t handle the big games. Not saying Copley is the answer…. But as of now, the difference is I haven’t seen a sub par playoff performance from him.

I’ve seen Korpisalo on this team many, many times. Named Garon, Storr, whatshisname who Dean-o drafted in the first round. They CAN play great, but they’re not elite goaltenders who can go to the next level. Pass.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

I don’t get anyone wanting Korpisalo. He played great twice. Maybe I’m just spoiled from years of Quick but we need a big game goalie to win. Was that the performance of a big game goalie last night? The best saves were by Roy and Doughty. Nothing against the guy, but we saw him exactly where we needed to and he simply couldn’t handle the big games. Not saying Copley is the answer…. But as of now, the difference is I haven’t seen a sub par playoff performance from him.

I’ve seen Korpisalo on this team many, many times. Named Garon, Storr, whatshisname who Dean-o drafted in the first round. They CAN play great, but they’re not elite goaltenders who can go to the next level. Pass.

I'm really trying not to rant on Korpi or much else, but I was outspokenly Team Copley™ the entire time, and before. He played well games 1-3. Games 4-6 he got fatigued, and worse he got figured out. He played flat out terrible. I think he's the prime reason we lost game 6, and the prime reason our PK was garbage the entire time. How people are defending any of his performances post game 3 is legitimately mind boggling to me. Yeah our defense sucks, but they won in front of the other guy. Copley should have started the series, and ABSOLUTELY should have started games 5 and 6. Your best defender in a penalty kill has to be the goalie. He very rarely made saves he shouldn't have saved. He never made timely saves. Game 6 was probably the biggest playoff goaltending disappointment I've ever seen. We get a blessing open net goal and.. yup another goal against. I'd not touch a contract for him with a 5 year 25 million dollar stick - or whatever goalies get these days. And oh yeah get rid of QB and Todd. Of course neither will happen. I said to my wife many times before the playoffs that QB will cost us playoff games, and he did. QB is 20 - cool - but he's also, without hyperbole, maybe the worst NHL player I've ever seen. No drive, no speed, no skill, no grit, no nothing. If he's there for experience - it should be on the 4th line. IDK why fans saw all this before the coach, hence that's why he's gotta go. Perennial loser. Our defense was bad, and penalty kill was attrocious. We could have won that series, but blown leads, which cursed us all year, was our undoing. Going for pure offense won't get you too far Kings. Lots to figure out and move around. But yeah, trying not to rant.

 

[Illegal_Stick]

I'm really trying not to rant on Korpi or much else, but I was outspokenly Team Copley™ the entire time, and before. He played well games 1-3. Games 4-6 he got fatigued, and worse he got figured out. He played flat out terrible. I think he's the prime reason we lost game 6, and the prime reason our PK was garbage the entire time. How people are defending any of his performances post game 3 is legitimately mind boggling to me. Yeah our defense sucks, but they won in front of the other guy. Copley should have started the series, and ABSOLUTELY should have started games 5 and 6. Your best defender in a penalty kill has to be the goalie. He very rarely made saves he shouldn't have saved. He never made timely saves. Game 6 was probably the biggest playoff goaltending disappointment I've ever seen. We get a blessing open net goal and.. yup another goal against. I'd not touch a contract for him with a 5 year 25 million dollar stick - or whatever goalies get these days. And oh yeah get rid of QB and Todd. Of course neither will happen. I said to my wife many times before the playoffs that QB will cost us playoff games, and he did. If he's there for experience - it should be on the 4th line. IDK why fans saw all this before the coach, hence that's why he's gotta go. Perennial loser. Our defense was bad, and penalty kill was attrocious. We could have won that series, but blown leads, which cursed us all year, was our undoing. Going for pure offense won't get you too far Kings. Lots to figure out and move around. But yeah, trying not to rant.

I think we feel pretty similarly on Korpisalo. Games 1-3 were good, but the winner in 2 was stoppable. Then high glove was his end.

In terms of the other two:

I know you’re probably tired of hearing this but Byfield is very young. He just is. To me he’s always about a second behind the play and a second from making the right play. I think/hope he will close that gap and become very good. Now does that mean he should’ve had all this ice time? Probably not, but game one he did look really good so I can maybe defend it. Can’t deny he cost us some goals. I just think he’s going to be good.

As for the coach: many commentators were talking about his inability to change the 1-3-1 when it was being beaten. The teams inability to change on the penalty kill and you and I Believe worst of all - not
Changing the goalie. It’s his Achilles heel. I think he will be our Terry Murray and someone else will have to finish this. I don’t hate the guy and think he’s helped many of our players become better. I’ve always been more on the defending him side and although im starting to question him more I really think he deserves more time. and even if I didn’t - BlKe is giving it to him. Would hate to see an extension before he has playoff success though.

 

[Pevsfreedom]

I do agree with most of what you said. I do hope QB improves. I couldn't stand Kempe for years. Last 2 he shut me up hard, gratefully so. Todd is clearly not "the guy".

 

[Illegal_Stick]

I do agree with most of what you said. I do hope QB improves. I hope Todd leaves. I do think he helped get them scoring. He's clearly not "the guy".

To me the question for Todd is - can he evolve? When Blake is singing the staff’s praises at the exit interviews, I worry. Not saying he should blame them But with the pk and the failing
Of the 1-3-1, I think your gm has to at least say “good year for the staff and hopefully they learned some things for the loss.” I’m a little worried about accountability. Im a big Rob Blake guy (NEVER thought I’d say that) but this get me wondering…. Of course could just be my general pissed off mood.

 

[Kurisu]

Well, the Presidents Trophy winners have just joined us on the golf course.

Perfect example of how hard the NHL post season is to predict.

 

[Dr. Tran]

As bad I feel as a Kings fan losing in the 1st round, I feel a lot better than Bruins fans right now. Holy crap! It sucks to lose but I can’t knock the effort of the last game. It really seems like they lost the series in games 4 & 5. And the 2 biggest factors were not killing penalties & our bottom players didn’t match the production of their bottom players. That’s not to take away from McDavid & Draisaitl. But they had to shut down either 1 or the other & they didn’t do that.

I don’t know about Korpisalo. I think he was the reason we were up 2-1 this series. But he let in some weak goals in the last 3 games. So maybe they saw a flaw in his game & exposed it. If they resign him that’s fine but if not that’s ok too. But I think we need to develop our goaltending from within. And for sure we need to resign Gavrikov. He was outstanding. I still think we’re in the stage of guys are young & are still learning. So let’s hope for a good summer of training from Byfield, Kaliyev, Kupari, and all the kids in Ontario.

Go Kings Go!