***PLAYOFFS!! Round 1, Game 1 GDT LA Kings @ Edmonton Oilers 7:00pm on BSW & ESPN***

[Heino]

I was stuck with Sportsnet. My god. Awful. 90% gambling ads. Was like it was the Globetrotters playing.. not the globetrotters. They didn't even mention the Kings I don't think, or maybe I just yelled over them too much. I did end up muting it. The only thing I clearly remember was "McDavid's obviously gonna score the winning goal" and them all high fiving and busting out the massage oils.

I can only imagine the hilarity when they actually had to try and figure out how to pronounce Iafallo. hos:

 

[Clif]

9 times out of 10, the Kings lose that game. One important (among many) takeaway: The Oilers power play came as advertised (1/3). But, the Kings power play matched it (2/6, same %) and won the game for them. If nothing else, this will cause the Oilers to take pause before taking as many liberties with Kings players. There is no greater deterrent than scoring a power play goal, which, as we saw last night, can change the outcome of a game. The Oilers now will have to respect the Kings PP.

This is key. Those first 3 or 4 PPs with nothing to show for it only incentivizes EDM to keep playing like goons. Knowing Kings have to eat it a bit or they’ll put EDM on the PP only makes it worse. It’s a very hard balance but Kings pulled of a disciplined but still physical game after the first period and that’s encouraging.

 

[aragorn]

I have 2 comments:

I am fast losing hope that Kupari will ever be a difference maker for the Kings.

I thought Doughty was abysmally sub-average in that game. Multiple instances of horrible passes and bad decisions that put his teammates in a bad position. He needs to step it up. A LOT.

Boy did you see a different DD than the rest of us here. Yes he made a few mistakes but he more than made up for them. I hope he continues to play at that level.

 

[DRGinLBC]

Vilardi is practicing today with the team.

https://twitter.com/DennisTFP/status/1648407808524849155?s=20

 

[KingJ]

Oh yeah, Mikey is definitely in 97's head. It's great.

I loved that play on a potential odd man rush with Mikey only 1 back and he just calmly made McJesus look like a 4th liner lol.

Pivot. Steal puck. Keep doing your thing Mikey.

 

[sonnyboy11]

Vilardi is practicing today with the team.

https://twitter.com/DennisTFP/status/1648407808524849155?s=20

This is key, especially if we can get him back soon. Jammer just called it out- we got smoked by Oilers in game two last time we played them in the POs. And we got blown out in game three 8-2. Can't do that again. We need Gabe in to put pressure on down low in the offensive zone. And Doughty has to tighten things up on D. Oh, and if Korpi could stand on his head again, that would be nice. I ain't asking much!

 

[santiclaws]

This is key, especially if we can get him back soon.

He said he's ready to go tomorrow.

 

[sonnyboy11]

He said he's ready to go tomorrow.

Great news.

 

[Illegal_Stick]

Boy did you see a different DD than the rest of us here. Yes he made a few mistakes but he more than made up for them. I hope he continues to play at that level.

From the 3rd on he was classic Doughty. The first two he was truly struggling. Even that icing with under a minute left could've cost us the game, but I walked away thinking Doughty is back... .after thinking What the hell happened to Dought? for two periods.

Also in fairness, even when he's messing up, he's doing a lot of subtle things that you may not necessarily notice as much as the glaring mistakes. He and Kopitar are similar like that. Even when they're struggling, they're rarely hurting the team.

 

[New User Name]

I'd like to say the Kings have the momentum going into Game 2 tonight, but then I remember what happened in Games 2 and 3 last time around. Stick to the game plan and try like hell to contain McFreakish.

GO KINGS GO!!!