Game Day Thread
Playoffs - Round 1 Game 1 -- 04/21/25
>>7:00pm<<
on
FanDuel
&
Edmonton Oilers vs Los Angeles Kings
Crypto.com Arena | Los Angeles, CA
**Game Time 7:00pm**
TV: FanDuel &
Radio: ESPN LA app only
Check Out More Articles & Video on LA Kings Insider Here
Taylor Ward (video), Jordan Spence & Jim Hiller 4/17 Post-Game Quotes
Jordan Spence
On the tricky nature of playing in games like this, when playoff seeding is locked in
Yeah, I mean, it is a little tricky. I think we had a lot of adrenaline against Edmonton, we had a good win against Seattle, but we still wanted to win the game and clearly we weren’t good enough. I mean, at the end of the day, we’ve just got to move on and look at Game 1 We’re really excited.
On his excitement, now heading into the postseason on Monday
I think we’re more excited. We’re trying to win the Stanley Cup and I think it’s that we have to refocus on our way of play, on our goals. We’re playing against Edmonton again, so we’re really excited, to be honest with you, to go against them again and have that matchup.
On the opportunity to get a couple days of rest, heading into Game 1
To be honest, I think it’s good. We have a little rest to just get get ready for the playoffs. I mean, maybe there’s some guys that are banged up a little bit, so I think having three days off or something like that is pretty crucial for the guys that are kind of banged up. We’re going to get right back to practices and getting ready, so we’re really excited.
On seeing his former Ontario Reign teammate Taylor Ward score and getting an assist on the play
He had a lot of chances today. We stood up every time he had the chance and it was bound to happen. He played really well today. He was always in the right area, trying to finish his chances. It was pretty cool to have five guys that came from the Reign on the ice for him to score that goal, so it was pretty special. We know that he’s been working hard with the Reign, so we were actually really excited for him to get called up and play with us.
Jim Hiller
On seeing Taylor Ward debut tonight and contribute with his first career goal
That was the positive you take out of the night, for sure. We’re all really happy for him. I thought he played really well. He ad other chances, we saw that, he was around the puck. Despite getting the goal, I thought he impressed, his overall game, it was good. Really good job. That was the real bright spot, I thought, from the entire game.
On having five Ontario Reign alums on the ice for Ward’s goal
They were really excited for him. Obviously, everybody’s excited for him, but they had spent countless hours on the busses and all that kind of stuff and everybody trying to reach the pinnacle of the NHL. So, to be out there together and assist on his goal, I know that crew was really, really happy for him.
On the next steps, between tonight’s loss and Game 1 of the playoffs on Monday
I think it’s probably good. We can take a day off and just get away from it all, get the relief that we’re talking about. Then, two good days of practice. I think that it’s important. We’ll have one day that we focus in on some Edmonton stuff and then one day where we just go and then the marathon starts all over again. I don’t mind the three days. I think we can use a break.
On why he is disappointed in the loss, despite it not meaning anything in the standings
I like to win. It’s a game, right? I think our players are pissed off too. I think you’re you’re competitive and you want to win. I didn’t see it as meaningless in any way, shape or form. I guess maybe in the standings you could say that, but it’s hard out there when you are not quite……if you come in with the frame of mind that maybe this one’s a little less important, or a little tired, then you don’t have a good game, it’s hard. That’s how good the league is. I’ll take the time to say what a great season for Calgary, because nobody gave them a lot of probability to make the playoffs this year. You see how they played, they beat us three times. We have nothing but respect for their team, their coaches. They got the 96 points, played hard consistently. We’d like to think we did the same thing, we got over the bar, we’re happy about that.
On having players like Ward come up and be ready to play immediately, and what that says about the Ontario coaching staff
It’s Marco and it’s his staff too, because I know it takes the whole staff for sure, because there’s just so much that goes into it. Not just this year, let’s take it back, they did a great job. All the guys that came up, we bring Malott up for a game, he plays outstanding, he plays and plays and plays and they haven’t seen him since. Wardo comes up, plays extremely well. All those guys do a terrific job, no question. So important for our organization.
Lineups Courtesy of DailyFaceoff.com
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OILERS PROBABLE LINEUP
Former Kings
Viktor Arvidsson
Troy Stecher
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GOALIE COMPARISON
PLAYERS TO WATCH
(last 5 games)
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THANKS for playing the poll game this season.
No questions during playoffs. Final win totals below.
Congrats to Rusty, Chateau Bow Wow, and all of those near the top of the winners list!
PREVIOUS GAME'S WINNERS
Congratulations to the following posters who correctly guessed that Taylor Ward would score the final goal of the regular season:
3 points:
jammer06
kingsmen93
TooCool
KernCoKingFan
Chateau Bow Wow
CIrvine
POLL GAME WIN TOTALS
King of the Mountain - 68 points
Rusty
67 pts
Chateau Bow Wow
65 pts
Liz4LA
mugs
VCRW
63 pts
KernCoKingsFan
Sir JW
62 pts
Cross Traffic
61 pts
Drum4Pigs
Kingsmen93
sonnyboy11
Vegas Hockey
60 pts
Hockey 53
58 pts
empire
Forum Gold
57 pts
jammer06
Rogie-Vachon
56 pts
Guinevere
JayWells24
55 pts
Angel Eyes
HiFi
pray4mojo
53 pts
Nyssa42
52 pts
DRice
Dr. Tran
hornman
51 pts
randdog
47 pts
Shackleford
45 pts
Byron
43 pts
dannybuoy1
42 pts
CIrvine
41 pts
Rog or Reg?
TooCool
40 pts
notbob
38 pts
31 pts
motolare
30 pts
RinkRat
27 pts
Clif
26 pts
DRGinLBC
24 pts
JETS GARAGE
18 pts
mik999999
16 pts
McSorleyFan
12 pts
beady eye
11 pts
KHenry14
7 pts
JC6388LAKings
6 pts
Surf Nutz
5 pts
Birdman
sloppydog
4 pts
Bill Hicks
ICE24
Pie25
3 pts
Kurisu
2pts
symbology
1 pt
Cannon
Sevenhole
sonne22
ucsdguy1
GO KINGS GO!!!
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